Any MSP's running DS this year? Or is everyone STX?
- Thread starter Teamzero
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DistantTea
Member
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- Mazdaspeed... of DOOM!
Not only are the Tam Dynamic wheels light... they cost like $130 each... for a 16lbs wheel you just can't beat that.
There are several people running DS... I'm one of those STX people though.
There are several people running DS... I'm one of those STX people though.
I'm running DS on Team Dynamics Pro Race 1s and Kumho V700 Victoracers (225/45 x 17). And doing quite well, too. First event, I PAXed out at 6th overall out of 168 drivers and won DS by over 2 seconds, beating a pair of SRT4s. Second event, I coned all 3 runs but my raw times were on par with the Porsche Boxsters in BS. PAXed out at 10th overall with the cone penalty out of 124 drivers. If I had not hit the cone, I would have PAXed out at 2nd overall.
I've attracted lots of attention because in previous years I usually PAXed out in the 30s to 40s in my former ride, a 300zx twin turbo. I'm fiddling with tire pressures, ran 39/37 last event and think I'll drop the rears another pound or two. I also tried 1/8 inch of toe out in the front and it seemed to help, especially in the slalom. I'm finally getting enough confidence in the setup to attack the slaloms hard enough that the steering wheel is in constant smooth motion back and forth with no waiting between the cones.
Wish I had more negative camber, though. The Victoracers only seem to be wearing on the outer half of the tire, and the scrub marks haven't gotten down to the triangles on the shoulders.
Went out of town to Richland Washington to run on their banked half mile oval with a paved infield; autox course. Nice open high speed "Mustang" autox course. I was the first into the 49s and when a DSP Sentra posted a 48.6 on his sixth run, I replied with a 48.4....with a cone. Top time of day was a Miata running on Kumho 710s at 48.2. I think this car is going to rock once I get it dialed in and stop hitting cones!
Oh, yeah, and I love my Mazdaspeed.
I've attracted lots of attention because in previous years I usually PAXed out in the 30s to 40s in my former ride, a 300zx twin turbo. I'm fiddling with tire pressures, ran 39/37 last event and think I'll drop the rears another pound or two. I also tried 1/8 inch of toe out in the front and it seemed to help, especially in the slalom. I'm finally getting enough confidence in the setup to attack the slaloms hard enough that the steering wheel is in constant smooth motion back and forth with no waiting between the cones.
Wish I had more negative camber, though. The Victoracers only seem to be wearing on the outer half of the tire, and the scrub marks haven't gotten down to the triangles on the shoulders.
Went out of town to Richland Washington to run on their banked half mile oval with a paved infield; autox course. Nice open high speed "Mustang" autox course. I was the first into the 49s and when a DSP Sentra posted a 48.6 on his sixth run, I replied with a 48.4....with a cone. Top time of day was a Miata running on Kumho 710s at 48.2. I think this car is going to rock once I get it dialed in and stop hitting cones!
Oh, yeah, and I love my Mazdaspeed.
I am running in our indexed street tire class on the stock wheels and tires. I usually do well if I don't win the class. I have not changed the alignment but my tire pressure is roughly the same as your 39/37.
There is nothing wrong with the car, the hard thing is getting the correct size tires. I figured I would see how other people do on the 225/45-17 Kumho's. I noticed that the new Hankook Ventus Z212 is going to be offered in 215/45-17. If so, when they come out I may give them a try.
There is nothing wrong with the car, the hard thing is getting the correct size tires. I figured I would see how other people do on the 225/45-17 Kumho's. I noticed that the new Hankook Ventus Z212 is going to be offered in 215/45-17. If so, when they come out I may give them a try.
DistantTea
Member
- :
- Mazdaspeed... of DOOM!
K&N dosn't really do much, but if you BELIEVE in it it will increase your engine power 30 fold... heh
Autocross alignment for sure... very important. Also new brakepads (Carbotech Panthers would rock for you r compound people) and a driver harness... other than that? Not much to do. You could get new shock inserts or switch to illuminas... I wouldn't though.
Autocross alignment for sure... very important. Also new brakepads (Carbotech Panthers would rock for you r compound people) and a driver harness... other than that? Not much to do. You could get new shock inserts or switch to illuminas... I wouldn't though.
I put a K&N panel filter in the stock box. For only $30 it helps. Definitely put in a set of 3 inch wide racing belts. I like the ones with the two point sub strap. I didn't bother with the shoulder harness. For the main belts, you can use the normal seat belt anchor on the left, but you need to fab an extender plate of about 4 inches to reach from the right seat track mount on the tunnel up to the right side belt. For the sub strap, you need to fab two small 90 degree plates to mount on the seat track front bolts and then mount a snap ring bolt. If this seems too obscure, ask and I'll take some pics of my belt setup. If I can figure out how to post pics with the new board software.
DistantTea
Member
- :
- Mazdaspeed... of DOOM!
Thats a bit excessive for autocross don't you think? I just got a Schroth Rallye 4 for the drivers seat... we plan on putting a rallye 3 on the passenger side. Easy to install, reasonably priced and they look good in the msp (black model). Work very well.
scapamouche
Member
I've been very successful this year, running in DS in northern FL, with the same basic setup as MSPpro. I run a little more pressure generally, and LOTS of rear toe out.
I haven't PAXed out of the top 5 this year, and I've been in the top 10 raw all season as well, including one FTD...
I haven't PAXed out of the top 5 this year, and I've been in the top 10 raw all season as well, including one FTD...
Heh, I'm going to pick up a set of Kosei's this summer. Do you reccomend the +50's over the +42 offset if I'm not running in a stock class? I figure the +42 will widen the track just a bit more and push the wheels out enough to give it a nice stance.
I run DS. STX is too rich for me.
I'm on stock rims/tires right now, so far I'm placing about 2nd in class on those locally, but this seems to have more to do with the lack of DS competition in the area (all the WRXs from the last few years are running STX now) since I'm of the opinion I still mostly suck.
I am not sure if I will ever get around to running R-comps at this point - I drive a few hours to events regularly and its nice not having to leave time for tire changes.
I'm on stock rims/tires right now, so far I'm placing about 2nd in class on those locally, but this seems to have more to do with the lack of DS competition in the area (all the WRXs from the last few years are running STX now) since I'm of the opinion I still mostly suck.
I am not sure if I will ever get around to running R-comps at this point - I drive a few hours to events regularly and its nice not having to leave time for tire changes.
DistantTea
Member
- :
- Mazdaspeed... of DOOM!
I've spent the same amount being a super hero in STX than I spent on r compound tires last year. So far I've maybe poured $1500 into my STX MSP (including wheels and tires) with only $400 a year going into tires. I spent $2200 on wheels and tires last year for DS with a good $1400 (two sets of ecstas) recurring cost for tires (estimated) for each season.
Thats the main reason I went STX. Why spend $1400 a year on tires when you can spend $1500 TOTAL for the first year and then only have to buy new Falkens once a year.. hell the falkens may last two seasons if I would stop driving them to work every day. But even if I did have to buy new tires every year its only $400 for the falkens once a year instead of nearly three times that for the r compounds on a slower car.
Can you spend $10k on your STX car? Sure. But if you just focus on the things that can really make time on the course it dosn't cost much... CG coilovers, new sway bar... thats about it for a very competitive STX MSP. It may not win the Nationals this year but its a damn fast autocrosser and very economical in the big picture.
Thats the main reason I went STX. Why spend $1400 a year on tires when you can spend $1500 TOTAL for the first year and then only have to buy new Falkens once a year.. hell the falkens may last two seasons if I would stop driving them to work every day. But even if I did have to buy new tires every year its only $400 for the falkens once a year instead of nearly three times that for the r compounds on a slower car.
Can you spend $10k on your STX car? Sure. But if you just focus on the things that can really make time on the course it dosn't cost much... CG coilovers, new sway bar... thats about it for a very competitive STX MSP. It may not win the Nationals this year but its a damn fast autocrosser and very economical in the big picture.
Still too rich for me - that's why I don't have r-comps right now. And if I get them why I will probably still only be using them at local events (once a month).
If I had the money to spare it would be in the rally car fund anyway. The MSP is just for day-to-day abuse and transportation. She needs to stay running and comphy on the street.
She will probably only get about an 800$ investment for AutoX this year - consisting of new brake pads, a harness and some Kuhmo MXs (probably to be replaced next year by Azenis). Considering the minimal DS competition locally and the car's out-of-the-box abilities I figure that should be enough to have fun with her and set some respectable times while I'm at it.
I hate big pictures - they get in the way of the small ones.
If I had the money to spare it would be in the rally car fund anyway. The MSP is just for day-to-day abuse and transportation. She needs to stay running and comphy on the street.
She will probably only get about an 800$ investment for AutoX this year - consisting of new brake pads, a harness and some Kuhmo MXs (probably to be replaced next year by Azenis). Considering the minimal DS competition locally and the car's out-of-the-box abilities I figure that should be enough to have fun with her and set some respectable times while I'm at it.
I hate big pictures - they get in the way of the small ones.
scapamouche
Member
The cost thing is an issue, but having driven in both STS, STX and DS, I find that the r-tires feel is more than worth the cost. Plus I have a smaller potential for warranty issues with Mazda, and the car satys nice and comfy on the street. I've done the 500lb/in springs thing, and it's hard on the back...
In my view, to be TRULY competitive at the level where I want to be, I can spend $5000+ for STX, and give up my biggest advantage over the WRX crowd (stock handling balance) and run on inferior tires (don't get me wrong, Azenis ROCK.... but not as much as Victoracers do...) or I can buy 2 sets of tires a year, leave the car stock, and be MORE competitive that I would be in STX.
On the other hand, it is very hard to resist the "MUST MODIFY CAR... MUST MODIFY CAR..." impulse under control... Hence the mechanical boost controller that comes off at the autox.
On that note, I have found that I can't use the extra power the boost gives me... I think my car is actually slower with the extra power because I can essentially light up the tires at will even with the r-compounds... I tried it once, and the car was MUCH harder to drive...
Please note... the above is colored by my own prejudices and should not be taken as gospel or any kind of insult by anyone... except Tom...
In my view, to be TRULY competitive at the level where I want to be, I can spend $5000+ for STX, and give up my biggest advantage over the WRX crowd (stock handling balance) and run on inferior tires (don't get me wrong, Azenis ROCK.... but not as much as Victoracers do...) or I can buy 2 sets of tires a year, leave the car stock, and be MORE competitive that I would be in STX.
On the other hand, it is very hard to resist the "MUST MODIFY CAR... MUST MODIFY CAR..." impulse under control... Hence the mechanical boost controller that comes off at the autox.
On that note, I have found that I can't use the extra power the boost gives me... I think my car is actually slower with the extra power because I can essentially light up the tires at will even with the r-compounds... I tried it once, and the car was MUCH harder to drive...
Please note... the above is colored by my own prejudices and should not be taken as gospel or any kind of insult by anyone... except Tom...
