Boat Racing (95 SSEi / G8 GT AutoX; 17 pics, 1 vid)

[repinS]

So yesterday, Peter G and I headed up to the Powerade Centre to attend an autocross event, as held by the HADA Motorsport Club, a local Honda/Acura contingent who holds quite a few events like these. Peter and I were first-timers at competing, although I had been out spectating quite a few times before. With a little guidance from friends (one with a '97 Mazda Miata), I think we were able to really pick up on how the hell to drive around the course.

So how did the SSEi/FE2 handle? Ever since I got it, I was confident in saying that for daily driving, the SSEi's suspension, only equipped with Energy(?) bushings, cornered flatter and more confident/stable than the shot 300,000km Civic did, albeit with a little less go-kart and response factor. We had an experienced race instructor on hand to help newbies out -- as indicated by a triangle marked out on the rear of your car if you have three or less events' worth of experience. He showed me the basic idea of trail braking: come into the corner hot, brake HARD (ABS), and steer in as you lift off the brake. The weight transfer gives the car *that* much more grip. Very awesome technique that did wonders for my time.

The course itself was very technical, with two laps of one of the areas of the track. Ideally I'd have liked to ahve gotten into the 60's, but I managed:

79.4
74.9
70.9
72.9 + 2 cones = 74.9
70.644 -- last and best run of the day

Peter had a video up of the G8, riding along with him was a girl who had a 3.1L Cavalier Z24 and was pretty *dang* quick and skilled.. she wanted a G8 GT as a daily driver:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ryf4u8klwZI

Overall, out of the cars that did finish 5 runs without going off-course, the poor Bonneville brought up the rear. The instructor was saying that I likely had the "most disadvantaged car" in the lot (he was definitely right), but it sure was fun as hell regardless.

Pics:

Myself and my buddy's 97 Mazda Miata... quick car, was faster than Peter all day (more experienced driver)


Peter arrives...


Givin' it




Get your grubby paws off my car, Peter


Staging, note the newbie's triangle


weeeeeeeeeeeee!






Staging


mmmmmm...


The quick Cavalier


little guy, big guy










At the end of the day

[WhiteArrow3800]

Sweet pics of both cars

Thats awesome, I'll have to find something like that around here and try it out sometime.

[Peterg22000]

you and your buddy take great pics Jerry.. but all the pics of your car make it look like its sitting still (wheels mostly) what gives?


Val only had 2 seconds on me at the end of the day, not bad considering he's been doing it for a few years(?)

that cavalier is VERY fast, I just watched it on an oval track on youtube, it was beating everything!


Anyway, I had a BLAST, and will be doing it again!

my times where
279.4 (200second penalty for off course)
72.X
66.557
67.X
66.115

[repinS]

Yeah, this is at least Val's second season of autocross with that Miata.

When I gave the camera to my buddy (he has NO DSLR experience, lol), I set everything on automatic and to avoid blurry shots, I set the shutter speed to really fast... not as cool looking, but we get more keepers that way All of the G8 shots I did myself.

[bonnevillain]

nice! how'd you mount the camera?

[Peterg22000]

I used its own wrist strap to tie it to the vissor.

[Ziploc]

Hello chaps!

Yes I've been doing this for a little while. I started last year with 4 events. And have done 5 this year. The Miata is stock apart from new adjustable shocks. The all season tires are not suited for AutoX unfortunately even if they are biased to summer weather. They are Falken ZEIX 512s if anyone is curious.

I'm glad I could point (and yell) you through your first laps. It was a super fun day. I was out there dicking around and going for fun as opposed to times. As a result, I didn't get one solo lap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhNWcyfIRzg I can't power oversteer like the G8. So I have to resort to throwing my car into the corner at 50 seconds.


repinS is in the passenger seat.





Images care of Wes Tanney. http://www.tanneymotorsport.com/gallery2/main.php

[BonneMe]

Nice Miata, get some RE's or Direzzas on there and FLY!

Glad to see more ppl joining the sport, I've missed 2 events now in a row due to scheduling/vacation, and i'm so sad. I've only gotten to run on good tires @ the last Test 'n Tune day.

How did the G8 vs SSEi times compare?

[Peterg22000]

How did the G8 vs SSEi times compare?

• SSEI
  79.4
  74.9
  70.9
  72.9 + 2 cones = 74.9
  70.644 -- last and best run of the day

• G8
  279.4 (200second penalty for off course)
  72.X
  66.557
  67.X
  66.115

[l67poweredlss]

What does the Cavi have done that makes it so fast?

[Peterg22000]

What does the Cavi have done that makes it so fast?

I honestly couldn't tell you, was fully stripped for racing (weight) had suspention work, a race built trans, but as for motor work, I'm unsure.

[repinS]

Having a skilled driver helps too

[BonneMe]

After looking at your sig repinS, the front right almost looks like it has positive camber!

[Peterg22000]

How did the G8 vs SSEi times compare?

official times posted
http://www.hadamotorsport.com/autoslalo ... _Times.pdf

[Peterg22000]

Peter had a video up of the G8, riding along with him was a girl who had a 3.1L Cavalier Z24 and was pretty *dang* quick and skilled.. she wanted a G8 GT as a daily driver:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ryf4u8klwZI

New vid... listen to that intake pure..
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn4kByIJm24