Wow! Cool video. It really shows the line you took. hmmm....I might try that angle at the next event. Thanks.

Great driving Brad...as always. And thanks for your advice--getting off the gas really cut my time. It's funny that doing "one thing" differently can cut the time. The problem is determining what that "one thing" is for that particular course. It's like your the "Teacher's Edition" with all the answers at the back of the book. Thanks. One of these days...I'd like to see the Matrix code too.

Yup, the next event is right around the corner (11/13).

 

Had another SCCA event this past Sunday. Good fun as always. Ended up coming in 2nd--losing to an (the) Altima. Was a close finish (38.878 vs 38.808).

Still using the PRM cold air intake. The T1R intake feels more responsive though. Gonna try and compare the times using each at the next event (Dec. 11).

Here's a video of the 4 runs: 11-12-2011- Hawaii SCCA - '08 Honda Fit Sport - 4 runs - YouTube

Laters...

 

You did well. Your times are 0.07 seconds apart which is a fingernail's difference or about one fifth of a fast eyeblink.

It's nice to be ahead but it can be unpredictable who will drive slightly quicker for a given course.

Hopefully driving school in January will help. Be open to suggestion and leave any (bad) old habits at home.

For such a close margin it may boil down to cleaness of your ability to get through the slow corners, trying not to overdrive and understeer but also keeping speed up even 1 mph faster counts.

 

Yeah...that was crazy close. Darn! Thanks for your advice too. I couldn't go full-throttle up towards McDs. Shucks. Lots to improve.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to some driving secrets in the class, but I want to get my car in order before the class too. I plan to change to a 15 lb battery and might switch back to my T1R intake (it feels alot more responsive).

 

Your last run was definitely the best one.

On the last run-
You were in first and bouncing off the rev limiter at the first series of slaloms- shift sooner like you mentioned and just try to keep the flow of those tight slaloms as even as possible.

First big left turn was OK but get back on gas that much sooner by doing a late apex turn. Once on throttle keep that next section as straight as possible and try to keep steering input smooth.

Set up for the tight right turn by being more to the middle or left coming into the turn and slow a little vs full throttle so that you are pointed up not going too far sidewides and into the row of cones on the far left. You were a little close on the right turn and had to slow a little more than needed to keep a good line going up.

Going up to McDonalds was good- keep throttle up and the only place for problems was near the top on the last left turn it was a little jerky (esp in the early runs) and that upset the balance of the car a bit. You want steering to be minimal and weight change to be minimal so you can use all four tires as much as possible. Also as the tire gets overworked on a tight turn on with a quick turn on the steering wheel you can get too much slip angle and loose traction- you'll hear your tires too.

The big turn around was good, keep on throttle and stay on a good line that merges back into the slalom coming back in then set up for the left turn that leads into the last straight to finish- can be full throttle. Key is to set up for that left turn so you can enter that last bit a little faster and hold throttle until the end.

So lets say you can exit that left before the final straight at 1-2 mph faster on a run and keep it floored- that means for the last 200+ feet you are going about 2 mph faster the whole time. Big difference.

Chris in the lotus told me their top speed was about 60 mph while my top speed was about 56+ using scan gauge.

You videos are worth studying to see how you handle the different areas and what little changes per run resulted in what times.

While it is good to try left foot braking you may find that it will not allow you faster times until you can master it. So the dilemma is to save it for fun runs and use your normal braking for at least three runs of the competition.

Here is a video of Aaron running a 34.1 second time in the F Modified racer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56458021@N06/6347927860/

I think you did great.

 

Only one more event left for the season- this next Sunday March 18

Raton, you did really well at the last event

You squeaked by for first with 0.077 seconds and you led with best time for each run in your class

Both of you were dropping your times with every run.

Check out some of the times by comparison out of 83 drivers-
54. Subaru Sti 38.113 sec. 50th PAX overall Street Touring Unlimited class
55. Raton Honda Fit 38.173 seconds 39th PAX overall Street Touring class
56. Honda S2000 38.194 seconds 66th PAX overall Super Street Mod class
57. Nissan Altima 38.250 seconds 41st PAX Street Touring class
58. Honda S2000 38.254 seconds 53rd PAX overall A stock class
59. VW Gti 38.414 seconds 57th PAX overall D Street Prepared class
60. MG Midget 38.454 seconds 54th PAX G Prepared class

Heads up for the Run off event in April

In the morning you do three runs for the best time in one direction then in the afternoon you do three runs for the best time in the opposite direction. Winner is best combined time for the day.

Similar to what we did for Evo driving school but for this event you will not have much time to walk the afternoon course so get some walking done in the morning with the opposite direction course in mind but don't get mixed up in the process.

 

Raton,

You are missed at autocross.

Street Touring classes are expanding, more and more drivers are out there.

But none are driving Honda Fit.

Don't forget there is EVO driving school in January of 2013 and you can sign up already online.

 

Raton,

Good to see you signed up for this sunday's Curtis Lee Memorial Autocross at Aloha Stadium lower parking lot.

Spectators are free, just park in the lower parking area outside the gate. Walk in.

Driving starts about 930am and finishes about 3pm.

If you want to try autocrossing this is a good event, show up 730am for walk up registration, there is still room.

For this event only we do have parade laps, you drive once slowly over the race course before you drive your four runs for time. This allows you to see and feel the course before you drive. Normally we do not allow parade laps but this is a memorial event to honor one of our leaders.

 

Next event is March 31 at Aloha Stadium, come and drive or watch.
For drivers, walk up registration at 8am, be at the lower parking lot gate at 745am.

 

Next event and last for the season is March 16 at Aloha Stadium lower parking lot.

You can sign up early on Motorsportreg.com or walk up at 730am on the day of the event which is Sunday.

You'll need closed shoes and a SNELL rated helmet M2000 or later. If you don't know what it's like then search Youtube for Raton, lots of videos there of the Fit at autocross.

 

OK, here is the official info on the July 27, 2014 test and tune SCCA event at Aloha Stadium lower parking lot-

http://www.sccahawaii.org/docs/solo/...2014-07-27.pdf

Each driver works one heat and drives in two heats. You can ride along or rest in the other heat. Total of four heats for the day and possible fun runs at the end if time permits.

Instructors available all day long. Bring closed shoes and Snell rated helmet if you have one (M2000 or later).

Pre-reg online from July 17 using this link-
http://www.motorsportreg.com/events/...0#.U8XJQCiJLP1


Fee: $40 (no refunds), $15 – additional fee for non-SCCA members
Event limited to 50 drivers.
Drivers will get two 4 run heats (8 runs total) and each driver must work one heat (about 1 hour). Run/Work assignments will be posted by Friday, 7/25/14.
Instructors should be available upon request
Tentative schedule:
0630 – 0800 Setup
0700 – 0800 Check-in & tech inspection
0830 – 0900 Track open for walking
0900 – 0915 Driver’s meeting
0930 – 1215 Morning runs
1215 – 1300 Lunch (bring your own, shorter if needed)
1300 – 1545 Afternoon runs
1545 – 1615 Fun Runs (if time allows)
1615 – 1645 Cleanup

 

Sorry the test and tune is now filled.

If you would like to attend the Evolution Driving School on the MLK weekend in January of 2015 then follow that thread. It is an excellent performance driving class with mainland instructors.

 

All of the autocross events are now completed for 2014.

Next event is on Jan. 4th at aloha stadium and you can sign up the week of the event on motorsportreg.com.

Here is a sample video of the last event on 12/14/14-
https://www.flickr.com/photos/56458021@N06/15845621169/

 

March 29 sunday is the last event of the current race season.

SCCA Autocross at Aloha Stadium Lower parking lot.

You can pre-reg on motorsportreg.com or do walk up registration for $5 day of the event at 730am.

see
SCCA Hawaii Solo Race #11 (3-29-2015) info on Mar 29, 2015 (572387) | MotorsportReg.com

Post here if you are interested.