Woohoo! Autocrossers and HPDE enthusiasts sound off

Had a first sighting of a Fiat 500 Sport at a racetrack last Saturday. Went to an AROSC (Alfa Romeo Club of Southern California) event with my 2 at big Willow. Incredibly cold, windy and rainy. Rained the night before and the track never dried. Rained on parts of the track off and on all day. Similar to a NASA event with HPDE and racing groups. Ran with experienced driver, factory safety equipment only. A Fiat ran in the same group. 4-30 minutes sessions. Only in the third session was I able to grid near enough to the Fiat to run with it. I had been watching from a distance and it looked like I could gain a little. The Fiat seemed competent and it was pushed. In the third session I went out right behind it and followed for a few laps. The performance between the cars is very close. Everyone was holding back just a little because of the track condition, but the Fiat was very quick in and off the turns. Straight line performance seemed about the same. Had to work to keep up, but finally went around, and the Fiat slowly faded backwards after a few more laps. Didn't have a chance to talk to the driver, but track comments were that the 2 was faster in and out of the turns. The Fiat was new and looked completely stock. The 2 is stock except for Yoko S drive tires, well worn, but not dead. The Fiat has slightly more tire and wheel, and an exta horsepower to carry its extra 100 lbs of weight. Except for some of the Porsches, which have so much more straight line speed, both Fiat & 2 kept up well with the mixed cars on the track.
 
I think the fiat has a tiny bit more pep but everything else belongs to the 2 (had the fiat as a rental once).
 
sketchcouk said:
405314_3107114043688_1439423675_33214759_130421305 0_n.jpg
Click to expand...

CHANGE YOUR UPPER HARNESS MOUNT! The way you have them mounted, if you ever need them you will compress your spine. You should never have the upper harness mounted at more than a 20 degree angle.

From the Schroth Racing Competition Instructions(:
"Shoulder belts must run from the shoulders horizontally or down, at no more than a 20 angle."​

From the Gforce racing installation guide:
"If the upper attachment point falls significantly below the driver's shoulder, then a spinal compression injury is likely to occur. In an accident situation, the shoulder belts pull down and back on the torso as they resist the forward motion of the driver. The resultant restraint force compresses the spinal column and will add to the stresses in the spine already caused by the force of the crash impact."​
 
Good news to hear! I have been curious for a while now how the 500 would stack up against the 2. It sounds like it is just as nimble as I presumed! But with a little skill nothing a 2 can't overcome! +1 for you!
 
At our last trackday, I had a "dogfight" with a 500 Abarth SS driven by a journalist who is a very good driver.
My 2 had consistently better laptimes and much better best lap even if it had a lot less hp and torque.!
 
Thanks, exactly what the guys said. Roll cage is coming up this week (that will have a horizontal bar where the harness will be looped) - sharp eyes folks, almost got a fine for it. Thanks again.
 
vdsracing said:
At our last trackday, I had a "dogfight" with a 500 Abarth SS driven by a journalist who is a very good driver.
My 2 had consistently better laptimes and much better best lap even if it had a lot less hp and torque.!
Click to expand...

Good job !!! Buying a Abarth was in my plans since I owned two of the original ones in the 7o's, but I saw the two and couldn't resist. Any video?

Andres
 
So I've finally decided to stop pussing-out and sign up for an HPDE event. I'm planning on attending the NASA SoCal event at Buttonwillow in April. Anything I should know about tracking a 2? Mine is a completely bone-stock 5 speed touring model. Never auto-x'd or raced before. Thanks!
 
To Your Highness,
Ran my 2 at Buttonwillow last year with NASA. Had fun. My 2 is a 5-speed Sport. Differences are tires, I have Yoko S drives, same size, & Porterfield pads & high temp brake fluid. Running 36 lbs on all tires. Seems ok. The original tires, pads & brake fluid lasted 3,000 street miles & 12 track hours. I ran 36 lbs on the stock tires too. You will probably have an instructor with you at all times, but 2s are light on horsepower, so 200 lbs of pork (pardon me NASA guys) will slow you considerably. De-briefing before first session and after each session. You might want to try leaving the stability control on through the first session so you can see where it is engaging. Give you a beginning idea of car limits.
You may also want to try the AROSC school (Alfa Romeo School of So Cal) at the Streets of Willow on 2/18-19; similar to HPDE rules, any car is ok; not too many Alfas any more. Went last year to refresh, and went many years ago. Great program. Wet & dry skidpads; ABS stop-testing, left foot braking, go kart tracking, and lots of track time on the Streets. Good and experienced instructors, and always a lot of new drivers. When I went last year I was still on the stock tires, brake pads & fluid. A great step before NASA. You can learn a lot ... and it's fun.
 
I'm taking out the 2 to HPDE this year because the Miata is on ice (read: broken timing belt). For your first time out, get some decent/agressive street pads and you'll be good to go. The only thing I would try to do is flush out the brake fluid less than 90 days prior to the event; a lot of clubs stipulate this in their tech inspection.

I need to find a Hawk dealer, but I have the pad shape for the Mazda2... just need to find the right compounds.

Hawk shape for the Mazda2 is HB 668X.567
F = HPS
N = HP+
S = HT-10
 
The first leg of Circuit Showdown last Saturday was packed. I was hoping to get well into Bracket E and compete in Grid C (new rules combines qualifiers for brackets E & F for grid C), but like all hopefull plans, it doesn't really go the way you like. I ran with Federal 595SS to comply with the series regulations and had my harness bar setup - didn't use the NX so I get slower qualifying times.

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That's me, car #24. Their AMB timing says I ran a 1.49.794 with my 1300 M2 and ended up at Grid B with the 1800 Civics and 2.0 Lancers. Started 14th on the grid and managed a 13th place. A slow start on points but was fine with it because the cute little car just spanked cars twice its power. Off the start. car took off like a dream and I was able to get past the Honda with my car partially on the grass. SOme shots from my friend below:

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Race was for 7 laps around the 3.3km track. Tried my best to keep my pace against the Honda behind me.

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That's the group in front of me, the Lancers are my team mates (I used to race with my Evo IV but its on ice at the moment)

422887_10150575904452751_313080982750_9313407_118747618_n.jpg

Grid results after 7 laps (Grid B). Next leg is on April 7th at Clark Speedway's short track, I think the Mazda will fair better because this track layout does not have a straight, hehe :)
 
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