Yeah I noticed you were doing a little coasting too. I've done that numerous times. You should only have to do that rhgouh your first run, so you get used to the course in the car, not on your 4th or 5th run. That clearly shows how unintuitive the course layout is. The course should be easy to read, even if it's not easy to drive.

 

Exactly...looking back at the video...one spot I lifted where I should have shifted!!! About half way through the run, I was close to 8000 rpm so I lifted instead of shifting into 3rd and keeping the momentum...

A lot of coasting was from being lost or at least un-sure.... my brakes are fine so I can use them hard when needed.. (disc front/rear...hawk pads, stainless braided hoses).. As simple as the brakes sound, they are PLENTY to stop this rig while autocrossing!!

 

Yes, I'll be at Gainesville this year. I was an assistant manager on A&M's team this year. I'd be driving at Gainesville if I hadn't missed tryouts to go to a wedding.

I'm the Project Manager for our 2010 team, though.

 

I kinda like the idea of the grassroots challenge and a mazda...I have a bunch of parts I got for either nothing or cheap.... I can make it retarded fast in the 1/4 mile by cheaply bridgeporting an engine an shooting tons of nitrous to it.... and make it autocross by...well adding cheaply the stuff it needs and then adding a great driver...

Kinda sounds like a challenge to me!!

 

It's a hell of a lot of work, but it's a hell of a lot of fun too. You should give it a shot. It's a lot of fun to build a car for a specific competition.