Jack Murphy parking lot [s]

Yesterday was autocross.



I got a little sloppy on the charting. Oh well, it's all there. Getting so many runs was a real feather in our cap. Jon was testing the limits of traction, or so I noticed when I rode with him. Sliding off course was a real black eye for me on the first two runs. Erik peaked early, Ian improved until his tires stopped gripping. He's got some nasty chunks missing.

Most times were in the 63-65 range. The other SD SOLO photographer was happy with the 61 he ran in his rx8, a stock Vette managed a 56, and the karts were pulling low 50s.

Key lessons learned:

• Off camber corners are significant.
• Racier tire setups don't give much warning before breaking loose.
• Skillful driving and r-compounds are a good substitute for being short on power.
  

The results of the April event, for comparison.


White Lambda was definitely pushing the Ac around. For more photos of the event, including Jon with a cone in his wheel well, check my blog-dedicated flickr.


Yes folks, that wheel is off the ground.

Crossed up [s]

Today was autocross. Here are some pretty pictures courtesy Connie and Ted.


Jon in the RSX(-S) coming out of the first chicane into the fast left.


Christine: 'Jon drives like an old man. The oldest brother still holds the title for reckless driving.'
I have a feeling this directly corresponds to the controllability of our respective vehicles. Jon has a light fwd car, I have a heavy awd car, Ted has a heavier rwd car. But I'll test this hypothesis in May - provided Jon doesn't put his car in a lake trying to get to Country Kitchen Buffet.


Erik in the 240sx right out the gate.


Connie: 'Ian's car felt a lot lighter than the vr4. The vr4 felt lower, like it had a lower center of gravity. I really wanted to ride in Erik's cause it had so much smoke, it woulda been a good ride. Jon doesn't have smoke.'
I'll be rerouting my exhaust from the turbos to the wheel wells.


Ian in the STi with Ty calling the turns, handling the gps, and deciding on radio stations.


Connie: 'Spinning out is way more fun than being in a car that is controlled. The first ride I had with Ian, that was the best, that was when he spun out on the first turn and took out like half the cones and missed half the course. That was the best ride.'
'I'm surprised Ian spun out, because I heard awd doesn't spin out.'


The vr4 through the first chicane.


Connie: 'You could feel the weight of the vr4 being thrown around.'

Like any worthwhile activity, this event produced numbers begging to be analyzed. The data is as impure as can be; there is no accounting for tagged cones, cooldown time in the grid, and other such inconsistencies rightfully ignored because the event was a practice.

But like all good analyses, the proper mixture of sketchy telemetry and unfounded inference can bootstrap you to a solid conclusion.

Notable sources of variation that may benefit future autocross efforts:

• We ran in the first group having walked part of the track so course knowledge started at nil.
• Marked improvement for the afternoon runs 7-12 can be attributed to track familiarity gained from the first runs, working the course, and doing ridealongs.
• The tarmac was much warmer for the latter session.
• Turnaround time between runs was nearly ten minutes in the morning, closer to two minutes in the afternoon.
• In the afternoon we were accompanied by individuals who often use phrases such as 'Balls to the wall.', 'My 5-series could...', and 'Slam it slam it slam it.' Not that any of us would succumb to peer pressure.
• Tire characteristics varied widely among cars. Erik even switched his out at lunch.
  

And though the color of his curve fit indicates otherwise, Erik was the one among us with prior scnax experience. And it's pretty easy to tell based on his solid first run and:

Standard Deviation (seconds)
E: 1.61. Speaking purely, lap times will approach and asymptote with diminishing returns. Erik's pretty far along this path. Sway bars and tires will certainly shift the curve downward, and maybe give him a little more to work on.
I: 3.98. The number fits the flatness of the curve; he started out a much better driver than the rest of us.
C: 5.61. The plot suggest I have some work to do and it definitely felt that way on the track.
J: 4.35. It looks like had he continued with fun runs, Jon would have broken 70 pretty quickly.


Jon says competitive driving is so divine.

Postgame discussions:

E:
Don't you just sleep better knowing that if you die before morning [ed: I didn't die before morning], at least you can say you have executed a four-wheeled power slide in your 320hp dream car? Doesn't the 15-year old playing GT1 on PS1 in the back of your conscious finally rest easy now that one of life's major goals has been achieved? It's sort of like coming back from surfing double-ohs last winter at Scripps.
My favorite outcome was what Jon took away.

E: So, what did you think?
J: I feel sooo much better about driving on the street now. I know how to recover if I slide. I can control it.

I mean that says it all. One less Sigalert for the morning commuters because Jon will not be the one getting a body massage from the guardrail when he hits that gravel patch in the middle of the onramp. And he's not scared of the top third of the tach anymore. Even if he never fancies himself a gearhead, at least he's not among the ignorant, and has more cred than 3/4 of the RSX(S!) drivers out there.
For next time, I suggest different run groups so we can get ridealongs/crew for each other/throw things at your friend as they pass while working the course.

C:
In the end, it was nice to hear the birds on all four corners of my car chirp in unison, if not wayyyyy before they would have with the Kumhos. I can see why an awd road car can get away with two lsds when a rally car cannot.
That long left is on the list with the first turn on a wave, first knee on the ground, maybe something involving a girl but probably not. Oh mitzvahs! And now I get to change oil just like in GT3!!!
Next time:

• Yes different run groups. Allows ridealongs and I can shoot when I'm not on track. I'll bring my stash of smoke balls.
• Ty. He lit up the kart track like a true Italian, it'd be a lot of fun to send Slash's 1400 lb through a tight autox course. Especially if he got these and these.
  
• First person to knock down a cone has to pick up our lunch order. This includes cones in the parking lot and ice cream cones.
• Sleepover beforehand featuring a speed movie and video gamery. Maybe some practice photography.
• Wagers, maybe older vs. younger brothers. For instance we compute our rank versus other cars of the same make and model. Whoever is lower buys boba. Say E is the first ranked 240sx and I am the third ranked vr4. Jon and Ian would have to average above second rank among Imprezas and Integras to win.
  

E:
You get a lot less chirping when you switch to a lo-pro from an all-season. My canary never let me know the traction was giving out until too late on the Kumhos, although they were ultimately faster than the all seasons. I haven’t committed to the R’s yet, but damn it’s tempting – I want to do 3-wheel turns!
Funny, you ended up being the fastest vr4 there your first time out and I ended up as the slowest 240 out there even with my experience.

C:
Sure I may have been the fastest vr4, but all the gto drivers were total noobs. The 240 kids were seasoned professionals.

West coast [s]

Saturday started with Mario Galaxy and In 'n' Out, then we drove down to Qualcomm to scout the autocross scene. Jon and Ty rode with Erik for a couple of laps, J and I did some shooting. Can't wait to get the vr down there. Scroll down for more information on the autocross events.


The lineup featured everything from four-door Toyollas to Lotuses and GT3s.


Ty was still wearing dive weights when he passenged on a couple laps.


'What is it about driving cars that makes you all such assholes?'


Obtaining a proper panned shot was the preoccupation. Thanks to Connie for the 300 mil with IS.


Not many people can go through car tires faster than bike tires.

Next we headed out to Cuyamaca to snap some scenery. I've long since lost any eye for landscapes, but it was a golden opportunity to play with hdr some more.


Ugh.

We happened upon a lonely snowman and though harming the creature seemed unconscionable, artistic interest won out in the end. The following images depict graphic violence and should not be seen without appropriate discretion.





As promised, some more info on the autocross events, courtesy of Erik.

Lap times:
Carrera GT3 – 55s
Highly modded miatas – 52s
84 corolla w/ stock motor 200K miles – mid to high 50s
S2000 and STI, and 2.5RS – high 50s
C6 Z06, s13, stock miata – mid 60s
My best time was 63.4, best time with 200+ lb ballast was a 64

The thing about autox is that the small, tight courses can really bring driver skill to the forefront over vehicle prep. I have beat Evo 8s in the rain and I have been blown away by near-stock civics on dry pavement. The biggest disadvantages I face are, in order of relevance:
1. Driver Skill
2. Driver Skill
3. Tires
4. Power, suspension, chassis…

I had an experienced driver ride along with me for a couple of runs. He mentioned a few good points, mostly that I was planning the lines badly, not looking far enough ahead, drifting too much (although he suspected the equipment had something to do with it, “Champiro? Never heard of ‘em”). On the plus he said my aggression level was good, and then after considering, added “maybe too good”.

In the hands of a capable driver, the ride makes the difference, but no ride can make up for the lack of skill. I ridden in WRX STi’s with full traction control and all wheel drive that couldn’t save their drivers from their own poor lines.

The event on Saturday was a practice; meaning that people could run and get times, but that no points or penalties were awarded and standings were not listed or affected. For a first timer, this is the event to attend, as it does not have the intensity of a competition. Better yet, a real noob should take advantage of the “novice school” offered over the summer. I plan to attend for my second year, as I could use the help.

The practices host a range of participants from first-timers in stock cars plodding around at moderate speed to experienced racers trying to shave a few tenths by playing with setup on their single seat, full-cage race cars. The relaxed atmosphere doesn’t intimidate, and everyone is friendly, but the strong drive for improvement is contagious, and even the newest of drivers start looking for ways to drop seconds. Everyone who races also takes a turn working the course, which generally means chasing the cones that stray automobiles tend to scatter over the course of the day. Working a practice is definitely a great way to see the cars up close, and doesn’t have the added pressure of tight competition that race days do. Fail to pick up a cone during competition and drivers have to repeat runs and start griping about fairness.

Jon’s car is perfect, Ty’s Civic would be fine too. Goat Cheese would need to comply with the same, and would probably find it difficult and expensive. There are some fees to pay and registrations to fill out (SCCA and SDR SOLO2), but I can guide anyone interested to the proper websites to take their money. If nothing else, I will try to give people a heads up for the novice school in early May – this is by far the best event for the first-timer.

Erik: Do you mind if I ride along?
Hot S2000 Driver: Ummm…
E: I heard you were a good driver to learn from.
H: Ok, I guess you look skinny, it can't hurt my time too much.
E: Yeah, I keep a trim figure for just such an occasion
(HS2000 goes on to break the 60s mark on that run).
H: Wow, thanks, you’re good luck!
E: Great run! That was awesome (gets high-five from H).