First time to AutoX my two week old Fit Sport - Page 2

TOOL · #21 (**permalink**) 02-06-2008, 05:10 PM

Im running my first AutoX event on the 23rd! Cant wait. My car has Progress Springs and bar and thats it as far as performance.
But the first event is like a cool training thing where autoX experts teach you good lines and how to be fast at the sport! Very cool first event.

Tyler

Skimmer · #22 (**permalink**) 02-08-2008, 07:22 PM

Those school days are a lot of fun and a good way to get your feet wet. One piece of advice: Make sure you get hooked up with an instructor who knows front-wheel-drive cars. The driving tactics are very different than for rwd. Oh yeah, and make sure you add at least 10 lbs. of extra air pressure in your tires before the event. From there, you can deflate them a little depending on how the car handles to try and find the best balance. You might want less pressure in the rear to make the back of the car looser. Have fun!

Saved · #23 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 09:22 PM

I run 37psi in the front and 43psi in the rear. That's the best I've found on my car so far. Might be different after I get some better tires.

Saved · #24 (**permalink**) 03-06-2008, 09:53 AM

I just competed last weekend and the only reason I got first is because my competor in STF did not show. The track was very techanical and I could not build up speed for the life of me. My times where crap but considering this was a course designed for cars with horsepower, I drove ok.

Results- http://houscca.com/solo/results07/08REG03B.TXT
Map- http://houscca.com/solo/courses/mar08.gif

Skimmer · #25 (**permalink**) 03-06-2008, 01:22 PM

Hey Mugen, are you still on 16" wheels, and what kinda tires are you racing on?

If you haven't already, you should make your next mod a proper wheel alignment to get as much front camber as possible -- using factory or aftermarket 'crash bolts' in the front struts depending on what your STF rules allow. That will give you tons more grip.

Saved · #26 (**permalink**) 03-06-2008, 04:34 PM

I don't want to mess up the alignment because I drive it more than just the auto cross. And I no longer have the 16's because they would rub in hard cornering. I'm back on the stockers.

Skimmer · #27 (**permalink**) 03-07-2008, 05:18 PM

If you're afraid changing the alignment will affect street driving, it won't really if you keep the settings mild. I'm running zero toe and about -1 degree camber (with the crash bolts) and if anything it has just made everything better on the street. The car gets pushed around just a little bit more in windy conditions on the highway because of the toe setting, but it's not troublesome at all.

Saved · #28 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 09:49 AM

I would think that it would kill the life of your rubber unless you rotate them more often.

Skimmer · #29 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 02:13 PM

Well, look at this way. The rear wheels already have around -1.5 degrees camber from the factory. So adding something close to that up front with crash bolts just means all four tires will wear in a similar manner.

Saved · #30 (**permalink**) 04-01-2008, 10:56 AM

Your right about the camber. I had them set to factory settings and did ok. But other guys out there that were running a sec or so behind me adjusted their camber and came out on top in their class. I might have to do this by the next Auto X event on June 1st. I attended the rookie skool the day before so I have a lot of wear on my tires for Sundays event. Here are the results...
http://houscca.com/solo/results07/08REG04R.TXT

Skimmer · #31 (**permalink**) 04-01-2008, 01:35 PM

Yep. The extra camber you get from the crash bolts is probably worth a half second or so. But maybe more important is the car control you gain at the same time. It just makes the car more fun to drive. Comparing your times with those in H Stock, you didn't do too bad considering you're on street tires. Switch to R-comps and get some camber and you could probably be among the top 3 in H Stock -- maybe even without the R-comps.

Saved · #32 (**permalink**) 04-02-2008, 10:11 AM

I just might do that. Every single person in H Stock is running on racing tires. I want to stay in STF until the end of the session. If I get four more 1st place finishes then I got to compete at the runoffs and I get a free jacket.

NJ Drive · #33 (**permalink**) 04-02-2008, 02:23 PM

I installed crash bolts in front yesterday. I haven't performed an alignment yet, but I can tell right away that there is much more grip up front. Steering response is sharper, turn-in comes earlier, and ultimate road holding in front is better.

Alignment is Friday, and I have two more autocrosses this weekend, on fresh V710s.

I've done four autocrosses already with just RT615s with excellent results, so I'm expecting to be very close to top PAX now, and we average 80 to over 100 competitors.

Skimmer · #34 (**permalink**) 04-02-2008, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJ Drive

I installed crash bolts in front yesterday. I haven't performed an alignment yet, but I can tell right away that there is much more grip up front. Steering response is sharper, turn-in comes earlier, and ultimate road holding in front is better.

Alignment is Friday, and I have two more autocrosses this weekend, on fresh V710s.

I've done four autocrosses already with just RT615s with excellent results, so I'm expecting to be very close to top PAX now, and we average 80 to over 100 competitors.

I think you'll find the difference with those changes to be pretty huge. Be sure and let us know how you do!

HEMI-Fit · #35 (**permalink**) 04-03-2008, 12:04 AM

NJD,
Are you running the 615's daily, or just on the track? I'm thinking about running those - or the comparable Hankooks - for a daily tire, and wondering how they live on the street. Hoping to get my bolts in soon and make a race late in the season if possible...

HF

NJ Drive · #36 (**permalink**) 04-03-2008, 05:53 AM

Running the RT615s daily and at the autocross. I've run the RT615s in the past as well, and have chose to run them over any other street tire due to their price and outright grip. They can't be beat, and Grassroots Motorsports has proven this time and time again.

I should say that this weekend, I will be running V710s in front only, and the RT615s in the back. I just don't believe that adding more grip in the rear will help right now.

Saved · #37 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008, 08:57 AM

Just ran our last event on Sunday June 1st. This was the first time to race in over two months because they couldn't get the track for some reason or another. Since the last time out, I've installed the crash bolts as suggested and got my alignment set at -.9 on the left and -1.2 on the right. The tech was having trouble making more than that on the left side and was having trouble getting it to match on the right side so I said it's close enough. I think the camber help a bit. I could feel the car hold where it would normally push.

I just started this new job about a month ago at a Toyota dealer as a service adviser. The sales manager just bought a Yaris S and was talking trash about my ride. So I told him to take it to the track and see what its all about. So the next thing I know, he's got a whole package of TRD goodies on order and gets them installed a week before the race. Long story short I beat him by .7 seconds and I was surprised it wasn't by less. He has experiance with road racing his BMW so throwing the Yars around some cones came easy to him.

All in all, I had a blast (as always) and can't wait till next month. He said he's hooked and he's going to start modding the crap out of his Yars and he plans on kicking my behind the rest of the season.

http://www.houscca.com/solo/results07/08REG06R.TXT