Autocrossed the Fit today

Jetydosa · #1 (**permalink**) 11-19-2006, 12:29 AM

Well Ive wanted to take it out there for awhile now, our last event of the season I finally managed to get both my cars to the event site so I could drive them both. I have to say I was very impressed with the car, it was very nimble, easy to drive and had more grip than I expected. I would have had better luck if I had some more grippy tires than the all-season Falken 512s, haha (I have them in 205/45-16 on the HFP wheels). I had lots of problems with spinning the inside tire, I bet I was loosing traction on it a good 2/3s of the course. I was about 5 seconds slower than my fulled prepped Integra Type R on Azenis. Would definitely like to try the Fit with some better rubber.

Some pics!

All in all a ton of fun, my regular codriver, who before he drove it kinda poo-pooed the Fit, he did a run in it and came away very impressed and had a blast in it also.

aziatiklover · #2 (**permalink**) 11-19-2006, 02:09 AM

love the last pic man

whitefitsport · #3 (**permalink**) 11-19-2006, 03:28 AM

I just came!

wyy183 · #4 (**permalink**) 11-19-2006, 10:20 AM

I ran mine back in October. I had to bump up the air in the front tires to 50 psi, and it still tried to roll them off the wheel.

Here's a pic:

gcubed · #5 (**permalink**) 11-19-2006, 05:01 PM

you guys doing any suspension work before taking it out or is that on stock suspension? Looks like a nice swaybar would work wonders. Stock tires? If so i can hear them crying all the way up here in philly.

A lot of the guys i autocross with have been poo pooing the Fit also, would like to take it out there after i break it in.

wyy183 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-19-2006, 05:42 PM

Absolutely stock here.

Any significant mods puts you out of Stock class.

I'll be doing some tires next year (probably.)

gcubed · #7 (**permalink**) 11-19-2006, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyy183

Absolutely stock here.

Any significant mods puts you out of Stock class.

I'll be doing some tires next year (probably.)

yeah, i'm aware of that, but does the fit stand a chance in the stock class? i'm waiting until 10k miles to take it out, so i dont know if it is competitive. If not, i figured spend some $$ on suspension mods and embarass a few other cars.

Jetydosa · #8 (**permalink**) 11-19-2006, 07:50 PM

Stock susp for me. I think a larger front sway bar would help with the inside wheel spinning. Any other susp mods (unless you replace shocks only) will bump you out of stock class. I think if you want to be competitive at all in the Fit you will need to not change anything that will bump it out of HS. In STS you will get destroyed by the EF Civics.

Bounty Hunter · #9 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006, 04:09 AM

Looking good Jetydosa!

What was the course like? Were you sliding around in the stock seats?

I missed our last AutoX (didn't have my car yet), but I'll definitely try one out next season with the Fit. I think the Fit has a chance locally in HS against the Minis, but we'll see. I won't try to get competitive with mine, but I will have some fun. Maybe suprise a few non-believers who think I'm driving a mini minivan. haha.

huevosrancheros · #10 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006, 09:51 AM

Love the fit, It looks like you had a blast! Weren't you sliding out of the seat. Thats the only thing I don't like about the fit, the damn seat doesn't have enough of bolster support

Jetydosa · #11 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006, 07:39 PM

Yeah, I slid around a bit, but Im a on the big side so they hold me fairly well considering.

The course was typical sweepers, high and low speed speed offsets. We have decent elevation change in our lots so camber is constantly changing as well, you have to keep that in mind when out on course.

Heres a couple more pics for good measure:

And my "usual" autox car:

gcubed · #12 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jetydosa

Yeah, I slid around a bit, but Im a on the big side so they hold me fairly well considering.

CG Lock is your friend

http://www.cg-lock.com/index.html

Good Luck!

nexus4400 · #13 (**permalink**) 11-21-2006, 02:28 AM

Well, usually you can fully lock the seat belts by pulling the harness all the way out and slowly retracting them.

Bounty Hunter · #14 (**permalink**) 11-21-2006, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcubed

CG Lock is your friend

http://www.cg-lock.com/index.html

Good Luck!

I don't think he's serious about AutoXing it. It's his daily driver and he has an ITR.

JamesBizzle · #15 (**permalink**) 11-21-2006, 05:10 PM

man, this is great! I want to bring my Fit to the streets of Willow road course.

Paulo107 · #16 (**permalink**) 11-22-2006, 02:38 AM

what should tire pressure be with the stock wheels??? i will doing some autox soon my 1st time and will be getting more into it. i have roads around here to play on ,but i want a safe enviorment to develop my skills...need a pros insight

wyy183 · #17 (**permalink**) 11-22-2006, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paulo107

what should tire pressure be with the stock wheels??? i will doing some autox soon my 1st time and will be getting more into it. i have roads around here to play on ,but i want a safe enviorment to develop my skills...need a pros insight

I had to bump up to 50 psi front to keep from rolling off the wheel (see pic posted previously in this thread...) I ran the rears at 35 psi.

Balance was good.

JamesBizzle · #18 (**permalink**) 11-22-2006, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyy183

I had to bump up to 50 psi front to keep from rolling off the wheel (see pic posted previously in this thread...) I ran the rears at 35 psi.

Balance was good.

did you're tires shoot up passed 50psi after you ran your car due to your tires being heated up? or did you have nitrogen in them?

how do you measure how much is too much or to little? just trying to get some info for when I take my Fit out to the track

.

wyy183 · #19 (**permalink**) 11-22-2006, 01:23 PM

OK - This is very basic info and I'll try not to get too technical.

Look at your tires. See where the tread is? It extends slightly over to the sidewall of the tire. If you are going past the tread, then you are rolling the tires under your car. Increase air pressure so that you are not in danger of rolling the tire off the wheel. This is an unsafe condition.

Now, if you are not using all the tread, then you may have too much air in your tires.

Let's increase the level of technicality just a bit.

Once you have your tires in a "safe" zone, you can begin to look at other factors. How does it handle? A general rule is that whichever end of your car is sliding, you either add air to those tires, or reduce air in the others.

For example, if your car is understeering, or pushing, quite a bit, add more air to the front tires, or try reducing some from the rear tires.

This works for most "normal" tires. Some racing tires (BFG T/A R1's, for example) for backwards because of their sidewall design.

DISCLAIMER - you should never run your tires above the pressure posted on the sidewall. This is a COLD number.

Hope that helps!

================================================== =

Also, the picture that I have posted, above, was taken in Huntington, WV. So whatever kind of air that they have there - that is what went in the tires

Jetydosa · #20 (**permalink**) 11-22-2006, 01:26 PM

I ran 40f and 38r and had only slight rollover on the fronts. This is on 205-45-16 tires so the shorter sidewall prob helps a bit.