Snowshoe III - AKA Brakeshoe I

[SVXphile]

<What?....... I shant snivel to drivel, but I DO drool like a fool>

For once.....I am speechless.... Don

[Aredubjay]

Originally posted by SVXphile
For once.....I am speechless.... Don

Is this kinda like those pages in books that read "this page intentionally left blank" which obviously makes them no longer *blank*?"

[SVXphile]

<Is this kinda like those pages in books that read "this page intentionally left blank" which obviously makes them no longer *blank*?" >

Absolutely....an excellent way to put it! Don

[newsvx]

The results of the BRAKESHOE / MBCA Autocross are finally in. The "Other Marques finished in the following order, based on the indexed times (SCCA rules/classes) - raw time / indexed time:
1) 02 WRX - 53.878 / 42.995 sec
2) 87 BMW 325 - 54.870 / 43.073 (G STOCK)
3) 00 VW GTI - 55.270 / 43.387 (G STOCK)
4) 01 Impreza - 54.400 / 43.434 (G STOCK)
5) 03 Mustang Cobra - 52.085 / 43.543 (ALSO FASTEST RAW TIME OF THE DAY)
6) 97 SVX - 55.500 /43.612
7) 01 Porsche Turbo - 52.200 / 43.639

Sorry, folks. Just couldn't get the SVX any faster. But we did have fun!
For all results, see the club site at >www.gws-mbca.org<.

Harry

[Ron Mummert]

Originally posted by newsvx
The results of the BRAKESHOE / MBCA Autocross are finally in. The "Other Marques finished in the following order, based on the indexed times (SCCA rules/classes) - raw time / indexed time:
1) 02 WRX - 53.878 / 42.995 sec
2) 87 BMW 325 - 54.870 / 43.073 (G STOCK)
3) 00 VW GTI - 55.270 / 43.387 (G STOCK)
4) 01 Impreza - 54.400 / 43.434 (G STOCK)
5) 03 Mustang Cobra - 52.085 / 43.543 (ALSO FASTEST RAW TIME OF THE DAY)
6) 97 SVX - 55.500 /43.612
7) 01 Porsche Turbo - 52.200 / 43.639

Sorry, folks. Just couldn't get the SVX any faster. But we did have fun!
For all results, see the club site at >www.gws-mbca.org<.

Harry

Harry just apologized despite beating (raw times) all Mercedes competition at their own meet, & nosing out a zillion dollar Porsche Turbo on points. I'd say some heavy, automatic, old Japanese luxury touring car had a "fair" day at the races. Thanks for giving the rest of us a thrill & a demo of a weak tranny & wheel bearings.

All the best my friend - see you again spring time!

Ron.

[newsvx]

Originally posted by Ron Mummert



Harry just apologized despite beating (raw times) all Mercedes competition at their own meet, & nosing out a zillion dollar Porsche Turbo on points. I'd say some heavy, automatic, old Japanese luxury touring car had a "fair" day at the races. Thanks for giving the rest of us a thrill & a demo of a weak tranny & wheel bearings.

All the best my friend - see you again spring time!

Ron.

Ron,
You are too kind! For an old guy with increasingly slower reflexes, I just try to have fun. But you KNOW I am following the thread about a 500 HP SVX too.

A couple of observations re how competitive this autocross was (as are most).
- there was only 1/2 second separating 1 thru 7 top finishers (I'm not considering the Mercedes here). A blink of the eye.
- there was 2/10's of a second that separated the two Mustamg Cobra's, and it cost the second fastest six positions.

Now that's tight!

BTW, let's don't wait until Spring!
Harry

[SVXphile]

Like I said before Harry...you are the man! I'm not too sure how that indexing works, but getting into sixth place is a great result...
congratulations!

How do you think an SVT Focus would do in your autocross meets....assuming a decent driver of course. I may have a good deal on one coming up, so I was just curious what your opinion would be.... Don

[newsvx]

Don,
The index'ing works this way. Every car (well, almost all) is assigned a "class" by the SCCA, which the club uses. In order to equalize the timing scores based on a number of factors such as power to weight ratios, etc, an index is also assigned to each class. These classes and indexes are adjusted periodically. The WRX is a prime example. It started out last year in G Stock, the same as the SVX. When it was realized that it was condiserably faster than the adverage G Stock class car, the WRX was moved to F Stock where the Firebirds/ Mustangs run. It was also beating them consistently, so it is now in D Stock, again with its own "index established. The "index'ed time" is calulated by multiplying the raw (or actual clocked) time by the index to arrive at the "index'ed time". As an example, if the SVX turned a 49.168 second run, that "raw" time is mulitplied by the index (which is, this year), of .785, to arrive at the index'ed time of 38.597 seconds. An Audi S4, in class SM (street modified - this car is quite modified with a chip and brakes and other suspension upgrades - might turn a raw time of 46.327 and end up with an index'ed time of 38.637 seconds when its raw time is multipied by the S4's index of .834. So the S4 was actually faster on the course than the SVX, but when equalized, the SVX wins with the shortest time. Index'ing is an effort to take the car out of the win/lose equation and base the times on the driver. We once had a VERY good driver in a Saturn that was beating all the big guns / cars. Hope this helps understand index'ing.

Re the Focus. From everything I read about it, it is a fine little car and the SVT version is quite competitive. Go for it. I kinda like'um.
Harry

[SVXphile]

Thanks for taking the time for such a detailed explanation. I can see now why it takes so long to post the results! Don

[Ron Mummert]

Originally posted by SVXphile
Thanks for taking the time for such a detailed explanation. I can see now why it takes so long to post the results! Don

In a word - Handicap! This is why 'tis best to be a good driver in a mediocre car than a mediocre driver in a fast car.
Let's see - Don shows up in his Focus SVT (after its 7th factory recall) Veee-r-r-y Eeenteresting!

Ron.

[SVXphile]

<In a word - Handicap! This is why 'tis best to be a good driver in a mediocre car than a mediocre driver in a fast car.
Let's see - Don shows up in his Focus SVT (after its 7th factory recall) Veee-r-r-y Eeenteresting!

Ron.>

Or...in the case of Mr. Newman...a good driver in a fast car.

The last recall on the SVT Focus was over a cruise control.
At least they recalled it.....I don't "recall" Subaru doing anything about all the SVX tranny failures... .... or bearings! Don

I probably can't afford the Focus anyway. But my buddy over at Mountaineer Hyundai will help me drop a Tiburon V-6 into an Accent!

[Ron Mummert]

The last recall on the SVT Focus was over a cruise control.
At least they recalled it.....I don't "recall" Subaru doing anything about all the SVX tranny failures... .... or bearings!
Don.

Let's face it, Don, a dead tranny or screeching bearing ain't dangerous to public health, whereas a stuck cruise control could be a hazard; especially where you'd tend to use it - during an auto-cross run.

Yes - Harry be da Man!

Ron.

[SVXphile]

Today Jean and I drove to Blacksburg, Va. and picked up my new SVT Focus. It's a shame my drive home was in pouring rain, with Jean following me through the mist with the Impreza. So far the hardest thing is learning that reverse is to the left and forward!
From the little bit of dry driving I had, I know one thing....that thing sticks to a curve like stink on a skunk. Tomorrow, we will drive it to Indy to visit with Sis. Details upcoming....

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!!!!

Don and Jean

[newsvx]

Don and Jean,
CONGRATS!!!! I am sure ya'll will be happy with the Fovus - since it is the SVT version. Now you do know that you are going to have to bring that SVT to autocross, don't you?

Seriously, the SVT Focus is reportedly a handling little car. I'm looking forward to seeing it!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving - and we all have so much to be thankful for these days.
Harry

[SVXphile]

Thanks Harry!

We are safely home from Indy this evening....and were greeted home with a snow-covered White Oak Mountain. The Focus is shod with 215/45-17 Continental Sport Contacts....not exactly your average snow tire....but the little "Traction Control" button between the seats did fine and I motored through the snow with nary a slip. Still, I see a second set of wheels and some Blizzaks in my future..

The urge to wind the SVT out is almost more than I can resist...but I must be good to it while it is breaking in. I think the 0-60 is about 7.3 or something close. The steering is very quick and the car sticks like glue to dry pavement. It is very quiet at Interstate speeds and will actually pull a very decent grade in 6th gear with cruise control on! Get on the gas though, and there is a beautiful exaust note. Allowing for a new gearbox that is still very stiff, I think the Getrag will be a dream to shift as time goes on. SVT did a very nice job with the interior, taking care to correct the few flaws that I didn't like with the standard ZX3. We started out this morning with warm buns...the heated seats are a new experience. The cabin heater heats up very quickly. I had my doubts about the "Audiophile" sound system until we gave it a good workout on the trip...we were able to listen to one Cincinnati station all the way to Grayson, Kentucky, and I have to turn down the 8in subwoofer on most CD's or it would thump my head off! (very nice and tight bass though, when it is turned down a bit). Storing 6 CD's in the player is very nice too.

I'll be keeping you all updated when the snow clears... Don

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving! (burp....oh, excuse
me! )

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PS.... I am now accepting input for vanity plate ideas.