With my recent move to North Dakota my dreams of driving schools and racing full tracks have been put on hold. The SCCA auto cross events in the area are the best I'm going to get. Anyways I was checking the local SCCA site and I see they are having a ice rally cross in Devils Lake, ND. http://www.sccabadlands.org/DVL2010.pdf

My IX is a 100% stock RS. I have all season Coopers on it for the winter and no ABS. I'm just looking for some tips. The only racing experience I have is drag racing so this is all new to me.

 

Do it and let me know how it is. Sounds awesome

 

you dont need anything just a good ice tires. My suggestion is, get a 215 - 45- 17 ice tires with studs and you golden.
You got all the power you need you got soft enough and yet sporty suspension- bakes - awd.

Try to use the car balance and weight to rotate the car and you will be in a good position. Blimp the throttle and the break dont floor it in turns. Remember its ice Because it will be slower it is a great practice to use the left foot break. If its a slow track let say stay in 2nd or 3rd and try to go around with it. For learning the LFB.
Everything else you should pick up as you race.

Good luck , make some video!!!!

Ice tires , you can make your own. For ice AutoX any tire is good with studs
http://www.vermontracing.com/project...cing_tires.htm



or look around and ask over here:

http://com4.runboard.com/bamecmessageboard.f2

 

Thanks for the tips. I don't think I would have even thought of left foot breaking. There are two classes, studded and non so I'm gunna go non studded to keep cost down this first go at least.

 

its not a bad idea , this way you will be even slower, so you can concentrate more on the car attitude and the LFB. So you will have a bit more time to set up yourself and the car before turns . Make sure you will go into the turns ready .
Dont over do it or rush it!. Remember BLIPM the pedal in turn .
Remember slower actually is faster!
This whole thing going to make sense as soon as you will start going around. Slowly try to rotate the car , If you do a LFB you can actually rotate the car as soon as you will release the brake pedal. If you do it right your boost will be up there to have more then enough power to slap the car rear to the side. Start getting use to that feeling and later you can use it to turn the car side ways.
Do not use e-break , if you do it right you dont need to.
E brake is for very sharp /hairpin turns/ in tarmac only
I'm sure there will be some instructor there dont be shy used them. Try to get someone who has and drives AWD car or FWD car. The RWD car has a totally different Technic to going around. So the instructors may have a different idea about turning the car in
thats all i can help over the net.

Rob

good luck and enjoy !!! The most important is to enjoy it ! Its not a money race ... unless you crash it.

 

That might be the best advice anyone has ever given.

Thanks for your input and I will report back after the race. Maby I can get some video or at least some pics.

 

Just go and have fun- most of he time there are instructors there who will not hesitate to hop in the car with you and give you a couple of pointers. You may even want to let them drive and watch what they do

 

Event was fun. Lots of STI's and only my evo lol. I didn't have winter tires just all seasons and my best time was 1.13. Fastest STI with winter tires was 1.05. There was a shifter cart that ran a 0.51. That thing was crazy fast till he had a tire stud rip out and ruin his tires. Here are some pics I took. Ill check later if I can find some of me in action.

 

i never got to drive somethin with serious studs like that! i bet they hook up like crazy though! looks like a good time!!!!