SCCA Autocross Stock Class

[ZeroGSR]

STU for Street Touring classing

Thanks, I realized STX has a 9" rim limitation so that makes sense.

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[apexracer1904]

Anybody running STU? If so, what tire and wheel setup are you using. BS is dead in my region. Not a single car running in the class.

 

[simpleisbest]

Anybody running STU? If so, what tire and wheel setup are you using. BS is dead in my region. Not a single car running in the class.

The FL5 looks very strong for an STU build! It has been on my mind lol

I am thinking wishful thoughts that with coilovers 11" width wheels wheels will fit in the front to better maximize. Already Apex has 18x10.5 wheels that are confirmed to fit with the stock springs, but no one has yet confirm if any more room inboard would be freed up with narrower coilover springs.

 

[Xian]

I was the other FL5 there. So far, I am 4 for 4 on events in BS with only mods being an AWE catback, Apex wheels with 275/35/18 V730's, and the RV6 RSB on full stiff.

Below is a run I did with the Jacksonville SCCA group. Had the 4th fastest raw times, only beat by 2 karts on Hoosiers and a GT4. The guy behind me in DS is a professional driver as well in a fully prepped DS car. So far, the car has been surprisingly capable, though I think it is course dependent. At Daytona, I got lucky the guy in the Supra isn't a great driver. Daytona has a long straight to launch down, and I'd lose 1.5 seconds right there on a 40-45 second course. Other courses that have a kink in the beginning to mitigate the launch advantage I think the FL5 will do well. I've been thoroughly surprised. I am signed up for the Nats event in November so will see how it does there against top drivers and likely better prepped BS cars.

Small world… I was at this event ^^ running my Elise in SS (20th raw above). I was working course during your runs and was super impressed by how composed the car looked in transitions… it looked fun enough that I started casually shopping them. This eventually resulted in me picking up an FL5 a few months back that I took it out to the Jax event at The FIRM last weekend (codrove with my buddy, Nelson, #1 raw above).

After an event, I’ve gotta say, I’m impressed with how easy and capable these cars are in 100% stock form. We ran it in BS on the stock tires, stock alignment, stock… everything and still managed to do respectably (1st/2nd of 12 in BS, 12th and 16th PAX out of ~100). With decent tires and an alignment, I’ve got no doubt top-PAX is possible at locals.

I’ve only done ~3 events in the last 5-6 years but I may continue to bring out the FL5 to locals during the hotter months. The Elise is a riot to drive but it’s not as competitive in class and, with British AC, isn’t the greatest thing to live with during the summer.

 

[spectre186]

For you fast guys, what are some tips for driving the CTR fast? I’m new to FWD. I think at my first event I was being way too aggressive with the gas, and need to be more patient before mashing the gas!

 

[hhkb]

For you fast guys, what are some tips for driving the CTR fast? I’m new to FWD. I think at my first event I was being way too aggressive with the gas, and need to be more patient before mashing the gas!

You can roll onto the throttle. As you’re returning the steering wheel back to center, you can gradually apply more throttle

 

[menikmati]

For you fast guys, what are some tips for driving the CTR fast? I’m new to FWD. I think at my first event I was being way too aggressive with the gas, and need to be more patient before mashing the gas!

Imagine a string attached to the bottom/6 o' clock position of your steering wheel and throttle. When the wheel is straight, you have slack in the string and can apply as much throttle as needed. As you turn the wheel, the slack is removed and you can only give it so much throttle until you're asking too much of the tires.

 

[Xian]

For you fast guys, what are some tips for driving the CTR fast? I’m new to FWD. I think at my first event I was being way too aggressive with the gas, and need to be more patient before mashing the gas!

Seat time, hold off on mods/tires until your average finishing position stagnates, ride with faster drivers, and let faster drivers ride with you. You’ll get way more relevant feedback/coaching from someone who can see your driving in-person vs the general tips and suggestions you’ll get online.

Having said this ^^, most folks don’t go slowly enough in the slow sections. Autox isn’t (typically) a high speed/flowing course. You’ll have a fast section followed by a slow section that leads to another fast section… for the slow stuff, it’s nearly impossible to “make up time”; all you can do is lose time. Typically, the best approach is to brake/slow early and focus on getting back to the throttle as early as possible. This maximizes exit speed into the next section. The other thing to watch is distance traveled; the slower you’re going, the more important it is to cut distance and drive a tight line.

Perhaps most important of all is not to focus on the result. Focus on executing the drive to the best of your ability. Finishing order is, perhaps, the least important thing to watch as it’s only the result of your current driving abilities.

 

[apexracer1904]

Look ahead be ahead. Something that took me quite a while to grasp. Look a few 1-2 elements ahead in order to not be late.

Rotation, rotation, rotation. Finding lift off oversteer control. I agree to learn the car before mods but a bigger rear sway bar is a must with fwd autocross imo. Once we're late to an element, the understeer is going to get us in the next.

Make the course as straight line as possible. Using all the course helps to keep momentum where we can't just rotate in all scenarios.

Roll on power, most the time we can't mash the gas. Coming out of the Apex, put the power down smoothly and get after in when the wheels are shooting forward. Keep the music off and listen to tire feedback.

 

[spectre186]

Thanks for the hints! Definitely keeping it stock for a while. I was very happy finishing in the top 1/3 PAX today!

 

[spectre186]

Driving like a ham fisted ape and got some serious oversteer today!

 

[apexracer1904]

Driving like a ham fisted ape and got some serious oversteer today!

NIce! What suspension mode were you running in?

 

[spectre186]

NIce! What suspension mode were you running in?

This was +R and long hold of traction control off. I ended up getting my best time with comfort and traction control on. Rough lot that was extra greasy today! Was about 2.5 seconds faster than this run.

 

[RacingManiac]

Went to a Test & Tune and autoX in the UP of Michigan with Lake Superior Region, actually at the exact site I actually go to for winter snow and ice testing for GM. So kinda funny to see the place without snow and ice.

Morning and afternoon run combined and I ended up 5th on PAX, pretty far off top pax time on Hoosier or a 5 times KM jacket wearer, but not too bad among the street tires cars. Definitely my better weekend in the car so far.

 

[apexracer1904]

Went to a Test & Tune and autoX in the UP of Michigan with Lake Superior Region, actually at the exact site I actually go to for winter snow and ice testing for GM. So kinda funny to see the place without snow and ice.

Morning and afternoon run combined and I ended up 5th on PAX, pretty far off top pax time on Hoosier or a 5 times KM jacket wearer, but not too bad among the street tires cars. Definitely my better weekend in the car so far.

NIce driving. Great flowing layout.

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