Autox - the sweet taste of oversteer.
03-23-2003 | 10:36 PM
#1
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Autox - the sweet taste of oversteer.
Ahhh yes, my car oversteers now! 
It's going to take me a few events to relearn how to drive my car, I feel like I have a completely new vehicle. Not once did I experience pushing or understeer today. It really caught me by surprise as I was going too fast in the transition from the right to left turn out of the start box. If I'm going too fast the car used to warn me by pushing a bit. This time it just spun 360° and I went off course. In this case dropping the rear tire pressure from 41 to about 38.5 seemed to help dial that out. I'm now running 46 PSI on the fronts and have no rollover (contrasted to the 52 PSI I used to need before the mod).
My best time was a 59.691 on my third an final run (I think that puts me in 5th or 6th place). I'm sure I could have bettered that by a second had I not been so timid after my little of course excursion. 3 times in a row I botched that one turn where there was a wide runnoff. I could have kept the throttle open quite a bit but for some reason the turn looked a lot tighter to me than it really was and I just never learned that part of the course.
As for STX's new addition (the black BMW M3/E30 chassis)... that's Ralph and he comes to us from SM. He started autocrossing with Vic Sias in 1988 and has been autoxing for 15 years. Great, now STX has a Peter Mottaz.
Just when we finally did away with Rob.... hehehehe. Andy Clark seems to be figuring out that orange CalTrans Mazda. I guess these guys are raising the bar in STX. It's nice that it's no longer the WRX class. Chris and Paul as expected were the fastest WRX's in the bunch turning in times (I believe) in the low 59's (maybe there was a high 58 in there???).
Finally... how about the size of the run group? We couldn't even fit in the normal grid. WOW. There's enough time in between runs to completely disassemble and reassemble my suspension. I thought I was going to run out of gas just idling on grid.
I met OwlBoggie (Marc) and a few other BAICers face to face. Give me a few events to get everyone's names straight.
Cheers, Joe
It's going to take me a few events to relearn how to drive my car, I feel like I have a completely new vehicle. Not once did I experience pushing or understeer today. It really caught me by surprise as I was going too fast in the transition from the right to left turn out of the start box. If I'm going too fast the car used to warn me by pushing a bit. This time it just spun 360° and I went off course. In this case dropping the rear tire pressure from 41 to about 38.5 seemed to help dial that out. I'm now running 46 PSI on the fronts and have no rollover (contrasted to the 52 PSI I used to need before the mod).My best time was a 59.691 on my third an final run (I think that puts me in 5th or 6th place). I'm sure I could have bettered that by a second had I not been so timid after my little of course excursion. 3 times in a row I botched that one turn where there was a wide runnoff. I could have kept the throttle open quite a bit but for some reason the turn looked a lot tighter to me than it really was and I just never learned that part of the course.
As for STX's new addition (the black BMW M3/E30 chassis)... that's Ralph and he comes to us from SM. He started autocrossing with Vic Sias in 1988 and has been autoxing for 15 years. Great, now STX has a Peter Mottaz.
Just when we finally did away with Rob.... hehehehe. Andy Clark seems to be figuring out that orange CalTrans Mazda. I guess these guys are raising the bar in STX. It's nice that it's no longer the WRX class. Chris and Paul as expected were the fastest WRX's in the bunch turning in times (I believe) in the low 59's (maybe there was a high 58 in there???).Finally... how about the size of the run group? We couldn't even fit in the normal grid. WOW. There's enough time in between runs to completely disassemble and reassemble my suspension. I thought I was going to run out of gas just idling on grid.
I met OwlBoggie (Marc) and a few other BAICers face to face. Give me a few events to get everyone's names straight.
Cheers, Joe
03-24-2003 | 08:38 AM
#2
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Car Info: 96' GF w/EJ205
Re: Autox - the sweet taste of oversteer.
Originally posted by veloLexus
As for STX's new addition (the black BMW M3/E30 chassis)... that's Ralph and he comes to us from SM.
As for STX's new addition (the black BMW M3/E30 chassis)... that's Ralph and he comes to us from SM.
03-24-2003 | 09:30 AM
#4
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yeah those damn M3 are fast. Was not aware that the old one could be in STX, thanks for the clarification Chris. I will probably be at the next event in SM on my street tires 
that should be amusing.
that should be amusing.
Last edited by stratos; 03-24-2003 at 10:59 AM.
03-24-2003 | 09:40 AM
#6
This Guy Can Hella Draw!
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Re: Autox - the sweet taste of oversteer.
Nice to meet you in person Joe. I want my car to oversteer.
I thought I was going to win STX-N with a 64.78 until RogerRex's son got 63.x on the last STX-N run of the day. Good job!
At least now I know I can do well if put into the right category. I was tired of coming in last in SM-N.
I thought I was going to win STX-N with a 64.78 until RogerRex's son got 63.x on the last STX-N run of the day. Good job!
At least now I know I can do well if put into the right category. I was tired of coming in last in SM-N.
Last edited by OwlBoogie; 03-24-2003 at 09:43 AM.
03-24-2003 | 09:51 AM
#7
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Car Info: 96 Chevy Impala SS, 06 GMC 2500HD (former 02 WRX)
So what'd everyone run in STX? I ended up with a 60.7 : I'm still learning the car, but getting closer. Started playing with shock settings some, and they had more influence than I thought they would! Think I may have finally found the settings to (controllably) let the car turn in sharply
I'm out for next round, gonna be outta town. Of course, since it is Gravel Gate fields I'm not sure that is all that great of a loss
Looking further down the road : is everyone planning on signing up for the National Tour even in Atwater? I plan on it, need to sign up soon!
I'm out for next round, gonna be outta town. Of course, since it is Gravel Gate fields I'm not sure that is all that great of a loss
Looking further down the road : is everyone planning on signing up for the National Tour even in Atwater? I plan on it, need to sign up soon!
03-24-2003 | 09:52 AM
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Haha Marc. I managed a 62.6. I believe that I won SM-N. My 2 competitors best runs were 63.1 and the other got 62.1 +1. I was watching his last run and saw him come across the line and saw 62.1. I was like noooooo, then I heard +1. I was so excited. So that should net me 1st in SM-N. I was working the first group. I was praying that the ground would stay wet for my group. But it started to dry out.
That was a really fun course. I really liked that course.
That was a really fun course. I really liked that course.
03-24-2003 | 09:57 AM
#9
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Oh yeah, Joe
I'll betcha that you can go lower than that (letting the tire stick more) and be OK. I'm running only 39-40 PSI in front, and rollover is right about perfect (to the indicator on the Azeni sidewall, but not further).
Of course, it may just mean I need to push it more
I'm running 37 PSI in back, and that works OK back there. Could probably go down a couple more PSI, but then I'd need to try and dial back in oversteer with other methods.
I'm now running 46 PSI on the fronts and have no rollover (contrasted to the 52 PSI I used to need before the mod).
Of course, it may just mean I need to push it more
I'm running 37 PSI in back, and that works OK back there. Could probably go down a couple more PSI, but then I'd need to try and dial back in oversteer with other methods.
03-24-2003 | 10:25 AM
#10
I think subydude was the cone king. I heard he hit 8 innocent pylons.
that course was a blast, but I was practically 4 wheel drifting all the turns. I think I might need to get 225's on my car...these 205's are not cutting it.
. I heard he hit 8 innocent pylons. that course was a blast, but I was practically 4 wheel drifting all the turns. I think I might need to get 225's on my car...these 205's are not cutting it.
03-24-2003 | 10:37 AM
#11
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That M3 has been around for awhile, used to run CSP down in Marina with NASA a couple years back.
Once I realized who he was I wasn't surprised. What was more impressive to me was Andy Clark and his MazdaSpeed Protege. He ran a 58.5, with his only modification being a new set of Azenis'.
There was also a Spec-V that was running pretty quickly, again totally stock.
My official determination is that the WRX is a difficult car to drive fast. I'm starting to get jealous of the the NA cars that don't need to manage boost.
Once I realized who he was I wasn't surprised. What was more impressive to me was Andy Clark and his MazdaSpeed Protege. He ran a 58.5, with his only modification being a new set of Azenis'.
There was also a Spec-V that was running pretty quickly, again totally stock.
My official determination is that the WRX is a difficult car to drive fast. I'm starting to get jealous of the the NA cars that don't need to manage boost.
03-24-2003 | 10:48 AM
#12
This Guy Can Hella Draw!
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Originally posted by madlib
I think subydude was the cone king. I heard he hit 8 innocent pylons.
that course was a blast, but I was practically 4 wheel drifting all the turns. I think I might need to get 225's on my car...these 205's are not cutting it.
I think subydude was the cone king
. I heard he hit 8 innocent pylons. that course was a blast, but I was practically 4 wheel drifting all the turns. I think I might need to get 225's on my car...these 205's are not cutting it.
03-24-2003 | 10:58 AM
#14
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Originally posted by PaulC
My official determination is that the WRX is a difficult car to drive fast. I'm starting to get jealous of the the NA cars that don't need to manage boost.
My official determination is that the WRX is a difficult car to drive fast. I'm starting to get jealous of the the NA cars that don't need to manage boost.
03-24-2003 | 11:47 AM
#15
I predict alot of 2nd->3rd and 3rd->2nd shifts
. I think it is funner having to heel-toe anyways. I wish I had a 6speed, but that means I'll probably have to shift to 4th . good luck in SM.