Conclusions from Sunday's Autox - Tuner-Junction

88 rex · #1 (**permalink**) October 17th, 2006, 09:18 PM

1) Smoother is faster.

2) Lotus Exige's are probably one of my favorite cars.

3) K series swaps have a distinctly deeper exhaust note than B series, AND.....I WANT one!!!

4) Miata's love to get tail happy.

5) Dunlop FM901's last suprisingly long but have soft sidewalls.

6) Full-race bars clunk.

7) I need more seat time.

8) I can't wait to get a stiffer set-up and better tires.

Yea, that sums it up. Running with South Jersey is a blast because you usually get 8-10 runs. Other regions you usually get 4. The K swapped EG that was present took 2nd at Englishtown this summer. He ran about a second qucker than me, but at the drag strip I think he ran a 12.9 with full interior.

jadkar · #2 (**permalink**) October 17th, 2006, 09:32 PM

Sounds like you had a great time. Smooth is definitely key in any racing. Any photos??

A_White_Gs-R · #3 (**permalink**) October 17th, 2006, 10:35 PM

I would have loved to get into auto x with my old teg but sadly thats not gonna happen. sounds like you got some work ahead of you to compete stronger next time good luck man.

88 rex · #4 (**permalink**) October 18th, 2006, 07:01 AM

Sorry, no pictures at this time.

I would also like to add:

9) A racing seat would be beneficial to prevent any more bruises to my knee from slamming it into my window knob.

The point about being smoother is critical. My first few runs I just bullied my way through the cones and had OK times. I then tried to run smoother and my times got a little slower but it felt so much better. Then I started putting more speed in certain areas while staying smooth and finally got my best times of the day.

M.A.R.C. · #5 (**permalink**) October 18th, 2006, 04:19 PM

going to a local event on sunday in the S! 2nd event i ever been to and yes... smoother will help you keep control of the car.

Disillusioned · #6 (**permalink**) October 18th, 2006, 07:17 PM

marc is very smooth.

scottigee · #7 (**permalink**) October 18th, 2006, 10:05 PM

Hey, alright you went!! Congrats!
I had the same bruised knee problem in my car; I went to integra LS seats and for $100 the problem is solved for me and my passenger

I don't think race seats are necessary...I would get teg or del sol seats and maybe a CG lock before shelling out $500 +. BTW a cheap CG lock substitute is to twist your seat belt 3 times before engaging the buckle. An instructor showed me that at my last autoX...it really lets you cinch up the belt and lock it.

One lesson you probably learned but didn't include is "You have to brake hard to go fast"
I really didn't start putting down respectable times till I learned to threshold brake. Once I got the hang of that I learned to be either full on throttle or full on brakes. Anything else is sub-optimal.

I'm done for the season. I'll accumulate some suspension parts over the winter and hit it hard for the full season next year.

88 rex · #8 (**permalink**) October 18th, 2006, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottigee

One lesson you probably learned but didn't include is "You have to brake hard to go fast"
I really didn't start putting down respectable times till I learned to threshold brake. Once I got the hang of that I learned to be either full on throttle or full on brakes. Anything else is sub-optimal.

Yes! That too. Fast straight, brake hard, and THEN turn. Braking through the turn is just asking for more understeer on a car already prone to understeer.

AND, it's fun to loose the backend mid turn and ride it out

macbasq · #9 (**permalink**) October 18th, 2006, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88 rex

Yes! That too. Fast straight, brake hard, and THEN turn. Braking through the turn is just asking for more understeer on a car already prone to understeer.

AND, it's fun to loose the backend mid turn and ride it out

yeah, if you need to brake through a turn you're going too fast, and if you can brake during a turn without understeering you're going too slow.

chris_s14 · #10 (**permalink**) October 23rd, 2006, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottigee

One lesson you probably learned but didn't include is "You have to brake hard to go fast"
I really didn't start putting down respectable times till I learned to threshold brake. Once I got the hang of that I learned to be either full on throttle or full on brakes. Anything else is sub-optimal.

yeps, thats what the instructors told me too