Autox'd today with new set-up - Tuner-Junction

88 rex · #1 (**permalink**) May 28th, 2006, 08:30 PM

I ran at the York fairgrounds today and had a blast. The course was big but fast so times were around 40 sec with fastest times in the 36's (maybe a 35.xx)

Last time I went to an auto-x it was last spring and with my stock motor. Since then I have added the motor and most importantly added the rear sway bar. I can't stress how much that improved the car. The car has gone from major understeer to fairly neutral with a little snap oversteer. I LOVE the handling feel of the car. It couldn't hurt to get some stiffer srings, but that would be no good until I get some new tires.

I need some stiffer/stickier tires pretty bad. Slicks would help immensely. The power, although, not insane is MORE than enough.

I came away feeling pretty confident that my driving is Ok, not the best, but pretty Ok, and that my tires were definitely the weak point. I am very happy with the power, LSD, gears. Well on today's course I could have seen the advantage of shorter gears........but TIRES first.

I was in D mod this time due to my crossmember......The car is more likely an SM2 car. Either way, I had fun and placed 1st in my class out of 3 drivers. Fortunately there weren't any serious D mod cars attending today.

You guys need to get to an auto-x if you haven't

jadkar · #2 (**permalink**) May 28th, 2006, 09:26 PM

So the fastest time was a 35.xx and what was your fastest time of the day?

How close was the second place car in your class?? and what was he driving??

Sounds like you had a blast, how did the LSD do for ya??

mad-ass · #3 (**permalink**) May 28th, 2006, 09:32 PM

ooh damn...EF with B18c5...geebus.

must have been a blast!

88 rex · #4 (**permalink**) May 28th, 2006, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jadkar

So the fastest time was a 35.xx and what was your fastest time of the day?

How close was the second place car in your class?? and what was he driving??

Sounds like you had a blast, how did the LSD do for ya??

I THINK someone ran in the 35's. Not sure what he had though, b/c I just overheard it from others. Times should be posted on the web probably in the next few days so I will know for sure. There were definitely a few in the 36's though. There were some pretty good drivers with stock machinary and good tires putting up excellent times.

I think the 2nd place car in my class was right on my tail. It was a father son team driving the same car. I think the son beat the father and I think the father was a good 3 seconds behind me. They were driving an 65 Lotus Elan. It was a nice car and definitely capable of better things. There were no Lotus super 7's so I stood a chance against these guys.

LSD was

Wheel spin was minimal coming out of any turns. A few mini's were smoking the inside tires w/o an LSD and I didn't have that problem at all. Oddly, there weren't too many hondas. Only 1 S2k, my CRX, a purple civic, and Mike Louie's famed EM1 (which he sold.) Met some nice VW people with a supercharged Corrado and a Turbocharged Corrado. The supercharged one had a full second on me, but he was on slicks. The "whine" of that car sounded good.

EDIT : Forgot to mention my times

41.485 40.208+1 cone 40.194 40.172 +1 cone
(Still have lots of learning to do.......I could have been MUCH smoother/faster, but loosing the backend mid turn or braking coming into the turn is

)

mad-ass · #5 (**permalink**) May 28th, 2006, 11:00 PM

so, if you had better gripping tires, you'd be looking at high 30's right?

88 rex · #6 (**permalink**) May 28th, 2006, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mad-ass

so, if you had better gripping tires, you'd be looking at high 30's right?

Definitely. BUT a good driver could have had high 30's in my car today. I would have loved to have one the "hot shoes" take it through with me riding shot gun......that's the best way to learn.

JADsKAR · #7 (**permalink**) May 29th, 2006, 12:50 AM

Yaay for 1st place in your category!!

Auto X's are always fun and yeah definitely - when someone else drives your car, it's a great way to see its limits since often times, they'll push things a bit farther than something you'd normallly be comfortable with. I've been on a few hot laps at the Glen with instructors and damn, there is nothing like that to give you full appreciation of your vehicle's potential.

My biggest problem with Auto X's is sometimes the way the cones are set up can be kinda

I've definitely eaten a cone or two.

It's been a long time since I have driven my 88 crx, but when John and I were out with Rio last weekend, I can't believe how much more stable the car is with his current set up. It's completely night & day! Glad to hear you were able to "play" and test your's out!

mad-ass · #8 (**permalink**) May 29th, 2006, 12:55 AM

^you have your own CRX too? or is it the same crx the "RIO" you are refering to?

JADsKAR · #9 (**permalink**) May 29th, 2006, 01:02 AM

My first car was a black '88 crx si - LOVED that car (I bought it when JADKAR and I were first dating and he had "Rio") Fast forward about 13 years, my CRX was sadly hit by a tri-axle dump truck after only having had it a year, but Rio survived all that time, to be rebuilt to what she is today and she is now our "garage princess".

The car that I was referring to when I "ate" some cones during auto x's was the '88 911 that we had (that thing wanted to spin out more than it went straight :mad: ).

88 rex · #10 (**permalink**) May 29th, 2006, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JADsKAR

Auto X's are always fun and yeah definitely - when someone else drives your car, it's a great way to see its limits since often times, they'll push things a bit farther than something you'd normallly be comfortable with. I've been on a few hot laps at the Glen with instructors and damn, there is nothing like that to give you full appreciation of your vehicle's potential.

My biggest problem with Auto X's is sometimes the way the cones are set up can be kinda

I've definitely eaten a cone or two.

Yea, last year I was at a novice test and tune day at Atco with the South Jersey Region and I had an instructor teach me the ropes. I got to ride shotgun a few times with him and it was night and day from my driving. I think he ran a 31 on his first run. I ran a 38 on my first run. Eventually I was able to get into the upper 31's, but he could have also shaved off a few more seconds with a few more runs.

Today was my first day eating a cone and there pretty much wasn't anything I could do about except just drive right through it. I came out of the slalom and in to a right hand turn and the back end stepped out just a enough to throw my line off a few feet and directly into the path of the cone. So today I also took out my first cone

There were a few spots on the course where I felt they should have utillized pointer cones. North Jersey has pointer cones all over the place, but these guys didn't seem to care for them too much. You really had to keep your eye on the course to stay on track. There were quite a few "off courses" today.

And I'm somewhat in thanks to your 88 rex for the extra fender. It's unfortunate you lost her, but at least the extra fender you had went to a good home

It's just sad to lose another 88, especially an Si.

jadkar · #11 (**permalink**) May 29th, 2006, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88 rex

And I'm somewhat in thanks to your 88 rex for the extra fender. It's unfortunate you lost her, but at least the extra fender you had went to a good home

It's just sad to lose another 88, especially an Si.

OMG....I totally forgot you have Karen's Left front fender on your car!!