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GLU goes to autocross!

18K views 160 replies 16 participants last post by  mikebontoft 
#1 ·
Hey guys, i just wanted to start a thread for myself so i can ask questions and get feedback on what i'm doing.

first off, this will be my first season trying autocross needless to say i'm pretty nervous. i do think i have a pretty good starting platform though.
my zx3 has been dropped with the dynamic suspension, i've got an exhaust and intake and i'm adding a 24mm adjustable RSB and an SVT FSB. oh also my tires aren't the best but i'm running a 215/45/17. something i don't have is SEAT TIME! that will change this year. i'm planning on going to at least 65% of the races this year.

i just have a couple questions and i'm sure more will come up as the first race gets closer and even after that.
launch? zenranger told me 3k is pretty good to to launch at, any other suggestions or tips?
also what are some tips on memorizing the course? like when you're walking it, do you guys take a notebook to sketch it out? i think this would help me remember some of it.

thanks in advance, more questions and discussion to follow! [cheers]
 
#126 ·
well i have a 26 point lead in my class heading down the home stretch of the season.. i think we have 6 events left? so hopefully i can hold him off. he's a DAMN good driver though..

i also have a good chance of winning rookie of the year. or at the very least worker of the year LOL.

i helped set the course on saturday for our race on sunday, i must say, if you guys have never set a course it is a MUST. try to set with an experienced driver. then you get there perspective on racing and lines. this info was outstanding!
 
#127 ·
well i have a 26 point lead in my class heading down the home stretch of the season.. i think we have 6 events left? so hopefully i can hold him off. he's a DAMN good driver though..
I wish you the best!
Keep up the good work. [driving]
 
#133 ·
^^This

If you have a lot of elements, is it a lot of slalom type stuff, or 90 degree and greater turnarounds.

If there is slalom stuff and places where you can keep it in the SVT's power band go with that.

If you're slowing down quite a bit, go with the ZX3 torque and gearing to get you back up to speed quicker.
 
#136 ·
lol at title.......it really is a redo of the one I did last time! well except the last half at least. LOL.

good rematch material though [hihi]
 
#137 ·
it really is a redo of the one I did last time! well except the last half at least. LOL.

good rematch material though [hihi]
So, which car did you run the first time GLU?
 
#139 ·
yeah i drove my SVT, it was two days after i got it so i was learning everything about it. oh and i had crappy all season tires! so there MIKE! hahaha i'll get you on monday if you come. i'd bet my bottom dollar!

well that's one for the SVT. i was leaning towards driving it, but the suspension on my zx3 makes the car a lot of fun to drive.
 
#140 ·
I know..... but I also have crappy all season tires [hihi]

plus now I'll have a full interior.

I have my work cut out for me. haha. plus not having a rear sway bar kinda sucks. I wonder if I could make one..........

oh well just wait till I boost the thing...... that I AM doing (and for quite cheap might I add [;)] think jeff's (jeffescortlx) write up)
 
#141 ·
yes.. no rear sway will defintely suck!!! just brake harder in the sweeper LOL!

but your crappy all seasons were 225s! hahaha. mine didn't even match.. bfgs up front, kumhos in back haha.

it should be an awesome battle though. i just want revenge! i've been looking at that sig for a while now hahaha!

pff Jeff will just show up and beat us both again!
 
#142 ·
lol and yeah he will, huh.......

so if I sign up online for ST class, do I have to pick a number not being used? because I'd like to stick with one.

and I'd hope that having such an underpowered car that when I boost it I can stay in ST. lol.
 
#145 ·
lol I can? haha........I STILL have my numbers. I'll probably make new ones though.

oh well I still beat some honda in smf though.
 
#146 ·
haha.
i think that guy in the SMF honda will be there again!!
i'm not giving you any pointers Mike, sorry!

JK! this course will have multiple lines. which are the fastest? i dunno!
they always seem like the right ones when you course walk, but when you drive... it's a whole different story!
 
#148 ·
well what a day!
first, lets get this out of the way. i beat Mike!! haha. i finished the day with a 63.7xx i believe Mike had a 68.8xx? all BS aside, thanks for coming out Mike. hope you had fun. i also hope you come back for at least one more event before the season is over.

now i understand why tires are THE most important (next to working on driving skills) upgrade you can make. these tires are so sweet. i'm pretty sure i could have pushed my car harder then i did and the tires would have held up. (they aren't even close to being broken in, 45 miles on them including the race)
i pax'd higher then i ever have, out of 104 drivers i pax'd 36th. TTOD (car) was a 56.xx Elise.
there were 6 drivers in ST today and i placed 3rd. behind the subie 2.5RS (he pax'd 2nd overall!!! truly an amazing driver in an underprepared car) also behind a nissan 240sx.

i'm pretty happy with how i drove today, i ended up having to take my 2.0 zx3 out because two of my wheel studs were stripped on my SVT :( the extra power would have helped my time today. oh well, she will be ready soon enough. if sparco would ever finish my brackets...!

i'll get a vid up later tonight.
 
#149 ·
damn there were 6? so I was fourth in ST at one time? hmm.....

btw Mark it's ok, as far as rematch status SPI>SVT still because you ran the ZX3 [rofl]



and I fish tailed all over today.....ate a ton of cones too at different times. I'm just waiting for Julian to send me the video. I'm SO making it my avie as an animated gif [hihi]

but yeah thanks for getting that all set up. I had a great time today. just wish I would have eaten breakfast like I should have lol. probably would have helped the times. I could NOT focus (no pun intended).

btw I just got back on campus (and wow is my face and neck red. but not in the right places! my face is red where the helmet covered it and the rest is normal. LOL?) I left home about quarter to 9. I'm so tired right now.
 
#150 ·
haha Mike!! i'm pretty sure i could have taken that old sebring and whooped ya yesterday!
i take it you didn't read the first page of the registration thread aye?? it says bring sun-block! i learned my lesson.. you get baked out there.

i hear ya, i didn't eat once before a race... big mistake. you feel uneasy and can't get i grip. (ha, no pun intended either!) Autox doesn't seem like it takes a lot out of you but it definitely does.

i pulled another 7am to 7pm day.. i better get worker of the year! ha.
 
#151 ·
agreed though..... I felt a lot better after lunch. I bet I could have done a lot better.

when is the next event? and I'll probably not be there :p. I want magnets made though!

and I thought it was going to be 60 degrees.....
 
#152 ·
i've got another event on sunday.
check this course out, the start is next to "the boxer" it starts out going SE



chicago boxes anyone??

let me ask you again, which car should i take? svt or zx3?

at my last event up in pocatello, i did pretty well. but i'm kinda bummed i waited for my last run to actually focus on putting an entire run together.
so i think that' what i'm going to try for all of my runs on sunday, put it all together. this is my second to last event, so i want to see what i've learned.

i'll take pointers??
 
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