Autocrossers: Check in here!

[07AsmFG2]

What kind of tire pressure are you guys(Si) owners running at Auto X events, more specefic to the ones running on stock wheels and wonderful all season tires...

[Gonzo]

Originally Posted by piknockout

Did you take any video at the event by chance?

No, I would like to fabricate a mount though. I am reeeaalllyy tempted to buy one of those mini cameras that Ethan had. I have an old JVC but either it sucks or I have gotten lots of bad Sony cassettes (probably the latter) plus it just isn't a very good camcorder. If I had the small one I could mount it on the roof so I could see how close I was getting to the cones.

Downside of course is $$$. Thanks to autocross I have been spending it like water lately.

Originally Posted by 07AsmFG2

What kind of tire pressure are you guys(Si) owners running at Auto X events, more specefic to the ones running on stock wheels and wonderful all season tires...

I would suggest starting with 38 up front and 35 in the rears.

Unless you are using a few auto x sessions as an excuse to destroy your all seasons as soon as possible, then I wouldn't suggest using them. They are some pretty poor performing and expensive tires. To that end, you could thrash them at a few sessions then buy a whole new set of decent rubber. Still you might be pretty miserable out there with the all seasons, especially if you run in g-stock where all the good drivers will be on slicks.

Still you'll get experience but before long those all seasons will hold you back.
They have mediocre grip and their sidewalls are quite soft. Zig zag ever so slightly on the highway and you can literally feel the car yawing on the sidewalls.

[RReuphoria]

I'm about to install an AEM cold air intake on my 08' RR FG2.

I'm currently running G-stock, and consistently finish 2nd position in my class and PAX in the top 1/3.

My question is what class would this mod put me in (maybe STX?), and also, should I even do it considering I'm doing just fine in my region even running the Bridgestone RE050A's that I have (I don't run R-comps because I like to push my car to the limit in real-world situation, and remember what it felt like on the road )

What should I do????

[Gonzo]

CAI will put you in STX. If you are doing well in G-Stock and are happy with where your car is I'd just get a drop in filter and call it a day.

If you can't resist modding your car then just stick to STX.

[Gonzo]

Oh knockout, in regard to the camera mount, what is that square aluminum stuff with the holes called?

[piknockout]

Gonzo, just put it on your credit card...I need someone to pay my salary!

RReuphoria, sounds like you're at a bit of a crossroads here. The intake will bump you into STX automatically. So there are two options.

1. Stay in GS. If you want to be competitive for the least amount of money, stay here. And while you like knowing how the car handles on street tires, if you want to win and do well (other than locally), you WILL need r-comps. End of story.

2. Install the intake and move to STX. Now you only get to play on street tires, which seems to be your focus. There are a lot of mods you can do in STX, but make sure you only install STX legal mods or you'll be playing in DSP or SM...which you don't want to do.

I think STX is a TON of fun to run in, but there's more tweaking involved and a lot of parts to buy. GS is easy to run in and is probably your best bet for being competitive. But ultimately it depends on what's more important to you: modding the car to your liking, class be damned, or mod to be competitive in a specified class.

[piknockout]

Square aluminum tubing. Interesting how that works, huh? Actually doesn't come with holes, I just drilled those on my own then powdercoated the whole thing. You can get it at Lowes or Home Depot. Below is a link to mine.

piknockout's 2003 Nissan SE-R on CarDomain - Page 6

Seriously though, I would save yourself the hassle and just buy one of these. Can be used on multiple cars and adjusted to your liking. And only $50, as stated you'll spend somewhere between $25-$40 doing one on your own. Save yourself the hassle.

CruiseCam Headrest Camera Mount

[Gonzo]

Originally Posted by piknockout

Gonzo, just put it on your credit card...I need someone to pay my salary!

How's that?

I think I am leaning toward the the mini camera or another small camcorder (in which case I would still need a mounting setup). Maybe I should just use my Canon A630. I don't want to ever deal with a MiniDV or MiniDVD camcorder again.

[piknockout]

Well, I work in Credit Card Finance for a certain large bank here in America.

I was lucky to get my camcorder for Christmas a few years ago, and unfortunately have no advice in that area. But perhaps you could find something used for cheap? Just a thought.

[Gonzo]

Wachovia?

I think I am going to get that little camera. Mounting is versatile so I can put it in places that are helpful for review in autocross and any other time I can put it in entertaining spots. Fenders, lower bumper, rear bumper. Too many possibilities. Plus I could put it on one of my r/c cars, maybe even my little helicopter. Might be light and small enough to not affect it too much.

Soon I need to get under the car and install my camber arms and bolts. Then I just need to find a shop. I have one in mind and so does my dad so I guess we will see.

[piknockout]

Re-read my sentence Gonzo. It's not Wachovia.

Good luck with the install of the new toys. Just be ready for them to mess up (or improve) any balance you currently have. Re-learning the car after making changes sometimes takes time.

[Gonzo]

Originally Posted by piknockout

Well, I work in Credit Card Finance for a certain large bank here in America.

*Shrugs* Sounded like that could have been Wachovia, along with many others...

Originally Posted by piknockout

Good luck with the install of the new toys. Just be ready for them to mess up (or improve) any balance you currently have. Re-learning the car after making changes sometimes takes time.

Yeah, I definitely foresee that. The new tires in addition to the replacement of the rear sway back to stock definitely changed the way the car felt Sunday. Turn in on the slalom might not have been quite as aggressive as before but it still seemed to rotate pretty well and the rear definitely felt a lot more stable. The back would only step out marginally and very controllably when I lifted as opposed to before at the school when it really wanted to come around. The instructors that drove my car during the schools all said to go back to to the softer bar and that definitely was good advice.

Car also felt better with the 615's over the SPT's. I think the stiffer sidewalls gave less influence. Even in the wet I still was underestimating their grip based on my experience with the Ecstas.

With the camber I am sure it will change things even more but fortunately it should be a better setup overall than before and the Test and Tune should give me time to familiarize. After that I will probably be done with major suspension changes until the end of the season.

It is also kind of cool to actually feel just how much simple changes alter the feel of the car. Though not useful for tuning at this point since I am doing too many changes at once, it is still a good learning experience.


I'm pumped for the Test and Tune. I'll try not to bother you with too many questions, but no promises. Seat time is what is going to benefit me most.

[piknockout]

Seriously, feel free to ask away. Not that I know much about the Si, but I do still drive a similarly powered/weighted/LSD FWD car. Granted, mine has a bit more torque to play with.

I promise you will truly enjoy having camber up front. The increased grip up front should help the rear rotate a little better as well. I won't have a pit crew for the event either, so any adjustments to my car will be minimal. I'll also have a canopy with me as well, so feel free to park nearby and make use of it if need be.

[BigDog]

Originally Posted by honda93

Ran my Civic yesterday on my all-season Kumho ASX's... Actually, this is the first time since early 2004 in which I ran on street tires on my own personal autocross car.

They (street tires on a Stock class car) suck. Hahaha! Now I see why the SCCA still allows R-Comps in Stock. Even with the heroic driving tactics, I had a bear of a time getting that car to work. Granted even an ultra high performance all-season tire like the ASX is still a lot slower than say the Direzza Z1 or the RE-01R. But I so missed that instantaneous turn-in that race tires allow. Everything felt lethargic.

As soon as I log off, I am ordering my V710's.

The only positive was how hard I could drive the street tires, doing so gave me a good indication that I will gain additional speed with R-Comps, in other words, I may not have been utilizing the grip of a V710 fully, staying at 95% rather than the full 100%.

Anthony "Mario" Crea
NNJR-SCCA

Will and I were suprised how similar the car felt on Azenis vs. the 710s. Yeah, the 710s were much faster 'cause of the grip, but the car still "acted" the same. We'll have a DL1 on the car this Sunday. It will be interesting to see some data comparisons between the two tires.

[Gonzo]

Thanks, I appreciate it for sure.

I am trying to get my dad to come this weekend since it is such a long one. He suggested he stay home and go to the next one while I bring a friend but I think that would be even more awkward since my friend would just be standing around a lot of the time. That and quite a few other people expressed interest in going. Not sure how it will pan out.

I am interested to see how the car feels when I change back to my Kuhmos tonight. When I first switched to the Azenis, backing out of the driveway I could feel a difference in feedback from the tires and steering feel.

There is less play in the wheel (I presume from the stiffer sidewalls) and when the wheel snaps back to center it was much more definite and abrupt of a stop once the wheel was centered. These tires are less vague.

Another thing about these tires is they are loud. They sing like crazy. Cruising at 35 can drown out the engine. 45 and above it is pretty distinct. I can almost gauge my speed by the sound of the tires.

[honda93]

Originally Posted by BigDog

Will and I were suprised how similar the car felt on Azenis vs. the 710s. Yeah, the 710s were much faster 'cause of the grip, but the car still "acted" the same. We'll have a DL1 on the car this Sunday. It will be interesting to see some data comparisons between the two tires.

The turn in was much crisper due to the Azenis. The sidewall on the ASX's is pretty soft.

[friedk]

Originally Posted by Gonzo

Thanks, I appreciate it for sure.

I am trying to get my dad to come this weekend since it is such a long one. He suggested he stay home and go to the next one while I bring a friend but I think that would be even more awkward since my friend would just be standing around a lot of the time. That and quite a few other people expressed interest in going. Not sure how it will pan out.

I am interested to see how the car feels when I change back to my Kuhmos tonight. When I first switched to the Azenis, backing out of the driveway I could feel a difference in feedback from the tires and steering feel.

There is less play in the wheel (I presume from the stiffer sidewalls) and when the wheel snaps back to center it was much more definite and abrupt of a stop once the wheel was centered. These tires are less vague.

Another thing about these tires is they are loud. They sing like crazy. Cruising at 35 can drown out the engine. 45 and above it is pretty distinct. I can almost gauge my speed by the sound of the tires.

Are the Azenis really that deafening? If they're that loud..I probably should go with a set of kumho ectsa spts or bg goodrich g force sports for daily tires that have okay grip.

[piknockout]

To tell you the truth, I've never realized that the Azenis were loud. I guess that's what happens when your exhaust is louder than everything else.

[Gr3y Goose]

hey guys, just checking in here..i live on long island and theyre starting SCCA autox events at the nassau veterans coliseum. starts in a few weeks. i just bought my helmet, its snell and dot approved, bought it at a motorcycle shop yesterday, cost me 120$...well my question is what should i have my tire pressure at and any other recommendations? im going to be taking out my spare and back seats. my only suspension mod is a megan rear tie bar. 15K miles on the 2007 GGM Si coupe

thanks for any input guys