WaterLogged

I just figured I'd start a thread where all things autocross and PDX(performance driving experience) related can be discussed.

To start things off on the autocross discussion, I'll give you all a couple of links to some pretty big changes that the STL region has made to the way this year's regular races will be run:

A list of the changes can be found here:
http://sccaforums.com/forums/storage...7s%20New.2.pdf

Some key changes are the facts that we will be getting no less than six runs per day spread across two different driving heats and passengers will be allowed throughout the entire competition runs as long as they sign the waiver as they come into the gate. Heats will also be assigned based on class, like divisional and national tour events. The street tire classes have been altered a bit, too.

The real important change for newcomers and those who just aren't sure if they are ready to get serious about autocrossing: If you're running stock but don't want to pony up the dough for race tires you can instead run in an indexed street tire class based on what class your car would originally be in. For example: If you're running OEM tires on a mostly stock RX-8 you would've in the past be lumped into the same class (B stock or just BS) as those of us running (soon to be) stock 8's on race tires. Instead, now you will be in another new class called TBS and will compete against other cars that are also running on street tires in other classes with the winner being decided as the one with the lowest index time which is calculated by multiplying your time by your parent class's index factor. It sounds confusing, but it's actually simple once you experience it.

Now for the other handy link and explanation:
http://www.stlsolo.org/RegisterOnlin...9/Default.aspx

This is the page where you can pre-register for the entire season and get a nice little discount in process. This year they've upped the cost for all competitors (even SCCA members). If you preregister for the entire season prior to April 12th and get your SCCA membership you'll essentially get two events free over the course of the season. With the combination of the preregistration AND SCCA membership you end up saving a bit of money in the long run if you're into autocrossing or even want to have some Sundays this year taken up by some weekend warrior stunt driving fun!

Here's the event entry fees:
$25 for pre-registered SCCA members
$30 for SCCA members entering at the event
$35 for pre-registered non-SCCA members
$40 for non-SCCA members entering at the event
$200 for ALL events for SCCA members
$280 for ALL events for non-SCCA members

So far there are 10 scheduled regular events. I'm not sure if the STL region will be hosting the MidDiv Championship event again this year or not. It's not currently on the schedule, but that doesn't mean anything.

Link to the STL Region schedule:
http://www.stlsolo.org/Default.aspx?tabid=56

Anyway, I hope to see all of the "old guys" out there a bit more this year. All of those who haven't autocrossed or (legitimately) raced your 8 but have always wanted to know how it could do against those lesser handling cars , this is your venue. It's SCCA insured, safe, loads of fun, and definitely gets the adrenaline junkies their fix in short bursts. Plus you can bring your wife/girlfriend along for the ride now!

If you have any questions you can certainly PM me and I'd be more than happy to help out if I can.

-B

terretsboy

I can't wait to try out the new tires. I've taken some turns FAST and still no sliding. Watch out Bill... I'm coming after your a$$.

baseballgenius80

Yeah...what he said. But knowing me, I'll always be three seconds behind. At least I have your back that way.

terretsboy

I actually read all of that now. 6 RUNS!? Thats awesome. I'm definitely joining SCCA this year, it wasn't worth it last year since I started late. DerbyDame (Molly) is going to be excited to hear that she can ride along.
I still need to get a helmet, any suggestions? I want one that I can use for autocross and for a street-legal dirtbike that I will no doubt be getting sometime in the near future.

terretsboy

Totally hetrosexually by the way.

ChaseRX8

scorpion makes some really good (quality) motorcycle helmets for a decent price and they have some cool designs .
do most people use more of a dirt bike helmet or a street helemet?

http://www.scorpionusa.com/equipment/helmets.html

WaterLogged

Well, the SCCA rules are still on SNELL 95 or greater compliant, which pretty much describes all helmets out there short of those Harley rider favorites... brain buckets.

I'd say get something that you can have good peripheral vision with. Personally, I run with an open-faced helmet in autocrossing and track days just because it gets pretty hot in the summer. On the bike I strongly recommend a full-face helmet with a visor. I can't count how many times my face would've been ripped off by a stone or concrete thrown up by another car if it weren't for the visor on the helmet. Of course a combined velocity of me and the stone at impact is usually well over 100mph.

ChaseRX8

My personal opinion is that street helemts are much more comfortable than dirt bike style, they are just too narrow. Just take the visor off a street one

WaterLogged

As far as the 6 runs idea... that's a MINIMUM we'll run with the new way it's organized. There will be a lot less waiting around as a result, too. The only unfortunate thing with this idea is that they're starting a slight bit earlier in the morning. But that's a small price to pay for having to sit around only one of four heats (you still have to work one heat).

fisherdn

Waterlogged - Congratulations on having the gayest quote on the rx8 club in your signature:

"Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

WaterLogged

I don't know... I'd have to say "I'm coming after your a$$" as stated above takes the cake.

Oh yeah... they're back!

ChaseRX8

OHH BURN

terretsboy

NOoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooo.....

terretsboy

Smiley abuse!

Also, Chase see the past conversation for my aversion to the dancing fruity casper. I probably won't get anything done at work now. Little f**ker dancing in circles

ChaseRX8

Ya im at school right now so i have nothing better to do

terretsboy

I'm at work... feel your pain. Where do you go to school?

ChaseRX8

CBC, ya its not to much fun
but we got laptops so its ok

WaterLogged

Ok, stupidly enough I ordered my race tires for this coming season THEN I started talking myself into getting a set of lightweight wheels to go with them. I could've saved a bunch of bucks having Tire Rack mount the tires on the new wheels for me. Anyone know of a place that'll mount tires for the cheap?

Here's the two sets I'm considering. Thoughts?
O.Z. Ultraleggera: http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...5&autoModClar=

SSR Comp-H: http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...5&autoModClar=

Both of them come in different finishes but I like the darker colors for race wheels.

fisherdn

The SSR's look much, much better to me. I've never been a fan of the spoke rims (with lots of spokes). The SSR's are much lighter (and I noted they're much more expensive too...)

1 vote SSR!

WaterLogged

Yeah, and the fact that the OZ wheel, especially if I went with the gold, would look like those silly STi boys. I'm leaning a little more towards the SSRs as well.

Right now I'm not quite sure what my budget will be, as I haven't finished my taxes yet. That should be done this weekend. Without doing my deductions I'm looking to be in good shape, but then I have to also decide if I really want to spend the money on wheels. If the taxes are a pleasant surprise (yeah right) then it'll be a no-brainer.

The only other thing holding me back is the fact that this year will be the first time I've had R-compound tires on this car. I kinda wanted to do things in stages to reach the limits of myself before getting the car fully setup.

Of course all of this doubt will change if I find someone who wants to co-drive the car this season and cover 1/2 the cost of the tires.

fisherdn

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...catalogID=3987

My vote goes for these. 17.6 pounds, and definitely more expensive...

fisherdn

Mazdaspeed wheels by the way, $512 each

Come in gold or gun metal!

WaterLogged

What's the offset, width, and diameter of that wheel? To stay in stock class, I need a wheel that's 18x8, and 44-50mm offset. There's tons of wheels that I'd LOVE to have for daily driving that fit into the 18x8.5 size.

Mazdaspeed... no thanks.

I've also found another less-expensive wheel that fits, but still not as nice as the SSR:
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...5&autoModClar=

Edit: Just realized your two posts were about the same thing. Perhaps that's what the whole "mazdaspeed" watermark on the photo meant, eh?

terretsboy

I am anti-gold tires in general. But I like the SSR's. I might be looking at getting some wheels this summer too. A little present to me.

WaterLogged

Is anyone else here making it to the Test & Tune at Gateway Sunday morning?