Hershey autocross event

[05crownsport]

Good morning all! There's a couple of guys at work trying to get me to autocross my CV, and thought this event would be a good one to start with. They informed me that the lot is nice and big, and it's not as tight of a course as typical. Any thoughts from some experienced autocrossers?

http://myautoevents.com/pls/mae/frmEventDetail.Show?psevent_id =12976

[crouse]

Go for it. I run several auto-x events each year and they are fun events. Make sure you walk the course several times and ask questions. They usually have a novice course walk where they give you tips on how to enter a corner or when to brake etc. If they have instructor ride alongs, take advantage of that.

Since it's your first event, take everything out of your car that is not bolted down. Floor mats, spare tire & jack. Empty the glove box and anything else that might have loose objects that could fly around. Try to have about 1/4 tank of gas to save weight. The weight of my car is about 4300 pounds which is about twice what the Mini Coopers and Mazda Miata's weigh.

I'd suggest taking your first run at 50% and gradually increasing until you are at 100%. I see it at every event. A guy shows up with his brand new Camaro or GTO and thinks he's going to impress everyone with a record breaking run and ends up spinning out scaring the crap out of the course workers. You'll gain a lot more respect if you start out slow and gradually ratchet up your runs.

Depending on your tires, I'd suggest setting the tire pressures at about 35/38 on the front and 32/35 on the rear then after each run, see how much scuffing you have. You don't want to be rolling the tires on the side walls. If you are not, then lower the pressure a few pounds then re-check after the run to see how they look. You can also chalk some lines on the tires to see this more clearly.

Hope this helps.
Curt

[05crownsport]

That's all great advice! Thank you for it. How would I chalk the tires? Is this in a radial pattern, or around the circumference on the sidewall?

[crouse]

Yes, a radial pattern from the rim to the outside of the thread in three or four places equally around the tire. You're just trying to see how much scuffing you're getting.

What tires do you have and have you done any suspension mods?

[05crownsport]

I'm running continental pro contact 255/45 18, h speed rated. I have detroit eaton 1-1/2 inch drop springs up front, addco sway bars front and rear, heinous rear control arms, and kyb shocks all around.

[crouse]

Wow! Should handle quite well. Do you have a LSD? Let me now how you did. I'd like to look into lowering springs since I need new front shocks anyway.

[OleP71Dude]

05CrownSport:

Hey! Howzit going??

What kind of vehicles are the guys at work running?

And I am sending you an item that may have a positive effect on your AutoCross experience. I will mail it out Tuesday, post haste.

OleP71Dude

[05crownsport]

Wow! Should handle quite well. Do you have a LSD? Let me now how you did. I'd like to look into lowering springs since I need new front shocks anyway.

You'll have to excuse my ignorance....what's a LSD?

[05crownsport]

05CrownSport:

Hey! Howzit going??

What kind of vehicles are the guys at work running?

And I am sending you an item that may have a positive effect on your AutoCross experience. I will mail it out Tuesday, post haste.

OleP71Dude

Hey big brother! I received said item and cannot thank you enough! Did you purchase one for yourself? Come on up any time and i'll install it for you!
Thanks to Bigcars4ever and my eldest...wisest, brother!
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l610/05crownsport/2012-10-17_17-33-28_82.jpg

[OleP71Dude]

05CrownSport:
Yeah, I thought the dead pedal would be a great addition to your vehicle - especially if you go autoXing. Gives you a good, solid and properly aligned place to brace your left foot during those "Oh Sxxt!!" moments. Not to mention enhanced comfort when just cruzin' 'round as well.

LSD is short hand for Limited Slip Differential - you know, Traction-Loc or Eaton or Auburn or Torsen are some listed in the Ford Catalog.

see: http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/search.asp?q=traction loc

and see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limited_Slip_Differential

OleP71Dude

[05crownsport]

Crouse, your advice payed off in dividends...thank you! I adjusted tire pressures to 40psiyou ib the front, and 36psi in the rear to get a perfect contact patch. The BC4E dead pedal performed flawlessly, providing a secure brace to keep my big arse in the seat! My best time was slow compared to most of the other vehicles there. The fastest cars were in the low forty second range, and the slowest were over one minute. My best was a :57.269.
Here are a few pics...my two friends from work helped spur this activity. Kevin drives the Acura, and Don drives the cough cough...err charger.
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l610/05crownsport/2012-10-27_10-19-15_65.jpg
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l610/05crownsport/2012-10-27_11-56-36_951.jpg

[05crownsport]

Video of dons start.
http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid1126.photobucket.com/albums/l610/05crownsport/2012-10-27_12-29-51_351.mp4

[05crownsport]

Here is my first run...my times were within a few seconds through all four runs.
http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid1126.photobucket.com/albums/l610/05crownsport/2012-10-29_13-34-15_152.mp4