The last WDCR autocross was fun. Clyde finished 2nd of 16 (.207 from 1st), I was 6th (4.722 from 1st). Clyde was 1.6284 back paxed from our local hotshoe, Brian Garfield (he won the challenge at the last prosolo, driving a GS Mini S).

I still keep finding myself letting off where I should not. The RX-8 is SO much faster of an autocross car that I have ever driven, I'm still having issues getting over the pucker factor.

A professional photographer was at the event. I've pulled the "demo" photos for all three RX-8s that were at the event already and will post them shortly.

My 8 : RBFB.
Clyde : Koni's & 245 Hoosiers
other 8 : bone stock

From looking at the pics and discussing with my dad, who was at the event... the RBFB is a must have. The car was much more stable throughout the course.

Anyways, photos soon to come.

 

And if we're all turning on different arcs at different speeds in the photos, what do they really tell us?

I'm still not sure if I need a front bar.

I'd rather have what's going to make me go faster and to hell how it looks.

 

huh? So you should want the front bar... It doesn't affect appearance and will be very helpful in an auto X. As to making you faster, well that takes seat time. You are the best improvement in the cars ability to go "faster"

 

Hmm...what I was trying to say was that bmc's approach of using photos to judge what setup to use is a little flawed. Regarding appearance, I meant what the car looks like on course (leaning over or not, etc).

About getting a stiffer front bar...the front end of the car works. Turn in is tack sharp. There's no understeer to speak of. Transitions are already very quick, even with the body roll. All winter, while waiting for autocross season to start up here again, I was pretty sure that I was going to want the RB front bar. But after the first event, I wasn't so sure any more. After half a dozen events on Hoosiers, I'm still not sure one way or the other. Right now, I think I'm leaning towards putting one in to see how it goes, but then again...

 

oh.... got ya...

If you are still trying to decide...Let me push you over to the "try side".

It is amazing what a difference the bar makes. I started with the Tanabe front bar in B-Stock and now I have the Tanabe rear bar too and run in STU. (I'm a poet and didn't know it :D )

 

Well, I know the idea of using photos is flawed from the word go.

Frankly, now that I have mine on, there is no way I'd take it off. I found the car quite a handful before I installed the RBFB. Now, I was coming from a "high" horsepowered FWD pig, but still... After installing the RBFB, the car was much more throwable.

Two of my hoosiers will be here tomorrow, two the next day. There will be practice sessions at the NEDIV. If you'd like, you can take my 8 out during the practice runs, I'm sure you will feel a big difference. It was a massive difference, just in normal day-to-day driving.

 

I may have to take you up on that. :D Of course, you'll be welcome to take a few runs in my car as well. I will probably have nearly new 275 S04s for that event (we're going to put Nick's new tires on my wheels if we get our acts together in time). It won't be a perfect A-B comparison because of the shocks and tires, though, but should be helpful to us both.