I finally got to take the X out for it's first auto-x weekend. The first day I spent most of the day getting tire pressure down and determining how much ASC to turn off. It was a competition day, but I treated it more as a feeling out session. The second day of competition I felt much more dialed in, and was amazed at what this car is capable of, particularly with the ASC only partially disengaged.

I took 1st in A-Stock, beating out an 06 STI, S2000 CR and S2000. In the overall PAX I ended up 16th out of 86 cars, which I thought was pretty good being that I am bone stock on stock tires. I can't wait to see what this thing can do when I have R-Comps on it like everyone else. It certainly held up against stiff competition for Octoberfast (2 national champions, and 2 other drivers finished in the top 20 this year at nationals), and I will have a little more driving time under my belt next year. I can't tell you how amazed I am at what this car managed to do with a new driver and street tires. Score 1 for the mitsu engineers.

 

either I suck as a driver or the competition is much stiffer around here

I would be 5 seconds behind in AS or STU.

Good thing I'm running N-STU!

 

good to see the X running in racing and gives a smile for a driver. And not an embarrassed one

 

Well, the competition is pretty heavy up here, hence the mentioning of the national champions. I competed all last year in my TT, and a couple events the year before, so I'm not really a novice anymore. In looking at the times, I actually would have placed 2nd in SS class against all the vettes too. I'm telling you, I can't believe how well the car did on street tires. It was a nice surprise to say the least.

 

I have run a handful of events this year in my X...maybe 12 or more and have had to stop until I can replace the clutch. It is a capable car for sure. On open courses with larger sweepers this car is superior to my VIII. Stock for stock it doesn't understeer as much. When it gets into tight transitions where you are throwing your weight back and forth like in a high speed lane change, I have struggled a bit. That width of the car has been my issue. I'm fast through them, but I just touch cones where my VIII would have easily cleared at the same speed and same line.

I run STU and I can't ignore the fact that I'm trying to run a larger and heavier car on the same amount of rubber as the other guys. It is a clear disadvantage and I know as soon as I walk the course what kind of day I will have depending on the cone spacing.

 

Have you an MR or a GSR?

 

I have the base package GSR