PhoenixDownVII

After visiting this one AutoX for 2 seasons without racing and getting rides and watching, I finally decided to race my car. I've had an Mr2-Turbo and a MKI MR2 NA in the past that I could've used, but something in me didn't want to give them a beating, I guess I knew I'd be selling them sometime soon...

But I got my current FD last August, and didn't want to start before knowing my car. So I got to drive her from August-December, and again from March until yesterday, and decided to AutoX my car on the 2nd set of stock rims I have with Victoracers. Since...the FD is more suitable to beat than the Toyota's...err hahah.

I must say, it was a blast. Even when it's shy of exhilerating, it's still fun to be around other car nuts and crazy cars with no cats on a sunny sunday afternoon, what else would I be doing ya know?

My car, hands down, was the best looking and best sounding car there! That's opinionated of course. The Black C5 z06 Vette on CCW's or stock yellow Lotus Elise owners may have some arguement to that, though, they were both very beautiful and performed just the same.

The track was somewhat simple, it was the first one of the season: test and tune day so to speak. I'm glad (and assumed) I could read the course as I went through it.

I did a time of 51 sec (very first run, very slow and steady reading the course), then 46 seconds (clean!), then 44. All three of these in the first heat, all on course and I didn't hit any cones!

Meanwhile, the little go-kart crazy-cars were doing 34-35 seconds and some of the veterans in their Miata's were doing 38-39.

My second heat I ran a 43 twice, both nick'in one small cone, and my best was a 42.3 but one cone (doh, barely touched it).

The Victoracers kick *** compared to my Bridgestone So2's, but even they hold their own great on the street. The autoX was on an airport runway so you have to a 180 degree turn-around halfway through the course to come back. LOL, I swear, they should give out *style* points...I'd always cut through the apex and right when i reach the cones I would put the car in first and let myself "Powerslide" / "Fishtail" (whatever you want to call it, just not real dOrifting) around to head back.

I kept my tempature pinned at 180F with the Ac-3 before taking off, and saw 190-195 by the time I returned, so I'd pop the hood and run AC-3 and saw 180-185 once again, all on a 75-80 degree Humid day in the Northeast.

I had fun, and loved my car even moreso, looking forward to more in the near future...

scotty305

iTrader: (2)

In my opinion, the autocross track is the best place to get to know your car. I bought my car, spent a few months on maintenance and getting it into a healthy 'race-ready' condition, and then spent two auto-x practice days getting a feel for the car (needs very smmooooottthhhh inputs as your speeds increase, especially the brakes & throttle). I spun a few times, and I'm very glad I didn't learn these limits on the street.


Autocrossing is a blast, isn't it? After our event yesterday, most people got at least 5 fun runs. It was so awesome!


-s-

PhoenixDownVII

I guess that's true, too! The thing is, at this autox, since it's on an airport runway...if you fall a bit too far off course (easier to do with a RWD turbo'd light car, I.e. Rx7) you may hit a runway light and do damage to your car and owe $300 :P.

It was also moreso to knowing my car, just overall, and knowing she'd be "ready", watching the temps, boosting in all weather/condition, etc.

As much as I learned the car, it changes once you put on R-Compound tires! It gives you more confidence, yet at that half-way 180degree turn I knew how much throttle to give it to get the rear to sway around and have a somewhat "controlled" slide

Yes, it was quite fun.

adam c

iTrader: (2)

Glad you had a good time. Autocrossing the FD is a great way to learn about the cars limits, in a safe environment. Good job getting out there and doing it

afterburn27

iTrader: (5)

LOL, we had an auto-x yesterday and a C5 corvette convertible did exactly that.

scotty305

iTrader: (2)

Around here, those kind of drivers go to the Drift Day events. We've had far fewer hooligans at the autocrosses thanks to Moto Miwa, Taka Aono, and the rest of the www.driftday.com crew. There has been at least 1 wreck or abuse-related mechanical failure at each of the drift days I've seen.

-s-

shaun.sheldrake

Good on you for getting out there ... the track series I do down here in NZ starts again this w.end, can't wait to get back out on the track!

alberto_mg

congrats. i guess you went to the nassau coliseum autox?

i've got to get over there soon. either with my 7 or my Rotax go kart

PhoenixDownVII

No, this one was in Orange County, at the airport accross the street from my house in the valley. I can see all the cars on the strip from my 2nd floor window

I drove home with the Victoracers on, what a difference *Shhhhh* lol.