Autocrossed the GC this past weekend

[Chemwarrior]

Well autocross season finally started. Lord knows I've been going through the dt's waiting for it to start. First of all last year I was autocrossing an Evo VIII in the SM class. I loved tossing that car around the cones. As we all know the Evo is such a point and shoot type of car. The autocross occurred in the Six Flags parking lot in Atlanta. The weather on Sunday morning was ~27 degrees. This low temperature had a dramatic impact on how I tossed the car around. I had to seriously finesse throttle input and opposite lock to get it around the course the first two runs. Once the weather started heating up, which was beneficial to the warming of the tarmac and my tires, I was able to drive more aggressively. I was able to drop 10 seconds off from my first time to my fastest time. I was also surprised at the amount of ride along requests I received. Apparently people are just excited to see how this car does on the autocross. I can't say that I blamed them. This car varies so much from autocrossing the Evo but it is still just as fun. BTW for those that autocross I was running in STX.

Also had Craig (Kuruma) out there. Speaking of, how did you do?

The next autocross is supposed to happen at Turner Field on 28 March.

[MeFryRice]

I watched Craig make one of his runs but they neglected to announce his time.
I'm hoping I'll be able to make the next event. :)

[em1toevo]

Hey Dan, glad you're getting your "fix". If I hadn't gone to the Caffiene and Octane meet, I would have loved to go with you.

[Chemwarrior]

Hey Dan, glad you're getting your "fix". If I hadn't gone to the Caffiene and Octane meet, I would have loved to go with you.

:D There's always next time.

[BlewByYouEvoVIII]

Dan how did you finish?

Also curious how it compared to your previous Evo :)

[Chemwarrior]

Dan how did you finish?

Also curious how it compared to your previous Evo :)

I placed just below trophy position. I'll be honest I wasn't really trying to trophy because this was my first autocross in this car. I am definitely still learning the nuances in the handling characteristics. It is an entirely different animal than the Evo when autocrossing. The Evo is so much easier to drive aggressively while the GC requires more driver finesse. I'm sure the cold conditions were factoring into my slower times along with getting only four runs. I'm used to getting eight runs in the Tennessee Region SCCA, which would allow me to learn the course better and therefore attack it harder. I also like going second to watch other people drive the course, which also allows me to see where I can attack. I'm looking forward to the next event. I'm sure you know that once you start racing it gets in your blood.

[Kuruma]

Dan the car looked great out there! The only lucky thing about getting to run early is you were not stuck picking up cones at 7:00pm as the last car finished! Long day but I had fun and I learned a lot with Meredith and Jay riding shotgun and coaching me. My fastest time was a 68.3 something, which would have won street modified!! Too bad novice times don't count. Hopefully new rubber will be on for the next event, I am going to try and make an effort to win the street modified class this year! Lofty goal, but r-compounds might help, LOL. I think they are allowed?

I also met a couple of evo guys, Tim Lee in the other SM 2006 Evo MR works with my father, there was a novice in a black Evo 8 from Sandy Springs I believe, and another guy on here kblock4life or kblockforlife said he mostly lurks. But all in all some good people having fun!

Mefryrice your impressions of my car and runs would be great. Any video or pictures?

Thanks,

Craig

ps Dan thanks for the gift!

[Chemwarrior]

You are welcome Craig. I'm glad you did so well. Let's just say you beat my time. Asshole. J/K But seriously. :D

I was looking at the competition in FS, which I could be in if I take my CAI off, and I would have smoked all the cars in the class, which included two CTS-Vs and a Bullitt Mustang.

[Kuruma]

Nice, it sounds like you need a quick disconnect for your CAI, so you autoX without it. LOL

[Chemwarrior]

That would be cool but unfortunately I have to remove the bumper in order to remove it.

[Chemwarrior]

Here's some pictures of the autocross.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e360/evoluvr/autocross1.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e360/evoluvr/autocross2.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e360/evoluvr/autocross3.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e360/evoluvr/autocross4.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e360/evoluvr/autocross5.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e360/evoluvr/autocross6.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e360/evoluvr/autocross7.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e360/evoluvr/autocross8.jpg

[MeFryRice]

Mefryrice your impressions of my car and runs would be great. Any video or pictures?

Unfortunately, I didn't have a camera so I couldn't take any pictures. :(

[Chemwarrior]

Updated the pictures.

[em1toevo]

Nice action shots! I was hoping for a pic of a "dog leg" in one of the turns.

[Chemwarrior]

Nice action shots! I was hoping for a pic of a "dog leg" in one of the turns.

Sorry Brett, it doesn't have the body roll like a stock Evo does.

[Kuruma]

The course wasn't tight enough either, very fast.

[Chemwarrior]

Here's some picture of Craig driving...

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e360/evoluvr/craig10.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e360/evoluvr/craig2.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e360/evoluvr/craig3.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e360/evoluvr/craig4.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e360/evoluvr/craig5.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e360/evoluvr/craig6.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e360/evoluvr/craig7.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e360/evoluvr/craig8.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e360/evoluvr/craig9.jpg

[Kuruma]

Nice Dan, thanks for the pictures. I saw the link on soloatlanta but My computer is being stupid and the iPhone will only show a max of 100 pictures on picasa. Thanks!

[Chemwarrior]

Nice Dan, thanks for the pictures. I saw the link on soloatlanta but My computer is being stupid and the iPhone will only show a max of 100 pictures on picasa. Thanks!

No problem brother. That's what I am here for. :D