Courses are fast and long at the El Toro Pro this weekend. The grip off the line didn't seem as good as in the past, but we are using a different course area this year and I was also scrubbing in a new set of tires so they both may come in and gain grip as the event progresses.

There is nothing wrong with using the 245 RS3 tire. It will get up to temp quicker and also have better feel/response. Maybe increase your front camber to -2

Mark, what are you launching from to get 2.1 second 60'?

That's just amazing for an RX8.

Very good Sunday morning Mark....you nailed the right side and almost did same on the left.

whoops. forgot about this thread.
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...55&postcount=1

Here is my video from yesterday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAexO...ature=youtu.be
Simmons

Since we're all sharing videos, here's mine from yesterday too! :)

Best priority for auto-x
1) Tires
2) Suspension
3) Weight
4) Power

Based on your pics, I would go for swaybars first. Then, bang for the buck: battery (30lbs off the front wheels), cat and cat-back (small power gain+moderate weight reduction), pulleys (add power everywhere in rpm range).

Jim

I had an amazing weekend at the Evolution Super Shootout in Atlanta. The course was a blast, so was the format (a hybrid between a Tour and a Pro with a twist). It was nice to be back and see everyone. Thanks to Jim for the co-drive in the Awesome Fossum car! :)

Dennis and Jim had a great battle for 1st in STX. I ended up .15s out of the top 32 during class competition, but pulled off a top 5 spot in the Last Chance Qualifier, it's all I had driving with a semi-healed broken wrist. By the end of the event I had blisters on my right hand from taking the brunt of the steering effort to compensate for the left! But it was worth it. :)

Honestly, the difference between those two sizes is a far smaller variable than your driving skill. I know this gets repeated a lot, but driving skill matters. There would be no shame in saving $200 on tires while you are in "learning" mode (a presumption on my part).

Also, the 255/35-18 has a very low load rating - lower than the OEM Bridgestones. I am somewhat wary of that size for that reason. Now, I have never seen hard data relating tire load rating to Autocross performance, but I'd be concerned that a tire with a low rating would deform too much, or require very high pressures, while autocrossing and thus not perform well. Anybody have any data on that?

Also, Rs3s are not a great choice, IMO, in a climate that includes the possibility of racing in temps (dry or wet) below 60F, unless you plan to have a second driver to keep them warm. I'm switching back to Toyos for that reason.

Finally, in my experience, dial in as much negative camber as you can get.

Good luck and have fun!

Thanks Jim,
Shame I bought the wrong version (sunroof) on the weight front.

I will go with a front sway bar next. Not sure if I need both as I am getting over-steer at the moment and I know some of the guys remove the rear sway bar.

I think a Cobb AP will be good too, I really like the idea if increasing the redline, I think it will give 10-14mph more in 2nd gear which is great for the fast tracks I run on.

Any recommendations on a battery the last recommendation I read ended up being sold because it could not handle the engine temps & another one cracked/warped.

Another great car/crappy driver episode at El Toro this weekend, getting sloshed with only 4 hours sleep makes for nice vacation memories, but obviously is not a winning routine

Slow motion cam vid for one of my runs

http://public.fotki.com/makofoto/201...101.html#media

You would have to increase the redline to 11,000 RPM to get 84 mph out of second gear on OEM sized tires. That's 15mph over stock. Pick a tire that is smaller in diameter (overall outside diameter) and you are going to have to increase that even more.

Good luck with that. In for the "omg my transmission exploded on me" thread.

Stick with shifting to third gear, or find a region that complies to the SCCA rules for maximum speed at which a course should be designed for.

Nice job, Teddie! Quit crossin' your arms! ;)

on 245 tires 2nd gear at 8900rpm is like 90. i didn't know u had to go to 11k to go 84 on stock tires! wow!

You are Way off, with 255/40/17 Tires with my rev limit raised 400 I am at 65mph on the limit. Done with GPS



Simmons

That sounds like 3rd gear. 3rd gear RPM is pretty close to 1/100 the speed:

7500 RPM = 75MPH

Oops my bad I guesstimated but screwed up my calculation, I currently get 68 on the clock (65 on gps) at redline in 2nd

If I could get about an extra 5 mph I would be happy. I would like to raise the redline to about 10,250 I think that's whats is common with the Cobb. I still have 18" wheels.... for now.

My local course is Gulfcoast and the course designer drives a Z06 so the tracks a usually about 80 mph in the Rx8.

wait my bad lol... it is 3rd lol.... 2nd is like 68 and that's from a datalog from cobb

yeah, I'm still in "learning" mode. You mean toyo r1r? i couldn't find any good review of them but i read somewhere that they overheat fast, they are cheaper also...

There is no shortage of generalities from people who have no clue what they are talking about. That said, the R1R is a serious i.e. particular type of, competition tire that the average numnut is likely to misunderstand and make clueless general stayements about.

with 4.777 final drive, on 18x10 wheels with 285/30 Hoosiers, and a redline of 9,700RPM, my dash says 70 if I top out 2nd gear.

Has anyone tried running in STX with a wing at a regional event (chicago in particular)?

I don't think your dash is aware of what is between the axle and the pavement.

I run a wing and front and rear bumper in STX it's illegal but I let my competition know and as long as they are happy its ok. It was legal last year which is really frustrating.

Tell me about it.