Update Status

Throwback Picture (as obvious by the date stamp).

So i just wanted to post up here real quick to give an update of sorts. I will be looking at a new daily driver today after work, we will see how it goes. No local autox this weekend, however there is a national event down in DC that many philly SCCA members are going to. Honestly i could use the weekend time to be productive with the countless projects i have. The EF needs to be inspected this month and thankfully will be emissions exempt as it was only driven 600 miles last year !!! Blasphemy!

Upcoming events id like to attend:
Ottos Summer Series #3 - 5/18/08 - Boeing Complex
Ottos Summer Series #4 - 6/1/08 - Warminster Comm. Park
Weatherly Hill climb - 6/8/08 - NEPA.SCCA
Grandview Rally-X - 6/22/08 - Betherville PA

Second Autox

So yesterday the weather was real nice, christine ran the broad street run in the AM, and my run group was the later one so it worked out good. I was going to switch it up to the hankooks but the forecast was supposed to be rain, so left the kuhmo ASX's on. Overall a sort of disappointing day, but still fun:

Placed: 7 / 10
STS 71 Robert McCaughern 1992 Honda Civic

Run 1: 74.483 w/instructor + OFF Course

Run 2: 73.370 w/instructor + OFF Course

Run 3: 71.157 CLEAN RUN, Thank God!!

Run 4: 71.304 w/instructor + OFF Course

Results: Novice class 7th of 10

So yea, really started to find the limits of the car and tires yesterday. At one point across this U-turn, i totally took it too fast, let off the gas for an instant, and the car dove and started to rotate and get away from me. I was certain i was going to spin out, but by some act of god held it togther, im sure the near miss didnt help my time, but it didnt really matter as i when i gained control i had blown through a slalom. :P Overall i was trying to push the car and tires hard all day, as the event prior i didnt feel as though i had enough urgency in my driving. So overall i was just glad to get a single clean run. What didnt help this week was the instructor. Last time i had a great instructor that was helping with directions, as well as providing insight after the run. This week the instructor was trying to be insightful while driving and naturally i was listening & blowing through stuff all day. I wasnt even sure when or where i did go off course, so i believe that i made the same mistake at least twice. So that was frustrating. On the 4th run, i could have done better.... Oh well always next week, but what car to drive?

Garage update
Suzuki is in a port in baltimore awaiting dealer delivery, hatch is in peices and uninspected, whitey is dirty and tired, cabby's garden is in full bloom :P

First Autox

Ok, so i fixed a bunch of shizz on the beater over the course of last week, including the installation of the passenger side window visors and mirror. Then on friday i installed the ITR shocks w/RSR springs. The ride and handling are awesome. The car has no sway bars whatsoever so the roll is noticable, but the comfort and the spring rates are awesome. It handles very neutrally and corners well.


Then came 4/20, the opening day of autox season. The hatch wasnt complete so rather than blowing the motor i deemed the beater ready for autox duty. I took the angle grinder to the rear fenders to address some wheel fit issues. Taped up some of the questionable areas and hit the track. It was a naval runway at Warminster Community Park. Overall whitey behaved excellently . Though slow, the powerband was very steady, tires gripped well and the machine ability outweighed the driver ability.

Here were the times on the runs:
Run 1: 96 Sec (Solo)
Run 2: 84 Sec (w/instructor Alex)
Run 3: 74 Sec (w/instructor Alex) Instructor Run: 61 Sec
Run 4: 72 Sec (Solo)














































So overall I dropped 24 seconds over the day. Which is awesome. Like i said the car handled perfectly predictably and i couldnt beleive that the beater performed so well. I dont know the overall standings, but fast ass cars and drivers were getting 51 Secs. There were some nasty cars and hopefully i can share when they become available on the internet






The red wrx was what i thought to be the fastest all morning