Congratulations Andres Rodriguez!
- Thread starter jasyatz
- Start date
lostcaptcha
Member
- :
- Toyota Yaris
Wonder what happened to Travis on day 2 he was really slow compared to yesterday?
deadlydave
Member
- :
- '13 Mazda 2
Congrats, guys like you make me want to autocross my 2 instead of the WRX more and more!
You're up in Bob Day and Colin Kingsleys neck of the woods. Great guys to run the 2 against...
Zach@DDMWorks
Member
- :
- 2011 Mazda2
Nice Job Andres!
- :
- 2012 Touring MT
Thanks guys, well i guess the hard work of the last two years setting the car up paid off. Many events changing set ups and tires.
Three weeks before Nationals I decided to start gokarting with Preston Jordan to improve my driving skills, but ended up hitting the wall the first day , braking a few ribs..that was the end of that. Then i bought a gaming seat and practice everyday...
I went to nationals knowing that my car was ready but also not sure if my skills were good enough to race again top guys in the country. Lee, an incredible driver with a clean record, Preston almost Alien level on the strongest car in the class, David super fast on a strong car as well, Robert Day who lately had shown great skills, and Mike King, double National Champion in his almost(explain later) equally prepped Mazda 2 . Also Joseph Austin, Todd Freeman, and Travis very fast with his underprepped Yaris.
Started with the Pro Solo event in last position the first day since I had all runs dirty on the East course,, finally pulled it of and finished 5th and managed to get 4th trophy for the end of the year points. The main thing about this event I got to learn the car and its limits.
Once at Nationals the first day I drove well enough to get a third position, making a big mistake on my fastest run that cost me 4 tens which later would cost me the championship(live and learn).
Second day on the East course designed to favor powerfull cars I overdrove it my first run hitting many cones. My second run even though was the faster I made I few mistakes, I had FTD for a while until Preston ran 79 thousands faster. My last run was better(better line) but not fast enough.
Second (fastest)
I learned a lot this week, about my car and driving, had the privilege to run against top drivers in the country, also to compete against a double National Champion an good friend Mike King in a Mazda 2 with very similar set up like mine,one of the differences was a his softer suspension but the biggest difference, his power, was not equal to mine, he mentioned he got a tune somewhere on line, but was not working for him, the car was noticeable weaker, a little bit better than stock. He mentioned also that my car was rotating more than his, a little bit too much for his taste.
My car is ready for next season , so I have a year to improve my driving skills since the class gets stronger every year. New comers like the RSX type S will be in the picture and better prepped Yaris.
Andres
Three weeks before Nationals I decided to start gokarting with Preston Jordan to improve my driving skills, but ended up hitting the wall the first day , braking a few ribs..that was the end of that. Then i bought a gaming seat and practice everyday...
I went to nationals knowing that my car was ready but also not sure if my skills were good enough to race again top guys in the country. Lee, an incredible driver with a clean record, Preston almost Alien level on the strongest car in the class, David super fast on a strong car as well, Robert Day who lately had shown great skills, and Mike King, double National Champion in his almost(explain later) equally prepped Mazda 2 . Also Joseph Austin, Todd Freeman, and Travis very fast with his underprepped Yaris.
Started with the Pro Solo event in last position the first day since I had all runs dirty on the East course,, finally pulled it of and finished 5th and managed to get 4th trophy for the end of the year points. The main thing about this event I got to learn the car and its limits.
Once at Nationals the first day I drove well enough to get a third position, making a big mistake on my fastest run that cost me 4 tens which later would cost me the championship(live and learn).
Second day on the East course designed to favor powerfull cars I overdrove it my first run hitting many cones. My second run even though was the faster I made I few mistakes, I had FTD for a while until Preston ran 79 thousands faster. My last run was better(better line) but not fast enough.
Second (fastest)
I learned a lot this week, about my car and driving, had the privilege to run against top drivers in the country, also to compete against a double National Champion an good friend Mike King in a Mazda 2 with very similar set up like mine,one of the differences was a his softer suspension but the biggest difference, his power, was not equal to mine, he mentioned he got a tune somewhere on line, but was not working for him, the car was noticeable weaker, a little bit better than stock. He mentioned also that my car was rotating more than his, a little bit too much for his taste.
My car is ready for next season , so I have a year to improve my driving skills since the class gets stronger every year. New comers like the RSX type S will be in the picture and better prepped Yaris.
Andres
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lostcaptcha
Member
- :
- Toyota Yaris
Any idea on what happened to the Yaris on day 2, it was noticeably slower compared to day 1. I'm also not sure Alvin is willing to go to the same lengths I went through to get power out of the engine.
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- 2012 Touring MT
Travis is a great driver, kind of shy ... he drove very well both days to the limit of his car, i made one mistake on the first day that cost me the whole championship. I think his car was under prepped for the second day course, a few more things done to that Yaris and with his skills he can be on the top next year.
for the second time is proven that the Mazda 2 is a great platform with all the potential to be on the top at National level Autocross... come on guys !!!!
Never had the chance to compete against him since I moved back to MN before he had his car ready. The nicest guy amazing driver his car was a little bit under prepped but with a similar set up than mine, his suspension was milder than mine and his engine tuning way off almost felt stock. He drove my car once on the test & tune course and beat his time in his own car by 2 tens, he would have won the championship on my car with his driving skills !!!
Andres
flatlander937
Member
- :
- '11 Mazda2 Sport
Nice work! Congrats!
What spring rates are you running again?
What spring rates are you running again?
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- 2012 Touring MT
How are the front struts holding up with that much spring? Or did you get some "magic" since we last spoke?
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- 2012 Touring MT
Magic Ford Fiesta's front sway bar with Whitline or Powerflex bushings (don't remember)
Andres
Can't say I told you so, but I think we talked about that, right before I put the RB front bar in. Did you use your rear bar? interested to see how it turned out.
You said Mikes car was softer; What was he running (if he doesnt mind the think tank information sharing like we all do around here) and does he hang out here?
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- 2012 Touring MT
I did use my rear swaybar/toe bar , worked perfectly.
Mike's springs were 450F/ 350R or closer with KSport coilovers
Andres
So he's in the same area we all are. I'm still not sure a crazy high rear spring is needed. Which is why I'm at near your rate in front (550) and near Mikes rear rate (380).
Care to share a pic of it? I'd love to see your revised setup after the original design was "non compliant" (The Fastrack wording; of which I still have a problem with. )
