Track Bragging

[Goomba]

Synopsis: I was 2nd in STX at todays SCCA autocross.

Boring Detail: I somehow managed to schedual my vacation to coincide with an autocross and I couldn't be happier. I came home with a beer mug and a cheap little ribbon that says, "2nd Place" (another damn WRX beat me). Mind you I didn't get 2nd of all 220+ drivers, but I did place 2nd in my class, STX. It was the first time I've finished in the Top 10 in my class and I was shocked to hear I was on the podium.

I can tell the modifications helped A TON! The last time I was actually slower with the rear sway bar on, rather than the car being stock. I guess I learned first hand that tires are the most important thing as well as some upgrades will hurt you unless you have the rest of the system worked out. This time I ran Falken Azenis and they did a very good job for me. A very good street tire and I would recommend it to just about everyone.

We got had pictures taken, I'll post them up later.

 

[flohtingPoint]

Placed as high as 3rd in SCCA Solo II SM.

 

[Jay]

Congrats 👍

 

[///M-Spec]

👍 WTG, Goomba. All you need now is more seat time and 1st place is for sure.


M

 

[Goomba]

Thanks guys. Congrats to FlohtingPoint for his finish to.

The only thing that sucks is I hardly get weekends or even track days off. I'm lucky to make it to three or four autocrosses a year.

The guy who beat me had a slightly better set up. An up pipe that let his turbo spool a bit sooner, as well as some Prodrive Springs. However he was a very good driver. I was about a second and a half behind him.

 

[///M-Spec]

I've said it before and I'll keep saying it: seat time is more important than any mod during someone's first Solo II season. It ain't what you drive, but how you drive.

I wager amoungst your local hotshoes, there's a guy there with a bone stock, "slow" car that's beating the pants off modded, big horsepower cars, right? The difference is in the seat time.

Since we're bragging, I've beaten modified Z06s, B5 S4s, E46 M3s, RX-7 TTs, 300ZX TTs, 911s, engine swap Civic hatches with full coilovers, 12 second T/As and full race prep'd Mustangs (SCCA American Sedan prep). This wasn't because my E36 M3 was some kind of uber-car; it was mostly stock except for tires. It was because I was three, four seasons into it and these guys were on their third or fourth event.

Don't think mods. Think seat time.


M

 

[Goomba]

Yeah. There are guys in the stock class that are quicker than most of the other cars out there. I know there is a Mini Cooper S that kicks multiple butts because of the driver. The guy who usually wins the Miata Clas... I mean C-Stock, is also right up there.

With the holidays coming up and me being in retail, the chance of me getting a weekend when the weather is cooperating off for the winter series is a very slim chance. Maybe I'll request a few more days off this time around. They seem to really like me there so hopefully I could get away with it. I'll shoot for an autocross every month.

I think the modifications he had were certainly a better choice for this track. Of course it could of easily been overcome by driver skill, but I still think it played a small part.

So, have you had a chance to throw the 330i around?

After looking over more of the results, there was a stock MR2 that killed just about everything. If I remember correctly, that car was trailered in. He seemed pretty serious about it.

 

[///M-Spec]

So, have you had a chance to throw the 330i around?

Not yet because, as you know, the entire state of Florida has been under 4 feet of water for the last two months.

But I plan on popping the ZHP's cherry later this month with the Buccaneer region. It's been a year and six months since my last Solo II. I'm gonna get owned. 👍

After looking over more of the results, there was a stock MR2 that killed just about everything. If I remember correctly, that car was trailered in. He seemed pretty serious about it.

Heh. If a someone shows up with a car on a trailer, chances are good your day is over if you're running in his/her class.


M

 

[flohtingPoint]

The guy who beat me had a slightly better set up. An up pipe that let his turbo spool a bit sooner, as well as some Prodrive Springs.

We just did some exhaust work on a WRX recently. Getting that O2 sensor off the up-pipe is not a fun job, I have some monster hands and my buddy didnt have a socket extention... I got to drive home to go get mine. 2 piece downpipe isnt fun to bolt off the turbo either, we had to take off his top mount intercooler to make room to get that honker off.

 

[Goomba]

We just did some exhaust work on a WRX recently. Getting that O2 sensor off the up-pipe is not a fun job, I have some monster hands and my buddy didnt have a socket extention... I got to drive home to go get mine. 2 piece downpipe isnt fun to bolt off the turbo either, we had to take off his top mount intercooler to make room to get that honker off.

I don't have an up pipe and if I do get one installed, I'm taking it to the local Subaru performance shop. I've heard all sorts of things that sound like a huge pain in the ass and something I would pay $130 for a professional to do. I did put my turbo back exhaust on myself, and I feel your pain about downpipe. It took us forever to try and get that damn thing off. Since I'm an impatient S.O.B. too I of course had to install it before the STi Gaskets came (Yes, they truely are better, 5-ply vs. 1 small, thin, gasket) so I had to undo this weekend. Of course the bolts were a bit easier to come off this time, but still, a 2hr job for slipping in some small gaskets.