Woohoo! Autocrossers and HPDE enthusiasts sound off

[fam]

59 out of 78
http://www.nworscca.com/attachments/results/2011/2011_e5_index.htm
Im pretty slow
H stock usually has 7-10 cars but today I was the only one. I thought I squeezed all I could out of it minus always screwing up the slow ending by going in too hard ;-(
I was about 2 seconds even off decently prepared miatas so Im ok with it with stock tires. I want to be faster but we will see what I can do.

 

[Slow Paul]

Well still, you had fun right? Even though you were the only won in HS, you still won that class. When I start up with my local chapter next year I'm going to be shooting for the spot above last.

 

[fam]

I did have fun, Its quite stable, just wish it had a "go baby go" button.

Ground effects, better tires and wheels, tinting, exhaust, hids in projector lenses, maybe a slightly larger spoiler and front lip...its all I need to be happy ;-)

 

[Slow Paul]

HAHAHA nice, a go baby go button.

 

[fam]

Rain runs today
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQUop-dgTNs

 

[Slow Paul]

Yesterday was my first event in my 2. I immediately knew that the 2 was happy dodge cone's after the first corner. The course was able to be taken in second gear all the way, and that led me to some good times. This was a SpeedVentures event, so there was no classing and no "offical" results. One would see there time flash up on a display placed on top of a van after their run. The best time I got was a 43.7, which was pretty good considering the slew of S200's were running in the 41 second range. I was the only 2 participating in the auto x as well.

My thoughts on the car were that it needed a bit more stiffness in the shocks. Nothing I wasn't expecting. Just a slight bump in stiffness with shock valving, spring rate, and sway bar would make the 2 a real contender. I was using my Kumho Ecsta XS and was blown away at their performance. When I was autocrossing my last car I used Falken Azenis RT615, and these were a hell of a step up.

I didn't snap any pictures, but hopefully someone there might have, so we'll see.

 

[CorkSport]

Yesterday was my first event in my 2. I immediately knew that the 2 was happy dodge cone's after the first corner. The course was able to be taken in second gear all the way, and that led me to some good times. This was a SpeedVentures event, so there was no classing and no "offical" results. One would see there time flash up on a display placed on top of a van after their run. The best time I got was a 43.7, which was pretty good considering the slew of S200's were running in the 41 second range. I was the only 2 participating in the auto x as well.

My thoughts on the car were that it needed a bit more stiffness in the shocks. Nothing I wasn't expecting. Just a slight bump in stiffness with shock valving, spring rate, and sway bar would make the 2 a real contender. I was using my Kumho Ecsta XS and was blown away at their performance. When I was autocrossing my last car I used Falken Azenis RT615, and these were a hell of a step up.

I didn't snap any pictures, but hopefully someone there might have, so we'll see.

I second the Kumho EXS tires doing a great job in Autox on the 2. Bummer I missed you out there or I would have shot some video of your runs for you.

-Derrick

 

[fam]

Im not competitive against the national champion mazda3 cars (actual championship solo Hstock car) but im also barely above a novice, he's on a6's, im on stock tires. Best I did in the wet today was a 67 second run, his was 59.xx The H stock out here is no joke, all 7 or 8 guys have a6's (one has a c71 hankook i think its called). I will get no false sense of accomplishments out here, If i win one ill earn it lol. There is an 09 manual 3 hatch running a6's I can consistently get within a tenth of a second on sometimes which gives me hope but I need tires, lighter wheels, and a driver mod more than anything....in time I suppose.

 

[fam]

Looks faster than I was ;-)

 

[slolane]

Very nice pics in this thread!! I don't AutoX anymore, last time I did was several years back...

I had an 03 Cobra:

I raced the Cobra until a friend talked me into racing his Lotus with him, we registered it twice (spaced out in the grid) and it was a blast:

The Cobra was a slug compared to the Lotus.

No more racing these days but I can enjoy it vicariously through this thread.

 

[Gravity]

Man, this thread REALLY makes me want to get into crossing my 2. I've been seriously considering the Kumho XS's so it's nice to see some feedback on those as well.

I have a friend who's a HUGE mini/BMW fan (her dad owns a massive dealership up here)... It's nice to show her some results of the two beating out JCW Coopers and Cooper S's... ;-)

 

[fam]

the mini's dont have the body roll like the 2's do and they are already lower...so stock for stock itll still be tough.

 

[Joker2]

Autocross update: 28 cars in rain. 1st in Stock barely beating an Si. 4th in Pax overall. The secret is tires. Replaced the Avids with Advans which work great in the rain. I'll try a repeat in a few weeks. That e-brake got ripped more than a drift car. A bigger sway bar would have put me back on mid-pack. If I had time and tools I would have disconnected the front bar. Lots of fun.

 

[Joker2]

Got two sets of Advans (one for Miata but installed them on stock rims 205-50s). They will get dismounted soon and will be replaced by winter tires. That set will end up on 6.5 inch Civic Si wheels. The second set will stay as summer/ST class tires on 15x7 inch wheels.

 

[zps2004]

Please do not disconnect the front bar.

 

[Joker2]

28/68 PAX lots of e-brake use. The car just won't turn! Soooooooo much fun. I think I left some 2 seconds on the table by being too aggressive and carrying too much speed in some turns. I could have been in top 20 and mid-pack instock. The other Stock guys that beat me ran R-comps (my excuse for the day). The Advans did great but I think the RE-11s are better as they talk more. I had a full spin and 2 half-spins in 8 runs.

Woohoo!

 

[Joker2]

Another event and 28/52 in PAX. DFL in Stock. Just can't do it w/o r-comps. My co-driver, a local instructor did some o.8 better than me. I am just getting used to not plowing through corners the way I do with my Miata. Either way, not bad considering. At the end of a season, the hardcore guys/gals stay and most newbies are long gone. I need some serious course length reduction. If I could get to stay within 6 inches of the critical cones, I can be in top 10-20%. This is my next year's goal. One event left and we'll see where we end up points-wise. The car is a blast. So is the collection of comments from the spectators that seem to be amazed that I can be competitive with the tiny M2. We did do a special run-off this time and the winner with a 500+ hp well tuned Evo VIII commented that he felt sorry for the HS M2 being pitted against an FM Mustang. I feld proud as he only won by about 2 seconds on a 60 second course in RAW time.

Woohoo!

Bring it on! My co-workers are so scared of my Mighty 2 that they have been spectating for a few events, to get a better understanding of the sport. Their G8s, GTOs, Maximas and a lonely Capri are afraid that I will wax them on their first outing.

Next weekend is the last event for this season and 2 co-workers are committed. I will kill them with my 2. Heeeheee!

 

[Joker2]

E-Brake is key! Maybe!

When the car under-steers, I can rotate her by using the e-brake. In tight corners, I rip the brake to get the car to rotate and gun it. Even though my instructor was on the ragged edge and stomping on brakes after turn-in, he only beat my times by 0.8 secs. If I can run a tighter line like he can, I can shave another 2 seconds on a 60 sec course.

This car really is "STUPID FUN" on autocross!
And on the streets!

See you next week!

 

[fam]

up the rear pressure to get it to rotate...I wanted lower pressure in the rears since the tires werent anywhere near running on the sides of the tire...and it made for a perfectly balanced car in turns...BUT....it wasnt fast...had a pro codrive on a tight mall course...8 runs each...he upped the pressure...1st run after he upped the rear i spun..but i quickly got used to it...he said he would have went more but he said i was still learning with it...car turned much better...on turns just lifting off throttle back end starts to turn slightly and makes slaloms so much faster it was awesome...when your done with the turn it hit the gas straightens right up.
Running worn out rs2's it was a blast.

 

[Joker2]

Up the rear pressure? This car is a bit tail happy! I spun twice so far and had two half-spins. My instructor spun hard on his second run (he co-drove). We dropped the rears to 31.5 from 32 and that seemed to keep the rear where it belongs: behind the front wheels as much as possible. I think that with a bit more seat time and patience I will be able to 4 wheel drift some turns like I do in the Miata.