Setup for auto-x this Saturday
 

I'm running in NAS which is the 1st group in the morning.
What tire pressure should I start with?
any tip on how to prep the car 04 STI all stock.

your tire pressure should really come from your own preference. But I run between 38-40 up front and 40 to 45 in the rear, depnding on temperature and your preferences

To what extent do you want to prep the car? Alignment, exhaust, etc.

Lets assume for now the only thing you can do by tomorrow AM is Air pressure, and cosmetics.

Cosmetics first. Get everything loose out of the car, or bring a plastic box to throw it in. You run first, so there isn't much time to mess around at Stead, so I'd do it tonight. I'd lose the driver's side floormat as well. Check the door pockets, and under the seats. The last thing you want is a golf ball rolling out from under your seat and under tha brake pedal.

Get a dial air pressure guage. Even the crappiest dial is better than the best stick type guage IMHO. You could borrow them tomorrow, but put it on your short term shopping list. Summit has very nice ones for about $20.

Steal your kids, or neighbor's kid's sidewalk chalk fo rmarking the sides of your tires.

Air pressure. While people have air compressors, adn tanks, everyone will be scrambling, so the more you can do gfor yourself, the better, but don't be afraid to ask. So go to the gas station and take everything up to 45PSI or so.

At the track, you will adjust air pressure between runs.

IMHO getting the front set for maximum traction and minimum sidewall chewing is first, and then you adjust the rear to pivot or not as you prefer.

We will be glad to help. Many of us will likely run in the afternoon for no points to wok on setups and practice. You can do so as well.

I Knew I forgot something...

Have somebody show you the seatbelt trick. I know I showed Eric last weekend, and I think I've shown others.

Turns your factory belts into a nice 3 pont locked harness.

I was just reading my owners manual yesterday (I just got one on E-bay, my car didn't come with it), and I saw that trick in there. The first thing that went through my head was "That would be like a 3 point harness. Cool!"

Khail

That seat belt trick really help hold me to the seat. Too bad I did not break in to 51 second (52.1 I think) like my goal. It was really fun to get 6 runs. I feel sorry for my brother (the owner) did not have a change to run.

Until next time..

Yes, next time! And glad you made it out today.

The seatbelt trick works great- unless you are like me and have to drive with the seat all the way back. :P

Actually, you can do the same thing with the seat back if you do it right, it is just a bit harder and may require some preperation such as putting a strap or soft nylon rope around a headrest support that you can pull on since you don't have any real leverage reaching over your shoulder.

It like most anything worth doing, takes practice.

I even do something very similar in my 4 point harness just to get the lap belt excruciatingly tight. :shock: Often takes me 3 tries to get the seat where I want it and the lap belt tight.

And when Dean means "tight" he means blood flow stiffling, eye bulging, limbs turning purple, tight. I rode in his car Saturday, and he pulled the "trick" for me, and pretty much left bruises on my hips from the lap belt. :x There's a difference between being "immobile" and being "freakishly lashed to the seat in some sort of bondage/S&M ritual". I'm stating to wonder if Dean's got a "gimp" in that half basement of his. :P

"Be one with the car Luke, I mean Scott... Feel the FORCEs..." -Obi-Dean-Kenobi

I think I squished Mike as well on Sat. in his brother's car, or maybe it was mine.

Can I be Turbo AWD Jedi Master? No, I retract that. I still have much to learn in the ways of the FORCEs.

I agree that being tightly strapped in helps you to feel the car... but being so tightly strapped in that you lose circulation and can't feel your limbs doesn't help. :P :lol:

OOHHHH Man I can't stop laughing :lol: :lol: :lol:
I watched Dean get ready on Saturdays events and can say it doesent look like a pleasent process, but if it works do it :D

The seatbelt trick works great, if you don't install a harness. However, on Sunday I felt like my left collarbone was bruised from the tightness.

So Scott, how does the JIC spring/shock setup feel on course?

I'm fairly happy with the belt pads I got on eBay.. $10 or so for 2 embroidered with Subaru and the gold swoosh. I bet they have Mazda, and maybe RX-8 stuff.

It was pretty bad at first. I raised the ride height (I was running about an inch too low and rubbed some nice holes in my fender liners) and screwed with the damping inbetween events. Last Sunday the car actually felt pretty good, except for the clunk coming from my steering rack (I think something's b0rked in there, 'course today it feels fine... perhaps there's some debris in my power steerin fluid?)

I think a custom built setup by Nate would still be better, and I bet I could get him to build me something for the price I could sell my JICs for, but I'm gonna stick it out a bit longer with the JICs, since they seem to get a little better after every time I futz with 'em.

So, the next step is to test out the steering rack a bit more to see what's wrong, and get some new tires (new Azenis Sports tomorrow!).