Hey guys, just did my second Solo II event out here (Hawaii) and was just looking for a few pointers...

I'm running in the EM class (which freaking SUCKS) and I've been within 1.4 seconds of first place for my class but I know I can do better. Following the instructors advice, I've adjusted my seating positions, steering wheel etc. but since they don't have any Evo's running (besides when my crew started running out there) there's really no specific advice regarding my car.

First question: I'm currently running Tanabe GF210's as my only suspension mod. Until I get more done, how should I set up the suspension as far as camber, toe, caster? How much adjustibility is there when it's pretty much stock?

Second question: What tire pressure should I run at? Right now it's 32psi front/29psi back (stock).

Third question: What gear should I be running in? Should I leave it in first as much as I can or should I be in second so I'm hitting peak torque every time I stomp the pedal? The problem I was having there was that when I hit peak the car wants to go sideways sometimes. (this of course is course dependant, but the 2 I've ran were near top of first/mid second)

Fourth question: Launching... since there generally isn't room to do a 2-step launch, what RPM should I launch from? I made the mistake of launching at ~3500 once and ended up almost completely sideways. I've been having luck around 2500... is that the norm?

Thanks for any help... I'm sure I'll have some more.

 

nice...was it the one in the stadium?

ive been meaning to go...just no fund yet...

 

Sure was... I've met you before right? You're on club808 if I'm not mistaken. I got the same SN over there... black Evo IX with the black/red painted stock wheels.

 

ya im on club808...i gotta go meet up with you guys soon

 

Thursday brah... Airport Starbucks @8.

 

ill do my best to make it out...gotta work

 

1st. Try to max out your -ve camber in the front, set the rear camber to -1 deg. Experiment with 0 toe all around. You won't be able to change castor unless you have castor/camber plates.

2nd. Depends a lot of the type of tire you are running and the maximum tire pressure it can hold. You have to tell us if you are running Street tires or R-comps. If you are not running R-comp tires, you should, but if you are noob stick to learning with street tires.

3rd. Do not shift up unless you have to ... different people have different ideas about this ... some will recommend vice versa.

4th. Launch is totally depends on your car, how it is set up and how quickly you have power. Don't launch so hard that you are going sideways, if you have better control with 2500rpm, stick to that.

Oh yeah! be smooth, slow in fast out, look as far ahead as possible and all that other jazz ...

 

Why EM? Based on your mods I'd think you would be in Street Mod.

DWP pretty much covered everything but I would recommend running around 38-40 psi in the front tires and 35 in the rear (if street tires). Also use 2nd gear as much as possible. Short shift if you have to to get into 2nd before the first turn/transition and leave it there the rest of the run. That should do you fine for 80-90% of all autox courses and will give you one less thing to worry about while trying to learn.

 

^ From what I was told, it's the boost controller's fault. If I didn't have that I'd be in S-Mod. I'll double-check on it though.

Thanks for the tips... I'm still running the stock Advans right now (which need replacing soon). I'm going to get the alignment done this week (hopefully).

So I'd want to run MORE tire pressure than stock? Correct me if I'm wrong, that's just what it looks like from how you typed it.

Thanks again.

 

I'm pretty sure you are SM legal but even if you're not, locally just run it anyway. Unless you are winning the class no one will care. And if they do and you start to really enjoy autox, just remove it.

As far as tire pressures for stock tires, yes MORE in front. Try 38-40 in the front and see if you have any roll-over issues with the edge of the tread. Your car will plow and this tire pressure will help with that. Keep the rear lower but within 5 psi of the front. 35 should be a good starting point there. Now with a simple alignment, this minor tire pressure adjustment, and using 2nd gear will do you good enough for learning. Autox is 80% driver and only 20% car so start to work on your driving as that will yield you the best improved results.

Aloha Stadium looks like a pretty good event site (been there a few times) so I hope you are able to keep running there.

 

You are allowed to run a boost controller in SM, heck you are allowed to run a boost controller in BSP now. Your car is definately SM ... heck it may even be BSP if it weren't for the cat. When I ran stock tires I ended up running a higher pressure in the rear than front. With stock tires start at 40psi front and rear ... adjust up or down accordingly. I used to run 39psi front and 41psi rear and my car on stock suspension would rotate pretty well ...

 

Well I have swift springs on my car. I ran tire pressues a bit different than DaWorstPlaya. I ran my fronts higher than the rear -- started off 45lbs in the front and 39 in the rear (stock Advans). I have experimented with sway bar settings as well and next season I want to try full stiff -- I ran full soft and the end of this last season and used a bit more left foot braking to get the car to rotate.

As for shifting, the courses here, normally i'm in second gear the whole time. Unless we have those corvette prepped courses Then I'm shifting into third at some points. Very rarely, if ever, have I had to shift into first -- even in very tight 180's.

They said it once and I'll repeat -- slow in, fast out. Watch your entry speeds and don't over drive the car.

 

In BSP you can run catless.

"15.10 ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN

E. Emission control devices may be modified or removed.

H. Exhaust manifolds and muffler systems are free, except that they
must be quiet and terminate behind the driver."

Dave

 

Dave,

I didn't think you could use a MBC to controll boost in SP?

 

I had a friend who said he called Yokahama directly for advice on tire pressure. According to him, Yokahama told him to run 39F/37R on the Evo. Right now I run RT-615s and I use 35F/32R on the street and 44F/40R at AutoX.

Try different pressures and see what you like.