Most liked posts in thread: SCCA STX Class Build and Experience

I'm really not sure what you mean, though I hear this a lot..."are you there to have fun or win?" When I read that several times in a row it makes me laugh.

I also don't do autocross just to win. Few do. If everyone did there would be no one racing since there can be only one winner at a time. But, trying hard to win each time you're out IS the fun. If you're not trying hard you're cheating the fellow running in your class. Btw, I'm not familiar with M class.

If you're not there to win then why do you drive fast on the track at all? Why not set a pace of 15 mph max for every race and then hang out and cheer on your buddies? Wow, that sounds like great fun. The point to racing is to try to GO FASTER THAN THE OTHER GUY. To do so you must think hard, work hard and practice a lot. I like that stuff...it's fun.

Btw, putting in an LSD guarantees you'll go faster. If you've never rolled on the throttle on a FWD with a strong LSD as you're coming into the apex on a late apex turn, then you're missing a LOT of fun. If you don't want to spend the dollars on an LSD (they are quite pricey) then drive in a class that doesn't allow them. Competition is always good for anyone trying to build skills in any endeavor. Not trying to win just sounds a little silly to me. (Crocheting doesn't require anyone to win.) But I still don't understand what that has to do with putting mods on the car. The mods help you go faster. Faster is fun. Winning is also, dare I say it, FUN TOO!!

 

Ok. I think you missed my point but my point is not really that important. I'm never stressed over this stuff...just having a blast. Thanks for the lesson and the pity and the discovery of my type "A" problem.

Not sure what mods would have to come off to stay in STX. The way I read the rules I'm in compliance. I plan to go to the divisional events next year so I definitely want to make sure I'm kosher. That's the real reason I started this thread is to better understand the rules and perspective on the relative value of various mods in each class and the major differences in each class. For example, I was going to do an upgrade to my suspension this year and many/most of the top drivers in central Texas that I've met advised first doing an LSD because it would be a better investment from a performance perspective. I think they were right.

If I stay in STX I don't have much left to do to the car except the planned upgrade for the suspension. As I look at the Street Prepared rules and Modified rules I'm convinced I don't want to go there since this will remain my daily driver and I don't want to change the car that much and I don't want to mess with the tire change thing which is one of the reason's I started in STX instead of stock. I'm old and in my day we used to come together on back roads and do a little extended drag time with our daily drivers and I've always liked the romance of that "run as you are" thing.

 

ScottinBend,

I went back and read this original post of yours and I apologize for my "laughing" comment. I misread the intent of your post and my comment was out of line. I took your post to infer a negative comment about "competition" in general that has always been a pet peeve of mine. That was not what you said and I over reacted. Again, I apologize for the laughing comment.

You've clearly had much more experience at autocross than my meager 10 months and I appreciate your advice on deciding what my priorities are regarding participation in autocross. My priority is simply to have a great deal of fun, learn how to drive much better and make anyone else in my class sweat hard if they're going to beat me (which is usually the outcome.) Congratulations on taking that two years and working on winning your class. I understand more each day how difficult that is to do. I also understand that most people find keeping up that pace up over extended periods just too much to maintain. I'm the same way.

What is interesting was the idea that I thought I was responding to in your original post came out in your response to my "laughing" comment. I understand how my comment spurred this reaction but I have to say I still take exception to some of your comments in that second post.

I think you missed my key point when you said "Not everyone attends an AutoX with the purpose of winning. Yes it would be nice, but to say that the only way to have fun is to try and win is just plain wrong." I happen to agree with that statement as I said, "I also don't do autocross just to win. Few do. If everyone did there would be no one racing since there can be only one winner at a time."

When I said "But, trying hard to win each time you're out IS the fun. If you're not trying hard you're cheating the fellow running in your class." This is the key point of my response to your original post. I just believe that when competing in any sport it is courteous and honest to try as hard as one can to win the competition. If one loses, you owe it to the winner to congratulate him on his win. I always do and I usually like to find some way to let them know I was doing my best. They beat my best. That makes their success more meaningful. Each time we both try our best our best gets better. That is the power of competition between humans. If, on the other hand, I would say, "congratulations on your win but, btw, I wasn't really trying" I see that as an insult. That is my only point here. I find no shame or loss of self worth upon losing any competition. In fact, the effect is quite the opposite. I usually learn much more than if I had conducted the same effort without competition.

Of your other comments here's one I'll also respond to:

"I guess this is the difference between the A's and the B's of the world.......and I am happy being a B. Don't need to pound my chest and declare to the world that I am better than someone else. I have met your type at the course, and I pity folks like you that can't simply compete for the sake of having fun. The win at all costs is not something I subscribe to."

My point here would be that you have yet to meet me. We don't know each other. In fact, I doubt you have met many of "my type" on the course. In fact, I do "simply compete for the sake of having fun." I don't beat my chest. And, I, too, do not subscribe to "winning at all costs." I also seek no pity.

I do believe in the purity of human competition. When done with honesty and courage it brings the best out of everyone. I've participated in a few competitive games over the years. I have no real talent in any of them. But, I've always worked hard at whatever I take on to honor the sport and the other players with my best effort. When they beat me, which they usually do, I like to make sure they know they beat my best and next time it should be a little harder to do.

Last point: I agree that on a minute by minute basis Autocross is likely harder on the car than track time. But, six autocross runs in a day is not likely to put as much wear and tear on a car as five 20 minute sessions on a track. In my limited experience at both I see a marked difference between the two. I also see AutoX as a better teacher of core street driving skills than track time. I'm trying to do as I can of both over the next 2 or 3 years to prepare for the Newfoundland Targa, which is the racing format I've always believed to be the ultimate in fun and I'd like to do it before I get too old. I also find the idea of doing all of this in a daily driver a fun challenge. Explaining that would take way too much time and would be boring, I'm sure.

If you've taken the time to read this then thank you for that time. If you take further time to provide advise on occasion I will be grateful. I'm learning a great deal in this sport. I think I'm hooked for the rest of my life.

 

Thanks. This is a great community and I'm going to be patient and read things more carefully before posting comments. Maybe we'll meet up one day.

I'm serious about the Newfoundland Targa. I'm finishing year one of a four year plan. I'm turning 60 so the clock is ticking. Wish I'd discovered all this years ago. Still, I feel great and I'm having a blast!

 

Wow...great pictures! Looks like you're running at an airfield. How long are the runs usually? We usually end up with 45+ fast times at our local club. I'm planning on going to a club this weekend that runs on an airfield and they usually set up courses with 75+ fast times. I've only done that once and the course was so long I couldn't remember it well and DNF'd 4 out of 5 runs.

 

I posted this on another thread but, thought I'd put it here too.

ScottinBend made the point that he thinks autox might be harder on the car than HPDE's. Well, he might be right. I just killed my turbo and the dealer said, "good luck."

So, I'll be working over the next couple of weeks to remove and replace it. Given everything else going on it might take me a few weeks to get done. I'll likely miss 7 Nov and 14 Nov autox events but I'm trying to get running to make an HPDE i'm registered for on 20 Nov.

I can't find a post on how to replace a turbo so if anyone knows of one I'd appreciate a link. It looks like a fairly straight forward job and I have professional support available if needed. Thinking about getting a new one and rebuilding the old as a back-up. Found a couple of sites to get that work done.

I will definitely make the events in December, though. :sad:

I'm also feeling the tug to do an intercooler and a couple of other things that would take me into Street Prepared. But I'm resisting.

 

Thanks. I have a local certified mini mechanic to help at critical times. But, I'm actually looking forward to doing most of this myself. Once it is running again I'll get the flash tool and tunes refined and organized and resume the autox and DE's. When I break something else I'll just fix it. The goal is to keep it in good condition as a daily driver and still do the other stuff. It's all good.

I couldn't find a post on swapping out a turbo. I might try to do one if it would be useful. Most experienced folks wouldn't see that way, probably, but it might be helpful for novices like me.

 

The ECU reflash is now legal but it can not change the boost level.

The main mod the mini folks like to do that kicks you up to SP is changing the intercooler. Turns out, after all my STX thinking this year, I'm going to move to DSP next year. Might do another thread on building a JCW for DSP... :confused5:

Got the turo in and up and running again. Next event is this Sunday.