2014 auto cross inquiry

Well we mostly stay in 2nd gear, which might not sound fun, but with the turns your tires will be screaming and it wil be a blast!

 

You might hit your rev-limiter in 2nd. Might... The 6-Speed is just a little too short some days. My 2nd is good for about 70ish. I've only hit the limiter once at the Motor Sports Park auto-x. If you do hit the limiter, ride it for a second, you'll be off the throttle quicker then it'll take to shift.

This lot is very slick, heads-up. It's chalky because we haven't used it much. AWD will be the cars to watch for times. Remember, a quick lift-throttle in a turn WILL send your ass around. When in a slide with our cars, give it gas to steer the front wheels in the right direction. If it's going to go around, full brake/clutch. It'll save you from swinging into a light pole. Or course worker.

Side Note: My car will be ready for this weekend. Thanks AP.

 

That's sweet, my will be ready after this weekend but I will be driving James STI so I won't be crying to much about not having my car there . Now I just have to try and keep up with you, James and Miles.

 

I got my Bugeye running again but now I just need to replace the evap system vacuum lines and I think I'll be ready

 

Cant be any worse than those bricks at turner... lol

The last event I went to a vette almost got wrapped around a light pole trying to be brave a follow through. Everyone in the lot had a pucker moment... hnoes:

 

Just signed up in the Street Modified class. I'll be there this Sunday as long as my compression check comes out okay LOL.

 

I've signed up for the novice. This will be my first time autocrossing. should be fun!

 

Auto cross is always fun!

 

So who's going to pay my way to see a 26yo worn slap out Subaru Justy hit the course? No way of getting the coupe ready and tagged in time for this weekend.

 

The Justy might fit into a low class. If you can race a Civic HF, you can race a Justy!

Glad to see so many folks signing up. I know you'll enjoy yourselves out there.

Some more pointers for you guys.
Bring lots of water, you'll be chasing cones and it'll be almost 70° out.
You'll be chasing cones, wear appropriate footwear. I ONLY race in high-top Vans. ONLY! You'll want a shoe that has a good rubber sole that you can feel the pedals through. Running shoes (for me) are too thick to race in. I like the way my Vans wrap around the pedals. No fancy Pumas/Pilots needed.
In the morning, it's always colder and windier then you thought. Bring layers.
Bring snacks and/or a lunch. There won't be a vendor at the event.
Please drive slowly/quietly through the neighborhood. This is the first large event we're having here and want to be able to keep coming back.
Know that you're not going to win this weekend. It's about fun, about learning your car's limits and driving at 99% of that limit.
Listen to your tires. If they sound like they're screaming in pain, they are, and they're slowing you down. If giving more wheel input isn't tightening your line, try less speed. Open up the wheel a little bit and slow your speed, that's the only way to fix understeer. You don't have to apply brake, just back off the throttle and open the wheel a bit. You'll gather the front wheels quickly this way.
WRB cars, don't bring BLUE painters tape for your numbers. Use a CONTRASTING color for you numbers. Also, I can't TECH you without numbers/class on your car. You can print out your numbers/class on paper and tape that to your doors, you can make them with painter's tape, just don't use blue on blue. I'll laugh and point and not let you through TECH
Air up those tires before you get to the event and bring an air gauge. I'll air up my tires tonight to 40psi. When I'm in grid I'll bleed them down to 37 psi front and 38 rear. Each run puts heat in the tires, you'll bleed them after each run. At the end of the day you'll be back down to about 32 psi.
Tighten ALL your lugs before the event. You can't have any missing lugs to run.
This is THE biggest reason I can't let people pass TECH, tighten down your battery. If it's loose, you won't pass TECH. I don't care how it's tethered down, but if it moves when I pull on it, I will call you out . :wavey: Sucks, but this is the leading cause of fires at our events.

Anyone have questions about the event itself? I'll try and answer them today. Tomorrow I'll be away from a computer to help.

 

I will be picking mine up tomorrow, so not TNT for me. :|
I do not see you signed up for sunday

Hey I cannot help that I left my numbers at home, and all I could get from anyone was blue painters tape :argue: I was even trying for black electrical tape.

See ever one one sunday though :coolugh:

 

I'd like to come check this out. Maybe just to watch at first. I'd like to meet you guys and put some names with faces.

 

It's free to come and watch and we'll be sure to give you some rides in the cars. It's always a fun time and there is nothing like the first time you ride in a fast car around course. You get out shaking and totally pumped. They may look slower from far away, but being inside the car is a crazy experience. We are all fun loving, chill guys, so feel free to come up and talk. It's not like some fancy car show, we love helping people out and making sure they have a fun time!

 

Is anyone going to the rallycross today?

 

Pretty sure there's an autocross in macon tomorrow too.

 

I really enjoyed seeing all the WRX/STi's out having fun this weekend. It's nice to put a face with a Sig.
It was a really fast course. I ended up in 4th. I hit the last cone just before the finish 3 Fing times. That back slalom was just so fun though. You could set-up every throttle point in the dips and just shoot back up and in the direction. I just chose fun over fast and it bit me. Oh well, at least my girl took first with the car

Best time was 44.2 +1 = 46.2

The BRZs going to be challenge to beat going forward. Joey came out showed us why it's in STX.

 

I was using a buddy's Data Logger on Saturday for the TnT and now I'm hooked. I'm not looking to go all in, yet. I want to start off using my iPhone 5s if I can. I'm not finding anything really. There's a good one for Andriod devises, it's NOT cheap by any stretch, but this is what I'm looking for.
http://www.petreldata.com/product/solostorm-gps-obd-ii-and-video-logger-for-android-v2-2/
Anyone have any suggestions? Does anyone use a data logger that tracks your GPS for AX? There's plenty for track days.

 

I took some videos.

Feedback VERY welcome. I already noticed a couple, I should have taken a slightly different line moments. I fell deeper in love with my car over the weekend, this was the first time I really pushed it.

Run #1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkFVyHXjKM8

Run #3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnuO3AKnTQI

Run #4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZPRKF_y6W4

Also Millhouse... How similar are our cars? Tires? Mods?

Just curious, I think your driver mod is better than mine...

 

The biggest correction, you cleaned up by your 4th run. Shorten the track. There are a few elements, that if lined up right are straight shots. The BIG brake element, after the huge fast 180°, is a straight shot going into the other 200° turn. If you didn't brake in time. Which leads me to my second helpful hint, you're a little late braking. Most obvious in the 90° before the final slalom.

Watch your hands in the first video when you're going around the big fast 180°, you turn in, straighten the wheel, then turn back in. Ideally, you want to brake just before you enter, load up the weight on the front wheels, give a bigger turn in input and let the rear go around. Keep a constant throttle input and let the AWD clean up the line. Our cars flatten in the middle of every turn, so if your not over rotating, you'll push mid turn. By the last run, you were trusting the car/driver to handle the rotation. Driver Mod is working

 

Ya, I was also getting a feel for my brand new car as well. I've only had it since Nov. and was my first time doing motorsports with, so I am still learning its limits.

My 3rd run was actually my fastest. 48.195 vs my 4th which was 48.2 something. My 4th did feel more correct though.

Thanks for the pointers!

 

I definitely had fun on my first autocross, aside from my car acting up a bit. Big thanks to all who helped/coached me! I managed to get 49.927 sec on my 5th run, which I'm really happy with.

 

Just an excuse to buy more go fast parts. :naughty:

49 is a solid time for a completely new person autox, good job!

This is your couch.

 

True words have never been spoken. I'm still figuring them out myself.

 

Haha, have to talk to the wife for the go fast parts :sx:. Thanks again Zack(sp?)! and I assume superdude is James? (sorry, bad memory with names)

 

I forget what James' SN is on here, but Superdude was the driver of the Silver WRX that was running in STX. I am TERRIBLE with names and cant remember Superdude's to save my life.

 

Randy. :wavey:
I'm also know as Randall, but there are 2 other Randalls with Team Solo, and one other Randy for that matter. It's all very odd. I made it this far in life with ever meeting another one, and now there's Randalls all around me.

I answer to Superdude.

James is ApexShift

 

Here's some pictures I took of you guys. Sorry The_Duke....I don't know why I missed out on your car. Half of these were taken by me, then the other were my girlfriend haha.

 

I have the factory Dunlops still :sad:
I have a front strut brace, short shifter, AP (factory boost tables), steering bushings, and shifter bushing.

Those are some great pics liltoua, it almost looks like the front tire are coming off the ground from the launch.

 

Thanks for the picts! Nice and flat, I love it. That's really the first photo at speed I've since my coil-overs.

Millhouse, your car is WAY to shiny!!! I definitely hit more cones with my front passenger side.

 

Who drives the white hatch? Great looking rims! Cool pics. I really hope I am able to come to the next event.

 

If you mean the silver one, that's mine. Thanks man!

 

If you guys want bigger pictures PM me. The actual sizes are bigger, but for some reason WRXATL doesn't resize them to be smaller so I just posted a smaller size photo.

 

I hit cones, I just know how to drive clean.

I pick up cones more on the backside than the front. You might be a little to aggressive if you tagging them with the front.

 

I used to drive on mountains alot so I drive clean because I am not used to be able to make mistakes... lol

Once I get my confidence with my new car back I'll earn my cone killer badge.

 

I like that there's a boat behind us. I couldn't NOT look at that stupid thing every time coming out of the fast 180°.

I gave up clay barring my car after the second year. She looks tough with her battle scares And I believe that was more us trying not to push out of turns more then early entry. I'd like to say other wise

 

Does anyone have the link to register for the novice event on Saturday?

 

Here is Saturday's novice school:
https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/atlanta-novice-school-manheim-drive-center-scca-solo-989010#.UxPC7_ldVr8

And Sunday's points 2 event:
https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/atl-scca-points-2-manheim-drive-center-atlanta-solo-214483#.UxPECvldVr8

 

I'm gonna miss it this weekend. But Laraine will be out there with the car and her bother. It'll be funny to watch her beat down her older brother

 

I'll be out there Saturday and Sunday. I'll be one of the instructors for the Saturday Novice School, hope to see some of you there.

If anyone wants some instruction, just come ask for me personally. My name is James and any regular will know who I am. Or just come find the short guy in the black hat with the '05 STi. I have someone in an M3 who I'm already mentoring, but I know we'll have a few people each.

Hope to see everyone else Sunday. I'm driving in the afternoon, but can coach the afternoon run group I'm not racing for anyone that needs.

 

I'll definitely take you up on that

 

I should be there sunday; couldn't make Saturday work [oops]; looking forward to it, as the last and only autox with this car was several years ago, and my base auto x experience is FWD, so I'll look for you

 

Yup I'm addicted

 

I came down with a wicked bug this past week. I didnt make it out sunday due to recovery...

How was the course?

 

I hear it was a pretty difficult course for AWDs.
bluedestiny, Laraine and Ron said you came over and talk with them. I think Ron sat with you on a few runs, sounded like you had a good time. Glad you made it out.

 

It was a lot of fun, and having been so long since the last auto-x [2007 Subaru Atlanta Auto X, when the car was totally stock], and now just learning how much different Stage2 complements the current suspension, also, it took all 5 runs to start to feel comfortable with reading the course from the course walk [same as the last time].

I signed up as Novice class so I could get the 5 th run and it was great that Ron, was my mentor, which was really helpful since I have had so little AWD auto x experience [ base experience was 100hp/1800lb FWD vehicles].

Best time was 55.212 which wasn't too bad in my mind considering my first run was 62 something; cant wait to review all 5 runs on my GoPro in detail.

I worked the time slips so I saw Loraine's runs and win with low 50's along with a number of other well prepared Subarus,

Thanks for the advice earlier,

 

If you end the day faster, then you started, it's a win!

Yeah, she ended up with a 50.5 for 2nd and the white RX8 finished his last run at 49.8 for 1st. Ron has a spec.B, but he doesn't race it anymore.

I still have issues with my course walks. Walking, I always feel like there's so much room. You think you can get to places on the course you totally can't when driving at speed.

Get into the habit of looking way forward. You're eyes should always be looking at the next gate or beyond. So, when you're driving around town, make it a habit to look around turns and try to straight line pot holes or cracks coming out of the turn. It'll become second nature on course. Another place you can gain a ton of time is to shorten the course. You can enter a turn @ 40mph, but push to the outside of the turn, or enter @ 30 and really push the inside cones. Faster isn't always the most fun :/

 

Points well made! Lines always look different at speed than when walked. I also realized there were parts of the course I could have watched in addition to those I did watch others run.