[fast_ryda]

So last sunday I went out to the last San Fransisco Region race...Slush-5. I ran my SVT in GS class...I just wanted to run I later found out that i was in a different class. Besides the point, when I ran my car drove terrible....nothing like I was used to on the street. I was sliding everywhere, my tires had crappy ass grip...I was at a loss. Played with tire pressure and that helped a bit but still sucked. I know how to drive and I obsereved a lot of ppl while they raced and yet I sucked. Yes it was my first time but I just thought my car would perform better.

Here's what I have so any suggestions to make it better would help.

Eibach Pro-kit. 23 mm sways. ( maybe swap the springs for something stiffer?)

BFgoodrich KDW t/a tires all four corners. ( maybe better choice of tire?)

Dog bone mount.

STS

Tune

Intake.


There was a decked out ZX3 outthere with a bunch of goodies...dont know his name I just saw the FocalJet sticker on the side. On my last run, I ran his time 54 second. So i figured I did well, thats when I played with tire pressure.

 

[ZenRanger94]

Yeah dude, it's just because it's your first time. As you get more seat time and more miles, you'll learn how to handle the car better and learn how far you can push it. When it comes to auto-x it's not about the car, it's all about the driver. So don't worry about spending more money yet. I've only got a few races under my belt, but each one taught me more about my car. the last one I did, I figured out my car could slide,that was a little scary... and fun! Just ask around here and you'll learn quite a bit, we have some pretty good drivers here. good luck on the next one!

-Ken

 

[wrc_fan]

Sliding everywhere sounds more like a case of overdriving. I suffered from that my first few times out.

Some of those racing cliche's are very true
-Slow in fast out
-Improve the driver first
-Look ahead

The single biggest thing, I think, to improve my times in autox...Learning to look ahead.

 

[focusedaddiction]

....lots & lots...lots...lots..& lots of seat time will be your best friend[driving]
don't worry it was your first time out and autoX is alot harder than people think, just keep at it and HAVE FUN!!! most of all.[thumb]

 

[Dcl2049]

Yeah sounds to me like a bad case of going too fast. Make a concious effort to be smooth and fluid with everything you do. Gradually speed up until you find your limit. If your tires are screaming bloody murder then there's definitely something wrong there.

That being said, it could very likely have something to do with the tires you have on there now as well. There's a trick to tire pressure, you'll want to use chalk on them and get them to the point where they aren't scraping the sidewalls, and fine tune just a little if you notice problems with the way the car is reacting. In addition, if your tires are old, or if they are lower traction all-seasons or something, they aren't going to stick well if you're going so fast they're smoldering. Slow down a little and correct this and I bet you'll see your times drop a good amount.

A good concept for you to work on would be 100% traction. If you haven't heard of it, it's very simple. You can only have 100% traction. You use your traction by accelerating, braking, and turning. When you're using 100% of your traction turning and say you try to trail brake or accelerate out of the turn, you're now over 100% and you have issues. Balancing everything is key.

That's enough advice for you now I think, I'll shut my mouth. [hihi]

 

[MattZX3]

Pretty much what has been said. Slow is fast in auto-x

 

[wrc_fan]

don't worry it was your first time out and autoX is alot harder than people think, just keep at it and HAVE FUN!!! most of all.[thumb]

Having fun is key, after running a few events, I enjoy going now just to talk with all the friends I've made, talk about all the latest stuff done to our cars, etc. There aren't to many other places you can find this many people who won't shut up about cars, its great[]

 

[WUGcatsvt]

Pretty much what has been said. Slow is fast in auto-x

^X2.. [thumb]

 

[fast_ryda]

thank you guys...as i read all the replys I realized that I was trying to go as fast as possible. It didnt work. I talked to some ppl during my Work period and they said that my tires arent very good. Great tire for street but not so good for AutoX. Also I noticed they didnt get warm enough to get good traction.

 

[Blackcatn2o]

Ya usally on cold days the tires will cool down pretty quick.

 

[OandAWOW]

Just because you can punch through the gears and not stall the car doesn't mean you can drive. [thumb]

Be smooth, look a corner ahead, and turn early. When you think it's time to turn, you should have already done it. I disagree with slow is fast in autoX. Smooth is fast in autoX. If your tires aren't squealing then you aren't stretching them enough, and there is more grip to be had. Smooth and steady wheel inputs can attain maximum grip while allowing the car to rotate. Also, unless you're boosted, these cars don't have much power at all so don't be afraid to stay in the throttle to a certain degree to keep revs up while braking. If you let the revs drop too much, you're screwed. I run in STX with WRXs, GTIs, 3-series BMWs, RX-8's and the like and always finish in the top 5 with fast tracks in the Philly SCCA, and I'm playing with 150 maybe 155 hp. It can be done.

 

[WUGcatsvt]

Im in SM...

 

[OandAWOW]

Put your back seats back in or get boost and a diff otherwise the vettes, elises, and Z4Ms will continue to hand you your ass.

 

[ajp]

my buddy (thenorm) came .6 seconds behind a lotus elise, hes got a zx3. You gotta remember that your car will hold better on public roads because most high-speed turns are banked, unlike flat autox courses.

 

[OandAWOW]

^^^
That's badass. However, the Elise driver obviously wasn't Michael Schumacher. An Elise/Exige will wipe the floor with just about anything. There's a Solstice GXP in the Philly region that is FAST. I love that car!

 

[focusedaddiction]

I did pretty good last year in SM regionally and 5th overall...2007 SM champ.
this spring I'll have boost to add to the terror, should be FUN!!, I like a good challenge[thumb]

 

[focusedaddiction]

I did get my butt handed to me last year at a tri-state meet by a 70's something beemer with only 120 HP He was a damn good driver!!

 

[OandAWOW]

Those old beemer's can be nasty. There's a done-up Civic here that's got 160 hp and weighs 1600lbs with a decent suspension...it's fast, lol. Boost should help you. Our STU is nothing but Evo 8s and 9s and STIs with coilover kits and fat FMICs. It's a sweet class.

 

[ajp]

^^^
That's badass. However, the Elise driver obviously wasn't Michael Schumacher. An Elise/Exige will wipe the floor with just about anything. There's a Solstice GXP in the Philly region that is FAST. I love that car!

He wasn't Takuma Sato either. He was pretty skilled.

 

[OandAWOW]

He wasn't Takuma Sato either. He was pretty skilled.

Scott Speed? [:0]