I agree with all the points except this one. Certain tires meke two different noises... one meaning 'Hey, you're approaching my limit, but you're in a good spot right now' and the other 'You're killing me'.

Azenis are one such tire. Some tire noise is actually good feedback that you're driving the tires on the limit and you're about to overdrive them. But if you can maintain the squeal and not go to the howl, you're driving them correctly.

--kC

 

wow, u got second? pretty awesome!!! I think that at least for me for now, if my tires are squeling, i'm probably going to be going perfectly strait, my car understeers so much, i tried to do a fast u turn, and until i slowed to when the tires where grabbing totally (it was wet so this was pretty slow) i was barely turning! as for the advised of staying stock until after going to first event, I was wondering how important you feel this is, It seems like getting used to the car with it stock, then changing the handling would require getting used to it twice, right? I was thinking of putting in a 18-20-22 adjustable rear swaybar, (although this would move me out of the stock class, is there a way to upgrade the swaybar without leaving stock class?) and putting on new rims. What's your opinion on this?

Along this note, what exactly are rules for stock class? I saw on http://www.rallyperformance.com/Suspension.shtml that they say that there "option A" keeps you in the stock scca class. Is this true, and if so, what else could I upgrade/improve/change and remain stock? I know bigger rims will move me out of stock, but if theres a lot i could do and remain in stock, maybe I won't upgrade them. Anyway, feedback is greatly appreciated on this, I don't really understand all the rules about what can be changed and what can't.

I know I won't be competitive, at least for a while, but competing against fully upgraded cars isn't really perferable to me although I don't want mine to be totally stock anyway.

Hope all that made sense, thnx

 

Most people distinguish between slip angle and slide. A slide is when you completely lose adhesion. At this point, increased steering input has no influence on cornering. Slip angle covers everything up to this point. There will always be some slip angle when you are trying to change direction because the car's mass wants to keep going straight and the tires are trying to make it turn. The maximum slip angle before the tire slides varies depending on the car setup, the tire, and the track surface.

A tire can squeal even when it is just slipping, but this doesn't necessarily mean you are losing time. As was mentioned earlier, tires do make different noises and have different breakaway characteristics. Everyone experiments with this kind of thing as they go along, different cars, tires, suspension setups. And as everyone knows, experimenting is fun !

 

I was just wondering if you could register for SCCA at the event or if you have to do it beforehand? Thanx

 

To run in San Francisco region you need to join the SCCA in advance. You can do this by fax if time gets short. They have also just introduced a temporary membership scheme as well which might be useful for you:

http://www.sfrscca.org/solo2/Results...ce_visitor.php

 

guys, first of all this is an aweome thread!!!
when is the next race?

also, i found out i will be running in the street modified class... i have a utec and a boost controller... does that suck? am i skrewed? seriously i dont know, i have never done this, but i am very excited but very nervous

 

http://www.sfrscca.org/solo2/ has a lot of the info on our regions solos. You can either click on "events calander, or go to http://www.sfrscca.org/solo2/cgi-bin...t_three_months to see the schedule. Good luck

I also have another question, how exactly do the classes work. Theres "car classifications which seem to seperate performance from non performance cars with stuff n between, then theres also modification levels. Does each car class have a within it ppl racing at the diff levels? Seems like that would make like 40 classes and that wouldn't seem to work. So how does it work. I tried looking at the earlier links but couldn't find an explanation. THanx

 

As far as classes go, to be competitive you need to exploit all modifications available to that class. For example, in SM, suspension is open so you can assume most people will be running coilovers etc. Likewise, DOT race tires are also permitted. Your car will probably look very un-modified compared to some vehicles out there.

The biggest factor for a novice is driving experience. You can only get this by entering events and fun-runs. Depending on how late the event is running, they will often have fun-runs at the end of the day. These are timed practice laps.

With the difference in car specs and driving experience, don't be surprised if you are 7 seconds or more off the fastest SM pace. Some of those guys are seriously quick. Everyone has been a novice at some point so don't worry about this.

The next SFR event is on Saturday 15th May at Oakland Coliseum:

http://www.sfrscca.org/solo2/Results...und8_info.html

You will either need SCCA membership, or I think you can do the new temporary membership:

http://www.sfrscca.org/solo2/Results...ce_visitor.php

My car is #21 in DS. It is a blue WRX sedan. I'm running in group 1. I think SM is run group 2. Hopefully I'll see you guys down there.

 

Yup, there are a lot of classes (41 including go-karts). Classes are used to get cars that run at similar paces together in each group. This helps the group run smoothly rather than having fast cars following slow cars etc. Most run groups will have 2 or 3 different classes running at the same time.

They have also attempted to target typical 'usage' types for the vehicles from stock (regular road cars), street touring (typical road mods), prepared and modified race classes. People with stock and street touring cars typically drive their cars to the events. People with modified cars often trailer their cars to the events because the vehicles are not necessarily road legal.

 

wow, thanks guys
i actually have a membership already
i am doing a senior project...
"How do we1 cutail illegal street racing?"
so my project is to race legally both in auto x and drag race at sears point

 

so are the classes only to make it run smooth, meaning overall a neon would run against a corvette?

I understand how its divided, and part of why, but I had originally thought that in each class there'd be a winner and then an overall winner, but if theres 41 classes, it doesn't seem like you could get enough people to make sense for each class to compete against itself.

I thought maybe they modified your time for classes so that if your in a low one, you get your time multiplied by something and then it is the equivalent driving skill of someone in a fast car, but I see problems with that and nothing to support it.

So my question from before, still stands in my mind, How do the classes work for scoring and stuff.

Hopefully that made sense. Thank you

 

You are right about some of the classes being ridiculously small. Some of them only have one person. For a class to be eligible from trophies at the end of the season they stipulate a minimum number of entrants (6 or something?).

I think you are confusing classes with run groups. Points and positions are awarded within your class. All entrants in your class will run in the same group as you, and their times are supposed to be comparable. For example, DS contains WRXs, Type-R Integras, IS300s, BMW 330s etc. These are all supposed to be relatively evenly matched. At the end of the day you will get a position in your class. Each class has a performance modifier which they multiply your time by to give an overall PAX figure and overall position.

For convenience, different classes are run together in groups. This is purely for convenience and is arranged to balance load among workers and even out run group sizes. The grouping has no impact on positions.