EVOlutionary's First Trip To Solo Nationals (Pics Inside!)
EVOlutionary's First Trip To Solo Nationals (Pics Inside!)
In this thread I'm going to post up my experience at the 2006 SCCA Solo2 Nationals. For starters, here are some pics of me ripping up the track (or should I say trying to keep up with the Bimmers!) I will post more later.
DIDN"T HIT IT!!!
I DIDN'T HIT THAT ONE EITHER!!
DIDN"T HIT IT!!!
I DIDN'T HIT THAT ONE EITHER!!
Last edited by EVOlutionary; Oct 5, 2006 at 07:47 PM.
Well, all I gotta say is, Nationals was a BLAST! I've been autocrossing for 2 years now, and this was my first trip out there. What an experience! There were so many awesome cars there, man I wish I was rich and could afford them all. It was great to see all the people and cars I've been hearing about for so long. First off, the Bimmers in StreetMod were absolutely awesome! I've got a long way to go if I'm gonna beat them next year!
The food was great! I didn't eat at the same place all week long. Pat's Pig, Casa, SCCA banquets. I didn't get a chance to go to Baby Doll's, but I heard quite a good time was had there by many, especially newly crowned National champions.
I had a pretty good day on Tuesday. Drove well, car handled well. Coming in after my 3rd run I was sitting in 3rd in SM, but after the rest of the class ran their final runs I had been pushed back to 5th, only about 0.7s away from the leader, Vic Sias in the bad yellow M3.
I've spent alot of time trying to figure out what happened the second day. The best I can figure is this. I'm still a relative newb. I focussed on driving the car the best I could. The more experience drivers, knowing they could drive well in all conditions, focussed on making their cars handle as well as possible in the adverse conditions. While I was thinking about how to drive the car better, they were tweaking their suspension, tire pressures, etc to get more grip on the tricky new asphalt.
Don't know if that's right or not, but that's what I tell myself so I can sleep at night.
After the first day I was really hoping to be in the trophies, but I guess 9th in my first Nationals isn't too bad. At least that's what all my friends keep telling me. Plus, I was the highest finishing AWD car in StreetMod.
I have about 2 hours of video I need to sort through, so stand by and I will try go get some up before too long!
EVOlutionary
The food was great! I didn't eat at the same place all week long. Pat's Pig, Casa, SCCA banquets. I didn't get a chance to go to Baby Doll's, but I heard quite a good time was had there by many, especially newly crowned National champions.
I had a pretty good day on Tuesday. Drove well, car handled well. Coming in after my 3rd run I was sitting in 3rd in SM, but after the rest of the class ran their final runs I had been pushed back to 5th, only about 0.7s away from the leader, Vic Sias in the bad yellow M3.
I've spent alot of time trying to figure out what happened the second day. The best I can figure is this. I'm still a relative newb. I focussed on driving the car the best I could. The more experience drivers, knowing they could drive well in all conditions, focussed on making their cars handle as well as possible in the adverse conditions. While I was thinking about how to drive the car better, they were tweaking their suspension, tire pressures, etc to get more grip on the tricky new asphalt.
Don't know if that's right or not, but that's what I tell myself so I can sleep at night.
After the first day I was really hoping to be in the trophies, but I guess 9th in my first Nationals isn't too bad. At least that's what all my friends keep telling me. Plus, I was the highest finishing AWD car in StreetMod.
I have about 2 hours of video I need to sort through, so stand by and I will try go get some up before too long!
EVOlutionary
Last edited by EVOlutionary; Oct 20, 2006 at 08:30 PM.
Originally Posted by mmoranda
Nice pics man. Did it seam that even the best prepped evo suspensions in auto x at national level lift the inside rear?
EVOlutionary
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Originally Posted by broeli
Are you running the same susension setup that the Showcase Evo is running? What tires did you run? What kind of spring rates?
I was running the Kumho V710, 285/30/18. The 2 top BSP EVOs were running Hoosier A6's in the same size, and I think the consensus is that the A6 is a litttle bit faster tire, but doesn't last as long. Plus, even though it is labeled the same size as the Kumho, it is wider and causes a lot tighter fit with the shocks, fenders and rear control arm.
Thanks for the compliments! I promise to do more autocross a$$ kickin' in the near future with my Buschur power and Ohlins handling!
EVOlutionary
I worked 4th heat, 5th corner when SM ran on both days. You looked really good and were right on almost all cones. And the car sounds really good.
On the West course your acceleration to the finish after the long slalom was as good or better than the SM BMW's.
On the East course you were one of the few that didn't spank the outside cone before the finish. The RWD cars would kick the rear out causing this old guy to have to hustle to set up cones before the next car came thru. AWD just hooked up and whooshed thru the finish. I needed an adult beverage after working the East course.
I usually run on 710's but the word was that Hoosiers were about a second faster on the new Topeka site so I went with them. I think they were.
Very good finish in SM for a Rookie at Nationals!!
BSP 62
On the West course your acceleration to the finish after the long slalom was as good or better than the SM BMW's.
On the East course you were one of the few that didn't spank the outside cone before the finish. The RWD cars would kick the rear out causing this old guy to have to hustle to set up cones before the next car came thru. AWD just hooked up and whooshed thru the finish. I needed an adult beverage after working the East course.
I usually run on 710's but the word was that Hoosiers were about a second faster on the new Topeka site so I went with them. I think they were.
Very good finish in SM for a Rookie at Nationals!!
BSP 62
Originally Posted by SOLO2M3
I worked 4th heat, 5th corner when SM ran on both days. You looked really good and were right on almost all cones. And the car sounds really good.
On the West course your acceleration to the finish after the long slalom was as good or better than the SM BMW's.
On the East course you were one of the few that didn't spank the outside cone before the finish. The RWD cars would kick the rear out causing this old guy to have to hustle to set up cones before the next car came thru. AWD just hooked up and whooshed thru the finish. I needed an adult beverage after working the East course.
I usually run on 710's but the word was that Hoosiers were about a second faster on the new Topeka site so I went with them. I think they were.
Very good finish in SM for a Rookie at Nationals!!
BSP 62
On the West course your acceleration to the finish after the long slalom was as good or better than the SM BMW's.
On the East course you were one of the few that didn't spank the outside cone before the finish. The RWD cars would kick the rear out causing this old guy to have to hustle to set up cones before the next car came thru. AWD just hooked up and whooshed thru the finish. I needed an adult beverage after working the East course.
I usually run on 710's but the word was that Hoosiers were about a second faster on the new Topeka site so I went with them. I think they were.
Very good finish in SM for a Rookie at Nationals!!
BSP 62
And alot more $$$ spent on the car!
Great pics and nice finish for your first Nationals. Vic's M3 is flat out fast...we are in the same region. I'm currently running in STU, but would like to move into BSP or SM in a couple of years...I love modding the car. I can't wait to install some cams...bigger turbo...more boost, depending on whatever class I decide to move up to. Again Congrats.
Dennis
Dennis
Very good showing Jarrod. Love the pictures. Thanks for being out their representing us and for running our parts!!
I tried my first autocross this year, it was in an Acura RSX, course with me driving only took 29 seconds, was a FREAKING RUSH!! I see why you are so hooked on it!
Again, GREAT job, you should be very proud of your driving abilities! Out of curiousity, what was the first place finishers time and what was yours coming in 9th?
I tried my first autocross this year, it was in an Acura RSX, course with me driving only took 29 seconds, was a FREAKING RUSH!! I see why you are so hooked on it!
Again, GREAT job, you should be very proud of your driving abilities! Out of curiousity, what was the first place finishers time and what was yours coming in 9th?
Jerrod, my son, Aaron and I had a real good time running our EVO in the CenDiv Solo Series and many local events. Jerrod realy developed well over the summer and he became a competitor to judge my perfromance against. At Nationals he did very well with a combined time of 101.971 in SM. By way of comparison, Bob Tunnel won with the M3 with a 98.929. I would have liked to had Jerrod's time. Unfortunately I spun on 3 of the 6 runs which made me a bit cautious. But my co-driver did get warm tires as a result.
By way of comparison, John Tak won BSP in the Showcase Mitsubishi car with a 99.569 and my co-driver finished second with a 100.353. In all fairness to Tage, I must point out that on the way to grid on Tuesday morning, he drove down to Topeka Blvd and back. That was the first time he had ever driven the car or even been in it. On the otherhand, Tage managed 6th place last year is SS. You might say he has the talent.
As long as I am at it, both of the BSP cars did have their share of Buschur parts as well as others. However, I think that the development work done by John Tak and Andy Lieber on the suspension is the main reason for the success of these cars. I must say that I have not even changed the shock settings since I bought the car. Like Jerrod, I did swear to secrecy on the spring rates. But I will confess that the car was at Showcase several times during the summer and everytime I got it back I checked the alignment to make sure the Andy did not sabotage me. Showcase is a great Mitsubishi dealer to do business with even if it is in Bay City, Michigan. It is just a short drive from Arizona.
Frank
By way of comparison, John Tak won BSP in the Showcase Mitsubishi car with a 99.569 and my co-driver finished second with a 100.353. In all fairness to Tage, I must point out that on the way to grid on Tuesday morning, he drove down to Topeka Blvd and back. That was the first time he had ever driven the car or even been in it. On the otherhand, Tage managed 6th place last year is SS. You might say he has the talent.
As long as I am at it, both of the BSP cars did have their share of Buschur parts as well as others. However, I think that the development work done by John Tak and Andy Lieber on the suspension is the main reason for the success of these cars. I must say that I have not even changed the shock settings since I bought the car. Like Jerrod, I did swear to secrecy on the spring rates. But I will confess that the car was at Showcase several times during the summer and everytime I got it back I checked the alignment to make sure the Andy did not sabotage me. Showcase is a great Mitsubishi dealer to do business with even if it is in Bay City, Michigan. It is just a short drive from Arizona.
Frank