autocross... gobs of fun!

RMurphy · 07-01-2012, 11:58 PM

So I went to my first autocross event in about 18 years today. Oh joy! SoloII novice school at the stadium formerly known as "the Murph."

I took all of three pictures and they probably aren't worth posting. I was so busy either working the course or driving that there was no time to spend on pictures. And I didn't want to be distracted by futzing around with a video camera so I didn't do that either.

I had an absolute blast. And now that it is all done, my rear tires are *nearly* bologna skins. I expected that though. My instructor was rather adamant he wanted me to run VSA off, so I did. Well, now, that made for some fun. teeheehee. Tank slappers galore, baby! LOL! Great fun and a great opportunity to work on my car control.

Looks like I'm going to have to go again.

Vanishing Point · 07-02-2012, 05:30 AM

Sounds like you may have caught the auto-x bug RM! Next thing we'll be told is your looking for a Gendron front sway bar, stickier tires (sounds like your there already) and a helmet.

VSA off is the best way to learn the intricacies of handling the S. Check those OEM pads, they took a beating if you went for several runs as well. Have fun!

Switchblade · 07-02-2012, 05:47 AM

Always wanted to do this but haven't gotten the chance. Awesome Murph!

Java Junky · 07-02-2012, 06:06 AM

"Tank-slappaz"?????
Da Murph, nott surprizin'ly, yuh surprize me't every turn. ('N'oze turnz're whudd'itt'z all'about . . ain'dey?)
'Glad ('n, again . . nott'da leas' surprized) da'chu enjoyed.

RMurphy · 07-02-2012, 04:23 PM

VP: I've already got the helmet. Had to get that for the Laguna Seca track day a year and a half ago. I plan to put another set of the same Dunlop Star Specs on the rear of the car. I expect the fronts will end up wearing out at the same time as the new rears I'll be putting on. Next set, I may do something different, but I don't know yet. We'll see. I don't think I'll go all hardcore on this. I like to dabble, but not immerse. And I don't think I'll do any suspension mods -- again, I'm dabbling, not immersing.

Switch: they have these things all the time. Find your local sanctioning body and sign up. It's a run-what-ya-brung kind of thing. And you can go as hard or as easy as you want, particularly if you go to a novice day.

Pics... for what they are worth:
Tire rubber deposited by a cone. Some of those cones get so covered in tire rubber they are barely orange anymore.

Run what ya brung! There was even an older four door Volvo out there. Lots of miatas, minis, and a variety of other little cars. Three FR-S came out too. That was interesting. All three were so new they didn't have license plates yet. I got a ride in one with my instructor and it was pretty impressive performance-wise.

Yep, those rears are done.

Suitable for framing...

Vanishing Point · 07-02-2012, 05:38 PM

Yea those Star Specs are at the wear bars, time for some new skins. I highly recommend this product RM for the front, sides, etc to protect your paint. Especially those greasy cones, highway road rash and bug juice.

http://www.buyroadwrap.com/

RMurphy · 07-03-2012, 11:30 AM

http://youtu.be/gcFbV9U0SRc

Not from my car, but this is footage of the track Sunday.

bbcricketta · 07-04-2012, 07:38 AM

that'll buff out.

gobs, futzing? such vocab.

bologna? please! bologna skins? please! it is baloney, and baloney skins. it just wouldn't be right to say, "i got buh-log-nah skins for tires."
buh-lone-ee, please.

bb

Charlie Croker · 07-04-2012, 08:58 AM

Hey Roseanne,

Thanks for that video. But it looked more like globs than gobs. Yes, I vote new tires. I've been running Continental and really like them.

kreapin · 07-04-2012, 09:57 AM

those are battle scars murph, wear it like a badge of honor

RMurphy · 07-04-2012, 11:28 AM

BB: you eat what you like, I'll eat what I like. (to quote Yukon Cornelius)

I cleaned off the battle scars on Monday evening. It's still ever so slightly visible in very bright light, but that was as much time as I planned to spend on it then. Next time I'll either tape up some or use what VP suggested. I wonder if that's the same stuff you can buy at Home Depot to put on carpet to protect it when you are painting or moving, because I've got some of that stuff already.

Carl: If you look really close at the picture you can see the front tire has lots of tread still. They only have a couple thousand miles or so on them. So my plan all along has been to finish off the rears and then get another two star specs. Depending on how much more track/autocross time I do, chances are they will wear out about the same time. When that time comes I'll reevaluate what's on the market and figure out what tires I want. I'll probably get a list of the most recommended, well reviewed, and highest rated tires in my price range and then do a pin the tail on the donkey style decision. That's probably just as good as any other method I've used to decide before.

bbcricketta · 07-04-2012, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RMurphy

BB: you eat what you like, I'll eat what I like. (to quote Yukon Cornelius)

there is a little restaurant in the NC mountains where i sometimes dine that has bologna on the menu. you can get a nice portion of center cut bologna for breakfast. it is tasty every blue moon, but it is not an item that is really on my diet plan.

So my plan all along has been to finish off the rears and then get another two star specs. Depending on how much more track/autocross time I do, chances are they will wear out about the same time.

this is what i did with my yokohamas. i am now on my second set of rears. i have been quite please with the AD08 tires but they seem to wear very quickly. how do you like the Star Specs? i saw quite a few sets on S2000s the other week when i visited Fontana, NC with kg and the boys.

looks like a few thousand miles left on your rears if you don't drive it much in the wet.

seems you had a good time auto-xing; i'm surprised you didn't impress the instructor. don't need to be slappin' no tanks.

RMurphy · 07-04-2012, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbcricketta

looks like a few thousand miles left on your rears if you don't drive it much in the wet.

We don't get a lot of rain, but no, those tires are done. Slightest bit of wet -- a puddle or sprinkler run off or early morning mist on the road -- and I'd be screwed. I'm willing to take a lot of risks, but not this one. Brakes and tires are no-risk items for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbcricketta

seems you had a good time auto-xing; i'm surprised you didn't impress the instructor.

Yes I had a good time. And who said I didn't impress the instructor?

He was very reassuring and encouraging. A few things he said which were very nice to hear....1) he said it was nice to not have to tell me (a female) to attack the track, 2) that I seem to have an uncanny ability to pick out the best lines through all the corners, 3) I am tenacious about never giving the car up and always fighting to get it back under control when it gets out from under me. On the flip side, he said I need to use the car's power better, need to get used to the idea of the car dancing around under me and learn how to leverage it better, that I don't use the full potential of the brakes, and I need more seat time.

But yeah....gobs of fun. I love the idea that you can take any kind of car you want to out there and so long as it passes tech (nothing is falling off the car in large chunks), have at it baby! Hell, there was a Dodge Magnum station wagon out there.

Vanishing Point · 07-04-2012, 12:47 PM

RM,
To remove the remaining "markings" on your car try a clay bar and some quick detailer. Most any auto parts store sells either the Mequiars or Mother's brand kit as a pair. If you've never tried a clay bar after washing it really removes an amazing amount of stuck on debris from the paint, glass and even wheels (just use a separate clay bar for your wheels due to the brake dust) easily.

RMurphy · 07-04-2012, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanishing Point

RM,
To remove the remaining "markings" on your car try a clay bar and some quick detailer. Most any auto parts store sells either the Mequiars or Mother's brand kit as a pair.

VP, this is so funny. Guess what I used Monday? Meguiars clay bar, instant detailer and then quick wax. I had that in my cabinet already and it seemed like the obvious first choice after getting the majority of the grime off.

It's just an awkward spot on the car and I got tired of working on it. So I declared it good enough for the night.

AZS2KDancer · 07-05-2012, 10:32 AM

Roseanne, You are living my dream. I previewed some autocross last year, just observing. I'm also not wanting to dive all in with modifications, but I would love to try ax and HDPE1 to start with.

But first I need a job and some spare cash to get a helmet and then instructor time to start with. It looks like it's a blast and I'm glad that you are having a good time.

RMurphy · 07-05-2012, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZS2KDancer

Roseanne, You are living my dream. I previewed some autocross last year, just observing. I'm also not wanting to dive all in with modifications, but I would love to try ax and HDPE1 to start with.

But first I need a job and some spare cash to get a helmet and then instructor time to start with. It looks like it's a blast and I'm glad that you are having a good time.

Just to give you an idea of costs:
autocross novice school day plus weekend SCCA membership plus lunch included: $70
helmet: sale price 2005 snell rated (got in 2010) for about $199, iirc
gas: 1/4 of a tank used at the track
tires: rears were almost toast already, took off about 500 miles
hotel: priceline bid for the 4 star Hyatt in La Jolla - $130

An autocross novice school day might actually be less expensive overall than an HPDE day and less risk to both car and driver, all things considered.

kreapin · 07-05-2012, 04:45 PM

A few s2 owners down here have had good reviews of the hankook v12's for a budget performance tire as well as the Direzza Z1's. Both of these are ultra high performance summer tires under $150 each. But if you plan on more autox then spending a little more for the star specs would be nice

RMurphy · 07-05-2012, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kreapin

A few s2 owners down here have had good reviews of the hankook v12's for a budget performance tire as well as the Direzza Z1's. Both of these are ultra high performance summer tires under $150 each. But if you plan on more autox then spending a little more for the star specs would be nice

I never mix and match tires (it's like wearing white shoes after Labor Day, you know?) and since I'm only replacing rears right now (fronts are only a few months old -- maybe 6), I'll definitely be getting the Star Specs right now. The next full set of 4, which is easily more than a year away, I'm not sure. I may stay with the Star Specs or not.

It's pretty much summer here all year long so we are very lucky in that respect. And it doesn't rain much so we don't have to be overly concerned with wet weather grip (we can't disregard it, but we don't have to think of it as a serious consideration like Florida). I like the Star Specs. No complaints. They've done me right. But I would be foolish not to look at the latest options available a year from now.

Vanishing Point · 07-05-2012, 05:11 PM

Still waiting to hear about the replacements for the Direzza Star Specs, the rumor has been out for weeks and no news.

DeDonDeRosa · 07-10-2012, 06:16 AM

def a good time! i need to get back into it

fm_sd · 07-14-2012, 03:06 PM

Thanks for the info. I was looking at the sites a few weeks ago. Now I know which is the first class to try to take, though it looks like it is not given often.

RMurphy · 07-14-2012, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fm_sd

Thanks for the info. I was looking at the sites a few weeks ago. Now I know which is the first class to try to take, though it looks like it is not given often.

You don't have to wait for a novice school day. I mean, it's the easiest time to go because they treat everyone like a newb and they make it very easy for you (one I went to provided lunch and everything), but you can go to regular practice days no problem. Just let them know it's your first time and they will help you out as much as they can. You can sign up on the discussion forums and ask many stupid questions which people will answer for you with great tolerance.

Ask me how I know?

If you are in the SoCal area, here is the link for CalClub:
http://solo2.com/

And here is the link for San Diego region:
http://www.sdr-scca.com/solo2/schedule/