Three autocross events in the DFW area this month.

Lone Star BMW CCA - http://www.lscbmwcca.org/autocross-schedule.html
March 10, 2007, Event 1, Mineral Wells

SCCA - http://www.autocross.com/texasregion/
March 18, 2007, Event #1, Solo Pennington Field

Equipe Rapide - http://www.autocross.com/er/
March 25, 2007, Challenge Cup Event #2, Mineral Wells Airpark

North Texas S2000
None scheduled for March

 

I will be at BMW and NTS2K, there's also a PCA 102 school tomorrow.

 

Oh yes - how could I forget??

Maverick Region Porsche Club - http://mav.pca.org/Events/Calendar.asp
March 25, 2007 @ 7:30 am, Autocross #1, Texas Motor Speedway
Sign up at www.clubregistration.net - Drivers' meeting is at 9 AM.

Thanks!

 

dang... i really would like to go to this jeremy, but im over my head in school and work right now. I am attempting to save up for a few things for the car though, ill let u know the minute something is placed on the car.
BTW, i 'might' have to adjust the camber on the car, do u a place that would put the car up?
I already went one place, but they couldnt get it onto the ramp, lol.

-Robert

 

Are you the kid that bought his car? I saw you on hebron one night near the wendys. You should be able to fit the car onto a ramp for alignment, my car is lowered and it works just fine. If the car is the same as I remember you don't really need anything else to autocross. It already had good shocks and decent springs.

 

Yeah - that's Robert. He bought my car. (lucky guy he is). Got those great shocks too!

I had it aligned at the brand new NTB on the corner of 190 and Old Denton road (I think) or right around there - I think that's in Carrollton so it's not too far from you.

Think you need less camber in the front? The alignment specs should be pretty decent for gripping the turns. The only possible downside maybe premature balding on the inside of your tires if you don't rotate them inside to outside.

If I remember correctly I think the settings are:

Front Camber -1.7 (there about - I forget)
Front Caster -6.5, no cross caster
Front Toe 0.0
Rear Camber -1.6
Rear Toe 0.0

That's a pretty good autocross setup that's street friendly if you keep them rotated.

It would be pretty cool if you can free up a Sunday to come on out. It's only $35 or so for an event and there are cars of every kind and drivers of every age. They even have some instructors to tell you what you need to know and ride along.

See you all out there in my new ride...

 

I found the car to be a bit tail happy still and I wanted to dial in more camber because I don't care that much about tire wear and toe kills tires not camber anyways. Even with -1.5 front -2.0 rear and some toe in on the rear the car is still a bit loose. I think I need to soften up the rears but I REALLY don't feel like pulling them out. I would think that running MORE front camber and no rear toe in would make your car pretty loose.

Did you get into a MS3 or just a normal 3 hatch?

 

Yes, you are correct. a little toe-in will make it more stable while toe out will help the car rotate in the turn. If you rear have toe-in with -2.0 camber and are still getting loose, I think you've done about all you can on the rear as far as alignment goes -- but I'm no pro.

I was always having understeer issues more than anything so zero toe was ok with me. I mostly attribute that issue to the cheap tires I was running. General Tire Exclaims. Woo hoo. (Not bad for highway use but sidewalls were way too soft - terrible response!!!)

All I can suggest is what you've mentioned - soften up your rear shocks. Where are you at with them now? The "bag head" recommends 50%.

Good luck on getting things worked out. I would have liked to attend this last weekend's event but work got in the way.

As for the 3 - it's just a regular 3. It's not anywhere near as fun to drive -- but at least its got a 2.3 litre and goes pretty quick. It's my "in the mean time" car.

I want to buy something fast like maybe an EVO - but in the mean time...

 

I'm at 1.5 turns out of 2.75 total so 54% front and rear, might actually try and soften up the fronts and leave the rears as is as reccomended to me by a local fast guy. I'm mostly having oversteer at corner exit so it's probably driver error as well. Part of the fun is figuring out the setup, but since the RX-8 is also my mean time car I'll have fun with it until I get into an Elise or the upcoming V8 M3

 

quick question: for the ER race tomorrow, Sunday, at Mineral Wells is there a pre registration on the web? or do i just show up in the morning to register and show up go? i have been at a few other events before (SCCA, PCA, NTS2K), and there has been a pre registration on the web. so far, i have not found anything so i am assuming i just show up ready to go. any ideas?

 

you got a 3 now?
damn, that dont look bad at all

 

You probably don't remember but I already had the 3 parked in my garage when I sold the RX8. Remember - I had two Mazdas?

Except mine's not red it's black. But I'm bored with it and want something faster - and preferably NOT front wheel drive.

 

hmmm... why dont u wait for the new production cars to be released. There are so many new things or redesigned things coming out in the next few years that it probably wouldnt hurt to wait and see. Besides, ur still getting 26 mph, it wouldnt kill u to keep doing ur donuts in reverse, would it? lol, jk