Autocross megathread

[Balefire]

Had my first event in the Type-S last weekend.

For those that don't know - I've been doing this 'seriously' for over 20 years. Trophied a few times at Nationals before and have won a few Tour's & Pro's along the way. I've always been a 'FWD specialist' and mainly run cars in GS and HS. Last year I ran a '22 GTI in G-Street.

I am running my Type-S in BS this year.
My set-up is as follows:
-18x9.5 Apex wheels with 275/35-18 Kumho V730 tires (only drive at autocross, OEM wheels/tires for transit and rain autocross).
-RV6 rear bar with RV6 endlinks (full stiff setting)
-'Autocross' alignment (zero front toe, 1/8 toe out in rear)

The event was the St Louis CAM Challenge, which was about a 6hr drive for me. Recently resealed asphalt site.

I showed up to run on Friday as they had a test and tune. It ended up being a very short 17sec course, but was enough to get the mold release off and try a few settings. I bought/took 12 runs and switched wheels from front-to-rear half way through.

I actually had my fastest TnT time posted with ESC in "reduced" mode. Very odd. I figured it was due to the wheelspin I was incurring off of the start with the pedal-dance. I also was fastest in Sport+ mode.

I was able to get very close to my fastest TnT time after doing the pedal dance and running the car in my Individual mode (Comfort shocks, Sport Steering, everything else in Sport+)....

I settled on 35psi front and 50psi rear for tire pressures on the V730.

I left ever frustrated but realize that the V730 tire needs a few heat cycles and runs before it starts to get good. And that I am adjusting to a car with more power and handling ability that I have driven in the past. But I failed to make the top 10 in my class when I figured I would be top-5.

Unsure when my next event will be - but hoping the tires come in a bit and I can drive a bit better.

why did you choose v730?
recently ran v730 and re71rs back to back at a TnT and there was easily 0.5 sec difference on a 45 sec course.

Why r u running 50 psi in the rear? To encourage rotation?

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[Gefiltefish]

why did you choose v730?
recently ran v730 and re71rs back to back at a TnT and there was easily 0.5 sec difference on a 45 sec course.

Why r u running 50 psi in the rear? To encourage rotation?

I personally like the V730 better than the RE71RS. I ran both last year on the GTI.

The Bridgestones softer sidewall does not jive with the way I drive. Additionally the Bridgestone overheats too fast on FWD cars. The Kumho actually likes heat - which makes it ideal on a FWD car (especially when there is only 5-10min between runs which is typical at my local region).

Lastly - the price is right. $225/tire versus $385/tire. That’s over $600/set difference….Add in the fact that Kumho pays contingency, it was a no brainer. Last year every National event (Tour and Pro) my co-driver and I went to, we got between $100-$400 off our next set of Kumhos. Even if we finished last - if we were the fastest car on Kumhos - they’d give us a $100 credit towards a future pair/set.

 

[optronix]

I just got back from SCCA Autocross Level 2 School yesterday. Other than an unfortunate incident
that cut my day a little short, I do feel like I learned a lot.

A couple observations:

- I was getting told all day to keep putting air in my tires. Pretty much after every drill, a different instructor would come up to me and suggest I put a few more PSI in the tires. They started at ~38 hot all around, but I bumped them up to ~42 front ~40 rear and did not want to go any higher than that. I didn't really notice a difference in grip and the instructors still were scratching their heads... I guess the sidewalls are just super soft on these PS4S? Here is some evidence in this pic, which shows the carnage left by yesterday's encounter with a fire extinguisher but also if you zoom in, what the shoulders looked like after about 4/5ths of a full day of the school (I left around 2:30 after the incident, just personal irritation distracted me from wanting to continue, physical damage to the car was not a factor, car was fine). Also note the tire in the rear was brand new with about 100 miles of normal driving on it before this event, and I'm unsure if it is in fact a "Honda (H0)" PS4S or "off the shelf" PS4S. Anyone know how to tell?

Front:

Rear:

Other than the tire thing, I think overall the event was quite productive. I did get carried away on that one run, but I also feel like my ability to tackle slaloms has increased considerably. Also got a little more practical application practice on rotating the car with the throttle; up until now it's been pure instinctual but I feel like I've polished that up a bit. I really don't have a problem getting the rear end to do what I want, although what I do want to still try to work on is figuring out the exact character of what the car will do in the front based on throttle application. Sometimes it wants to grip with the front and pull you through a turn, others it wants to straighten the car out and it'll push. Still want to work on that.

I think yet another important lesson, even aside from the one I detailed about in my thread about the fire extinguisher- I learned that I really do not want to get too serious about autocross. So I don't give a rat's ass about what offset my wheels are, or if I want to put an intake and exhaust on the car, or anything like that. I learned that being uber-competitive in this event takes a shitload of what I view as work, and that's not what I'm in this for. I have enough work to do with my actual job and around the house. I learned that yesterday, and that's yet another valuable lesson.

That said, I think with a little more camber and some better tires I'd be pretty dangerous with this thing at my local PCA events.

 

[ZeroGSR]

I have +58. The Apex EC-7 18x9.5 option. I can likely get away with a small 3mm spacer if I wanted but I don’t want to deal with them and risk any thread engagement issues.

For what it's worth, I am running 5mm spacers without thread engagement issues with my Apex setup. Not that I think 3mm will really make a world of difference.

 

[mattm]

I went to the Meadowlands to run NNJR and drive the EV RDX and Honda version.
RDX was an interesting diversion. They had an acceleration run. Plant your foot and go. Very fast for a 5,900 pound vehicle. The rest was mundane. Got some swag, too.

Six runs at NNJR. I was six seconds off 1st place. But I was 7.7 seconds off other folks running the class in the "Pro" group (M2 and a Supra). Yes, a bit of a butt kicking. My ITS is bone stock, but I should have been closer. I did put it in Sport+ and did the pedal dance. Results: https://www.autox4u.com/nnjrlive/results.html
I haven't off loaded the video, yet. Ya I'm lazy.

 

[bisquick]

I went to the Meadowlands to run NNJR and drive the EV RDX and Honda version.
RDX was an interesting diversion. They had an acceleration run. Plant your foot and go. Very fast for a 5,900 pound vehicle. The rest was mundane. Got some swag, too.

Six runs at NNJR. I was six seconds off 1st place. But I was 7.7 seconds off other folks running the class in the "Pro" group (M2 and a Supra). Yes, a bit of a butt kicking. My ITS is bone stock, but I should have been closer. I did put it in Sport+ and did the pedal dance. Results: https://www.autox4u.com/nnjrlive/results.html
I haven't off loaded the video, yet. Ya I'm lazy.

Assuming you weren’t referring to the ZDX, I’m interested to see and hear about an EV RDX. This would be a great replacement for our A-Spec.

Good times for a completely stock ITS. I ran mine in March on DWS 06+, best I could do was 67; one of the instructors ran a 60 in my car. Being my first time there are certainly a lot of driver improvements to be made. Maybe we’ll run into each other in future events!

 

[TheRas900]

Yeah, I'm also interested in hearing more about the EV ride and drive. Was it sponsored by Honda/Acura?

 

[mattm]

Yes a Honda and Acura deal. It is a travelling show in a city near you. NY was this past weekend.

 

[mattm]

​ ​

​

The wait is over!​ See you today for the Acura ZDX and Honda Prologue EVolution Experience.​ ACURA ZDX AND HONDA PROLOGUE EVOLUTION EXPERIENCE​ MetLife Stadium, Lot E​ 05/11/2024, 11:00 AM​ For directions to the event, please click here.​ Please bring a valid driver’s license and visit the event FAQ Page for more information.​ If you need to cancel your reservation, please click here.​ ​ ©2024 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. ©2024 Acura. Please see our Privacy Notice. All information contained herein applies to U.S. Vehicles only.​ Please do not reply to this email. Contact us at: American Honda Motor Co., Inc., 1919 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA 90501 Reference: JXSNDWSN- EVRD1DRM​

 

[bisquick]

​ ​ ​

​ ​

​ The wait is over!​ See you today for the Acura ZDX and Honda Prologue EVolution Experience.​ ACURA ZDX AND HONDA PROLOGUE EVOLUTION EXPERIENCE​ MetLife Stadium, Lot E​ 05/11/2024, 11:00 AM​ For directions to the event, please click here.​ Please bring a valid driver’s license and visit the event FAQ Page for more information.​ If you need to cancel your reservation, please click here.​ ​ ​ ©2024 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. ©2024 Acura. Please see our Privacy Notice. All information contained herein applies to U.S. Vehicles only.​ Please do not reply to this email. Contact us at: American Honda Motor Co., Inc., 1919 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA 90501 Reference: JXSNDWSN- EVRD1DRM​

Ah, so it was Acura’s overpriced Chevy Blazer EV port. I was hoping it was a replacement for the RDX which is arguably Acura’s greatest current model year SUV.

I guess I’ll have to keep waiting for a hybrid or EV offering…

 

[mattm]

Video from Saturday. Bone stock. I forgot to bring talent, too.

 

[StingertimeNC]

looked pretty good to me!

 

[Integra23]

Ah, so it was Acura’s overpriced Chevy Blazer EV port. I was hoping it was a replacement for the RDX which is arguably Acura’s greatest current model year SUV.

I guess I’ll have to keep waiting for a hybrid or EV offering…

The Honda version comes with GM key fob. I wonder if it's the same for the ZDX

 

[Gefiltefish]

Had my second event in the car yesterday. New event site for me and the club. Small turnout so we got 9 runs total (4 morning, 5 afternoon).

The morning sessions everyone (including myself) was having issues putting power down. The site wasn't dusty but another club ran two days last weekend and there was a lot of loose gravel coming up. So I opted to switch things up for the afternoon and ran the car in "Traction Reduced" mode (aka not the full pedal dance).

Ended up dropping 8-tenths (which is a lot for a 30sec course) and didn't really feel the stability control restricting me.

Due to a lot of undulations - I also ended up making my fastest runs in my Individual mode (Comfort shock setting).

Seems like that will be the set-up I go with for slippery sites and/or wet conditions.

Ended up first in class and likely 5th-9th or so on PAX (didn't look before I left and they haven't posted results yet).

 

[optronix]

Yeah my trip last week was in the wet, and had issues putting power down. I did not want to turn off traction control, so figured I'd just try to increment steps to reduce the issue, the first step being putting it into Sport vs Sport+. That was actually enough to do the trick for me.

Combine that with just getting more familiar with the course/conditions over the next few runs, and for the last (6th) run, put it back in Sport+. Had my best time of the day. Throttle modulation is very critical in this car.

The local wireless was out by the time I came back in from my work assignment so I don't know how I finished for the day, but after the 2nd of 3 heats I was sitting in ~13th place overall. This was PCA, so there was only one non-Porsche ahead of me (I don't think any were not on 200 TW tires...)... a pretty well-prepped 2015 WRX on RE71RS and -3+ degrees camber sitting at FTD. So not too bad, as I'm still 100% stock.

So question- do wet conditions do anything to negate the advantages of 200 TW? That WRX was considerably faster around this course but I'm pretty sure I've beat that driver out at previous events in the dry... I know the AWD helped but I thought I might have a bit of an advantage today as I'm still on PS4S but not sure that was the case.

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