The autocross was really fun; the Cappo exceeded my expectations. The weather turned out to be much nicer than forecast. Still really cold, still wet, and I was in the first run group, but no slush, no heavy rain, minimal wind, and a couple moments of sun. I got through tech and lined up behind another FR convertible in grid early before heading out on a course walk.
It was great to see everyone again after the winter!
With the last-minute car change and my style of focusing on fun and learning rather than competition, I was running NFP with this group of other not for points folks, plus some street tire folks. The tires on my car are Bridgestone Playz PX-C 175/60-14, which seem to a slightly sporty, slightly-economy compact car tire for the Japanese market. I have no idea how it compares to our domestic offerings.
The Cappo was so much fun to autocross! It is touchy with a short wheelbase, open diff, and a fair amount of body roll, but the challenge of trying to get it to dance through the cones was super fun! I had one as-close-to-spinning-possible-but-not. It might be the nature of the car, or it might be my learning curve. By my later runs I was getting some mild controllable oversteer on demand. If it was dry, I might have needed third, but in the cold greasy damp, I could leave it in second. The faster slalom was almost a straightaway for me! Ended up 5th out of 15 in NFP.
PIR parking is always tight, even more so on a weekend with an event on-track like the SCCA races running this one. For my work assignment I found a perfect kei-car-sized parking space!
Might have to bring this car out to more autocross events! At 6'2", headroom with top up and a helmet is very tight...maybe even claustrophobic...probably much better in targa or convertible mode when the weather allows.