Auto-X in the wet

[Earthworm]

Looks like it's going to rain all weekend here.

I've never run autocross in the rain before and would appreciate some tips with how I should set up my car.

Specifically I would like to know where I should be setting my tire pressures and Koni's.

For dry events I've been running the Koni's full stiff and tires 46F/42R although I probably should have had lower pressure in the back. Tires are Yoko AVS db S2's.

Thanks for any and all info.

[GreenMarine]

Originally Posted by Earthworm

Looks like it's going to rain all weekend here.

I've never run autocross in the rain before and would appreciate some tips with how I should set up my car.

Specifically I would like to know where I should be setting my tire pressures and Koni's.

For dry events I've been running the Koni's full stiff and tires 46F/42R although I probably should have had lower pressure in the back. Tires are Yoko AVS db S2's.

Thanks for any and all info.

Keep the Koni's as stiff as they'll go... I'd run alittle less pressure though... Maybe more like 42F/40R... I tend to not change he car much depending on conditions... I just drive it, and Drive the piss outta it at an Autocross in the rain!!!

[Chiketkd]

David,

When autoXing in the wet, you need to be as smooth as possible. Every input you make - braking, acceleration, turning the steering wheel - has to be done in a very gradual, non-abrupt manner. The limit of adhesion will come much sooner, so always be mindful of this.

Look ahead...as far down the course as possible as you can't let a tight corner sneak up on you. In the dry you can sometimes get away with not running the optimum line, but in the wet it's paramount that you stay on it - always try to make turns as wide as possible and late apex to make the straights as long as possible (by the time you pass the apex cone more than 50% of your turning should be completed).

-Chike

[Earthworm]

I'll let the driving take care of itself

I'm mainly curious if the Koni's should really stay full stiff and what a good tire pressure to run would be.

[Chiketkd]

Originally Posted by Earthworm

I'll let the driving take care of itself

I'm mainly curious if the Koni's should really stay full stiff and what a good tire pressure to run would be.

Well good luck to you Sir! Definitely keep your suspension settings the same.

[Mr. Pockets]

I'd really like to do more events in the wet. We don't have many here - rain usually means thunder and lightning, and at that point we run for cover.

The MR2 is a lot of fun when it gets slippery. It's a challenge, but a lot of fun.

Chike's right, you're going to need to be extra smooth. I've never autocrossed my SVX, but I can imagine it plowing ferociously if you push it. As for setup, I haven't the faintest. On my MR2, I'd be inclined to soften the struts slightly, but not by much. I have my preferences depending on the surface we're using, so obviously I'd start from there. If the surface is extra-smooth, you can get away with a lot.

[Earthworm]

hmm, maybe I'll run full stiff on my first run then one turn from full stiff on my second run with no changes to tire pressure.

I'll decide on which run I felt under more control in and use those settings with an adjusted tire pressure. For my last run I'll just work on the nut behind the wheel.

[Hocrest]

Originally Posted by Earthworm

For my last run I'll just work on the nut behind the wheel.

Then make sure you have a 17mm socket and a breaker bar handy

What tires are you running? If they are a street tire, I'd drop about 3 psi and see how they feel. Maybe drop another pound after that.

If they don't have tread, you'll be better off running on your street tires that day.

[Earthworm]

I'm running my Yokohama AVS db S2's. They are the only non-winter tire I have until spring.

[Earthworm]

Here's what we had to deal with:


More pics from both days here:

http://svx-iw.com/autox_sept16/
and
http://svx-iw.com/autox_sept17/

Oh, I ended up running struts 1 turn from full stiff and tires 44F/40R.
Made 1 serious mistake...don't brake when transitioning from a medium left hand turn to a medium right hand turn!

[Mr. Pockets]

Originally Posted by Earthworm

Made 1 serious mistake...don't brake when transitioning from a medium left hand turn to a medium right hand turn!

I don't know that I'd call that a mistake. In my MR2 that's a fantastic recipe for oversteer.

Man, that looks like it was fun to drive. I bet it was miserable to work, though. Yuck.

No fair - you guys have a Mk1! I drive the only one locally. I really want more to show up.

Thanks for sharing the pictures.

[Earthworm]

We have an amazing group of drivers here. I bow down to their talents. A few years ago it was not like that...now you're lucky to break top 40.

...out of 60

[SSSVX]

So what was your position? Did you break top 40?

That pic looks cool.

[Earthworm]

Nope

more wet SVX pics: http://svx-iw.com/autox_wet/

Saturday RAW results snippet:
40 DSS 41 Jason Cochrane 2000 Subaru Impreza Rs 79.717 0.066 9.708
41 GS 90 David Bruneau 1992 Subaru Svx 79.873 0.156 9.864
42 DM 191 Peter Bennet 1993 Honda Civic 80.056 0.183 10.047
43 BS 32 John Friesen 2006 Mini Cooper S Jcw 80.189 0.133 10.180
44 ES 92 Jim Turner 1991 Toyota MR2 80.333 0.144 10.324
45 DSS 66 Briget Sawatsky 2006 Mini Jcw 81.090 0.757 11.081
46 ESP 5 David Chittick 2005 Ford Mustang Gt 82.288 1.198 12.279
47 FSP 46 Gary Sparham 1988 Chevrolet Sprint 82.669 0.381 12.660
48 FSS 72 Trevor Burtenshaw 2005 Ford Mustang Gt 83.624 0.955 13.615
49 AM 63 Bob Mai 2006 Umsae Formula Owen 83.914 0.290 13.905
50 GS 84 Ken Macbain 2006 Ford Mustang 84.121 0.207 14.112
51 FSP 51 Chad Edwards 1980 Triumph Spitfire 84.125 0.004 14.116
52 ES 29 Sue Turner 1991 Toyota Mr2 84.257 0.132 14.248
53 AS 39 Rob Penner 1986 Chev Corvette 84.498 0.241 14.489

Sunday RAW results snippet:
47 AS 78 Rob Penner 1986 Chev Corvette 71.961 0.077 10.124
48 GS 90 David Bruneau 1992 Subaru Svx 71.975 0.014 10.138
49 FSS 53 Abe Klassen 1998 Subaru Outback Sport 72.782 0.807 10.945
50 CM 68 Kosta Fliangos 2000 Honda Civic Si Turbo 72.892 0.110 11.055
51 BS 32 John Friesen 2006 Mini Cooper S Jcw 73.391 0.499 11.554
52 DSS 41 Jason Cochrane 2000 Subaru Impreza Rs 73.413 0.022 11.576
53 CS 44 Sylvie Berard 1999 Mazda Miata 73.672 0.259 11.835
54 DM 99 Ryan Los 1990 Nissan Skyline Gtr 74.196 0.524 12.359
55 FSP 46 Gary Sparham 1988 Chevrolet Sprint 74.956 0.760 13.119
56 DM 191 Peter Bennet 1993 Honda Civic 76.709 1.753 14.872
57 HS 146 Royce Hanson 2004 Chevrolet Aveo 5 77.531 0.822 15.694
58 FS 61 Craig Gilbert 2006 Dodge Charger Srt8 78.376 0.845 16.539
59 DM 181 Matt Marcinkowski 1990 Nissan Skyline Gts-T M 80.112 1.736 18.275
60 DSS 81 Charles Plett 1999 Hyundai Tiburon Se 83.451 3.339 21.614

[shelfy]

this auto-x thing looks like a lot of fun. i need to try it someday.