The Official Autocross Thread - Page 3

mahout · #41 (**permalink**) 08-27-2009, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tanukifit

Are you sure? I don't see anything in the rule book about mix and matching between the trim levels. You highlighted a statement that says standard meaning what came on the car.? right? Mini's one of the officials at Hawaii SCCA I don't think he would try to misinform anyone.

Though years ago, having competing in A/X's from CA to NY and PA to FL I can recommend you listen to your local officials.
Every area has its own rules and especially interpretations of rulebooks, particularly SCCA ones.
Your local officials can give you their ruling on what is considered 'standard' on your car. Some areas may say by the car (Fit) and others may say by car and model (Fit Base). usually its by whose ox would be gored.

If I were you I'd be more interested in what tire I could use than what size wheel. A lightweight 15" ('perhaps' a stock one sandblasted of unnecessary weight and fitted with Hoosiers or another 'very competive' but legal tire, perhaps by chem coating, would be far more competitive.) And make sure your combat tire is slightly smaller in diameter than stock, say a quarter-inch, if you have a choice. Less weight counts too.
Hey I'm old now and don't A/X any more so I can give away my secrets. Won a lot of trophies with that stuff.

Sugarphreak · #42 (**permalink**) 08-27-2009, 11:00 AM

^^^ Agreed, I am still trying to figure out how to get a set of 14" 225 A6's on my car for next year

Looks like I am going to be picking up a 3rd place trophie in the Rookie championship this upcoming weekend, I am pretty stoked! I am about 3 points behind the 2nd place guy (Honda S2000 CR), but I would need a 1st place and a 2nd place win (ahead of the 2nd place guy) to take that position... I did beat both guys in events before, but never at the same time, lol. First place belongs to a turbo Mini, he already clinched the spot

mahout · #43 (**permalink**) 08-27-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugarphreak

^^^ Agreed, I am still trying to figure out how to get a set of 14" 225 A6's on my car for next year

Looks like I am going to be picking up a 3rd place trophie in the Rookie championship this upcoming weekend, I am pretty stoked! I am about 3 points behind the 2nd place guy (Honda S2000 CR), but I would need a 1st place and a 2nd place win (ahead of the 2nd place guy) to take that position... I did beat both guys in events before, but never at the same time, lol. First place belongs to a turbo Mini, he already clinched the spot

Forget the 225's. Stay 205 or less. Preferrably 195 like the Conti's for legal class street tire.

Sugarphreak · #44 (**permalink**) 08-27-2009, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mahout

Forget the 225's. Stay 205 or less. Preferrably 195 like the Conti's for legal class street tire.

I find the 205 RE-11's I have now are way better than the 195 Contisportcontact2's I had before. But to be competitive I really need to get into a pair of A6's next year, they cut at least 2 seconds off a 60 second course.

Sugarphreak · #45 (**permalink**) 08-28-2009, 03:39 PM

Just picked up a CG Lock today, hoping it helps!

tanukifit · #46 (**permalink**) 08-29-2009, 05:52 AM

I pull hard on the seat belt hard about 2 inches away from the latch (this locks the belt). then I put the latch in without giving it slack it's better if there is some slack then you can twist the belt and latch it. This way you lock your shoulder in as well...

Try it while waiting in the grid.

Sugarphreak · #47 (**permalink**) 08-31-2009, 01:42 AM

I have tried a few things similar, pulling hard then sliding the seat forward... ect. I tried out the CG lock today, fantastic little product! It installed in seconds and comes off with almost no effort by pulling a locking tab back. It would be ideal for cars that have more than 1 driver.

Today was fun; I haven't seen the results yet, but they felt good. This last event everybody felt very competitive, it will be interesting to see how I ended up PAX-ing.

Sugarphreak · #48 (**permalink**) 08-31-2009, 11:41 PM

results are in;

I managed to edge out the S2000CR for a 2nd place rookie spot for both events, I couldn't get ahead of the turbo mini though; the guy placed 1st for every event except one in the rookie standings. Very good driver I have to say,

In the end I got 36 of a possible 40 points, here are the results (I removed full names for obvious reasons though)... don't ask about event #5, I got lost a lot!

So not bad for my first ever full season. I had a lot of fun and learned a lot about the car. Good group of guys to run with, couldn't ask for more than that.

Next year I may pull the manifold to drop it out of FSP and also throw in some coil overs and give R-comps a try.... that or drop the Fit all together for something I can beat on a bit.

MINI-Fit · #49 (**permalink**) 09-05-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awptickes

Wrong. You can use a 16x6 wheel on a base.

Which means you can take your pick between 15x5.5 or 16x6, because you can mix and match between different trim levels of the same car, given that classification list does not make a distinction between those models.

Please stop spreading misinformation and read the rules. Kthx.

The exact tire width and size that came with the same trim level is legal per SCCA rules. You cannot mix and match trim levels of wheels for H Stock even if the distinction is not made specifically. The wheel sizes are not interchangeable for H stock class and offset needs to be within 1/4" from stock offset plus or minus which makes it difficult since Honda offset is huge.

15x5.5 (OEM for 2009 Base Fit) is not the same as 16x6 (OEM for 2009 Fit Sport) for the base fit. For H stock you cannot run Honda wheels that did not come from the factory. Dealer installed larger wheels even with Honda caps are not allowed in H stock.

Fit Sport and Base Fit from the 2007 and 2008 model years were 15" and 14" respectively and cannot be switched legally.
Fit Sport for 2009 wheels are 16x6" +53 mm offset while 07 and 08's are 15x6" +55 mm offset

For 2007-2008 Fits (in H stock)-

Base fit only runs with 14" rims in H stock
Fit Sport only runs with 15" rims in H stock
No Fit can run with 16" rims even if it came with the purchase from the dealer because the 16" rims in that year were not factory installed, they were dealer installed.

Adjust according for wheel size for base vs Sport Fits for 2009 model year but same rules apply.

This doesn't mean people don't try and if not caught it might pass in some regions but it does not pass at Nationals and not in my region as we do know what sizes are stock and we do warn the drivers that if their competition does protest then the rule breaker is disqualified.

If you do not believe me then contact Doug Gill at SCCA national and he can set you straight for the correct wheel size for a given class especially in H Stock. You can also post the question on the H stock section of SCCA's forum.

As far as swaybars go- in H stock any front swaybar is fine and often drivers will try to find a smaller front swaybar.

Please check the rules- visit the SCCA.org site, each driver is responsible for reading the rules. Your competition is.

MINI-Fit · #50 (**permalink**) 09-05-2009, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugarphreak

results are in;

I managed to edge out the S2000CR for a 2nd place rookie spot for both events, I couldn't get ahead of the turbo mini though; the guy placed 1st for every event except one in the rookie standings. Very good driver I have to say,

In the end I got 36 of a possible 40 points, here are the results (I removed full names for obvious reasons though)... don't ask about event #5, I got lost a lot!

So not bad for my first ever full season. I had a lot of fun and learned a lot about the car. Good group of guys to run with, couldn't ask for more than that.

Next year I may pull the manifold to drop it out of FSP and also throw in some coil overs and give R-comps a try.... that or drop the Fit all together for something I can beat on a bit.

Congrats.

Funny but if you are in FSP.

Our region puts any MINI Cooper S in DSP while a base Cooper goes into FSP with the eligible mods. We would allow only upgrading to a class so if classes were combined then a base Cooper could be bumped up to DSP but a Cooper S would never go to FSP.

Also Honda S2000 CR is A stock in my region per SCCA rule book and goes to BSP if modified per that class's rules not to FSP.

Sugarphreak · #51 (**permalink**) 09-05-2009, 10:40 PM

Both the Mini-S and the CR are stock; they run in the same class you mentioned.

We don't have too many members (maybe 30 or so) and of those all the cars you see are the only rookies. So the rookies all get lumped in together, all they compare is the final PAX times for the rookie championship. You are right, only my Fit and I believe the Jetta are FSP.

The Escort is actually running in SM, that car is scary fast!! Thank god for PAX

MINI-Fit · #52 (**permalink**) 09-06-2009, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugarphreak

Both the Mini-S and the CR are stock; they run in the same class you mentioned.

We don't have too many members (maybe 30 or so) and of those all the cars you see are the only rookies. So the rookies all get lumped in together, all they compare is the final PAX times for the rookie championship. You are right, only my Fit and I believe the Jetta are FSP.

The Escort is actually running in SM, that car is scary fast!! Thank god for PAX

Thanks for the clarification. That makes sense. Lucky you have novice or rookie section.

We have 100-115 drivers per event and novice lasts for one event then no breaks. Also we have no ladies division, all drivers are heads up against each other. Very very tough. Often just a few tenths of a second from each driver in the top 7 or so.

I think what you do with rookie season is good, gives you a fighting chance to compete in your class and vs all other rookies using PAX to even things out a bit.

In my region the Honda S2000 CR with Hoosier tires is killing us with a great PAX and equally great raw times- a pair of drivers often finishing in the top 3 on PAX and top 7 on raw times. They have national SCCA competition experience.

Congrats again, well done. The Fit in FSP isn't easy.