funny you say that. in my region the top car is an sti. but i think its becuase he can drive and well prepped car for sure.

 

I was wondering why the EVOs are so dominating in SP trim, but seem to fall just a little behind in STU trim?

What advantage over the STI does the EVO gain going from STU rules to BSP, or rather, what advantage does the STI lose going from STU to BSP??

Or is it just simply that no BSP STI has done as much R&D and testing as the Showcase Mitsubishi team has done with the EVO?

 

I've wondered that myself. The obvious explanation--and it may well be wrong--is that the STi dominates STU because it has the power/torque advantage stock, and the Evo dominates SP because it responds better to power-related mods.

I know power isn't that important, but at the national level, I think it can be enough of a factor to tip the balance.

 

2006 Solo Nationals STU results:

Trophy Total %Trophy
EVO 6 12 50.0%
STI 4 23 17.4%

I think all this talk of STI "domination" in STU might just reflect that there are more STIs competing in the class than Evos?

The percentages seem to suggest that the Evo is the dominate contender - or perhaps the drivers behind the wheel of them.

 

I concur with Steve...throw a rock, and you'll hit a STI in STU. The Subie guys have a contingency program along with a free SCCA membership. PLUS...Subie actually supports racing where as sorry @$$ Mitsu condones it. I guess Mitsu thinks we might break the kaa and blame them.
In the SF Region, I have the only Evo in STU, with a minimum of four STI's and a few M3's.

Dennis

 

But an STI won the class this year. And beat the fastest EVO by 1 full second over both days. I don't follow that class, and maybe the STI driver is an exceptional driver, but I bet the top STU EVO drivers are great also. . .

So what made that STI faster than the EVO's? Driver, power, handling ??? A little bit of all 3, or none of the above?

 

I agree with Steve, it has to do with sheer numbers of STi vs Evos. In the DC region STU was at least a 17 car field and I'd say 10 or 12 were Subies and 1 or 2 Evos and the balance was M3's or an occasional S4. With the class having full national status I'd look for 1/3-1/2 of the cars in class to be Evos.

 

I know it was mentioned before about Branden (the STI driver)...either here or on SCCAForums...I think it was a combination of a great driver and home field advantage...most people never ran on the new surface. Branden was even on stock wheels.

Dennis

 

I don't think STU STis dominated Nationals, only one was ahead of Silencer and myself, and we have heavy non-RS, open diff VIIIs. I think with the right shock settings the first day, I might have made up the 3/10ths from 2nd place. I don't think I could've caught local driver Branden in the winning STi, he just plain out-drove everyone.

There were good drivers in the STU but no really top drivers. Next year probably will be different with drivers like Corey and Uyeda entering with IXs. I've also heard from Evo instructors that there are more STis in the east and north due to the past Suby popularity in those areas.

I think in the ProSolo finale the STi was the car to have, due to very tight 1 cone turn arounds. Where the STis were power rotating and rocketing to the next corner ( rear bias and low-end torque), the Evos were bogging off boost and then understeering on corner exit - due to the front biased power delivery.

The IX is probably the car to have in BSP, but remember Joel sat out this year with his quick stompy STi.

 

Jerry took FTD in STU the second day at Nats in an Evo IX on what most thought would be the course that favored the STi.

 

I side with Rick, Chris, Dennis, Steve, and Dave Mac. As did Rick with his shock settings, I fought a very loose suspension on day 1 to pull out a safe 3rd run. I might have finished several spots higher, but not enough to pass up Brandon. Brandon is an exceptional driver and knows his car well enough to be very competitive. I watched every run at Nat's and he is one of the smoothest drivers in the class.

Back up 1 month earlier in August at the same location (HPT), I took the MidWest Divisionals (by less than a tenth) with Brandon in 2nd and Jerry in 3rd with Jakes IX (14 drivers). I would not necessarily call it Evo dominance. Each has it's own advantages, but IMHO, whp is not the deciding factor on the HPT asphalt surface.

With new talent entering the class, it could go either way. Evo/STI.

Like Rick mentioned, our outdated, overweight, no flsd VIII's will be at a heavy disadvantage with the newer generation of prepared STI's and IX's. We will keep them honest though .

Dave

 

Survey says Driver! Despite all the prep work on a car, it can only go as fast as the driver is capable of taking it. I think its up for grabs between Jerry and Branden this year. I'll be happy just to keep up with Jake (Dieman) during some local events ... wait til I tell your mom what you told me

 

I would not count out 4-5 M3 drivers that are capable of winning. Without seeing 07' Tour and Pro results, Corey and Jason U. will be upper contenders. Hey, where's Billy and Jason W.?

Maybe the 335i will be eligable for STU this year springing even more good drivers into the class.

Dave

 

I was way back in 13th on Day 1 with a car that wouldn't turn and go at the same time. After talking with Rick, I realized that I, too, should have been adjusting shocks. The result was FTD on Day 2. I am kicking myself for not thinking of that on Day 1. I kept blaming myself.

Day 2 FTD was set riding the rev limiter from near to the final slalom cone through the finish. Yeah, there was more out there.

Next year will be better, right Jake?

 

new to autox here, anyone find any advantage of going with 18" vs 17" rims? for ex: longer 2nd gear vs more weight? I am just talking about nat @ HLP, consider the surface and layout.