Race Results: Not too shabby for a 1st gen!!!
Thread Starter
Lives on the Forum
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 11,359
Likes: 14
From: Grand Rapids Michigan
Thanks guys, you've got me grinning like an idiot again. 
I've been out of town and just got back.
How much weight have you pulled off your car? Well, all of that emissions bs weighs a ton and a half. Between that and the AC, along with other bits and pieces under the hood, I'd guess something around 150 - 200 lbs. have come off. That's about all I've done for weight reduction so far. I weighed the car with me in it a while back, but I can't remember the exact number now. I think it was around 2380, maybe 2280, can't remember.
For tires, yes they are the HTR 200s, which I see are going for $52.00 now. They are 215/50/13 and they seem to be very happy now that they are on 8 inch wheels. A set lasts me about 1 1/2 years, which isn't too bad considering the racing and the daily driving.
As far as hitting the Nationals, I really don't know if I'm quite ready for that yet. I'll see how the last few races go this season, and if I can remember to drive like I did the last time then that will definitely tip the scales in favor of giving it a shot. But I still have a lot to learn as a driver, mostly I need to come up with some self control. lol. So many times I've been at the line telling myself that I just need to slow down a tiny bit and I'll end up going a lot faster overall, but once I put the hammer down I forget all about it. I also have family responsibilities to consider, but that might not be an issue since the wife is starting to get on board a little bit (we did make it to the dragon this year after all).
But the nationals are also expensive, travel expenses/tires/entry fees, etc. So a lot of things will have to fall in line before I make that step. But I have been thinking along those lines lately. The car is ready, I just don't know if I am.
Thanks again guys, and thanks for your assistance in getting to this point....
I've been out of town and just got back.
How much weight have you pulled off your car? Well, all of that emissions bs weighs a ton and a half. Between that and the AC, along with other bits and pieces under the hood, I'd guess something around 150 - 200 lbs. have come off. That's about all I've done for weight reduction so far. I weighed the car with me in it a while back, but I can't remember the exact number now. I think it was around 2380, maybe 2280, can't remember.
For tires, yes they are the HTR 200s, which I see are going for $52.00 now. They are 215/50/13 and they seem to be very happy now that they are on 8 inch wheels. A set lasts me about 1 1/2 years, which isn't too bad considering the racing and the daily driving.
As far as hitting the Nationals, I really don't know if I'm quite ready for that yet. I'll see how the last few races go this season, and if I can remember to drive like I did the last time then that will definitely tip the scales in favor of giving it a shot. But I still have a lot to learn as a driver, mostly I need to come up with some self control. lol. So many times I've been at the line telling myself that I just need to slow down a tiny bit and I'll end up going a lot faster overall, but once I put the hammer down I forget all about it. I also have family responsibilities to consider, but that might not be an issue since the wife is starting to get on board a little bit (we did make it to the dragon this year after all).
But the nationals are also expensive, travel expenses/tires/entry fees, etc. So a lot of things will have to fall in line before I make that step. But I have been thinking along those lines lately. The car is ready, I just don't know if I am.
Thanks again guys, and thanks for your assistance in getting to this point....
Congrats man! Loving you car setup man and your driving skills. Thanks for positively representing the whole RX-7 community! I am following in your footsteps but at a snail's pace because of my move and all but keep up the great work. I am also finally getting my brother-in-law involved in Solo2 finally.
Thread Starter
Lives on the Forum
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 11,359
Likes: 14
From: Grand Rapids Michigan
Cool man! There are a few guys that are currently building their cars based on the specs that Billy gave me, so maybe by next year there will be a few more of us tearing up the Miatas.
Now that is what I am talking about! I am aiming for tearing some up some Miatas and CRX's too!
Sorry for bringing ya down man, didn't mean to be rude. I was just amazed to see your results. Maybe I'm just venting because at my last autocross I got 107th/129-and I'm on hoosiers. Coned away my fastest run. Atleast I beat both of the FC's, which were both TII's. Is anybody from the michigan region going to nationals this year?
Thread Starter
Lives on the Forum
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 11,359
Likes: 14
From: Grand Rapids Michigan
I'm not aware of any rotaries from Michigan currently competing in the Nationals, but I don't typically keep track of the big dogs. And no problem on the comment man, if I hadn't been there I would have been doubtful of those results myself.
(The following was written under the assumption that you are a fairly new autocrosser. If I am mistaken in this, then please forgive me).
And don't let the low placing turn you off of autocrossing either. I got the snot beat out of me the first couple of years. My biggest problem was that I was asking more than the car could give, like going into corners too hot and then wondering why I had so many issues with understeer.
Another problem I had was that I was stubornly trying to run what I thought was the proper line, rather than sticking as close to the cones as I could. Taking a nice line is fine on a race track, but when you try that in autocross you'll find that once you get too far away from the cones you end up trying to drive in all the gravel and sand that everyone else (who is sticking to the cones) is kicking out there.
One other thing that helped me out was driving other people's cars, and having good drivers drive my car. That was what really showed me that the driver (me) needed improvement rather than just blaming it on the car.
Anyway, good luck in your future races. If you have any questions, or if there is anything I can do to help, just let me know. We need all the 7s we can get out there racing and looking good.
One other thing, running on race rubber might not be the best idea for you. Race tires tend to hide the things that you are doing wrong, so you can't really tell what you need to improve on. Starting out on "cheap" tires is highly recommended by the experienced guys.
(The following was written under the assumption that you are a fairly new autocrosser. If I am mistaken in this, then please forgive me).
And don't let the low placing turn you off of autocrossing either. I got the snot beat out of me the first couple of years. My biggest problem was that I was asking more than the car could give, like going into corners too hot and then wondering why I had so many issues with understeer.
Another problem I had was that I was stubornly trying to run what I thought was the proper line, rather than sticking as close to the cones as I could. Taking a nice line is fine on a race track, but when you try that in autocross you'll find that once you get too far away from the cones you end up trying to drive in all the gravel and sand that everyone else (who is sticking to the cones) is kicking out there.
One other thing that helped me out was driving other people's cars, and having good drivers drive my car. That was what really showed me that the driver (me) needed improvement rather than just blaming it on the car.
Anyway, good luck in your future races. If you have any questions, or if there is anything I can do to help, just let me know. We need all the 7s we can get out there racing and looking good.
One other thing, running on race rubber might not be the best idea for you. Race tires tend to hide the things that you are doing wrong, so you can't really tell what you need to improve on. Starting out on "cheap" tires is highly recommended by the experienced guys.
Thread Starter
Lives on the Forum
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 11,359
Likes: 14
From: Grand Rapids Michigan
For anyone interested in the suspension setup I'm running, I just found out that Billy
(Re-Speed) is running a great package deal on the front/rear coilovers:
https://www.rx7club.com/vendor-classifieds-276/re-speed-complete-coil-over-special-%24425-00-a-857592/
(Re-Speed) is running a great package deal on the front/rear coilovers:
https://www.rx7club.com/vendor-classifieds-276/re-speed-complete-coil-over-special-%24425-00-a-857592/
Thread Starter
Lives on the Forum
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 11,359
Likes: 14
From: Grand Rapids Michigan
It really isn't all that hard to pass tech for autocrossing. Here are the things they typically check (may not be all inclusive though):
Ball joints (check for slop)
Tires (no cords showing, but can be smooth as silk otherwise)
Brake pedal (good pressure)
No leaks
Battery fastened (no bungie cords allowed, must be firmly mounted)
No loose stuff on the interior of the car
Not much else that I can think of, so just pay the (usually about) $20.00 entry fee, borrow a loaner helmet, and go racing. And don't wait until your car is perfect to get started, because there will always be one more thing on that list. Get started now, even if your car is not very competetive, because you will learn a lot about control and gain some experience. It will also motivate you to actually work on your car.
Like Nike says, "JUST DO IT!"....
Ball joints (check for slop)
Tires (no cords showing, but can be smooth as silk otherwise)
Brake pedal (good pressure)
No leaks
Battery fastened (no bungie cords allowed, must be firmly mounted)
No loose stuff on the interior of the car
Not much else that I can think of, so just pay the (usually about) $20.00 entry fee, borrow a loaner helmet, and go racing. And don't wait until your car is perfect to get started, because there will always be one more thing on that list. Get started now, even if your car is not very competetive, because you will learn a lot about control and gain some experience. It will also motivate you to actually work on your car.
Like Nike says, "JUST DO IT!"....
On/DEFEAT
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
From: North Pole, AK
Thanks guys, you've got me grinning like an idiot again.
I've been out of town and just got back.
How much weight have you pulled off your car? Well, all of that emissions bs weighs a ton and a half. Between that and the AC, along with other bits and pieces under the hood, I'd guess something around 150 - 200 lbs. have come off. That's about all I've done for weight reduction so far. I weighed the car with me in it a while back, but I can't remember the exact number now. I think it was around 2380, maybe 2280, can't remember.
For tires, yes they are the HTR 200s, which I see are going for $52.00 now. They are 215/50/13 and they seem to be very happy now that they are on 8 inch wheels. A set lasts me about 1 1/2 years, which isn't too bad considering the racing and the daily driving.
As far as hitting the Nationals, I really don't know if I'm quite ready for that yet. I'll see how the last few races go this season, and if I can remember to drive like I did the last time then that will definitely tip the scales in favor of giving it a shot. But I still have a lot to learn as a driver, mostly I need to come up with some self control. lol. So many times I've been at the line telling myself that I just need to slow down a tiny bit and I'll end up going a lot faster overall, but once I put the hammer down I forget all about it. I also have family responsibilities to consider, but that might not be an issue since the wife is starting to get on board a little bit (we did make it to the dragon this year after all).
But the nationals are also expensive, travel expenses/tires/entry fees, etc. So a lot of things will have to fall in line before I make that step. But I have been thinking along those lines lately. The car is ready, I just don't know if I am.
Thanks again guys, and thanks for your assistance in getting to this point....
I've been out of town and just got back.
How much weight have you pulled off your car? Well, all of that emissions bs weighs a ton and a half. Between that and the AC, along with other bits and pieces under the hood, I'd guess something around 150 - 200 lbs. have come off. That's about all I've done for weight reduction so far. I weighed the car with me in it a while back, but I can't remember the exact number now. I think it was around 2380, maybe 2280, can't remember.
For tires, yes they are the HTR 200s, which I see are going for $52.00 now. They are 215/50/13 and they seem to be very happy now that they are on 8 inch wheels. A set lasts me about 1 1/2 years, which isn't too bad considering the racing and the daily driving.
As far as hitting the Nationals, I really don't know if I'm quite ready for that yet. I'll see how the last few races go this season, and if I can remember to drive like I did the last time then that will definitely tip the scales in favor of giving it a shot. But I still have a lot to learn as a driver, mostly I need to come up with some self control. lol. So many times I've been at the line telling myself that I just need to slow down a tiny bit and I'll end up going a lot faster overall, but once I put the hammer down I forget all about it. I also have family responsibilities to consider, but that might not be an issue since the wife is starting to get on board a little bit (we did make it to the dragon this year after all).
But the nationals are also expensive, travel expenses/tires/entry fees, etc. So a lot of things will have to fall in line before I make that step. But I have been thinking along those lines lately. The car is ready, I just don't know if I am.
Thanks again guys, and thanks for your assistance in getting to this point....
Man, that's awesome. Thanks!
I plan on getting my beater to autoX next summer, so i got another stupid question for ya-
How wide can you go with the htr-200s on the stock wheels? is205 pushing it? Does anybody have any pics of this with/ an about 50% aspect ratio?
Thread Starter
Lives on the Forum
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 11,359
Likes: 14
From: Grand Rapids Michigan
I used to run 215/50/13 on the stock "+" style wheels. Can't really tell you if they performed better than the 205/60/13 Sumis they replaced, but they certainly didn't do any worse. However, the 215s are much happier on the 8 inch rims I'm running now.
Thread Starter
Lives on the Forum
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 11,359
Likes: 14
From: Grand Rapids Michigan
Trust me, if you wait until your car is perfect before you begin autocrossing, then chances are you will never race. Besides, it is a great feeling to have your driving skills improve as your car is also being improved. Otherwise, you'll bring a perfect car and start racing, only to find out that you totally suck at it (due to lack of experience) and are getting your butt handed to you. You and your car should advance together (in my opinion).
Ken, Got a question for ya. What oil cooler do you have? The beehive or fmoc? I'm looking for a gsl-se to start working on autox with. Manily because I've read that they already have the fmoc and you don't have to do the change-over. Am I just a noob or what?
Thread Starter
Lives on the Forum
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 11,359
Likes: 14
From: Grand Rapids Michigan
If you were asking me a question, sorry I missed it. If so, then yes I do have some external videos. Just follow the link in my signature line and you'll find plenty of them.
I was watching some of the older videos the other night, ones I haven't bothered to watch in a couple of years. Pretty funny how slow I was back then, compared to now. Kinda cool to see how the speeds go up in conjunction with the new types of suspension (little bit faster once I got the RB parts, then lots faster once I got onto the Respeed stuff). Gotta love memory lane...
I was watching some of the older videos the other night, ones I haven't bothered to watch in a couple of years. Pretty funny how slow I was back then, compared to now. Kinda cool to see how the speeds go up in conjunction with the new types of suspension (little bit faster once I got the RB parts, then lots faster once I got onto the Respeed stuff). Gotta love memory lane...
Congrads Kentetsu!! I am loading up to go AutoXing this Sunday!! I can't wait!
Folks autocrossing is fun...period! It is not ALL about winning... Go out, learn your car, meet some folks and have a blast! Some of the most fun I have is letting other people race my car!
Folks autocrossing is fun...period! It is not ALL about winning... Go out, learn your car, meet some folks and have a blast! Some of the most fun I have is letting other people race my car!
Congrads Kentetsu!! I am loading up to go AutoXing this Sunday!! I can't wait!
Folks autocrossing is fun...period! It is not ALL about winning... Go out, learn your car, meet some folks and have a blast! Some of the most fun I have is letting other people race my car!
Folks autocrossing is fun...period! It is not ALL about winning... Go out, learn your car, meet some folks and have a blast! Some of the most fun I have is letting other people race my car!
