I autocrossed this weekend. Had a great time. The course was real short. Only 30-40 seconds long. I ran 4 times in my tC and my dad ran 4 times in it as well. My best time was a 35.356 The results arent posted yet so I dont know my standing. But I know another SM class car (a WRX Impreza highly modified on competition tires) ran a 33.9. So I want to far off. The first 2 videos are me. The last 2 are my dad. Then all the pictures are of me racing. My best run wasnt tapped. Autocross is awesome!!!

What ya think? (the one picture it looks like I am looking at the camera)

My second run
http://media.putfile.com/Nicks-2nd-Run

My third run
http://media.putfile.com/Nicks-3rd-run


Dads 1st
http://media.putfile.com/2006-Scion-...utoCross-Dad-1

Dads 2nd
http://media.putfile.com/2006-Scion-...utoCross-Dad-2

 

No one is into autocrossing?? There must be some go instead of show folks out there.

 

I'm into autoXing, scheduled to attend 2 this month, one of which is a 6 hour drive.

Looks good, but I would practice on prep of the course, there are a few parts where you're all over the course and not taking lines like you should be. Walk the course until your legs are too tired or they kick you off. Arrive early and walk the course with a seasoned auto-X'er and get tips and pointers. Prepariation is everything. Remember that it is better to over-brake than to come in too hot in the corners, your dad has the right speed in mind in the corners, but he doesn't seem to want to punch it and slam the brakes as much as you should. Remember, full on, full out. (brake in, turn, accel out, don't mix the two unless it's an emergency or for correction)

Your car is mighty quick, but there were many times where it wasn't being pushed as hard as it could have been.

I'd also recommend a few books that could help as well, PM me if you're interested.

 

Never seen autocrossing here in Puerto Rico, guess I haven't looked good enough.

 

Thanks for the tips. It was only my third time, so I am still learning. My dad has autoxed for the past 7 years so he is good. But he said going from his mustang to this car hurt him, because of the differences. I beat him by 2.5 seconds. And when we went last time I had my car and him in his SVO Mustang and I beat him by a tenth, so I am not doing to bad. I hung with the Mini Cooper S in my class. But I will deffinetly consider what you say. I wish I had my 2 fastest laps on Video. I need different tires, as you could tell from the sound, I spun second gear everywhere.

Thanks for the comments.

 

falken azenis ST-615's are the hot auto-X tire right now

make sure depending on what class you're in (STU?) that you don't go over the regulated tire width that will bump you up a class (I believe the max is 245)

 

With my MODs I am already in SM (but i dont think I belong there, there are some VERY highly moded WRX's in this class) so I am not to worried about losing a class. I really want the azenis. But I am also considering the Hoosier R6's. Do you know anything about them?

 

The r6's won't last long if you don't keep a constant eye on the temeratures as with any R compound. You could go an entire season on the ST-615's and still have useable tread left. They perform their best when cold, and as the day of racing goes on, if you don't lower the temeratures of the tires they will start to get oily on the surface and lose traction. Thats why you see all the guys with the sprayers spraying down their tires after each run - it's not as bad as the old 215's were, but they need to stay cool.

Keep in mind that the Azenis are street tires, and you're comparing them to R-compounds. If you're already in SM, go for the R-compounds, brand doesn't really matter once you cross that line into those tires, but remember that they will only last you a handful of events and they aren't cheap to replace. Make sure you either take off that kit (or don't care if it gets beat to hell) or buy something to stop the rocks from slamming into your kit, because R-compounds pick up anything end everything and hurl it towards your car. Hence the need for a rock scraper for the tires inbetween runs.

If I were in your shoes, I would do what I needed to take a step down from SM - your blower won't throw you into SM, you should be in STU with a charged 2.4L and unless you have torn down the car to the frame with race seats and a cage, TC's don't belong in SM. Anything you do to reduce the weight of your car that requires removing something that is bolted down or reduce the weight of a necessary part will put you in SM. Also anything you put in your car for suspension that was not originally there can put you in a different class, or if you change any mount points in the suspension from stock.

EDIT: What have you done to your car to put you in SM? nothing in your profile breaks the rules of STU.

 

See, thats what I thought. I dont think I belong in SM, but thats what they threw me in. I have full interior, no weight reduction. Just strut bar, shocks, springs, blower. When I go in 2 weeks I am going to ask them to look my car over and place it accordingly. This time I just told them what I had and they placed me.

I might take your advice and go with the ST 615s and put them on my stock wheels. I cant afford to be replacing tires often. My wife would kill me. For STU I could run the 615's, correct?

 

Last time I ran up in PA. They put my results as FP, I was up against a race prep porsche 944 with tubbed interior and one piece body. It was rediculous. I really need to get the final answer of what class I belong in. But I dont no how much it matters, I am not trying to be to competitive because I miss alot of events. (I am in the military and headed out to Iraq so i will miss the end of this year and most of next years series.) SO its more for fun for me.

 

well, you belong in STU unless you've done something I don't know about, and if anyone tells you otherwise, ask them why and tell them you've read the SCCA classifications - also there's an auto-X going on in VA on the 15th and 16th in Danville (right at the north carolina border) that I'm going to, should be real good - http://www.myautoevents.com/pls/mae/...sevent_id=5509

Get it in while you can, and thank you for standing up for freedom.

 

Oh man I am already signed up for one on the 16th that is only about 30 minutes from me. Danville is pretty far.

Thanks for the invite tho. I see you are willing to drive. I would love for ya to come down to this area for one of the weekends so I can get some pointers and see how we compare.

Know I havent done anything you dont know about. Check my cardomain for complete list of mods.

 

Isn't it sad on this forum that there are 10 million threads about the "tC vs. _____" and 1/4 mile times, relatively few people here care about real motorsports (such as autocrossing and driving HPDE on road courses, etc? Granted, I'm probably preaching to the choir since they're all probably either reading the "tC vs. _____" threads or talking about which I/H/E combo can help them take out a civic SI or an RSX blah blah blah...

Sorry for the rant...I just think that it's sad that's there's not much support here for autocrossing and the like....

okay, sorry to hijack your thread Nick...back to the regularly scheduled program!

 

Not to worry, I'm one that is in those threads of I/H/E, still I like to read a lot on the different motorsports our cars participate, even if I haven't ever been to an autocrossing event. I'm everywhere in SL :twisted:

 

good to hear that man!

 

Hey i know exactly what you mean. It so funny to hear, I BEAT A RSX, or I BEAT A CIVIC WITH A K22R59DELTA6NINER Engine swap.
These people need to take it to the track and see what they can do in the turns. Plus its fun and safe.

And I can say, I beat an RSX type S on this course. Thats alot better than saying I beat one on the highway in a straight line.

 

It's all in the point of view, some prefer straight lines others prefer tackle the corners. So I think that each to his own.

 

^ Yeah I hear you. I know that all types of motorsports have their own sets of skills that need to be developed and have their own challenges.

I prefer road racing (haha not STREET racing) -- I think it's a good way see the car's potential in both straight line and turns, and it also shows more aspects of a driver's skill. I personally think it's a more balanced approach...

 

sweet vids nick...I really need to get myself into an auto-x event soon. I hear they are a lot of fun. Your car looks and sounds really good too bro. Keep up the good work man!!

 

I agree, clean Tc.

I am just starting to get into auto-x but all the events are a good 2+ hours away. This isn't too much of a prob if I didn't just have surgery on my right knee 6/30/06. That or my RX7 didn't break right before I had to bring it home from school.

Ahh, our school sponsers 3-4 auto-x's a term (11 weeks) and so far I have only made one of them....and that was before I put my new suspension on. dam.

And again, thanks for fighting for America. I sure do appreciate it.