RX7Club.com - Mazda RX7 Forum - FD notes from first autocross of the season

I hope to have my own pics and vids up by end of the week.
In the meantime, attached are some taken by another FD owner.

I came in 2nd in class "U":

https://axwaresystems.com/axorm/file...2007aa_fin.htm

Winner is mark daddio who is like an alien. 10 time SCCA national champion and winner of two mazda "rev it up"s, so he won two cars from them. he never races with our club but very good to see what a top driver can do in a max effort car.

I think i came in 3rd or 4th overall out of 123 cars. It was my first time with power steering and new tires. I hope I can do better at the next event, April 1. They say v710's work better after the first event.

I let the hot shoes drive my car for pointers and advise which is something everyone should do. They weren't able to beat my times but they offered good advice on setup.

The alignment isn't perfect still. Last time we got -1.8 and -1.7 on front neg camber. I really want -2 because there was "slight" understeer (thats why i made the shock adjustment in 2nd session; one click softer in front). I think the increase in neg camber will help that.

The yellow z06 that set FTD numerous times was there and I beat him. That was a goal. Last year I was about one second behind the top guys but I was on 2 year old kumhos. I knew the v710's would be huge improvement.

So mark daddio's car is insane. Crazy stiff suspension and mine is super soft. He crushed the entire field:

Autocross EVO - Street Modified Build - Page 17 - evolutionm.net

The honda that set FTD last event weighs 2040 lbs and make 180(?) hp at the wheels. I thought he beat me but the results show differently. His car is SCCA northeast region SM champ. Weighs 700 lbs less than mine. 1000 pound springs up front!

http://www.b18c5.com/index.htm

My point for mentioning Daddio and the lightweight honda is to compare my street suspension to a race, no compromise setup.

I have second hand, KYB/mazdaspeed 4 way adjustable coilovers. Not even lowered too much. I think 26 inches. Super soft springs compared to every other setup out there (Front springs are 340 lbs/in and rear springs are 280 lbs/in.). And over the counter supension techniques front sway bar; not even adjustable. Stock rear bar. Mild alignment settings. I think the FD's in SCCA SM2 run 1000 lb springs and huge wings for downforce. I have poly diff bushings and trailing arms with rod-ends. Stock bushings everywhere else.

For those taking notes, these were new v710's (29 psi front, 25 rear). Drove to the event on them (80 miles roundtrip, 13 runs by end of event). Front shocks set to 4 for first session, then changed to 3 on second session in an effort to get more bite mid-turn. Rear set to 2 and felt great all day.

Goes to show how well the FD chassis is in "mild tune". I don't have any plans to make any changes to the suspension other than the alignment changes I mentioned above.