Bummer...
 

Got this response from Travis @ Cobb Tuning re: launch control and no lift shift.

You're showing your age George. ;)

I got my new Corksport catback yesterday, installed it this evening after work and went on a long 1/2 hour test drive. It doesn't seem loud at all -- I actually wish it was louder. I think my former MS dual muffler was louder. I must admit, in the upper rpm ranges (6-9K), the Corksport sounds like pure rotary heaven (the MS exhaust never sounded that good)! :angel:

Two thumbs up for the Corksport!!!! :icon_tup: :icon_tup:

So the admins around this board are clearly lacking in judgment, they're letting just any old bimmer jerk register! ;)

Just wanted to pop in and see if any of you are from the midwest? We have a good diverse STX class here in MN (330, 325, 328, WRX, all at or near national prep) but I haven't seen any RX-8's in action yet. (ok, it's only been two events, I might be impatient) I'm very curious to see how they'll do, I'm convinced they'll dominate.

Anyone near Milwaukee, or planning to hit any of the Milwaukee two day weekends, or the Milwaukee or Lincoln Divisionals?

I wish I had that kind of competition around here, I run in Central Kentucky region, and I consider it a good STX day if two other STX driver's show up.

Does anyone have thoughts on the Bilstein PSS9 coilovers? Did a search and did not find a lot.

^Peppy@kacework.com runs the PSS9's. I don't think he does any Autocrossing though, he is usually at the track.

Yes, at the pro, Karl was slightly faster (raw time) than both the top STU drivers - Geoff Clark (Evo) and Annie Bauer (STI). Speaking with Annie, whe felt it was due to the short gearing in her STI - there are just some courses that the long second gear in the WRX pays off. She also felt that a properly prepared '07 STI (with it's longer second gear) probably would have changed that outcome. I think I remembered that right.

...meaning that the RX-8 will prove to be uncompetitive in STX?

Perhaps I shouldn't ask this, but how much time do you think can be had by going from a BS setup to an STX setup?

If you assume a driver of Karl's skill was in my car, I would think another 1/2 second could have been found on Sunday's course, bringing my car within 1 sec of Karl's, on a BS setup.

Glad to hear you like it. I agree, it has a fantastic sound, just a little too loud for me at times - a little too conspicuous, if you know what I mean.

I thought about the PSS9s before ordering the KWs. I think the PSS9s are a good dual-purpose (daily driver/weekend autocrosser) setup. There is a thread on them over on the suspension forum. Don't get discouraged by the spring rates reported at the beginning of that thread - I called Bilstein and the rates they have are very reasonable for STX (the numbers are at the end of the thread).

I decided to spend the extra $$$ on the KWs because I'm treating STX as a learning experience, and I wanted double adjustables to teach/confuse myself. But I think the PSS9 is a reasonable alternative if you want to save a little money and/or don't want to think about setting up a double adjustable.

Agreed with what George says. The PSS9's are very common in the BMW community, and pretty good as a dual-purpose coilover. In bimmer-land they're usually progressive rate springs, and I don't think they're valved quite as aggressively as most autocross shocks, but the shocks themselves are a quality monotube design that should handle high springrates comfortably and last a long time.

Only thing I'll add to that is that it appears Bilstein's philosophy with valving is that they have a fairly narrow adjustment range. Full-soft to full-stiff, as I understand it, is not as a dramatic change as it is on many other systems out there. When I was talking to Bilstein about getting a set revalved with aggresive autocross valving, they suggested that I run them stock first to determine if I wanted stiffer spring rates.

So, while they can be revalved to higher spring rates and/or to get agressive low speed damping (and they do that quite well, is my understanding) I'm not sure they are the best choice if you expect to bump the spring rates significantly on stock valving. This is just an impression I got after talking with Bilstein, however. I never specificaly asked them how much spring they could handle before a revalve was necessary.

:newbie: whats up guys,

im trying to get into stx so im reading up on rules and regulations, aswell as learn from experience from you fellow rotorheads. ive never tracked my 8 so what do you guys recommend i start with to get some basic experience???

i looked up my scca regions schedule and found this:
http://www.nyr-scca.com/solo_ii%20dates.htm

i currently have Tanabe GF210's, MS CAI, and the Mazsport clutch bracket. plus i received my Z1 Star Specs this morning. this is not my intended setup for stx, but just stuff i put on it before wanting to get into stx. so any suggestions, pointers, do's, dont's, insults, advice is appreciated.

thanx in advance.
:newbie:

Your equipment sounds like it's legal for STX (I seriously doubt anyone will care about the clutch pedal bracket locally), but you didn't say what rims you are using - are they wider than 9"? If so, they are not STX legal. Same goes for the tires - they have to be 265s or smaller. But you have good tires in the Star Specs, assuming they are legal.

Since you are just starting the most important thing you can do is get out there and drive. Just go to as many events as you can - even if it means running out of class and taking "time only" or "fun runs." Hook up with fast drivers and ask them to drive your car - it will be an eye-opening experience. Look for other regions that are within an hour or two of driving - find an event in June if you can! Sometimes there are non-SCCA clubs that have autocrosses, like PCA, BMW clubs, etc.

What is your alignment? Get that right, and get a good tire pressure gauge.

If you are asking what your next Mod should be, I'd say shocks. Autocrossers have an affliction for Konis, but I find the Tokicos work fine and are adjustable in the rear while on the car, so that's my reccomendation. Of course coilovers are even better, but they are expensive, at least if you want the good ones.

Good luck and have fun!

+1 The clutch pedal bracket is the only mod that's not allowed, but as George mentioned, as you're a novice, no one should have any issue with it.
+1 Seat time, seat time, seat time! When I first started, I was doing 30+ events a year. Definitely get out there and run as many events as your budget will allow.

Remember that an ST/SP RX-8 has to retain the splash shield that is behind the bumper, the same issue (same part actually) the CSP MX-5s had to deal with last year.

thanks for all the info George. and im still on stock 18's and my Z1's are 245/40/18. as for alignment i was hoping i could get a recommendation from you guys since im lost when it comes to alignment info. my 8 is my DD but all i have concerns for would be having an alignment that puts an even amount of wear on my tires. because ive seen some guys whose tires look nice and meaty from the outside but if you look at them from the inside they're pretty much shot. so a good alignment from you guys would be great and id work my way from there.

as for shocks i was considering them but id rather get to know my 8 better on the track the way she is before buying anything else. and i would rather save up and go for coilovers too.


thanks chiketkd. i was hoping the clutch pedal bracket would be allowed. i mean its more like safety equipment!! lol. its not like i get any type of performance gains from it. its so that my clutch doesnt just decide to break from the weld spots and potentially ruin my tranny. and i definately am gonna get as much seat time as i can. i was hoping to go to that event on the 31st but my 8's not ready yet.

good to know. thanx

and what do you guys recommend for brake pads??
im looking at hawk hps and hp+. i was considering hawk ceramics but ive read from a few track guys that theyre terrible and are done after 1 session.

and would SS brake and clutch lines be legal in stx???

I know the SS brake lines are legal. Not sure about the clutch lines though.

Honestly unless your current brake pads are completely shot, your car is ready to compete as is.

Yup. Those things can bite you at the national level.

Although, interestingly, we can leave the oh-so-cool-looking engine cover off if we want to. I suspect I'll leave mine off to allow the better engine cooling between runs (one less thing to worry about in grid).

How is a decorative engine cover anything like a splash shield that is designed to keep water out of the factory intake? Obviously the SEB/SPAC thought it was an important part on the MX-5. Its not a national level thing, it is a rules thing. If you start a newbie off with the wrong info (oh its OK to have that part at local events) they are the ones that will pay for it in the long run.

Do it right the first time and you wont have to do it again. :dunno:

It doesn't, obviously. Just making a point about something I read in the rules.

Yes technically it is rules thing but you usually only get dinged for the trivial stuff at national level events.

Anyway, thanks for reminding me why I stopped posting on this board.

Does anyone know if the adjustable Hotchkis MX-5 rear swaybar fits the RX-8? With the ~450F/300R springs from the Fluid/Progress group buy, I doubt I'll want to run super stiff swaybars. I'll probably keep my adjustable Hotchkis MX-5 FSB on the car and would like something adjustable in the rear (that's not crazy stiff).

I'm pretty sure the Hotchkis MX-5 rear bar is a lot stiffer than the RX8 one. Check the website.

I checked their website and it's listed at 21mm (iirc). I have found two other RSB's that are 19mm but both appear to be solid bars. Not sure if a hollow 21mm bar would be stiffer/softer than a solid 19mm bar.

Any thoughts on the Kumho XS vs. the Dunlop Z1 star specs?

They both seem to be rated very well and are a deal compared to the 'stone RE-11's or AD08's but I'm concerned about the comments on the autox forums about the cold/wet performance of the Kumho's.

In the Pacific NW cold and wet is more of the norm and I am only going to buy 1 tire.

Any thoughts?

I've heard the Kumho's aren't as grippy as many competitive ST tires in the wet and take a while to heat up in the dry. The Dunlops are actually one of the best ST* tires in the wet. They're also competitive in the dry in comparison to the Stones, Yok's, etc. If you look at the Blytheville NT results in STX, the winning car was on the Dunlops.

Based on your two options and your location - Dunlops all the way!