Autox Pics from this past weekend 4/13/03

[Teamzero]

Another great autox adventure with the MSP!!
1st in STX
7th in PAX
~8th overall. Lost only to a full race prepped CivicSI, and MR2. Plus a WRX with 400hp, 2 vettes, and a mini Indy car. But did not lose by much. In most cases, less then 1 second. Can't wait for the Falkens!!

Pics and small movies:
http://www.haydu.com/autox/Autox041303/msp1.JPG
http://www.haydu.com/autox/Autox041303/msp2.JPG
http://www.haydu.com/autox/Autox041303/msp3.JPG
http://www.haydu.com/autox/Autox041303/msp4.JPG
http://www.haydu.com/autox/Autox041303/msp5.JPG

Scared?
http://www.haydu.com/autox/Autox041303/msp6.JPG

http://www.haydu.com/autox/Autox041303/mspmov1.MPG
http://www.haydu.com/autox/Autox041303/mspmov2.MPG

 

[Limited Edition]

Nice Signature!! (thumb)

 

[DistantTea]

Thats awesome! Where are you?

 

[Teamzero]

Thanks Guys...

I'm in Northeast Pa about 20 minutes from the Poconos and Pocono International Raceway.

 

[DistantTea]

I'm sounding like a broken reccord... but what kind of tire pressures did you use? What was the outside air temperature?

Will you be going to the toledo national tour?

 

[Teamzero]

For this event, I used 47frt and 44rear. Still experimenting with things so next time out, I may go in some other silly direction. Outside air was 59degrees, sunny, on blacktop.

Not too sure about the Natonal Tour. Usually have a tough enough time making the local events with my schedule but will be looking into it.

Our next SCCA meeting is being held at a local import shop and they are going to do free corner weight measurements for us. That should help out a bit. If I get something on paper, I'll post it on the boards for ya.

-Chris

 

[PA_MP3_Man]

Right on man, I love seeing your car in action. I'll soon have some videos of me in action too . But I still have to play around with the video camera and learn this software (which I haven't even started yet) oh well. Goo job though.

 

[Limited Edition]

Is it neccessary to run the PSi's that high?
I remember reading on the side of the tire that 40Psi is maximun. Is it not dangerous to run such high Psi's?

 

[OrangeAppeal]

Thanks Guys...

I'm in Northeast Pa about 20 minutes from the Poconos and Pocono International Raceway.

huh....I'll be out in Leighton this weekend visiting relatives...over near Jim Thorpe. Maybe we'll see eachother....Look for the CT plates and honk twice.

 

[03MzdSpdSTP]

Nice pics!!!

 

[ARunto]

Looks good...i love the "scared" pic...LOL

 

[OceanPark]

Nice clips and pics!

 

[rowan]

Is it neccessary to run the PSi's that high?

Yes. The sidewalls aren't quite stiff enough to go lower .. although 47 is a lot. You need to find the balance between sidewall stiffness and loss of grip/contact patch.

I remember reading on the side of the tire that 40Psi is maximun. Is it not dangerous to run such high Psi's?

For the short time you will be actually running on them, no it won't hurt the tires. Although I wouldn't recommend doing a lot of highway driving with those pressures

 

[scapamouche]

The issue with the pressure is that you're trying to prevent having the tire roll over under heavy cornering to the extent that you are driving on the sidewall instead of the tread. With stock tires and a stock suspansion setup, it is easy to load up the tires so much that the WRONG part of the tire is carrying the load.

By running high pressures, you make the tire hold its shape better, so that you are always driving on the tread. The lower pressure in back is a trick to help the car turn better. The vast majority of new cars are designed to understeer at the limit. That is, to tend to go straight if you push too hard, rather than spin out. The lower pressure in back helps to make the rear end tend to turn more, counteracting the built in understeer. Running really high pressures in back can work, too: like 45psi front and 55psi rear. It all depends on personal preference.

The MSP is the most balanced car I have ever driven in its stock configuration. It still has a small amount of understeer designed in at the limit, though.

On the 225/45-17 Falken Azenis I'm running now, I've had success with 45psi front and 42psi rear. By way of contrast, I ran 38psi fr and 36 psi rear on my old car which was a tuned Celica GT-S. The extra pressure on the MSP is to counter the 300+ lbs of extra weight with the new car. Handling characteristics of both cars are nearly identical. That was after over $3000 in suspension mods to the Celica. The MSP is an AWESOME platform!!!

 

[ARunto]

scapamouche...are you getting any rubbing going to a 225/45?

 

[scapamouche]

Yes I am getting rubbing. Its pretty minor, inside corner of the tread on the driver's side rear when turning right, and a little rubbing on big bumps. I think this rubbing will go away as the tires wear down since the rub is at the corner of the tread contacting the weld on the rear strut spring perch. The front tires only rub when the wheel is turned all the way over.

When the car is loaded (4 passengers and a trunk full of stuff) there's quite a bit of rubbing, and slight contact between the fender lip and outer edge of the tire in back. I think the 225s are probably too big to keep on the car if you don't need them. I'd go with 215s if I could find a tire that fit me needs like the Azenis do...

 

[Teamzero]

Thanks everyone for the comps...

OrangeAppeal,
I actually work 3 minutes from Lehighton! That's pretty funny. In a little town called Palmerton. The company is closed on Friday, Sat. and Sunday or I"d have even a better chance at bumping into you!

scapamouche,
That does not sound too good about the Falkens. I was really planning on using them as my everyday tire once the stocky's died but it looks like that is not going to happen if you are getting THAT much rubbing. Have you run the tire on a Autox course yet? Lots of rubbing there? Do you see any possibility of grinding away a little of the spring perch or bending the fender lip just a little bit for clearance?


-Chris

 

[scapamouche]

They rub a bit more on the autox course, but I haven't seen any real damage to date. All I've found on the inside of the tire is rub markes, but definitley no damage.

On the outside, though, the fender lip is already cut back pretty far. I don't know if it could be cut further or safely rolled, but there's not much metal there anyway. The rub on the outside when the car is fully loaded DID shave a thin strip of rubber from the sidewall. Maybe .2 or .3 mm thick: Really thin, but definitely there.

If I were you, I'd consider trying to find something like Kumho MXs, Pole-Position S-03s or BFG KDs in a 215mm size for daily drivers.

When I move cross country later this year, I'm probably going to have the Falkens removed and shipped, and drive on the stockers...