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From: Why do they always call the Evo the Dark Side?
2025-08-17: Philly SCCA @ Ripken (Event #4 this year)
So at CCR the results weren’t great, but maybe it was the heat or the misfiring. At Summit the results weren’t great (but not as bad as CCR) but maybe it was because the tires were brand new. At this event, no excuses left - the tires are scrubbed, the plugs are fixed, and I have a lot of the same folks as comparison points.
It was something like 91 degrees and 50% humidity by the time we ran. Again, not great. I do sometimes get tilty in those circumstances. I really needed the mental game practice. They decided to give everyone 6 runs, which is great from a certain perspective but does require a certain amount of mental endurance in the heat.
The course was tighter than most courses they’ve done here. I started out overdriving, a lot. Just getting on the gas too early, not braking enough, dumb stuff like that. I mean arguably it’s useful to overdrive your first run, but that’s not exactly what I was doing. I was asking the car to do too much, AND I wasn’t adjusting mid run to what was possible. Leaving this event, that is one of my biggest takeaways. I need to adjust faster.
Run 1 I was flailing to try to get solostorm working. I ended up disconnecting the shift light gizmo - I had to add a splitter to get the shift light on, but since it runs off OBDII it sucks anyway so I disconnected it and hooked everything up without the splitter. That seemed to fix it. Run wasn’t great, 49.8+1. Run 2, slightly better, 49.5.
After run 2 (I think?), we again had a big timing delay. It wasn’t quite as bakey as it was at CCR but close. I think it was 20 minutes between runs instead of 15. Run 3 was similar - 49.3+1. After run 3, I was quite a bit off pace, something like 13th/70 in PAX, not feeling good and really concerned that I was going to have to call it on Nationals and wait for 2026. It was hot, I was driving rough and the course just was not fun.
Here’s run 3 - it’s gross, but I’m showing it as contrast.
Before run 4, someone came up to me and asked for a ridealong because they said the Evo is their dream car. I did have to think about it, I wasn’t in the best headspace at this point, like literally considering canceling Nats at this point, but remembering that taking a passenger was pretty helpful at the CCR event I said yes. I don’t know if it was because it was the plan, or just the pressure of not driving dumb with a passenger, but I was able to dial it back a bit and be tidier. I got down to a 49.0 clean, decent progress.
Run 5 - ok let’s do that again but tidier particularly in the fast stretch leading into the slalom. No seriously, brake more. Another incremental improvement - 48.8 clean. I didn’t even know it was clean at the time, because I saw this on the video and assumed it was dirty. Turns out I just ran perfectly over the base of it 🙂
So to recap, I started out driving badly and dirtily: 49.8+1, 49.5, 49.3+1. Then started actually deliberately being tidy: 49.0, 48.8. Last run, I continued to do the “no, seriously, be tidier, especially in the middle and in the last turn into the finish” thing. I ended up with a 48.5, clean. Whew!
This landed me 7th in PAX (out of 96), a pretty solid result considering the folks I am near in the results. Duston has been killing it this year, Ken has a jacket, etc etc. Given the course (like, ahh, can I use the gas pedal yet) I feel pretty good about the result - but as noted above I still need to figure out how to get calibrated faster.
I have successfully towed an empty trailer for 10 miles. Woo! 1200 to go. Except with a car.
are you using that uhaul trailer? you'll need some lumber so your bumper goes over the edge
ramps also. pictured is my first version. I added more to smoothen the transition
why the need to practice towing? the hardest part is returning the trailer, backing it up at an 90deg angle
Last edited by ViciousLSD; Aug 28, 2025 at 04:30 PM.
From: Why do they always call the Evo the Dark Side?
Originally Posted by ViciousLSD
are you using that uhaul trailer? you'll need some lumber so your bumper goes over the edge
ramps also. pictured is my first version. I added more to smoothen the transition
why the need to practice towing? the hardest part is returning the trailer, backing it up at an 90deg angle
I'm sure I'll flub reversing, but that's a later problem. Where do you tie down in the rear? Lca?
my straps have this end but initially i just had these hooks and then i add the ratcheting straps. They go into the oblong holes on the underside of the floor behind the side skirts. I have not tried other techniques . The tire straps on the trailer is good if not damaged. I ziptie the rarchet so it doesnt bounce and come loose. Maybe towhooks/wheels/diff carrier are ok to strap on to so the car stays in place during the long haul. Just check the tension after a few blocks and every stop you make.
I sleep in my suv. I dont know how to secure all of this if i get a hotel
You have spare tires? You could lose hours if you fully rely on the roadside assistance
I'm sure I'll flub reversing, but that's a later problem. Where do you tie down in the rear? Lca?
on the first time i figured when backing up "too much trailer in one side mirror, turn the wheel to that side to straighten it all up" . 90degree still takes me a few tries lol
