I did some auto crossing this sunday, here in San Diego for the first time this year. I was a little rusty and it show. I came in 9th out of 13th in B stock. Plus I was running in street tire with a complet stock suspension. Well, atleast I came in infront on a 350z and a couple of M3. However, I was very happy to seen that the other RX8 that was there did pretty well. It was a sunlight silver RX8, and not only did he had the fastest time of the day in B stock, but he the second fast time for the entire event. Oh, the car that beat hime was a 360 ferari. I was very impress. Another RX8 took first place in STU. I hope to have my 8 set up properly for the next event. This goes to show that a well set up RX8 cane beat any car out there in auto cross and not just in it class and be one of the fastest car in the event.

 

It was a fun course, alway have a great time in SD. I was glad to see some other RX8s out there.

Just an FYI, if you are going to keep that Mazda Speed flywheel in your car you need to run in BSP not BS.

 

Nice run Jason. Fastest in Stock? Why didn't you play in PAX?

 

When I left at lunch, after 3rd heat, I had TTOD and Tpax. I have not seen full results yet, but I am sure it did not stand up. There were a lot of fast guys in the afternoon and not only were we in the first heat on dirty asphault I was the first car out.
Dont get me started on what I think of the pax class crapola.

 

Yea great run Jason. I plan to run in STU next time. It was a good learnning experience watching to drive. Oh, thank you for the tip with the tire about the tire and about saving all that weight on the exhaust.

 

Yeah, i was out working the course for B stock, always happy to see a silver 8 kickin butt. My friend and i are now running a silver 85 gsl-se in ES. Second time out and we were very pleased with the changes we made. Not necessarily competitive but loads of fun none the less. If i could only remember that second slalom...doh 2 dnf's because of that sucker. The turbo 8 is above and beyond my autox prowess i am sure. But maybe after some more runs with the 7 we'll see...

 

Need to have the stock flywheel in STU as well. Also if you are going to get a set of Kumho V710 tires those are not allowed in STU. Going to have to try BSP or SM.

 

Darn, I can't be in STU too. BSP, is that B stock prepare. Do you think the 8 will do well there.

 

he likes stealing candy from lil' kiddies too :p

 

I was there too, Jason kicked ***. I normally run in my black rx-8, but got a nice tear in my tire (v700) during practice the day before so ended up co-driving my buddy's stock 350z on Sunday. I'm number 808 (incorrectly listed as an rx-8 on the results). I think I need to talk about ULLLOSE about his car setup. The thing ran awesome. Must be fun to take down the z06's :D

 

This is what happened to my tire. What do you think caused it? Bad lot surface? I only have about 5 autox days on these...

 

I'd say with the tops of the sidewall letters being completely chewed off that this looks like the worst case of underinflated tires that I have ever seen

 

I Concur. Underinflated tires.

 

It's gotta be true. I read it on the internet! :D

 

Actually, the sidewalls aren't really worn. I was running around 43 psi in the fronts, so I don't think underinflation was the problem. But then again, I'm new to race tires. Here's a better angle.

 

43psi is probably a little low for an Ecsta V700.

FWIW I could never get those tires to work on my car but they never looked that bad!

 

Ok, either they were under inflated, or you don't know when to let off the gas when turning... or even you turn too much.

Here's a 'new' pic of an Ecsta V700:


See there the letters are on that tire? And see the bright band above the letters? There shouldn't be ANY wear into that bright band above the lettering. Seeing your pic and comparing it to the above, I see your tire worn down to the tops of the lettering. That's not good.

There should be little 'arrows/diamonds' right at the edge of the tread blocks that signify that you shouldn't be any farther than the point of the arrow.

--kC

 

Example of the arrows... look at the arrows just at the edge of the tread block:



Typically.. that's as far as you'd want to go. Your tires... you went WAYyyyyy beyond those arrows.

 

you were rolling the tire over so far and overheating the corner so much that it caused the tread cap to delaminate from the carcass, so the causes for this are:

1. underinflation
2. not enough negative camber
3. overdriving

I suspect it was all three. If you look at a new tire there are small triangles cast into the sidewall with their tip pointed toward the treadcap. You never want to see scrubbing past the point of the triangle tip. If you can't get any more camber and/or can't keep from overdriving the tires then your only option is to keep adding pressure to achieve this.

 

Hehe, ok guys. Thanks for all the input. I think I'm typically pretty smooth and try not to overcook the tires... maybe I can blame it on my friend who I let drive it at the practice. As far as camber goes, I'm still on the stock alignment. You can definitely see a big difference in wear between the inside and outside edges. Anyone know where I can get one v700 for cheap???

 

For the surface at Qualcomm I think 43psi is ok. It is more like you got into one of the potholes or that nasty drain we went over twice got ya.

You going to come up to Fontata on Sun?

 

How do you think I keep my trim figure.

I just dont like how PAX is somewhat course dependent. In SD courses are VERY fast most of the time so it make sit tuff to pax well in a slow car like an RX8. :D

I like to run in open because we have a healty size class and I think it helps the other guys get up to speed. If they have no one to shoot for they will not push. I think it is more fun to run with like cars and not have to try to figure with the index if I am quick enough. Also when I started back in 93' in my Vette on street tires I had to run SS open and got whooped by two time champ Tom Kotzian every weekend. They did not have street tire stock novice right handed driver etc etc bla bla bla class. It took me five years to beat Tom, when I did I felt like I won Natls.

 

B Street Prepared. I think at local events with race tires the RX8 can do ok in BSP but at Natl events you would get killed. You have to run with the moded C4 Corvette's that have about twice the power and way bigger tires than you can fit.

Pull out the flywheel and run stock, the cars are pleanty fast with out it.

 

well I feel just the opposite. I would prefer to run in PAX here, but they don't offer it. I find no pleasure in beating regional competitors by 2+ seconds and they can always see where they need to be by simply comparing their results to mine. In general I don't think regional competitors are in cruise mode. Most are trying their best to be fast, but either are short on experience, tires, or are driving vehicles that are past their competitive prime. Some of those folks really cherish the idea of winning a trophy or regional championship, while I'm only interested in testing, seat time, etc.

Not sure I now agree with the BSP comments either. Yeah, for a simple mod or two an inepxerienced driver will get crushed Nationally, but with all the right stuff in the right hands I think the car has some potential. Yes, the Vetter gets huge tires, but it needs them because of all the weight and torque, with which it still struggles to get it all put down to the pavement. I suspect than in full SP trim the RX-8 will be so much more lighter that it won't need huge tires, 285/30-18 should be plenty adequate width and maintains a small diameter for good gearing. I think you're underestimating it a bit, but neither of us can be sure since it's still uncharted territory.

 

I guess this is where we just differ.... Tell you what, when the days comes that I have one of those nifty natl champ jackets I will start runnin in PAX. :D

As far as BSP as a Vette owner/racer for the last 5 years I will say you are wrong. At BEST you will be 400lbs lighter than a BSP C4. the problem is you will never make the power of a stock C4 out of an RX8 let alone a BSP one. The RX8 is not seeing much of any power gains with the bolts ons. What do they say 2-3 hp for a header.... Ok an L98 C4 will see 15-20hp. My stock car put 233hp 322tq at the wheels. The moded ones are way stronger. Then you have LT4 cars like the ones that won the last two years, 300+hp at the wheels in BSP.
I would like to see the RX8 in ESP after the rally cars go to BSP, I think they would have a shot in there with the pony cars.