Cal Club Autocross Forums

Jason Isley BS RX8 wrote: Rather than using your butt dyno for the exhaust comparison, and speculating at the tires falling off in a short 20 min session (when these same tires have been used in 40min natl races without a problem) pull your data. Lay up your fastest lap from each session and we will definitively see where the time was lost.

You may have improved sections only to toss it all away in others, the data will show you. I am at a loss as to why you would be putting a wrench on that car, when it is a proven winner that has beaten every car you saw in that run group.

John Coffey wrote:Mako,
Take this as a kind hearted suggestion - Shut up and drive! Your lap time issues have nothing to do with your muffler or a cross brace. You should be thinking 100% about your driving and not spending any brain cycles on tuning the car. Don't even take tire temps - the car is dialed in well enough that you shouldn't mess with it until you have enough experience as a driver to know the difference between driver induced and car induced behavior. Just put laps under your belt for your first couple events.

Steve Ekstrand wrote:Hmmm... My tinker with the trailer suggestion didn't work....
How about having out with Palero and becoming a Master Detailing Wizard??? And keep perfecting those camera mounts and locations.
And you can check and measure and record EVERYTHING.... Just don't have a wrench in your hand. Please.

Thanks guys... keep trying will, you puhleese? He won't listen to me.

Karen Zaterman wrote: Thanks guys... keep trying will, you puhleese? He won't listen to me.

Try connecting an electrical cord to the tool box. After a sufficient number of shocks he should stop trying. Then you can let him use it with your permission only when something useful actually needs to be done.

It is time for you guys, Karen and Mako, to go racing already. Some of the best learning will come when you are chasing another similar car around the track. When you are forced to keep up, it is amazing how much more speed you will find. I remember my first race at WSIR chasing around the venerable John Norris. At one point I followed him into the intimidation known as Turn 8. I would always overslow and drive it about 118 MPH. I followed him in one time figuring he knew what he was doing and if his car will stick so will mine. It was a bit of a turn-of-faith, but I came out the exit just fine, about 10 MPH faster than I had ever done it before. Following fast experienced racers is a huge benefit.

Like autocross (that I suck at), Streets of Willow Springs is a great track to drive because it is not so intimdating to toss the car around and get the car at experimental and sometimes excessive slip angles. Like autocross it is an excellent developer of car control skills. It can be good bridge to doing all the things you know how to do, but closer to the speeds of tracks like WSIR, BRP and ACS.

Rick Brown wrote:

Karen Zaterman wrote: Thanks guys... keep trying will, you puhleese? He won't listen to me.

Try connecting an electrical cord to the tool box. After a sufficient number of shocks he should stop trying. Then you can let him use it with your permission only when something useful actually needs to be done.

That's worn off by now... It worked fine with Charlene & Daniel

Oli Thordarson wrote:It is time for you guys, Karen and Mako, to go racing already. Some of the best learning will come when you are chasing another similar car around the track. When you are forced to keep up, it is amazing how much more speed you will find.

Yeah, like keeping ahead of those 2 Corvettes at Miata Challenge in January (BFP) for SEVERAL laps... hahaha that was FUN. They just couldn't figure what hit 'em with Karen and Charlene NB Miata to contend with. They didn't even have the guts to pass me in the front straight cuz their line at Sunset was weak. No doubt it would have been different with you behind me -- OK bring it on, I'm not afraid :heyes:

Oli Thordarson wrote:Like autocross (that I suck at)

Silly, Oli... you don't suck at autoX, you just need the right setup & a little practice.

hmmm... Big Bear Bash coming in June...
:ibrightdea: we could get Mako to put Daniel back to AutoX setup.

Karen Zaterman wrote:
Thanks guys... keep trying will, you puhleese? He won't listen to me.

Not sure if its what you had in mind... But I was going to tell him to race the red car, and tinker with the blue one.

Mako to wrote:Pretty cool ... Philip went through all of the Data from my runs with and without muffler, and in a nice way basically concluded that I might was well just tinker with the car since my cornering is so slow.

No, but he was able to show me where I can certainly go faster. I need to study his conclusions in more detail, but am busy assisting Henry B. today.

WHAT A GREAT DEAL Buying Philip's Miata was ... it came with so many extras!!!

I think if he would have known that he would have charged more.

Mako to wrote:Pretty cool ... Philip went through all of the Data from my runs with and without muffler, and in a nice way basically concluded that I might was well just tinker with the car since my cornering is so slow.

No, but he was able to show me where I can certainly go faster. I need to study his conclusions in more detail, but am busy assisting Henry B. today.

WHAT A GREAT DEAL Buying Philip's Miata was ... it came with so many extras!!!

After watching your laps and seeing this, I agree with the comments in the "Notes" column. You can definitely shave off much more time by not coasting at a few corners.

Oli Thordarson wrote:It is time for you guys, Karen and Mako, to go racing already. Some of the best learning will come when you are chasing another similar car around the track. When you are forced to keep up, it is amazing how much more speed you will find. I remember my first race at WSIR chasing around the venerable John Norris. At one point I followed him into the intimidation known as Turn 8. I would always overslow and drive it about 118 MPH. I followed him in one time figuring he knew what he was doing and if his car will stick so will mine. It was a bit of a turn-of-faith, but I came out the exit just fine, about 10 MPH faster than I had ever done it before. Following fast experienced racers is a huge benefit.

I had similar experience, just not in racing. When I first started tracking, my friend (with more experience) who has a lower hp car was turning much quicker laps than me in a higher hp car. So I used him as my benchmark. Got more seat time, and now I'm quicker than him...even in his own cars.

Oli, one day I like to have you in my car and want your input on my driving. I meant to go to BRP last weekend, but I couldn't make it. Hopefully, I can go to one of the CalClub time trials later this year.

Mako, sorry for the thread hi-jack. Let's get back to the regular program.

Vincent:

I will be out on April 16th at Buttonwillow for a track day. You are invited.


Oli

Karen and I r running this Sunday at Buttonwillow ... but I have to work next weekend, and will miss the next Miata Challenge event ... again at Buttonwillow.

Karen is hoping to make it by herself though.

Oli Thordarson wrote:Vincent:

I will be out on April 16th at Buttonwillow for a track day. You are invited.


Oli

Argh.....I'd love to go, but I'll be busy this weekend to start preparing stuff for my twins first birthday.

We had the usual great time ... and Oli was there. Seems like he's always there!

See the "Dust" thread in Off-Topics for a continuation, w/ video: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5325" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That is a great video. I just love the BRP dirt!


Oli