i finally added on my rear sway bar so hopefuly it'll help me out at the next event! i can't wait til the 10th!!

 

Wow! Today's SCCA event was a trip! This was the 1st time racing in the rain. It was pretty fun, but definately different from any of the past events - it was easy to have something "bad" happen if you pushed it too hard. It just started raining harder & harder as Tom, Dylan and I ran.

Tom totally turned "Super Saiyan" and unleashed his Fit on his last run! Awesome run!

Dylan busted out his new tires (rims too, yeah?) & sway bar. Did it feel like you were driving a totally different car form last time? Bummers it had to rain today though.

Here's a video from today's event. I had the camera too low so it doesn't show the upcoming cones as well. Oh well...
YouTube - 01-01-2010 - Hawaii SCCA - '08 Honda Fit Sport - 4 runs

Again...Thanks Brad for your help during the course walkthrough. Virtually all the ST class walking with us. As always...very helpful. And congratulations on another 1st in the ASP class!

Laters...

 

yeah it feels like it did help, too bad the rain totally crapped on me! haha but i did a little better in the rain as weird as it is.

 

You guys did great in the rain.

You weren't slowed much compared to other drivers maybe a half second it seemed.

Tanukifit was a demon-
Super Saiyan (超サイヤ人, Sūpā Saiya-jin) (commonly abbreviated as SS or SSJ) is an advanced transformation assumed by extraordinarily adept members of the Saiyan race in the Dragon Ball franchise.

Nice work. Keep driving like that but next time in the dry.

 

We had another SCCA event today. As always, it was fun and challenging. But today was a little different...got beat by a Civic. Landon's Civic is setup great and his driving is top-notch. It'll be tough to beat him. Next event is in 2 weeks.

I turned on the ETC Throttle Controller to SP5 on my last run just to see how it would feel. I had it turned off on my previous 3 runs. The ETC felt ok. My time improved a little, but I think I need to practice on more actual course runs to get used to the different throttle feel. I'm gonna try using it on all 4 runs in the next event....maybe try SP6.

Here's a video from the event: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iTSLcJ4cGY

Laters.

 

Another rain soaked event but-

It did not seem to slow the Fits down much.

Great job guys on excellent wet street tires.

Maybe it should rain more often Zoom Zoom.

Raton 1st out of 6 in class, 28th overall on raw time, 8th out of 103 on PAX overall. That is a great result- first time in top 10. 1.4 sec faster than 2nd
Tanukifit 4th out of 6 in class, 75th overall on raw time, 49th overall on PAX

 

Yeah, another rain event. Maybe the rain and wet track helps mask our understeer.? I hope not.

Brad...thanks again. It's very helpful to have your analysis of our runs. Congratulations on your 1st place today! Wow! Almost FTD.

That was one confusing course! The 1st time through....all I saw were CONES..and more cones! I had a hard time remembering the course we walked. Thank God we didn't run in the 1st heat! I think I would've been even more lost.

Here the video from today's event: YouTube - 03-07-2010 - Hawaii SCCA - '08 Honda Fit Sport - 4 runs

See ya...

 

Anytime you can finish high enough to be in the top 10 with PAX for your given class you did really well. You show it can be done in a Fit using street tires.

In the rain-
You must slow down vs the dry- but good street tires loose less and still provide enough grip.
Understeer only happens when you are going too fast in a turn and loose traction. You can still get it but since you have to slow a bit you may see it a little less.

I thought the big right hand showcase turn near the end required enough slowing to make it flow, you were a little too fast in the early runs but settled down nicely by the last few runs.

Remember I said it would be good to feel a faster run? Just think of that, it will give you a different perspective and then you shoot for that feel.

In my class I was fortunate to get a clean last run and under 40 seconds vs Kimo in a good BMW M3 some 8.8 seconds slower. I'm sure he could go faster but hasn't really felt what would be possible so he drives what he thinks is fast but it could be better.

OK, so run off championships are April 4. Do your mental training and practice on the street being smooth and "look ahead".

You guys did great for a wet day.

 

April 4 Easter Sunday

Event Schedule:

0600 – 0800 Track set-up
0700 Gate opens
0700 – 0800 Run-off registration & tech inspection
0815 – 0830 Run-off driver’s meeting & worker assignments…MANDATORY
Turn in registration cards at the trailer
0830 – 0850 Track open for walking
0900 – 1200 Run-off heats 1 & 2 (first car out @ 0900)
1200 - 1230 Fun-run registration & tech inspection
Track open for walking when heat 2 is done
1230 - 1245 Fun-run driver’s meeting & worker assignments… MANDATORY
1300 - 1345 Work group #1
1345 - 1430 Work group #2
1430 – 1515 Work group #3
1515 – 1600 Work group #4
1600 – 1630 Clean-up


Morning will be Run offs-

Anyone that came to half of the events over the last year in one class can participate the sign ups have already closed. Heats 1 and 2 run in the morning then in the afternoon it is open for funruns for ALL SCCA regular members no weekend membership. $10 for 6 runs and maybe more if we have time.

Street Touring is in Heat 1 so if you want to see Fits Fly then come in the morning.

Fun-Run Rules:

• SCCA members only – no weekend membership
• Max 60 drivers
• Pre-registration only from on 3/27/10 @ 9am to 4/1/10 @ 6pm
• Must work in (1) work group (~1 hour), can run anytime the rest of the afternoon
• $10 flat fee for max of 6 runs
• Make check or money order payable to SCCA Hawaii – pay on event day, no payment via PayPal
• Car must pass tech/safety inspection
• ALL standard rules apply during fun-runs (i.e. no drifting).
• ONE passenger allowed provided s/he:
o Is no younger than 12 years old.
o Is wearing a properly fitted seat belt & properly fitted helmet.
o For minors, parent/guardian signed the required participant waiver.
• Approved helmet and closed-toe shoes required for ALL participants

Hope to see you there.

Sign ups for funruns can be done now online limited to first 60.

You don't pay yet, bring a check on the day of the event.

 

The Hawaii SCCA Run-Offs took place today. It was a rainy day again. Tom and I gave it our best shot today. Gotta drive better. Nuff said.

It's still good fun and challenging. The next event is on 7/11/2010.

Thanks Brad for your help.

Here's the video from the Run-Offs: YouTube - 04-04-2010 - Hawaii SCCA Run-Offs (ST Class) '08 Honda Fit Sport - 3 runs

Laters...

 

Despite the close finish and final results you both did really well overall.

Anytime you get within 0.2 seconds it's a photo finish.

The battle for next season is on.

Too bad you didn't stay for the fun runs-

The track did dry up and we had plenty of chance to drive.

I managed a 37.7 sec run with runflat tires which felt fine and shows there is always room for improvement.

 

Thanks again for your help Brad. Yeah, I wouldn't have minded staying for fun runs, but I didn't purchase any fun run tickets for that day. I have 2 sets of un-used fun-run tickets but it looked like the one's @ the run-offs were specifically for that day.

Looking @ the video it looks like there's a bunch of places were some time could've been cut--
@ the turn by the announcers
@ the slaloms going up to McDs
@ the turn by McDs
and definately the whole 2nd half of the course could've been taken faster/better.

Oh well...God willing...next time.

Next season, I'm going to try using the Throttle Controller. I left it off these past 2 1/2 events. It definately feels different w/ it turned on.

Whoa! You would've been 2 away from FTD with a 37.7.

 

The 37.7 was in the dry not wet and it was after practicing about 6 times or more. By then the Miatas were in the 35.x sec range. But with race tires I can do about 1.5 sec faster than street tires or about 36.x sec which is about right.

As for the course-
1.@ the turn by the announcers
2.@ the slaloms going up to McDs
3.@ the turn by McDs
4. the whole 2nd half of the course

1. The showcase turn. - This was different due to the lane change before heading back up toward the top of the course. With a lane change you can speed up so you will need to setup for this part by slowing enough then turning EARLY so you can enter the lane change straighter than if you were just doing a turn, then get on throttle early in the lane change then turn left tight and head up to the slalom but be ON throttle that whole time but still in control. Literally that segment heading up to the slalom was the fastest portion so setup before the fastest straight is always the most important part of the course.

2. This was only Left right left and the first gap was less than the second so the only thing was to drive a straight line close to the cones and not get to wide on the entrys. Be early on slaloms and smooth. Setup for the slalom was important and I thought I saw you overshoot it a little and had to make a harder right turn on entry. Instead slow enough and get over to the left a little more then when you turn right you are entering the slalom straighter and at higher speed.

3. This turn was a little tricky because like many turns we have there it was a decreasing radius turn almost like a question mark backwards. Again entry speed needed to be just right or you'd get understeer which only slows you down. Slow in and exit fast would be the best strategy.

4. Coming back in over the grate I thought you were going too fast at times and not turning left early enough which caused the next right to be tight and close which slows you down. Be early on each turn to set up a better faster line but be smoother and less on the brakes but precise on the steering and close to the cones as you can. A video from the outside will show how you are with being from the cones.

Of course it is easy to think about the strategy after the event and harder when we have not yet driven it. Sometimes we will see elements that we have not seen in combination before. Most things we have done in the past.

When it is raining you do not have to take the line that makes the most sense on paper. Sometimes you have to take the drier line or make adjustments.

Remember, no matter what, it's driver skill that makes the most difference.

 

The 1st Hawaii SCCA Event of 2010 was this past Sunday (7/11/10). The last event was 3 months ago. The course was very challenging.

Here's the video from the event: YouTube - 07-11-2010 - Hawaii SCCA - '08 Honda Fit Sport - 4 runs

Still running the T1R intake, skunk2 pro-c c/o (settings 8 front;11 rear), throttle-controller set to SP5, progress RSB, ingalls torque damper, RPF1 15s on dunlop star specs, going 37 psi all around.

ST class was competative as usual. Honda Fits still managing to hold our own.

Next events are on August 8 and 22.

Edit: Man, it's painfull to watch that video. There's so much understeer and tire screeching. I gotta work on my braking! I'm like..."Brake there, you idiot! You passed the brake point!"

 

You guys did great.

Street Touring Class
1. #58ST Fit 46.936 seconds (on the last run)
2. Scion tC 47.038 seconds
3. #8ST Fit 47.830 seconds (3rd run out of 4)
4. Nissan Altima 47.944 seconds





Pretty good results vs
Super Stock class
New Lotus Elise on stock wheels and Bridgestone RE-11 tires
4th in class out of 5 at 48.398 seconds

 

We had the 8/8/10 SCCA auto-cross event @ the Aloha stadium today. It was a gorgeous day! Finally...no rain. The course was pretty darn technical and challenging.

The Fit felt pretty good. Ended up using this setup:

* Skunk2 pro-c @ 11 (front) and 8 (rear)....EDIT: I just noticed...I'm not sure if I set this up backwards?? Maybe I should've gone 8 (front) & 11 (rear). Maybe this contributed to my crazy understeering? IDK. I gotta double-check my previous settings. Uggh!!
* 40 psi (front) and 39 (rear)
* ETC Throttle Controller = SP5
* My low-fuel light was "on" too

Brad (in his GTR) came in 1st. Congrats Brad! And thanks again for your help and advice. Wow! Dylan, you are climbing that STS rankings! Cool.

Here's a video from today's event. I used a GoPro HD for the 1st time today and alternated between the 720p (172 degree viewing angle) and 1080p (127 degree) resolutions. I'm leaning towards using the 720p resolution.

YouTube - ‪08-08-2010 - Hawaii SCCA - '08 Honda Fit Sport - 4 runs‬‎

Had a great time. The next event is on 8/22.

Laters...

 

Congrats to you both. Good job on a tough course for the Fit.

Randy,

You did best on run 1. There were a lot of good things on the video but it lacked the aggressiveness of run 4. Check out the steering work, much better in run 1 than in run 4 where you crossed hands before the slalom. The problem with run 1 was going too fast on some of the corners going back in after the far side turn around. The 42.5 was reachable for you certainly but you did pretty well and won by 0.35 seconds which is a blink of an eye.

Tom,

You got faster each time on the last 3 runs so definitely doing the right things. Keep working on being smoother and set up with each turn to get in the right position then floor it.

In my class there was only a new driver in a 2010 Porsche GT3.

A very nice sportscar. He did pretty well. But only less than one second faster than the Fits! Overall I got 6th on raw time overall but could have done much better. I snagged a cone on my best run. Oh well.

Dylan did pretty well getting 4th out of 6 in a very competitive class. Landon was there too. Both were pretty close in time to the Blue Porsche GT3.

For suspension adjustments try
Medium setting stiffness for the front
Moderate stiffness in the rear.
Settings are not always linear, try it out first

Chris Carris took out his new Honda Fit with stock all season tires during the funruns and got a 45 second run. He just needs to put on some Extreme summer tires to drop 2 seconds. I would estimate that the ST class Fits would hold a 1/2 sec advantage head to head if driven well, otherwise it could be a toss up.

See you in two weeks. Aug 22

 

Chris Carras (who had Fastest-Time-of-Day yesterday in his S2000) might be driving his 09 Fit in our ST class? Oh ohhh!

 

Chris drove Mike's Porsche GT3 in Super Stock with race wheels and tires for FTD. His wife Diana drives the S2000 CR.

Chris tried the Fit Sport with stock wheels and tires in fun runs just to try it.
He didn't mention if he would switch but it's always at the events since it brings the tires for the S2000.

Mike did not do as well as Chris in his own Porsche so I am not sure how long that might last doing co-driving. Chris said it's not easy to drive the GT3 well.
More power means more to balance and handle/control.

The Fit Sport with All Season tires is at least 2 seconds slower than with race tires whether Extreme summer or R compounds. Fit in H Stock class with R compounds on stock wheels would be OK. No sense running it in ST class unless more upgrades are done besides just street tires. Wider wheels, suspension upgrades and tires would fall into ST class. No real need to change anything but tires for H Stock class and it would do fine since he has a 2009 Fit Sport. Just won't handle that well but it's fine on better tires.

I ran a 2008 Fit sport with both stock rims and Kumho V710 205/50-15 tires vs wider 15x7 rims and Bridgestone RE-01R tires and it was pretty much dead even with stock suspension. I think Extreme summer tires on stock rims would work OK and if the sidewalls were stiff enough it could improve handling enough to be suitable for H stock autocross.

 

Oh, I didn't notice Chris was driving the GT3. Wow! I guess that shows he's a pretty darn fine driver, yeah?

That makes sense. I can't see Chris modding his 09 Fit out of HS class. He's not as crazy as Tom and I.

He did ask me about the 15" Enkies though. I could see him getting those w/ either Star Specs or RE-11s. I don't know if he could fit R-compounds on the Enkie 15s.