RX8Club.com - Weeee!

Hey everybody. Just got back from an Autox event over here in Miami. Bear with me as this was my first time to one of these events. I volunteared a lot to help to learn the jobs, and get to talk with the guys that have been doing this for a while. Was really good. Got some good tips that I managed to use a bit and saw a good improvement on my time. Got 3 runs and here's how it broke down.

First run I was going slow cause I gforgot to turn off the AC! Sun was really baking us and I just plumb forgot. I know it disengages when going full throttle, but even so the engine spoolup speed was slower. I also screwed up a slalom area and managed a sad time of 78 seconds and off course as well. So BAH!

But it was still some of the most fun 78 seconds I have had in a while! I also didnt feel too bad because a lot of people made the same mistake I did, and this included some of the event coordinators.

Round 2 I remembered to turn off the AC (as well as the DCS/TCS THAT one I never forgot) and started out a little more agressivly on the car. Managed a perfect run of 66.7 seconds. Still slow by the longtimers runs of about 53 secodns, but much better than my first, AND I didnt get lost this time!

There was 4 runs planned but sicne 115 cars showed up, they had to cut it to 3. So when my turn came again I figured I'd push a little harder since it was the last run. I already knew I had one of the worst times yet at 66 so figured when your on the bottom, aint no way but up. Managed a much better run of 61.2 so a nice improvement. Still didnt hit any cones.

On my second and third runs I also could have done much better but the track was a large hairpin shape, and the U-turn at the end caused me to lose traction on the front wheels. I think there was too much air in my tires since I had to really slow down to get traction back, AND forgot to downshift when I finally had it back. So I know where I messed up and know what to look out for next time to improve. I figure if I hadent done that I could have gotten a 57 second run, and that would have been even peachy-er. I still had a ton fo fun and really learned a lot about some of the limits on the car. It's much more than I have ever owned before and am really apreciating the difference now.

Anyway, I think the best run of the day was a 48.9. Fastest I saw was a 50 even.

Now the cars. Wow! What a collection! Some where trailered in since they where race cars, most drove in and it was quite a show. A Lotus Espirit showed up. A NSX as well. Whole passle of Corvettes, Mustangs and Beamers. Mini's both young (2001-2003) and old (1966). Saw a Audi S6 that hauled ass (but lost it on the last race). S2000's coming out the wazoo! At least 20 of them. And Subarus too!. There was a old 944 that had been completly race redone that just hauled some serious ass. A friends snapped some pictures that I will post as soon as I get them.

Of course, what about the RX-8? Welp, wasnt alone! A black with apearance package GT showed up. He ran twice and got 55's and I didnt see him afterwards. A Blue did 3 runs and got mid 55's too I beleive, but cant rememeber to well. Our fellow forum memeber kuf showed up in his titanium gray GT with strakes and no spoiler and ran 56 I think but missed his last race. And finally my titanium gray with spoiler and sport package. It was cool to chat a bit and see the car running. It's fun but I definitly se a need to improve body roll.

Anyway, hoep some peo9ple try it out for the next meeting in late october. Might wanna think about going to a central florida race too since the thing was PACKED and 3 runs in the day is a little low I think. But then again, there was 115 cars there just for those 3 runs, so yeah. It was fun.