January 2nd Classic, Post event.

[Carracer]

Well that sure was a great day’s autocrossing. First, thanks to Philip for letting me drive the Miata for this event. It was really fun to drive a completely different car to the 3. Now I understand the reason these cars are so commonly campaigned in autocross. It was a real eye opener to how fast they can handle the twisty bits! Looking at Philip’s pictures, it sure does have some body roll! but in the heat of the moment and focusing on driving, I didn’t notice it much from behind the wheel.

You can also see the body roll in the video.

https://youtu.be/pKZSW6OWQ8o

Unfortunately all of my videos didn't get recorded because I put the battery in the camera that only had a ~40% charge.

[dbeng]

Thank for the videos Philip!

It looks like I need to get my body roll under control more than the car I really should learn to steer with my arms instead of my shoulders. Easier said than done.
I will work on that next time - otherwise I will have to invest in a full race bucket seat & 15 point harness to force me to sit still and steer with my arms....

Dan

[Inspecta]

I guess I'll look forward to a clearer head for the 16th.

Ron... Like you'll ever have a clean head. Lol
Feel better man.


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[markzeronine]

I think I need a seat to hold me a little better... the slalom got the best of the side of my leg lol!

Didn't know autocross was a contact sport

[Lava Speed 05]

I guess I'll look forward to a clearer head for the 16th.

Ron... Like you'll ever have a clean head. Lol
Feel better man.


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He needs a port and polish...

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[Rawkkrawler]

Looks like Elliot called that one, Mike!

Cheap clutch? Too much power? Or just a fluke?

Elliot did call it. I took the pressure plate off and the pieces just fell out, plenty of carnage. High RPM's were a contributing factor. The clutch was old but 7200 RPM's may have been just a bit too high. Parts are ordered and it should be back together by Wednesday.

[BrilloHeadBen]

Man, what a great event! I loved this course, but clearly wasn't driving it very well in either car. I did my first 3 runs in the Festiva, and my last 3 in Dan's NC Club. I don't think I could've picked two more different cars. Good news is, the Festy made it home with it's insides still on the inside.

[Loren]

Unfortunately for me, I've got a herniated disk in my back (the old man one) and driving turned out to be pretty painful. I'll be working to get well and look forward to running with you all again hopefully soon.

Aw, man, that sucks. My Dad went through a lot of that. Hope you can avoid surgery and heal soon!

Your video looks great, you were ON IT. If you ever decide to get a more nimble car, I think you'd surprise some people. Maybe even yourself.

[CaptainSquirts]

Welp here is my video. I burnt up a little clutch from my third run so I did some "conservative" launches/rolls on my remaining runs. I see my biggest issue is the slaloms and my throttle control. I take constructive criticism well so if you see other things I could(can) improve on let me know.


https://youtu.be/3pdf8EqbCqI

[twistedwankel]

I think I need a seat to hold me a little better... the slalom got the best of the side of my leg lol!

Didn't know autocross was a contact sport

That's why I got a cheap pair of velcro knee pads and took off the plastic part leaving only cloth. Bruises hurt along time.

[Jamie]

Welp here is my video. I burnt up a little clutch from my third run so I did some "conservative" launches/rolls on my remaining runs. I see my biggest issue is the slaloms and my throttle control. I take constructive criticism well so if you see other things I could(can) improve on let me know.

Looks like mostly a matter of getting used to the corners of the car and not hitting things. Your lines look pretty good -- consistently going for the back of the cones. You were reasonably smooth. And the raw times were pretty respectable. More seat time.

[CaptainSquirts]

Yea def need more events in to get used to the back corner. Did it look like I even needed to brake at all on the first right hand cross over? I tapped the brakes but to me it looks like I just needed to let off maybe? Also was taking a late apex on the cross overs the best line to take?

[Jamie]

Yea def need more events in to get used to the back corner. Did it look like I even needed to brake at all on the first right hand cross over? I tapped the brakes but to me it looks like I just needed to let off maybe? Also was taking a late apex on the cross overs the best line to take?

Braking points are hard to tell from video -- you really have to be in the car. And generally, late apexing is always the way to go.

[Loren]

Also was taking a late apex on the cross overs the best line to take?

If you look at each of the 4 crossover turns separately, really only one "needed" a strong late apex. That's the second one. The right-hander with the angled wall on the outside. You had to late apex to keep out of that wall.

BUT...

You can't look at a course as individual turns. You have to look at it as a whole.

Your ultimate goal was to get around the LAST right-hand crossover and into the turn-around without screwing it up.

If you DIDN'T do a proper late apex on the first left (or you overcooked it and went too deep), then you couldn't easily get into position to late-apex the first right. The second left you could maybe be a little sloppy setting up for, but again... failing to late apex that one would make it difficult to set up for the second right... and if you didn't get that one right, you missed out on a lot of acceleration toward the turn-around.

That whole section of the course required LOTS of setup and patience. Getting greedy (especially with the first two apexes) would cost you.

As with most courses, if you didn't late apex at the beginning of a sequence, things would get progressively worse. Just like a slalom. As soon as you start getting behind with your inputs, things get progressively worse until you start whacking cones. (that's why the 2nd and 3rd slalom cones are almost universally the ones that get hit the most)

I agree with Jamie, that's a pretty good run. You probably just need to do more of the same (minus whatever cone you hit), and add just a LITTLE speed "everywhere". Basically, try to get closer to the limit of the tires where you can, but without over-shooting. This is the challenge of autocross.

You did a great job of keeping your speed in check on that run. Not an easy task in a really fast turbo car. And it was a requirement on this course.

[CaptainSquirts]

Thanks for the input. Hopefully I learned a thing or two from this and can do better in the future events.

[twistedwankel]

Thanks for the input. Hopefully I learned a thing or two from this and can do better in the future events.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=tim ... FORM=VIRE2

Granted this isn't the same course but a couple elements are very similar.

I typed "Tim autocross in fl" in google and got these very nice multiple videos from our own Tim STi. It's been way too many years since I raced an AWD car. Tim is trying to make it into an art form. Your driving as mentioned is above par. Probably too Miata like and proper. What I notice most about Tim's style is his ability to make the tires always keep working. That is what I loved about an excellent AWD turbo system keeping the boost on. I don't think I've ever seen anyone spin out in one? At least not on pavement. You'll notice he doesn't dump his clutch @ 6k on launch either as he has way too much HP/torque like you do. Back in the day I could launch at 3000-3500 rpm and do no harm with 210HP and stock clutch even up to 300HP boosted over and over and over. Anything over that and the clutch would overheat and slip for several seconds killing the times but one has to get the turbo spun up don't they. Maybe you can have a ride with Tim or let him coach you over the season in your own car? I think Tim is the "resident evil" in AWD for now. Personally I'd rather slip a clutch occassionally than snap an axle.

Terry G is a victim of jumping back and forth from a stock S2k and and evil Evo with 450HP ATW but he too can come up with some crazy point and shoot from the hip times @ Brooksville. One of the best set up "Misterbitchi" cars out there. That's the windscreen logo I used to run on my two turbo cars for many years:) Never could find a cheap enough EVO.

You looked to be having fun!! That counts for a lot. On any given day anyone can hit one out of the park. Didn't see that coming - happens to me all the time!!

Doug

[CaptainSquirts]

I've seen some of his videos, some meaning a lot of them . Not much to say about his driving besides it's awesome and smooth(even with all the tire screeching). At the moment I'm thinking thats the way to go is to go fast enough so the tires are screeching a little and not too much.

You looked to be having fun!!

Yea I looked in my rear view mirror during the first set of slaloms and felt/saw I hit a cone so I pretty much just yolo'd the rest of the run.

[aw614]

Thanks for the input. Hopefully I learned a thing or two from this and can do better in the future events.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=tim ... FORM=VIRE2

Granted this isn't the same course but a couple elements are very similar.

I typed "Tim autocross in fl" in google and got these very nice multiple videos from our own Tim STi. It's been way too many years since I raced an AWD car. Tim is trying to make it into an art form. Your driving as mentioned is above par. Probably too Miata like and proper. What I notice most about Tim's style is his ability to make the tires always keep working. That is what I loved about an excellent AWD turbo system keeping the boost on. I don't think I've ever seen anyone spin out in one? At least not on pavement.

I think he spun out once on the first corner at a tampa bay downs event course that I saw

[BrilloHeadBen]

I think he spun out once on the first corner at a tampa bay downs event course that I saw

I was riding with him on that run. I'll never forget looking at grid getting closer and closer to my side of the car!

[rrath]

If you ever decide to get a more nimble car, I think you'd surprise some people. Maybe even yourself.

Maybe someday. That'll occur naturally in just over a decade, with less need for extra seats. Else, with falling prices on, for example: Solstice GXPs, I'd need a place to store an extra car.
For now, it's two tons of fun for autocross runs.