RX-7's invade the Spring Break Out 2009!

[P71]

Over February 28th/March 1st the autocross season officially opened for us here in the Pacific Northwest with the Inaugural "Spring Break Out!" hosted by the Porsche Club of America's Oregon Region. We got an autocross on Saturday, a "Skills Clinic" on Sunday, and another autocross on Sunday! It was an awesome event, if a bit wet, and we had a blast! Saturday saw Jared's FD, Josh's LS1 FC, and my FB make the field along with John's GTO. It was windy, cold, and drizzled away but we hadn't raced since October so it was ON!

Jared and Josh were on fire and both trophied in class with a 3rd and 4th respectively (out of 28 in class). John and I brought up the middle with 14th and 15th which really isn't that bad! Overall was still impressive with Jared and Josh getting 9th and 10th, John took 31st, and I took 33rd out of 52.

Sunday got "interesting". The weather was clear for the morning "Skills Clinic" where John, Josh, and I all improved on our times from the previous day (it was the same course) but by the time the lunch break came we were slaughtered with rain! There was a good 2" of standing water in places on the course by the time the real autocross got ready to start (a modified version of the previous course, backwards!). Rain of course is the "great equalizer" and low and behold what happened...

I was the fastest RX-7!!!

I can't hardly believe it either but somehow my little 227K mile 12A had just the "right" amount of power for the conditions and posted up some great times! I got 14th in class, Josh was 16th, Jared 21st, and John 25th out of 32 in class. Woot for me! That slotted me in 23rd of 45 overall as well! This is the first time I've beaten Josh or Jared, let alone both of them so I'm going to ham it up pretty good at the next meet.

Here's the ORPCA link if you want to read the times/results:

http://www.oregonpca.org/events/auto...ing-break-out/

And without further adieu, the pictures!

Josh's LS1 FC:











Jared's FD:



John's GTO:









And my FB!!

[josh18_2k]

Did you compare your times from Driver Training to the Saturday results?
man oh man, if only i could have pulled it off then..
My best time during DT was 45.3, which would have landed me 2nd overall, behind the retarted fast yellow 914 (piloted by Britain Smith). granted, it was a little warmer sunday morning. the tires didnt grip quite as well on sat.

Britain drove my car a whole 2 times, and pulled a 45.8 on the 2nd one. skilled bastard..

[Phoenix7]

Good show Mike!!!

Pics don't look nice on my phone but it looks like Josh got new fenders too!

Congrats on the beatdown! Now you gotta beat then on dry days!

[P71]

I would have dropped to 27th overall and 11th in class with my Sunday morning time. I NEED a Torsen though! If I could get the inside tire to stop spinning my times will improve a LOT!

[Eatmyclutch]

Look like fun, but couldn't you have posted the direct link like this: http://www.oregonpca.org/events/auto...-time-results/

How does the classing work?

[josh18_2k]

Originally Posted by Eatmyclutch

How does the classing work?

porsches, and not porsches

yah i got fenders. i'm gonna make a thread about them when i can get good pics.
teaser- corksport 30mm fenders fit 285's up front

[85rx-7gsl-se]

Wow, classes laid out kinda odd lol. What class is the FC in for SCCA?

[josh18_2k]

I would be X-Prepared. theres pretty much no one locally in that class, and theres no way in hell would i be competitive at nationals. so i usually just run NP in SCCA to take advantage of morning/afternoon run groups. more seat time ftw
I believe the XP winner last year is a carbon bodied supercharged exige with 335's in back.

[85rx-7gsl-se]

Lol...Yeah I know all about being outclassed lol...I run SSM

[P71]

I did post a direct link, right before the pictures:

"Here's the ORPCA link if you want to read the times/results:

http://www.oregonpca.org/events/auto...ing-break-out/

And without further adieu, the pictures!"

Classing is relevant to Porsches only. All of us "other" cars get thrown into "NP" which is for Non-Porsche. That's the only rule, that the car isn't a Porsche.

For SCCA we're all over the place. My FB would run in STS2, Jared's FC runs in SM2 as does John's FB. A stock FB would be shoved in the stock class with the RX-8 which would eat it alive. SM2 is about the best bet for 7's as it allows engine swaps from the same manufacturer (so say 20B, 13BT, etc) and tons of suspension mods, plus any power adder. So yes, a Turbo'd 20B FB would be in SM2. Unfortunately so would a supercharged 12A.

[85rx-7gsl-se]

Its SSM now not SM2

[P71]

Oy! They change the classes too often to keep up.

[85rx-7gsl-se]

I know...I just got shit for it at the last auto-x lol.

[jkstill]

Michael, you were doing some great driving on Sunday, no doubt about it.

Lots of power was not really too helpful for either day of that event.

My car is not setup too well for cold weather or the wet stuff.
The sway bars are fairly stiff (ST), the springs are kind of middle of the road (550 front, 450 lbs rear )

When it gets cold and or wet it understeers rather badly until I slow way down.

There's also the issue of putting power down. I had to take it pretty easy both days. Even when dry I had to be pretty easy on the throttle, even in the straights, or the back would get away from me.

Maybe I should get that adjustable front sway bar now, and some rain tires.

Josh was beating me pretty badly too in the wet stuff.

I'll have to do something to redeem myself.

[josh18_2k]

Jared you're alive! you missed the first SCCA points event- whats the dillio?