Houston SCCA Autocross 8/3/2008
 

Register online now for $25 an event(double enter for 2 events) or you can just show up and register at the event for $30.

You have to have a SCCA membership to race, but you can get a weekend SCCA membership for $15 at the event. The $15 will also go towards payment for a full membership if you choose to get one. If you are already addicted go ahead and get a full membership.

The event is at Gulf Greyhound Park on 8/3/2008.


http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...,1.279907&z=10


Try to show up at or before 8am.



If you need better directions or more info, just PM me.

If you've never been before it as an experience worth having.

I believe there is a discount if you register early at www.DLBracing.com

As far as classes you can run under "BS" or "STB" if you are stock, or X if you are not. You should be able to double register. You get 4 runs per group (Morning group and afternoon group if you double enter)


BS class you can perform the following modifications. Front sway bar, shocks, ignition (wires, coils, spark plugs are OK, I think the mazmart solution is against the rules), alignment, any DoT legal tires (R-compounds), and you can replace the air filter element(not the intake!), brake pads, and any fluids. STB is the same minus the R-compounds.


Also take note that the track was swept this month and should offer a bit more traction than usual.

Correction:

STB is everything allowed in the BSP class, minus the r-compounds.

STB allows pretty much any bolt-on. As long as you haven't done any major horsepower upgrades (FI, Nitrous, cat removal, etc), made any modifications to the chasis (Roll cage, gutted interior, etc.), or any other significant modifications to the drivability of the car (blitz kits, non-stock spoilers, carbon fiber bodypanels, removed electronics, etc), you can run in STB.

In other words, if your 8 passes state inspection, you're good in STB.




I'll be there, but I might have to borrow a car again. My Transmission, driveshaft, differental , and rear suspension are in desperate need of fixing/replacement before my car can race again..

i am coming =D... oh god my tire are gonna be dead.. i hope it don't rain...

I know you got screwed by the dealer on the transmission, but whats the deal with the other three? The driveshaft? how did that get damaged?

So can I do STB, instead of STU this time?

Hard to say. The driveshaft & differential have been a little skiddish from day one. Driving on a bad transmission for so long might have made things worse. Or it could have been my driving. Or it could have been poor maintenance from the original owner. Or it could have been due to the craptastic replacement transmission. Or it could have been the Texas heat over the past 4 years.

I really don't know.
What I do know is that the dealership got me another transmission, and it'll be installed for free. While they're under there they're going to inspect my drivetrain & differential and replace anything that needs replacing under warranty. Then they're going to find out why my car wobbles so badly @ 50mph and fix that under warranty as well.

Long story short, I'm getting a fully rebuilt drivetrain & suspension for $150. Considering I've got 98000 miles on the odometer, that's a damn steal!

Nice!

I'm happy to hear that you have a little luck going your way.

Hi Guys,

I'm not going to able make it to this one - I'll be out of town :(

Have fun!

I guess no one wants to answer my question?? Oh well. :p

Yeah, I don't think any of your mazdaspeed parts would throw you out of STB.

STB also runs in the morning so if you want to double enter you can.

Also you got a little time before the event so teach your wife to drive a stick so she can race too!

Hey, one of my buddies wants to go with me and ride shotgun. Do they have helmet loaners there? If not, can he borrow one of you guys' helmets? I want to introduce him to autocross.

he can ride shotgun, there is loaners there.

Some of the loaner helmets smell pretty ripe, but I'm sure your friend will manage.

Sorry for the late reply:

If I told you last month that you had to run in STU, then I appologize for the miscommunication. Let me try to explain myself better this time.

STB is not an official class, so not much thought was put into who can & can't compete in that class, or what their PAX index would be. In the few events I ran in STB, it seemed chaotic, with cars that didn't stand a chance against me as well as cars I didn't stand a chance against. The most upsetting part was that my PAX score was higher than if I just ran in STU, so I couldn't really trust the overall rankings to show me where I really sized up agaisnt ANY of the other drivers.

I always recommend running in a "real" class for 2 reasons: 1- even if you aren't maxed out for the class, your PAX time will provide you with a better guage of your standing overall. 2-It sucks to have a good day and later find out that you could have placed in a real class and gotten some national points, but instead scored some pseudopoints in a faux category.


But then again, I take AutoX way too seriously, and STB might be where you guys will have the most fun...
...I guess what I'm trying to say in all my rambles is this: If you plan on getting serious, stay out of STB. Otherwise, try it out; maybe it'll suit your fancy :/

I don't think you take autocross serious enough!

Most everyone else though, myself included, the class we drive in is still not that important. I'm just trying to get as much seat time in as possible and I'd recommend the same to everyone else starting out. Plus next event is the last event of the season.

Off topic:
Anyone else go to the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Concert yesterday? It turned out pretty good. Five finger death punch, machine head, the red chord, mastadon, disturbed, and slip knot all did amazing jobs. I didn't get out of the parking lot until midnight. Work sucks today.

Edit: http://youtube.com/watch?v=nBjaI5PLbxg At the Houston Mayhem he spun at least 360 degrees.

Whaaa??

I thought they were year-round...

Whoops, looks like I'm wrong. I misread the work-event schedule. It seems they post it every 6 months. I thought regional 8 was the last one. I had too much sun yesterday.

STB is an official class. It is a local class to Houston Region though. Think of it as BSP with street tires except "Any wheels plus or minus 2" from stock width. Diameter is free.
This is a Houston Region exception"

Just a reminder autocross is this sunday. Just register in whatever class makes you feel the best!

T-11 hours until the event


I'm bringing sunblock if anyone needs it. See everyone in the morning.

Well, the usual 2 came out.

The gist of it is we had lots of fun. It rained. Went to Gringos. Usual profound things happened at gringos.

Nick was kind enough to record the many many many times craziness happened.

I was supposed to go to this one, but I couldn't finish my car in time on saturday. I installed new brakes, rotors, and sway bars. I'm coming out for the next one for sure because my car is ready for it now. :D

i did not wake up in time -.-... got out the door at 8:00 am.. no way was gonna make it in time. sorry guys. i will come out here sometime later.

You missed a little rain. It wasn't enough to effect driving or if it did it only served to cool the tires a little.

I'm not sure why but Nick is absolutely killing me. And its not completely the tires.


I just need more practice.