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

You're right. Setting a toe-in other than zero does nothing for performance. I'm only doing it because I don't like the daily driving dynamics. I do a fair amount of highway driving 80+ and I don't like the slight wandering that happens with zero toe-in. I'm not really setting up for the max performance in autocross or track. I'm just trying to get a good compromise between performance and daily driving with the DD requirements rated slightly above the performance requirements.

 

SouthWest Divisional Results

Results:

The SOWDIV Divisional was held in San Antonio, hosted by SASCA (my main club). STX had only 3 entries: Me, Terry Fair from Vorshlag in the company 2011 Red Mustang GT and Craig Robson in a blue, stock RX-8 with mediocre tires. Both guys out drove me but I came in second. Craig's RX-8 is nice and he drove it well but the config/set up was not up to STX yet. His main issue was the tires. Terry's GT was in premo condition. A bit of a monster and he drove it well.

The final scores for the 8 runs over two days was:

Mustang GT: 80.005 secs
GreyLenz: 82.907 secs
RX-8: 85.376 secs

I lost most of the ground on the first day. On the second day I did much better:

Mustang GT: 37.881
GreyLenz: 38.217
RX-8: 40.376

I was pleased with my first divisional. Both Terry and Craig were great competitors and very helpful. Terry Fair of Vorshlag is a great guy and I'm a big fan of their product. I highly recommend their new variable camber plates.

BTW: The '86 Class Hopping CIVIC that has been dominating STX in the local events chickened out and moved to ST for this Divisional so he could be assured of a 1st place trophy, which he won. The competition there was definitely much lighter. I'm sure he moved mainly because of Terry's 2011 Mustang sponsored by Vorshlag. It is a nicely prepped machine as you might imagine. But, I beat the CIVIC's time on the second day!!

SUSPENSION ISSUES...Ride Height and Alignment:

When we installed the AST 5100's, 70N/mm Swift Springs and Vorshlag camber plates we set a pretty low ride height...mainly because we ran out of time and I had to get going. My intent was always to stay close to stock ride height but what the heck, right? We ended up at about 1 1/4" lower than stock.

Well, over the last couple of months the overall set up resulted in significant improvements in handling but it was still behaving badly in some ways. K-huevo thought it might just be too low of ride height. So, this last weekend I moved it back up to right around 3/8" below stock.

Current Ride Height measured from the ground to wheel well apex with no driver: (I'm running 215-45-17, RS-3's)

LF: 25 1/2" RF: 25 1/2"

LR: 26 1/4' RR: 26 1/4"

Measured from the jack points:

LF: 5 3/4" RF: 5 5/8"

LR: 6 3/4" RR: 6 3/4"

With my weight in the driver's seat is stays the same except the LF drops about 1/16 " measured at the wheel well apex.

Doing the calculations and setting the final levels was very straight forward with no iterations needed. Very linear changes. The AST's are easy to work with. Way cool. One day I'll do a corner weighted set up and see what happens.

NEW ALIGNMENT:

The change in ride height resulted in a significant and remarkably predictable change in alignment. I had that checked and recorded and have the data if anyone is interested. But, I went with a more aggressive alignment after the ride height change. The new set up is:

Front Camber: -2.5 Deg
Rear Camber: -1.7 Deg
Toe-In front and rear: 0.15 deg

I already like the highway ride with the new toe-in settings. We'll see this weekend how the new set up fairs. I'm pretty sure I'll stay with the new ride height no matter what. Having that additional travel and setting the AST's to around 10 clicks Open from Closed gives a pretty decent ride for DD given the stiff 450 lb springs. I went more aggressive on the camber front and rear to try to make up for the toe-in and ride height compromise.

LOCAL EVENT:

I had a local event right after the Divisional in which I still had the lower ride height and old alignment. I still lost to the CIVIC by 0.6 secs on a 42 sec run. We'll see how I fair tomorrow. I'll be doing my first event tomorrow with the new ride height and alignment.

 

In yesterday's event there was a Jim Cubberly in a Mazdaspeed Miata running in SSM but I don't think I know him. I still haven't put many names and faces together.

Yeah, I've done quite a bit to the car but I'm holding the line on using the Lenz as a daily driver in part because we downsized to a two car garage/garden home and don't want to hassle with another vehicle. At least not right now. That's why I think I'll stay with STX for quite awhile.

 

10 July SASCA Event

I had my first local event with the new ride height and alignment. Sweet. Unfortunately, the evil CRX didn't show up. I think he went to another event in preparation for the SOWDIV Divisional scheduled for next weekend, which I'm not going to be able to enter.

I won first place but only against one other fellow mini enthusiast who is just getting started in autox. So, my measuring stick wasn't there but the car handled really well. I placed 9th out of 62 in our PAX scores (a handy cap system with SCCA). This was very good for me. But, more important, I think there is considerable room to improve as I learn to drive this set up more aggressively. We'll see if that is true when I run against the CRX next month.

For AST users...I ran the 5100's two clicks open from fully closed for three runs and then 10 clicks open from fully closed for the second three runs just to compare. The more fully closed was definitely better performance on the surface we ran on. But, the pace of the runs was such that I didn't get much time to think about it so I need to get time real test and tune time soon. Overall, the set up has really improved handling.