Build Document: Autocross & Daily Driver (FR-S, Argento, M/T, Base)

[bimmer635csi]

So my wife put the ultimatum down that I had to sell stuff from the GTI that I was autocrossing before I could buy stuff for the FR-S.

Well, the exhaust and some gadgets are gone already. And I'm super close to getting rid of the Enkei RPF1s, so its time to get busy.

My co-driver already got tires, but a guy at work said he could install them. In the process, he destroyed one by bending the bead, so I'm waiting for a replacement from Tire Rack before I get them installed.

Other than that, I'm not sure we need anything just yet. Hopefully running wider rear tires reduces the oversteer enough that a front sway bar isn't necessary. But we'll see I guess.

Not sure why I'm writing all this other than I'm bored and it is too hot to go outside right now. Carry on with what you were doing.

Cheers,

[bimmer635csi]

Man,

What a fiasco getting these fancy tires installed. But I found a pretty decent shop really close to the house and now we are hooked up.

I can't really judge performance yet because:
1) My left eye was cut open 2 days ago and I'm not allowed to experience any stress on it
2) The tires are brand new and will be slicker than greased-owl-dung anyway

But they felt like they launch better than the Prius specials just doing normal green light starts. When my eye heals and I have the release agent rubbed off of them, should be able to get some better judgment. But really need the first autocross to tell if the stagger is going to help the looseness.

Cheers,

[bimmer635csi]

So I had some extra LED replacements for the trunk and rear license plate light bulbs. The dome light is one of those stupid shapes that cost too much to replace (maybe). I had bought a tonne of these LEDs from somewhere for my VW GTI and wasn't sure if I'd want red or white, so I ordered both. Had a bunch of whites left over since I liked the reds so...

Figured what the heck and tried them out. I'm not sure I like them (they are kind of bluish-white) but I figure it can't hurt. Especially the trunk light because it never closes correctly the first time and I've left it open more than once.

I know this needs some , but I only have a camera in my phone, so it is impossible to do that.

[bimmer635csi]

Looking forward to tomorrow...

[bimmer635csi]

Man, what a great event, but so blasted hot. So hot in fact that with "cold" tires, I had to let air out to get them to the correct pressure before the first run.

Four heats for 160 drivers made the turn-around times feel like it was a ProSolo event (about 1.5 minutes for two driver cars, like mine).

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY9dinCMixM"]2014 Jul 20 C Street FR S autocross at CotA SPOKES No 7 - YouTube[/ame]

Comparison of all twins in CS and STX:

[bimmer635csi]

I know it is cliche, but I like it. And dumb-luck struck (in my opinion anyway). As I was peeling the tape off around the outside, the dip peeled off the logo. I started cleaning it off and thought "Wow, that looks pretty decent". So I'll leave it that way for a while and see how it holds up.

[bimmer635csi]

Based on my google-fu skills and some thinking time since the run at CotA, I adjusted the tire pressures and came out with a 2nd place of 9 result.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjNSeDCcNuI"]2014 Aug 10 SASCA Spokes Autocross #8 at Retama Park - YouTube[/ame]


I'm really happy that I haven't had to do anything to the car other than tires to be competitive. This is so nice compared to the GTI that I ran last year.

Update of all twins in CS and STX:


The tires clearly benefited my co-driver as well since he has now dropped down to be in the scale of the chart.

I actually got worse percentage wise, but the rest of the field got even worse than I did, so overall I improved some. However, CS John did a test-n-tune and tweaked some alignment, which might be why my percentage of his time got worse.

[bimmer635csi]

Nothing real exciting and the sound on my not-GoPro is pretty bad, so I just dubbed some music on top.

[ame]http://youtu.be/htTlOrbPblo[/ame]

[bimmer635csi]

Here it is. Pretty good day overall. Now I just have to hustle the car like John showed me was possible.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ABbzlhAm08"]Spokes SASCA Event 9 on 2014 Sep 21 - YouTube[/ame]

Check out my Formula 1 style data display too.

[bimmer635csi]

So I went out and stood in the hot Texas sun for an entire day to get about 6 minutes of run time in.

I am leaning toward track events after this, but will probably finish out this year doing autocross.

Anyway, here's the show:
[ame]http://youtu.be/FP2htU4beo0[/ame]

[bimmer635csi]

Attack the cones...


STX Chris analyzing the mad-lean of a completely stock car...


Need moar camber...


Thanks to 50|50 Photography for the pics.

[bimmer635csi]

Another autocross. Pretty decent result and finally got tire pressures that work with an empty fuel tank and no spare tire.

[ame]http://youtu.be/IljZU5oGAr4[/ame]

[bimmer635csi]

Back at CotA. Really cool that they let us use the parking lot. Just wish we could use the track like at Harris Hill a few weeks ago. Oh well, what can you expect for $35?

[ame]http://youtu.be/1qRHohNXTW8[/ame]

Is it strange that the course looks a bit like those virus pictures on TV?

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by bimmer635csi

I know it is cliche, but I like it. And dumb-luck struck (in my opinion anyway). As I was peeling the tape off around the outside, the dip peeled off the logo. I started cleaning it off and thought "Wow, that looks pretty decent". So I'll leave it that way for a while and see how it holds up.

Nice thread. And the Scion logo badge does look pretty good like that