124Spider

The RX-8 is shaping up as a legitimate candidate for the car to beat in B Stock, nationally, but it definitely is underrepresented at our local events. Come on out Sunday; the weather's supposed to be good.

http://www.wwscc.org/evinfo/next.html

I'll be there with my S2000, getting kicked around in A Stock.

Renwar1

I'm in! The preformance racing school on the 12th was really enlightening! Meaning I had a blast! So I'm addicted to tracking right now. Although bike season is starting...Oh what to do... Bike > RX-8 ????

Dark8

Also one in Portland on the 24th:

http://www.oregonregionsolo2.com/pdfs/4.24.05.pdf

124Spider

How many runs do you typically get at a PDX autocross? My son comes up to Seattle for autocrosses sometimes, so it seems only fair that I go down there sometimes. I won't go down this Sunday, but I am wondering in general how crowded Portland autocrosses are.

Dark8

They limit the morning/afternoon run groups to 75 cars so you get at least four runs. Only the first three runs count for time and the rest are fun runs. I have only seen the car cap reached two or three times in the last few years.

124Spider

Cool! If the cap isn't reached, can one run competitive in the am, and time only in the pm, like we often can here?

124Spider

If you're Corey, it looks like we won't overlap, since Stock A runs in the morning and you're signed up for pm novice. If they let us run in the pm also, I'll probably do time only, and try to look you up. I'll be in a yellow S2000.

Autocross is a very different beast than the track. Driving on the track gives you two hours or more of seat time in a day's event, while in autocross, each run will typically last less than a minute, and you will get 3-4 runs (or perhaps 6-8 if you do am and pm). I found that frustrating at first (along with the very high technical difficulty of driving fast on an autocross course). I've now done six autocrosses, and I've gotten to know a number of the regulars (mostly S2000 drivers and ex-S2000 drivers). It becomes a bit of a social event, since you spend so much time waiting and so little time driving, but people are very pleaseant and very willing to help the newbies.

Renwar1

I'm cool with just watching right now. I rather see what people do in these event then I'll tempt the waters. By the way, how should I set the tire pressure for 8? 5-10 psi above factory or keep as factory setting? Oh yeah, I'm not Corey, I was the guy who has the freaky 206 whp RX-8 at the dyno test in Kirkland. I remember you had to leave early for your daughters game at the Tacoma dome that day.

124Spider

The problem with autocross compared to track driving is that the tires and brakes don't have a chance to get warm. I'm no expert, but I'll set my tire pressures to something above factory setting. For my S2000, the factory setting is 32; I'll probably start out at about 34 rear and 36 front (if the course is dry), and see how that feels. If the course is wet, I'll start out at something like 42 rear and 44 front. I use Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires for track and autocross.

Dark8

Yes, if your run group runs morning. Otherwise both morning and afternoon would be time only. Hope that makes sense....

Dark8

I ran the OEM O40s at 42F/37R for the most part.

ACHYellowRX8

124, I see you are online. how did your day on the track go today?? What kind of turnout and how many cars do/did they limit it too?

We had a good turn out in Yakima last weekend on Saturday and Sunday as well.

124Spider

It was spectacular! The course was wet to start with, but dried out well as the sun rose. I steadily improved through my four runs in the morning (when I was running Stock A), with my best being a 39.9xx. For comparison, the best times in that run group, by national champion types, were around 35.

I stayed for the pm runs, running time only, and Annie and Ron Bauer very kindly rode in my car, and gave me pointers. I improved to 38.2xx; Ron ran a 32.xxx in a supercharged Miata, just messing around. Boy can he drive! Annie, Ron and Steve already had torn up the place in the 968.

I'm learning. I didn't look at others' times in my class, but I don't think I did badly. I now tend to beat all the novices (or at least the true novices), so I guess I'm really not a novice any more.

The place was hopping! The results show a total of 210 entrants for morning and afternoon combined (counting people, like me, who ran both as two). Still, we each got four runs in the am, and four in the pm.

I was packed and ready to go to Yakima last Sunday before dawn, but when I hooked up the tire trailer (I don't want to drive all that way on the R compounds, even though the Michelin Pilot Sport Cups are pretty streetable), the lights didn't work, and I couldn't get it fixed in time. So I went back to bed, which wasn't a bad consolation. :p