Twickenham Auto Club Autocross #1

[Samir]

Originally Posted by Minichado

That was pretty much the most fun I have had in my car, ever!!! I will definitely be at the next event paying for a full membership...

*edit*
TAC website shows 79 registered, 76 with times

Autocrossing is one of my favorite activities to do in a car. It's just you against you, trying to be the best you can be. And that's a TREMENDOUS turn out for such a cold day. I knew people had cabin fever, but not this bad, lol.

Originally Posted by EvilZ

Well that was my worst showing EVER. However it didn't make me feel as bad after talking to John Clarke who is normal a top 5 time and ended up 23rd.

Long story short I still like the car however it's going to take a lot of seat time.

Originally Posted by Stephen Freeman

I was 52nd out of 76. I was way off today. You are right about the Clarks. Both of them are stupid fast and they were off the pace.

The Clarks are definitely good to measure up to, and if they were this far off, it had to be a very challenging course between the water and the weather.

The z06, while still a c6, is definitely a different animal. I'm surprised that needing more seat time seems to shock you. I know you didn't expect to just jump in it and get familiar in a month or so.

Originally Posted by Stephen Freeman

I am getting over a nasty cold and did not want to stand outside anymore than I had to . I about froze working in the Trailer doing registration.

Makes me glad I stayed home even though I missed a fun event. I would've died. I felt miserable just at home in bed!

Originally Posted by EvilZ

Pretty much everything was faster then my Z06 by PAX times. The more I think about it the more pissed off I get but I'd be more then happy to let anyone try and keep up with me going up or down bankhead parkway..........just saying.

I think my car is just almost to much for auto cross event............i think it'd be way more at home at a track day.

You've got nothing to prove Cody. You're a capable driver that's in an unfamiliar car. Go easy on yourself. And the car was definitely made more for the track than for autocrossing--just remember what happens when you mess up at a track event--it's not a cone you hit.

The first time (and only time) I took my vette autocrossing, I spun every run just trying to find the lateral limit.

Originally Posted by Beckham

Definitely was cold. I rode with Richard in his Locost and had a blast. Donna gave my fiance a ride in her Miata and Richard gave her a ride in his Locost and she had a blast, too.

Would have been nice to know you were going. You pass out any HCS slips?

Originally Posted by Minichado

I actually picked through all the times last night, feeling pretty good about my PAX for a first timer. (49/76) Middle of the pack is a good place to start I think.

Middle of the road in pax is definitely a good place to start. I found myself there the first few times I ran, and my best finish was a 3rd place trophy in the novice class in Nov 2002. Wow, that's almost a decade ago. I need to get out again.

Originally Posted by Minichado

I got there around 7:20 and helped Bret layout the course, then we tried it out a few times in his car to see how it flowed. His drifting through the slaloms was fun (made me want RWD).

Brett is an amazing driver and one of the most fun people you'll find out there. I would've loved to see him drift his car. His control must have been impeccable.

Originally Posted by Minichado

And after a few runs I realized I only drive with 1 hand. Not the best situation so I've heard but I maintained the car pretty well. I imagine if I had 400 horses at the rear wheel I might need to latch onto the steering a bit more

If you go to the driving school, you learn a whole new way to hold the steering wheel that will initially frustrate you to no end. But once you master it, you'll always have complete control.

Originally Posted by Stephen Freeman

Auto cross is humbling, exhilarating and embarrassing all at the same time. I am supposed to be a 5 time champion who could not even run with newbies.

Well said, and it just goes to show what happens sometimes!

Originally Posted by EvilZ

I just can't get over the difference from my 350z to my base vette to this monster.

Well, this monster had a MSRP price of 2x of the 350z, and aimed for the performance of cars costing 1.5-2x of itself. So you've got a 3.5x-4x difference there to adjust for from the 350z. It's probably as big a difference if not 1.5x of the difference of 350z to the base c6.

Originally Posted by Wilson!

Cody and me were in the same boat. Summer performance tires + almost freezing temps+ damp surface = LOTS of tire spin. Anything over 1/2 throttle in 2nd was pure spin. Couldn't maintain any speed coming through the corners, as soon as I would touch the throttle, the rear would spin and try to step out quick. Had an absolute BLAST nonetheless. Will be doing it again once the weather is more friendly.

Sounds like you had a lot of fun, spins and all.

Originally Posted by sok07

MGB made an appearance, but it didn't want to restart before pulling up to the grid in the morning. lol I blame the cold. :[ Diagnosed the issue as a ignition problem. Pulled the distributor and found & fixed it during the lunch break. A corroded terminal end inside the distributor prevented spark from the getting to the points from the coil.

I guess that last heat cycle (driving to autoX and then sitting there in the cold) shifted the terminal just right where it broke the circuit. Pissed me off that I didn't get to run in TAC1. Anyhow, the mgb will be ready next autoX.

That sucks on the mechnical issues, but you know how the British cars are. I can't wait to see it in action again though. It's always a blast to see it running.

Originally Posted by duh09

So you're the owner of the MGB GT? Absolutely love the car, always had a thing for the GTs.

He's got more toys too:
http://www.huntsvillecarscene.com/showthread.php?t=3402

[Samir]

Seems like everyone had a blast even though it was ice cold. I'm sorry I missed it as it seemed like a great time even with the terrible weather. I better be well enough for the next one. I hate being sick!!

[EvilZ]

Come on Samir.............you know I expect to be able to jump in any car and take it to it's limit. I have finally found a car that I can't do that with..........funny thing is it makes me like the car even more knowing it will actually take me time to reach it's limits.........and i will find them.

[Samir]

Originally Posted by EvilZ

Come on Samir.............you know I expect to be able to jump in any car and take it to it's limit.

lol, but you know you shouldn't expect that all the time.

Originally Posted by EvilZ

I have finally found a car that I can't do that with..........funny thing is it makes me like the car even more knowing it will actually take me time to reach it's limits.........and i will find them.

And that's what makes a car fun. The reason passenger cars can be boring is because those limits are so easy to find. Then what do you do? You start modifying the passenger car, lol...

[Beckham]

Originally Posted by Samir

Would have been nice to know you were going. You pass out any HCS slips?

I don't have any. I also didn't know I was going to go until about 11am.

[Samir]

Originally Posted by Beckham

I don't have any. I also didn't know I was going to go until about 11am.

I'll get you a stack now that I've got a new batch printed.

[1 BAD Z]

I have got to make it out to one of these to at least watch.

[Samir]

Originally Posted by 1 BAD Z

I have got to make it out to one of these to at least watch.

It's not much of a spectator sport. But take a ride and you'll see why it's a driver's sport.

[goldeneagle_10]

I will say that I find autox very challenging and its a great way to learn car control at reasonable speeds. If I had a more fun daily driver car, I would be out there running as well. I've run my 08 Civic before, and coming from driving vettes and cobra's... it just doesn't have that thrill factor for me. I'm spoiled by horsepower I guess

The vette's are tricky to push at the limit. There's been many times I feel like I get it to the edge, and then I lose everything. But I will say, I still have not found the limits of my car... just my driving limits so far. The best thing to do for autox is to either have a fast driver ride with you and let him give you some pointers... or let him co-drive with you and ride along on his runs to see what he does better than you. I've done this a few times, and each time that I have... I was able to learn something about the car that I didn't think it could do. It was one of those "you can do that??" moments.

The C6Z is a beast for autox. I would agree to a point that it is better suited for the open track and that is where its in its own world there... but it can compete very well in autox. In fact, last year's ASP national champion was in a C6Z. C5Z C6Z... either one works well for autox. Throttle modulation is everything along with smooth driver inputs. But also, tires are just so important out there. I never realized how big of a difference they made till I started running Hoosier A6's.