For those "in the know" I have a question/observation... We have limitations on what we can mod for B Stock, and if we add certain things it pushes us into STU. My initial assumption was that the more modded class (STU) would be faster/harder/more competitive, etc. But I notice from the DC SCCA site that in the last two events, STU averaged being 2 seconds slower than B Stock. (I guess the R-compound tires in B Stock really make a difference!) Have you noticed the same thing in other areas? Based on the numbers, I'd be tempted to go ahead and make a mod that would push me into STU. Hmm, I do like RB's RAM air & intake...

 

I don't know who runs in the DC area, but a lot of times drivers make a difference in classes more than mods. That's not to say R Comps don't make a huge difference though.

 

Ask Teamrx8, he's building a STU car to run at the national level.

 

I'm sure the 2 second gap is due to the drivers. Also, they may have been just testing their setup and weren't taking the times too serious.

It's really hard to tell just from the final results.

-hS

 

I don't know why no one's mentioned PAX -- B Stock's PAX number is slightly harder than STU's (i.e. Rick Ruth believes that BS cars should be faster than STU ones).

 

Depending on the length of the course, the 710's are easily 1.5-2 sec faster. Assuming that they are run on the same car with the same setup.

 

Paul,

I'll go with driving also. There are some strong drivers in our area in B Stock.

 

that chrome fuel door puts you out of bstock silly. i dont even wanna know how much torque that door adds...

 

Pay attention to who the top drivers are and don't pay attention to the also rans in the class. The top STU driver competing in the WDCR events is Mike Neary. He's no slouch and his car is well prepped for the class. John V would be nationally competitive if he could string together two good days in a row. The car that he's driving in BS is set up pretty well, too.

I finished 4th in class at our last event on a single clean run. My fastest time was with a cone, and it was still was pretty far behind John. Without that cone, it would have paxed abotu 0.020 in front of Mike. Mike is a better driver than I am. Tires mean a lot when it comes to time. But weather, course conditions and course layout factor into things as well. At the last event, STU ran in cool, overcast conditions on a somewhat damp course. BS ran in the sun with consdierably warmer temps on a mostly dry course, with a couple still slightly wet sections. The course was also very transition heavy with a number of lane change offsets and a couple long slaloms. Relatively light on significant sweepers.

 

Yep. BS "should be" about .15 faster on a 60-second course.

 

Clyde, you remind me of another good point... It's probably better (in the long run) to run with other 8's wherever they may be. That way I can see a little more directly how my car setup (and driving) compares to others. As it is, I have no delusions about being a contender for the top three any time in the forseeable future anyway.

On a related note, I just signed up for the autox at Fedex Field on May 13th. Any suggestions for my first time there? (I've autocrossed a few times with MSCW and Capital Driving Club over the past year, so I'm not that much of a newbie...)

 

Nothing other than be sure you are early to the event. If you hit traffic and wind up getting there late, you might be disappointed. The DC events are highly subscribed and if you don't check in on time you will be bumped out to let in someone on the waiting list.

Other than that, be sure to come over and say hi!

John

 

Moving up from the crumbly and/or postage stamp sized lots to one of the premier east coast sites will be quite an adjustment in itself. The courses are much, much longer and generally a good bit faster. IMO, they're generally easier to sight read/follow than a typical Rosecroft course, too. The way that WDCR manages their events are quite different as well. We're a bit more rigid and formal, but much more efficent.

Basically...

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And make sure that you have fun. John V and I probably won't be gridded near you becuase we usually put the two driver cars at the front of the grid, but the other BS drivers are good to talk to between runs too. Dave and Steve (RX-8 drivers) have made big improvements in their driving over the past year and they may have some good between run advice for you.

Something else to be aware of... We use a light system for starting. To one side of where you stage will be a box with some LEDs clustered as a red light, yellow light and green light. When it's your turn to stage, the light should be yellow. Keep slowly moving forward until it turns red. At that point, wait for the green light. If both the red and yellow lights are lit when you're trying to stage, stop and don't move unless the starter instructs you to do so. If you are staged with a red light light and the yellow light also turns on, expect to wait a while as it means that there is a problem on course or there's a timing issue. When the light turns green, it's time to go. The starter may or may not gesture or say anything when he lets you go. I'm not sure how much detail they're going into on this system in the drivers meeting these days.

 

Thanks for the head's up, guys. See you there!