Next event is tomorrow.

Good luck guys.

Keep working on your technique.

Since I think you have done whatever mods you wanted and seem content with what you have, now focus on "driving".

Key homework-
1. Get there early and walk the course- even take notes or draw the course.
2. Have a plan then adjust when you get out there.
3. Look ahead as far as you can comfortably- it will give you more time to get to the right spot as you move through the course.
4. Look for the tightest turns and slow enough when entering the turn- don't enter too fast or you'll understeer and your tires will complain.
5. Look for the straightest (relative) parts of the course and remember that it's key to enter these areas as fast as you can and keep the speed up the entire time until the next area where you will need to slow down.

 

I didn't think that last course was so easy for the Fit.

Tight turns at the far turn around and S shaped finish at the end were challenging and technical. Easy to mess up.

TanukiFit- good job being more aggressive on throttle but sometimes you have to be more patient and wait until the right time.

Mostly you have to watch out for overdriving the course given your tires and suspension can do only so much.

The Fit is good but it's no S2000 or MR2.

You guys beat some good cars out there including-
Subaru GC8
Scion tC
Altima
Honda Civic Si
Lexus IS250

Raton,
Your time was within 0.09 sec of the first place STU car a Mazda Mazdaspeed 3 hatchback with way more power and good tires.
Your time also beat a bunch of STU cars like Subaru STi, Evo X and Evo8 , Subaru WRX and Legacy, etc.

Next event is Sept 19

 

Thanks Brad for your help on the course walk. Tom and I missed your constructive evals after our runs. That darn S finish was tricky.

This past course was pretty cool. Kinda was NASCAR oval--with slaloms on the straights and a round-about @ one end and that crazy S shaped finish. My Scangauge had me @ 43-44 mph on the straight leading to the S finish. On my last run, I couldn't stop in the short distance I gave myself. I'm pretty sure the ABS was kicking in. Seems I can't drop 15 mph in 15 feet. haha.

And Bummers!! My GoPro didn't record any video. I need to get better @ the using it. I only took stupid photos. I was really hoping to see what driving this course looked like on video.

Tom and I are probably going to need new tires soon. Maybe before the next race.

Thanks again Brad. See yawl @ the next event.

 

If you find that you can't brake fast enough for a tight turn then you can start to brake a little earlier and use a little trail braking at the turn.
Generally you have more brake power than engine HP.

Before you buy tires let me know your thoughts on what to get next.
I need your wheel size and width and what tire size you want to consider next.

 

Yes, I definately needed to brake sooner on my last 2 runs. I'm planning on sticking w/ the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec (195x55x15). I think Tom was looking @ the Star Specs too. But he also said he was interested in Federal (not sure exactly which one, maybe 595s?) but they were 205x50x15.

 

Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 are good, better than any Federal street tires

Other option is Bridgestone RE-11
Not many 15" sizes
195/50-15 $120 each
205/50-15 $123 each
Both usable sizes

Tirerack tests
Tires : Test Results : The Tire Rack

It's a toss up. Probably even. Select based on tire size and price.

How worn are your tires now? How many miles on them?

 

I went tire searching and found.....

The new 595 rs"r" is a 140 utcg with stiffer side walls 205 are 86vs.(sounds very interesting because I like the previous version) these tires are quiet and responsive. Does everything well.

The 195/50s on all the extreme tires are to soft 82v bummers because I found a deal on the RE11s (the thing I didn't like on the previous RE 01rs was the tread was soft steering input was slow so I had a tendency to yank on the steering wheel harder and ran into a lot of understeer situations), 84 recommended for the fits weight.

Kumhos xs are cheap, good on sweepers nothing else. Sharp turns slide, forward and braking traction sucked and lots of tread noise

I like my current Dunlop star specs but as a daily drive tread noise around 30 - 40 mph is annoying. This last race was much like driving in the rain... fun but, to much time loss sliding all around

 

The Federal 595 RSR would be great for street use but maybe not quite a soft as needed for autocross.

Bridgestone RE-11 likely OK for street use and maybe easier to live with vs Dunlop Star Spec but any tire will get louder and harder with time.

New tires feel great. Your decision, some tradeoffs with any you may select.

I use Kumho V710 but most will use Hoosier A6 for autocross. You get faster times but shorter life with the A6 and there is some differences in tire sizes available.

 

I could not find anyone who would special order the Federal 595 rsr for me so I ordered the Yokohama AD08s. 60 bucks cheaper than the RE11s.

 

First impressions of the AD08s are it has way less tread noise than the Star Specs. Side walls seem stiffer (more responsive to steering inputs). Impact noise is about the same as the Star Specs. I'll leave more info. after the 19th at the next event.

 

We had another SCCA event yesterday. Tom drove great! Those new tires were perfect. And a Subaru WRX is in our class! What the heck?! The course had lots of slaloms and what-nots so couldn't go too fast. It was a tough course.

Thanks Brad for your advice. I don't think I could've drove any faster w/o your advice. I wouldn't have thought to get closer to the cones or some of the lines you mentioned. Congratulations on 1st place in ASP. You're the Porsche slayer.

Well, I did manage to get my GoPro to work this time. haha. But I forgot to record my last lap which was my fastest. Darn! I wanted to see what I did. I forget already. haha. Here's the video from the event: YouTube - 09-19-2010 - Hawaii SCCA - '08 Honda Fit Sport - 3 runs

And man-o-man...it was boiling hot. Water...water....

The next event is on October 24th. The Fits are still going...

Laters.

 

Event 4 was the most fun I had in a long time. I think the AD08s are the best tires I've ever used it's a lot more forgiving on fast steering inputs than the Bridgestone RE01rs or the Dunlop Star specs. Congrats Randy for dominating the ST class as usual. Thanks Brad for the tips but next time don't stand in line of sight you make me nervous. haha, only joking thanks again for all the help.

 

I wrote to the tech guy at SCCA about the GC8 Subaru. Avery said it's a 2.5 RS but, when I look it up on the internet it says 2 liter turbo predecessor to the WRX. Oh well, with all equal talent the Fits shouldn't be the front runners any ways...... I guess it'll give us incentive to push a little harder.....

 

I think you did better with the AD08 tires.
see
Testing the New Extremes of Extreme Performance Summer Tires

It's up to each driver to fight for every fraction of a second.

Going into the last run you both were about 0.11 sec apart.
That is a third of a fast eye blink.

In fact drivers were clustered together on final times.
Overall 5th to 13th places were separated by only 0.35 seconds which is about a fast eyeblink.

I think Randy will have to watch his back and not be content until the event is over.

Sorry for being in your line of sight but I was pretty far away not trying to spook you.

I'd say go for it.

The Subaru is legal in ST class. Just be happy you don't get a good MINI cooper with mods in ST class running wide wheels and bridgestone RE-11 tires. I've thought of doing that.

 

This is what I based my decision on. The part that said laser sharp steering is the part that got me because I tend to yank the steering wheel to a point the car just goes into understeer. So, the bad thing is I'm not learning to be a smoother driver.

It's so funny, I came into that section and did my look ahead and I saw you standing there at my landmark to set up for the hairpin. Then I looked at my slalom cones and noticed I was on the wrong side of them
I'd say go for it.

When I looked up GC8 it says GC is 4 door and 8 is 2 liter turbo which pushes this car to STX. But, another site calls the GC8 a 2.5RS 2.5 liter normally aspirated which is ST.....

 

Although the tires will help you to some degree it is always better to have smoother inputs from the steering wheel, smoother throttle and braking, and a cleaner line. Just keep working on improving the basics and the rest will follow. Having more grip from tires is always helpful.

When driving focus on the course and block out everything else. Don't allow course workers or anyone else to interfere with your concentration except for someone waving a red flag.

Check with the GC8 driver and look under the hood. If no turbo present then ST class is OK.

Subaru Impreza - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

SCCA hawaii announces:

Curtis Lee's Celebration of Life:

Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Hawaiian Memorial Park (Kaneohe)
9:30am Visitation
10:30am Service with Light Lunch to Follow
1:00pm Burial
Aloha Attire

 

see
Welcome to SCCA Hawaii Region Web

The upcoming event, Oct 24, 2010 will be a little different than normal events.
The Parker and Lee family have designated the next race as a memorial to Curtis.

Information here.
Major points:
$40 entry fee - includes lunch and remainder will be donated to Hospice of Hawaii.
No funruns, there will be more things going on
Parade lap - we will be able to do a parade lap through the course at slow speeds. Passengers 12 and older are welcome.

You can come to drive or watch.
You support on T shirt sales helps Hospice of Hawaii.

 

Check out the autocrossing segment on Island Driver

Welcome to Island Driver TV

 

Hey MINI-Fit (B), tanukifit (T), and raton (R)...this is Dirk M. My wife bought a FIT today so I thought I come check this place out and found this thread. See you guys at the track on Sunday.