Cal Club Autocross Forums

Last Sunday was my first auto-X in a couple years and my first on the west coast. I thought I followed all registration instructions posted on this site, and I ended up in PAX class. I would have won STX by a nice margin, but I was pretty far down in the PAX class. I know I left at least a second out on course, if not two, but the PAX competitors are fierce and the top ones were at least 4 seconds ahead.

Would I have won a few dollars in STX class? Why is there such a large discrepancy between these classes? Is it like a 3rd tier of competition above novice and "normal" classes? Isn't everybody compared in terms of PAX times?

Do "x" runs really count for trophies?

It was awesome getting out there again and meeting some nice folks!

Thanks!!!

Brandon

Congrats ... you DID do pretty well! 27th out of 186 in the Paxed Results

https://axwaresystems.com/axorm/files/C ... 09_pax.htm

We use to have a number of STX National event winners running STX. They have moved out to let others win STX locally. Mihai has been running STU this year, in his STX WRX ... he's your current SCCA ProSolo STX National Champ. Greg Peng has sold his STX WRX (looking for a S2000), Sebastian has retired his STX WRX to concentrate on winning the very fierce local ST contest ... they have both won National STX events. Jeff Barco's STX WRX won Nationals a few years ago in the hands of Steve O, while coming in 2nd himself (after coning the last cone on the course, twice). Jeff has moved back to acrobatic flying and scuba diving.

If your car is a STX WRX and there isn't enough competition for you in our local STX, then PAX is a great way for you to try and "get ahead." Of course the WRX is not longer THE car to have in STX, Nationally. But you can give yourself a great test in the local National Tour and ProSolo events coming up next March.

You can win Solo$'s instead of trophies ... that can be used to pay for your future event entries.

If Mihai had run in STX with his STX WRX instead of STU, you would have ended up 0.2+ behind him. Not bad considering he's the current STX ProSolo National Champ!

PAX is where all the people who get tired of beating up on the pleebs in the regular classes go to beat up on each other. Our PAX class is full of past, current and future national champions. Not all that surprising you got the beat down, even though you drove really well.

We don't race for real money; we race for Solo Bucks, which are redeemable at future events instead of paying entry fees.

thanks for the encouragement, guys! Sometimes, my soft car can do well (many fast sweepers, minimal quick slaloms).

would I have won solo bux in STX? Do X runs count for Solo bucks?
What's THE current car for STX nationally? If the WRX is falling out of favor, why not allow a couple little extra tweaks that have been previously "illegal"?


Looking forward to seeing you all more often!

Not sure if it was you or another person, but a couple people got moved into PAX or some other group in the afternoon because they registered later in the day & their class had already run or was in the process of running (STX ran before lunch). If you showed up @ 7AM to register and were put in PAX, my apologies!

x-runs & time-only runs do not count for solo $ or trophies. Otherwise, you get solo $ or trophy (whatever your online pref is) for trophying positions in your class.

Congrats on a great time, though.

-QV

brandon fitchett wrote:What's THE current car for STX nationally? If the WRX is falling out of favor, why not allow a couple little extra tweaks that have been previously "illegal"?

You can look at the results from this year's nationals at http://scca.com/eventresults.aspx?event=13555&hub=3. Looks like the 318i and RX-8 did pretty well.

SCCA can't allow "illegal" tweaks to more uncompetitive cars, because it would be too hard to class the cars (basically each car would get adifferent set of mods, and it would be too hard to track). I wish, though.

Here are the STX cars that Trophied at Nationals this year:

I think the WRX vs bmw/RX8 battle is still largely course dependent, the courses at Nationals this year didn't give the AWD cars the advantages that the last few at the previous site did.

I noticed you out there Brandon, you looked pretty good. Welcome to the region.

Sebastian Rios wrote:I noticed you out there Brandon, you looked pretty good.

... too easy... }:)

There were some big experienced names trying to run WRX's. Since Nationals will be at Lincoln for a while ... the WRX might be RIP

Mako Koiwai wrote:There were some big experienced names trying to run WRX's. Since Nationals will be at Lincoln for a while ... the WRX might be RIP

so a civic is the car to have in STX right?

I don't think the WRX is dead in STX, but I do think they should give the AWD cars 9" wheels too. I understand the tire limit, but the WRX can't really use 245 effectively on an 8" wheel.

The right suspension tuner could make one turn, the recipe for getting power is easy.


Oh and QV: :heyes:

Other series make quick change decisions to balance the cars/fields. Why not Solo?

Mako Koiwai wrote:Other series make quick change decisions to balance the cars/fields. Why not Solo?

Because this is regular people with regular budgets and little to know sponsorship to absorb costs. You need to allow people time for prep especially above stock class where it takes years to develop a competitive car. Come on Mako, you know why, haha.

Jonathan Lugod wrote:so a civic is the car to have in STX right?

One did come in third!

Mako Koiwai wrote:...We use to have a number of STX National event winners running STX. They have moved out to let others win STX locally. Mihai has been running STU this year, in his STX WRX ... he's your current SCCA ProSolo STX National Champ...

Seriously, we all appreciate Mihai doing that We all know that he can quickly hand down a series of demoralizing defeats and kill the class Especially since most of us in there right now are bringing clubs to a gun fight.

Mihai, I think you should come back next year to put things in perspective again.

... But "we" would like Steve A. 2 move out of SS and join his fellow Fasties in PAX

Mako Koiwai wrote:... But "we" would like Steve A. 2 move out of SS and join his fellow Fasties in PAX

lol. Does Steve run Nationals?

Theo Osifeso wrote:

Mako Koiwai wrote:...We use to have a number of STX National event winners running STX. They have moved out to let others win STX locally. Mihai has been running STU this year, in his STX WRX ... he's your current SCCA ProSolo STX National Champ...

Seriously, we all appreciate Mihai doing that We all know that he can quickly hand down a series of demoralizing defeats and kill the class Especially since most of us in there right now are bringing clubs to a gun fight.

Mihai, I think you should come back next year to put things in perspective again.

The ST ladies might put things in perspective too. }:) Hopefully they won't combine ladies and open again...

Mako Koiwai wrote:... But "we" would like Steve A. 2 move out of SS and join his fellow Fasties in PAX

Mako, on your first championship event in SS Z06 (results say Mazda Miata but I don't believe it) and you finished 3rd only 0.428 back... and you improved by about 1 second every run so looks like you perhaps left some time out there that you can get as you learn the car...
so why are lobbying for Steve Abbott to go to PAX... seems like it would be more fun if here runs SS... and perhaps he needs to do so to keep the class honest...

I am tempted to buy some R tires and join in on the fun in SS... at least in SS I would mainly only be beat by similar cars unlike in SK1... but I would need to find a way to get the car/tires to the events... and I do not know how competitive a C6 Z06 can be expected to be (anyone knows?)... I was looking forward to the National Championship to see if any C6 Z06 placed well, but then the rain threw everything out the door (I think there were a couple not too far down after the first course)...

Kristoffer Gjevre wrote:

Mako Koiwai wrote:... But "we" would like Steve A. 2 move out of SS and join his fellow Fasties in PAX

Mako, on your first championship event in SS Z06 (results say Mazda Miata but I don't believe it) and you finished 3rd only 0.428 back... and you improved by about 1 second every run so looks like you perhaps left some time out there that you can get as you learn the car...
so why are lobbying for Steve Abbott to go to PAX... seems like it would be more fun if here runs SS... and perhaps he needs to do so to keep the class honest...

I am tempted to buy some R tires and join in on the fun in SS... at least in SS I would mainly only be beat by similar cars unlike in SK1... but I would need to find a way to get the car/tires to the events... and I do not know how competitive a C6 Z06 can be expected to be (anyone knows?)... I was looking forward to the National Championship to see if any C6 Z06 placed well, but then the rain threw everything out the door (I think there were a couple not too far down after the first course)...

Buy some Kumho 710's and just drive on them to each event. Many folks do that...
Do remember though that R Compounds are very addicting. :heyes:
You'll hate racing in SK ever again!!!

Mako, on your first championship event in SS Z06 you finished 3rd only 0.428 back... and you improved by about 1 second every run so looks like you perhaps left some time out there that you can get as you learn the car...

Abbott had a really bad day and I had beginners luck, ie. I was too scared of the car and the doubled up cones to push it, proving that Grip is fast compared to Abbott sliding around (too much ... by his own admission).

I've spent plenty of years comparing myself to our fastest, and know where I stand. After Steve wins our local SS, he might want to seek the challenge of PAX and let his co-driver and the others contest SS in 2010. Barco, Seb, Mihai and I think Greg all vacated STX after they won the class so others could have a go at it.

Kris ... this year C6 Z06's ran ASP ... where Junior came in 2nd with his at Nationals. Next year I believe they will run in SS.

You could run ASP locally against the Lynches and Hi Ly next year. The Lynches C6 Z06 is stock except for R tires, as is Hi Ly's GT3 ... just slightly stiffer sway bars. Actually it WOULD be fun if all of you ran SS ! (Did the 997 GT3 got to SS ?)