Bested By A Civic!!!
 

Me and my two roommates ran our cars at the annual Eastern Idaho Octoberfast put on by the SCCA.

I ran my 911 and they both co-drove Sam's '99 Civic Si.

Two days worth of racing and I consistantly ran times that were two seconds slower than the little red piece of recycled milk jugs.

I just couldn't get the car to go any faster... I was experiencing massive amounts of understeer... the only thing i can contribute to this is the fact that my suspension camber is all dorked up. It has about .4 degrees in the front and 3.5 degrees in the rear(...if any of you remember my Hobby shop alignment saga).

So the old 911 wasn't doing too hot.

Now I'm regreting that I installed that supercharger on his car for him!
All in all, we had a blast.
Did I mention that it was their first time autocrossing and both Jared and Sam ran faster than me. :eek:

And another local friend and PP'er was there in his 944 which also ran faster than me... although by a slighter margin.
Oh well,.... I had a good time. ;)

Ummm........

"Massive understeer" in a 911. Careful, guys! I think the Earth is beginning to tilt off it's axis!

Leland, is this how you hope to attract new members to the SCWDP?

Home alignment? Therein lies your problem maybe? After a suspension rebuild, my eyeball alignment on my 87 (yes, it's no SC) currently has my car handling like garbage. Even the slightest quick corner causes the tires to squeal and the car to push like a front driver. Mash the gas and it just plows more. I think the only way I can spin this thing is to pull the handbrake and do a Jim Rockford 180!

Real, professional 4-wheel alignments are mandatory, not optional. Eyeballing it in your garage, (or even using special tools there), is not good enough. Subtle alignment changes can make HUGE handling improvements. In this area, the "men" and the "boys" stay separate.

Further, understeer at performance speeds is completely common to 911s. It was the first big epiphany I had when I started autocrossing. My car oversteers in regular driving, but understeers out near "the edge." Suspension settings can reduce this problem and so can tire pressures. I increase front tire pressure at autocross. So, instead of running 5 psi more pressure in the rear, I use closer to the same pressure at both ends. It helps.

I have also found that an empty gas tank is not the best way to go. Sure, it makes the car lighter, but the front end of this car is plenty light enough. Too light for good steering traction. With an empty tank, I have to tap the brakes in order to get good turning traction. (Boy, does hard braking ever get you massive steering traction.....it's incredible). So, I go with half to 3/4 tank of gas.

And....exit speed is about a hundred times more important than entry speed. Smoother is better. Think WAY WAY ahead. Walk the course. Study the map. Ask questions. Ride with someone. Let an instructor drive. Eat waffles in the morning (whatever helps). Practice practice practice. You can beat that Honda.

Lee,

Most autocross courses are too tight for a 911 ... and more suited to a Honda! Of course, my half-scale 'Riverside' course was the exception (90-100 mph into turn nine) to that rule ... back in the '70s!

However, the next time you encounter massive understeer at an autocross, put more air pressure in your front tires, or lower the rears a bit ... or both! Just don't forget and drive on the street that way ... or you might wind up with more than a little valance damage!

SMOOOOOOOOOOOOTH is faster. :) :) I'd rather being tail out going sideways. But doesn't help to score. But it looks cool.

If the course doesn't have a straight section we're in trouble. Just give me a 40 - 60 yard straight section and they're toast.

FYI. I get my ass kicked by a full race supercharged Civic too. :( :(

But did you have fun ?????

Yes, I did have a blast... but now I am just being subjected to some pretty harsh "crap-talking" from the two roommates....oh well. :)

Dr. Pate,
Please remind your friend that technically YOU built the motor that was able to prevail on an autocross track. Remind him that he should be grateful that the mastermind of the SCWDP shared valuable insight into his febile rice vehicle. Finally, remind him that while you can do nothing to alter his ability to logic when it comes to selecting a car, the techinical capabilites of the members of the SCWDP are too valuable and are freely diseminated to the unwashed masses such as your friend who have wandered down the rice path.

Then get your alignment done and take him to a track!

Yeah. Give him the lecture (make sure your chair is higher than his, and speak slowly), then take him to a real track, assuming this car can pass a track inspection. You can beat this guy and his supercharged car. And when you do, remind him that he was defeated by a normally aspirated Porsche. Tell him that if he want to try his luck against a 930, they are available to give humility lessons.

Three things,

1. Ask him if he would like to go out in your car or his to troll for chicks.

2. Maybe you need MFI;)

3. Instead of being a Dr., take some engineering classes....

:D