[patkeefe]

Should I feel as though I have lost any driving skills I once possessed after getting beat by five seconds in 0:50 second autocross in my stock Cab on Bridgestone S0-2's? The cars cleaning my clock were older Corvettes, and BMW M-3's and 330's, who were all on slicks, BTW. I didn't even make the top five in class. Classes were figured on a power/weight ratio, which was 246 HP/3026 lb.



I'm venting.



Pat

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

well, there's part of the problem - you weigh a lot more than that - stock cab is 3240

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[RPM]

I would think that all things being equal, or thereabouts, street tires v. track tires could account for much of the 5 seconds.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

sure can



deck definitely stacked against you - i'd make sure i got ahold of the guy who classes the cars next time - that sure isn't right



how did the cars do that were on street tires and the correct weight?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[ether_joe]

slicks vs road tires? doesnt sound like a fair fight.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

i'm wondering if the guy who made the decisions was running in the class you should have been in - unfortunately, that happens all the time

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[patkeefe]

Class structure was different than at PCA events. I knew that going in.

Can anyone actually quantify the difference in slicks vs street tires on a 968?

I think it's worth about 3 seconds; just guessing.

Pat

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

that really depends on the course and the pavement - on some courses it might actually cost you time - there was one parking lot they used to run autocrosses in in the bay area where slicks actually cost us quite a bit of time - the pavement was a rougher texture, and there was frequently loose stuff on it too - slicks were a pain in the ass there



all things being equal though, with a driver that doesn't make mistakes, on a 50 second course, it's usually more like a second or so on a car this size and weight, less on lighter cars - the driver really makes the bigest difference



your problem was probably a cumulative thing - extra weight, less power, less traction, and mostly the urge to go faster to make up for it, causing less smoothness - happened to me a few years back, after taking some time off - i was trying so hard to go faster, that i was really making mistakes - once i settled down and put my head back into being smooth, and stopped worrying about going fast, my times went back down



unfortunately, i am expecting the same thing to happen again, since it's been a good 10 years since i ran anything - i'm actually going to go back through driving school again, as if i never had



check your class, and go at it again with a clear head



then you can start looking at optimal autocross pressures and swaybar settings, which make a HUGE diference

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[patkeefe]

Yeah, when I was smooth through the course, I would try to pick up a bit here and there, which end up costing time. Also, this was the first time I ever tried it in the 968. It is not a 911, which I'm more used to. No throttle oversteer.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

yeah - very different techniques - in the 911 you are driving a lot with the rear end of the car - you can't lift off throttle on this car in a turn, or it will push - you have to set it, plant it, and push it through - it's a lot more about weight balance - fun once you get the hang of it though

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Leonard]

Driver plays a HUGE roll in the autocross. My buddies 87 944S2 on Hossier slicks was as fast or faster than the majority of cars there after the slicks were put on. He had a great time, it makes it fun when you are competitive. Most all competitors were on slicks, but there were some good times on street meats as well. To be competitive you might as well have the slicks, that is a definite disadvantage if you do not have. Of course it takes seat time to get as good as the car is on streets!.



Good Luck!



View the times? http://www.scca.org/Event/Event.asp

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.