A.I. 5/10 Autocross Event #1 Update - Video Included

[piknockout]

Video: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...deoID=33962794

Results: http://autoxinc.com/uploads/AI20080510.pdf

CLIFFS: Took 1st in STX of 7 and 8th in PAX of 100


So Saturday started off as an ugly day. With thunderstorms the night before and drizzling rain in the morning, I wasn't too optimistic about the conditions we were going to get. The forecast called for the rain to stop around 10am...which it actually did. Then the course started drying out. Then of all things crazy, we got sunshine and a beautiful day in the afternoon. I even got slightly burned. It was a good day to be running in the 4th and final heat of the day. :D

All I have to say is that Fed Ex is an absolutely fantastic lot, and the course that was setup was as good as they always are...an absolute blast. The course had some good speed and flow, along with some technical sections. But not too fast and not too technical, a fantastic balance.

Since I was lucky enough to run in the 4th and final heat with the dry, it was a chance to apply the knowledge learned from last weekend on tire temp management with the Bridgestones. And using this knowledge I sprayed down the tires after both the 2nd and 3rd runs, and the massive understeer that was present last weekend on the 3rd run failed to materialize, so overall the car felt pretty good.

First run was pretty solid, putting down a 59.8xx run. But of course being that it was first run, I new there was opportunity to improve. Unfortunately I forgot to turn on the video camera, so I would have to improve based on memory alone.

And unlike last week, I actually improved from my first run putting down a 59.3xx. Watching the video though I knew there was more time out there, which I was able to find on my 3rd run, down to a 58.6xx, but with two imaginary cones. Had to be, I didn't hear/feel a thing. ;)

So final run I was able to put it all together cleanly with a 58.7xx run, good enough for 1st in STX and 8th in PAX. Not a bad day after all. But in watching the video (posted above), I can see that I left a ton of time on course. After the first turnaround coming across the top of the lot, I was late making the left into the offset sections, making me late on the next two cones. I know there was a low 58 or high 57 out there, but just didn't put it together. I guess it's a lesson learned though. Just need to put it to practice.

So I was able to learn and apply the tire temp management, but there's still more opportunity to improve the car. With input from Eric K. after his drive of the car, he confirmed that the dampening feels like it could/should increase a bit. Also the balance could be improved on a bit with a touch more oversteer. So the next project will be increasing the dampers an additional half turn stiffer, or only a half turn off of full stiff on the Koni yellows. I will also be increasing the stiffness of the rear bar just a tad to make the setup a little looser. The final additional experiment will be adding a couple of psi to the front tires in hope of getting a bit more front grip.

Now the downside of making all these changes is that I only have one event to test the setup before the Devens Tour on the weekend of June 7-8. But the good thing is that these changes are not too dramatic, and thus should hopefully only slightly tweak the overall setup and balance. But of course testing is the only way to find out. Look for an update on how the changes work, or don't work, in a few weeks. :D

And a couple pics from last week...because I feel like being a picture whore. ;)