FTD'd the first Regional AutoX of year

[Mercutio]

After a disastrous start for 08 at the National Tour, things were a lot better for me at the first local event of the year. Unfortunately, I had no real competition--I was the only car in my class on race tires. I had a bad first run when I took a wrong turn on course; I finished with something like a 61.xxx while other cars were running 46-47 seconds. My second run went much better, a 44.8xx that was FTD (Fast Time of the Day) with fenders at that point. I ended up having a pretty good battle with a couple of Miatas for FTD with fenders: my third run was a 44.68x, still good for FTD. On our fourth runs I spun massively while one of the Miatas went and ran a 44.65x, then another ran 44.3xx. On our last run the Miatas stayed about the same, but I stayed out of the boost enough to remember slow in, fast out and earned a 43.927. I was the only car to make it into the 43-second bracket, which was cool. The only thing that beat me all day was a 125cc CRG Heron Daytona shifter kart that ran 42.733--that's why we separate FTD from FTD with fenders; those shifter karts are insanely fast. My new tiny Braille battery performed flawlessly and the car ran great all day. Anyway, it felt good to get a win after such a bad event back in February.

After the competition was over I let the guy who's probably the best driver in the region run the car. He normally drives a WRX, but he's usually able to beat other people in their own cars. On his first ever drive in the car he ran 44.5xx. Two runs later, with two passengers he ran a 44.4xx, which still would have been the third fastest run of the day. So far mine is the only car that he's not driven faster than its owner. So far.

All in all the car has more understeer than I'd like, but since I also managed to spin I think adjusting my driving is going to have a more positive impact than adjusting the chassis setup.

[mmchenry]

Hey, I am just starting to autocross with my 89 SC. Wondered if you could give me some set up tips(camber,caster,shocks,sway bar), any help would be appreciated. Glad to see it can be a competitive car on course.

[Mercutio]

What class do you plan to run? Are you running with SCCA or some other group? I don't want to tell you to use a part that's going to put you in a class you don't want to be in.

[XR7 Dave]

The sweetness! :D Gotta love that kind of stuff. I don't know what kind of overall competition you have there but no matter how you cut it that's got to be giving some people fits to see a comparatively big car run like that. Just love it.

[racecougar]

Congrats, Will. Way to show others what these cars are capable of.

-Rod

[Mercutio]

Honestly we don't have a lot of tremendously fast cars in our region. We have some good drivers, but our fast drivers tend to be in slower cars and it's the rookies who bring out the S2000s and Corvettes. I did beat a Terminator Cobra with a very good driver, but those cars are so heavy they're not good autocrossers. In fact, listing the cars I did beat won't sound too impressive to guys used to drag racing--Rabbits, Sciroccos, Miatas and even a Mazda RX3 may not sound like much, but when they weigh literally a full ton less than my car (in the case of the VWs), beating them isn't as easy as it may sound. And I like that I race with a bunch of guys who also think it's cool to see such a big car go and whip up on the traditional autocross cars.

I will need to replace my power steering pump. It didn't explode or anything this time around, but it's leaking pretty bad.

[Mercutio]

There are a bunch of pictures from the event here if anyone wants to see them: http://picasaweb.google.com/rsoldano/30Mar08AutocrossPartI

[89_WhiteBirdy]

There are a bunch of pictures from the event here if anyone wants to see them: http://picasaweb.google.com/rsoldano/30Mar08AutocrossPartI

I like the pic of the Black rabbit runnin over the cone:D

[ricardoa1]

Very nice. What sways are you sporting there? And are you still using the QA1 shocks.

[Mercutio]

1.25 front sway bar/1.125 rear sway bar. from the looks of the pictures a little more bar wouldn't hurt the car but I'm reluctant to do that. Switching to a 1.375 front/1.25 rear bar setup would represent increases in sway bar strength of 46% and 52%, respectively. Besides, that's more weight.

I'm not using the QA1 shocks. I decided those shocks were way too soft for autocrossing on my LX, so they'd be even worse on this car, since it's heavier. This car has Konis and I'm quite happy with them. I have toyed with the idea of making the Konis into coilovers, but as I said earlier, I'm going to try to hold off on chassis mods for a while and get a better feel for driving the car with its current setup. I know there's more speed in it as is if I can adapt to the understeer a bit better.

[ricardoa1]

I dont think it is recommended to mismatch the bars on our cars. But I could be wrong. I have the 1.25 front and rear. And the ride is harsh already I can only imagine what it would be like with the larger ones. But looking at the pictures it does look like the 1.38 can help your body lean situation. The rear wheels should not be articulating like that if you want max performance. I think the problem is in the front bar aswell, but the rear needs to be bigger too. I would not be too worried about the weight of this item if its going to help you more then hurt.
If you can get the front to also to not articulate and maintain a flat level you will have better grip from both tires on the front of the car and start to reduce understeer and gain more oversteer.

Again good job.

[mmchenry]

I am running tire(ESP)class as of now, but not far in the future, will probably run ESP, or I think the other class is C prepared. Interested in having as fast/well set-up as possible within reason, no matter what class it puts me in. Any help is appreciated. By the way I know it is impressive to beat a well prepared/well driven miata, as sad as that sounds.:)

[f1rocco]

Nice pics...

Sucks when you go to events and almost all the pics are of other peoples cars.....Thats what happens to me when I go wheelin....

I like the photo of you setting up for the turn...Looks like you had perfect lines...

Boy that miata had some body roll.Yikes.....And the smokin Beemer...Nice Job..

F1

[XR7 Dave]

http://lh4.google.com/rsoldano/R_A8PfWuZWI/AAAAAAAAVIQ/kDWwfWgWzM0/DSC_7004.JPG.jpg?imgmax=576


SC's kickin some tail right here. :D

[XR7 Dave]

I dont think it is recommended to mismatch the bars on our cars. But I could be wrong. I have the 1.25 front and rear. And the ride is harsh already I can only imagine what it would be like with the larger ones. But looking at the pictures it does look like the 1.38 can help your body lean situation. The rear wheels should not be articulating like that if you want max performance. I think the problem is in the front bar aswell, but the rear needs to be bigger too. I would not be too worried about the weight of this item if its going to help you more then hurt.
If you can get the front to also to not articulate and maintain a flat level you will have better grip from both tires on the front of the car and start to reduce understeer and gain more oversteer.

Again good job.

I disagree. Understeer is always faster, just takes some practice. You have 4 wheel independent suspension, let it work for you. Being "flat" isn't the answer, particularly in AX. A road race setup will tank in AX. You need a car that will transition quickly and maintain balance. I think Will is right, practice will show continued improvements. If you look at what he is beating already it's a major accomplishment and reflects a well set up car.


Well, and a lot of torque. ;) Will, I think you'll find that the LX will never ET as quick as the SC, it just doesn't have the power. :D

[ricardoa1]

:rolleyes: Neutral is faster.
But I will go get some go get some popcorn.

[Mercutio]

I'm not looking to start a big argument here, but I think that given the SC's available torque, a bit of understeer isn't a bad thing. If I want oversteer all I have to do is stomp the gas pedal. It's always tempting to throw money at a perceived problem to make it go away, but I know the car can perform better than I drove it Sunday. Until I finish a race and think that I can't get any more out of the car in its current form I'm going to hold off on chassis mods. If I do reach that point, then maybe I'll change springs or a sway bar. And besides, I won't make it through the end of the year on my current set of tires. I'll put the money I'd spend on a new Addco sway bar and buy half of one tire with it.

[90blkbrd]

Good job Will!

What are you running for tires?

[Mercutio]

275/40R17 Hoosier A6.

[Mike8675309]

...
I will need to replace my power steering pump. It didn't explode or anything this time around, but it's leaking pretty bad.

If you're feeling like an article, look into swapping the stock pump for a standard GM with remote reservoir. Then with a bigger reservoir, if you can keep it low, will gain you some capacity to control heat. I've looked into it myself, the only question is fitting the electronic valve, and getting a pump with volume matched to the SC pump. Haven't found what that volume is yet to match it.

Great job on the runs. For that track, what's the max road spead, and then average through the course?

[Mercutio]

I'm not sure on the speed. Autocrossing leaves no time at all to look at the gauges; it's not like running a road course where you have a nice straightaway to relax on for a few seconds per lap. All I can tell you is that I was pretty wound out in second gear w/3.27s.

[mmchenry]

I'm interested in what you run far as caster, camber, what, if anything, did you have to do so that you can run 275's all way around. I was told I would either have to roll back wheel well lip or run airbags on back. I am attending a 2 day driving school on 11th and 12th, so if there is anything that I can tweek in the next couple of weeks, that would be great.

[f1rocco]

I'm interested in what you run far as caster, camber, what, if anything, did you have to do so that you can run 275's all way around. I was told I would either have to roll back wheel well lip or run airbags on back. I am attending a 2 day driving school on 11th and 12th, so if there is anything that I can tweek in the next couple of weeks, that would be great.

Keep us posted and try to get pics and videos....Congrats to you for steeping up and doing it.....I want to....Maybe this year but my SC is draining
my funds fast in 2008.....

Good Luck to you..

F1

[Mercutio]

I'm interested in what you run far as caster, camber, what, if anything, did you have to do so that you can run 275's all way around. I was told I would either have to roll back wheel well lip or run airbags on back. I am attending a 2 day driving school on 11th and 12th, so if there is anything that I can tweek in the next couple of weeks, that would be great.

Caster is factory spec, camber is -1.5 degrees all the way around. That seems about right for up front, but I think the rear could use more camber. Any more than that will eat up tires on the street pretty fast, though. Also, toe will absolutely destroy tires.