October 3, 2006

[Fair!]

Re: October 3, 2006

Looking at results and making broad proclamations = armchair autocrossing. We're ALL good at that!

With 32+ STis and 7 BMWs entered, I think BMW did very well in the 48 car STU class - bringing home 2nd, 3rd and 5th places. On Day 1 Amy managed to beat everyone in STU, in by far the heaviest BMW entered, as well.

There are a helluva lot more factors at work than "who won", or even drivetrain layout and power... Not to take away from Brandon, who still won by .9 seconds, but he and that car are beatable by a number of models and drivers. The slippery HPT surface is still too new to judge, but it will likely favor AWD cars in classes with both 2WD and 4WD drivetrains... but this is still a gross generalization with limited data.

None of the STU cars are immune from drivetrain failures or breakdowns. Henry/Tim blew an STi motor all to hell at the 2006 Houston Tour (piston/rod failure). There were numerous clutch failures by a campaigned WRX this year (clutch failed at 2 Pros) and EVOs lost diffs on more than one occasion. A certain RX8 grenaded two stock transmissions. A BMW... got a cracked strut tower when hitting a 2 foot pothole...

Next subject - politics!

[Paul]

Re: October 3, 2006

Looking at results and making broad proclamations = armchair autocrossing. We're ALL good at that!

With 32+ STis and 7 BMWs entered, I think BMW did very well in the 48 car STU class - bringing home 2nd, 3rd and 5th places. On Day 1 Amy managed to beat everyone in STU, in by far the heaviest BMW entered, as well.

There are a helluva lot more factors at work than "who won", or even drivetrain layout and power... Not to take away from Brandon, who still won by .9 seconds, but he and that car are beatable by a number of models and drivers. The slippery HPT surface is still too new to judge, but it will likely favor AWD cars in classes with both 2WD and 4WD drivetrains... but this is still a gross generalization with limited data.

None of the STU cars are immune from drivetrain failures or breakdowns. Henry/Tim blew an STi motor all to hell at the 2006 Houston Tour (piston/rod failure). There were numerous clutch failures by a campaigned WRX this year (clutch failed at 2 Pros) and EVOs lost diffs on more than one occasion. A certain RX8 grenaded two stock transmissions. A BMW... got a cracked strut tower when hitting a 2 foot pothole...

Next subject - politics!

I don't think that surface was as slick as everybody claimed. Jeremy pulled 60's that were on par with Denver's concrete (also he is the launch Master and we must all bow down to his skillz). Also consider all the broken parts due to too much grip. Axles in a GT2 and a GT3, front diff in an EVO, first gear in a WRX, broken rear strut in a STS car (snapped in half during a sweeper) and that is just what I know off. What did the DL-1 show? Especially with Amy driving?

[Fair!]

Re: October 3, 2006

I don't think that surface was as slick as everybody claimed. ... What did the DL-1 show? Especially with Amy driving?

Crap. 1.10 g for me and 1.13 g for Amy. I haven't seen day 2 DL-1 data yet.

We've pulled over 1.2g at miserable wells as well as on the sealed asphalt at TMS bus lot. On the same set-up/tires.

[Paul]

Re: October 3, 2006

Well day two on the West course was grippier so I would be curious to know those numbers.

[hancheyb]

Re: October 3, 2006

I don't think that surface was as slick as everybody claimed. Jeremy pulled 60's that were on par with Denver's concrete (also he is the launch Master and we must all bow down to his skillz). Also consider all the broken parts due to too much grip. Axles in a GT2 and a GT3, front diff in an EVO, first gear in a WRX, broken rear strut in a STS car (snapped in half during a sweeper) and that is just what I know off. What did the DL-1 show? Especially with Amy driving?

I've seen a STI pull a 1.8 60' time in pouring down rain. Not sure surface grip matters all that much for you guys.