Ran my first autocross today

jstein77 wrote: In reply to RexSeven: I LOVE your Mustang. You got it just how I would have ordered one, right down to the color. You're right, there's no reason why that shouldn't be a competitive G Stock car, or RTR should you running street tires.

Thank you. The 3.7L V-6s run in D Stock normally and last year a 2011 got 11th* place at Nationals in the 3.7L's first appearance.

With the way I'm modding my Mustang, I will be in STX. The new 5.0Ls are also in STX, but the cars to beat in my local SCCA's STX are E46 BMWs (non-M), occasionally broken up by MINIs or RX-8s. I might be locally competitive once set up properly and once I get my personal cobwebs cleaned out.

EDIT: Corrected.

D Stock? I'm out of touch - thought it was in G. I just looked at the current Mustang classing, and got a bit of a chuckle out of it. Mustangs are spread all the way from A Stock (GT500) to H Stock (turbo 4's and inline 6's), with three more classes in between.

The official results are up, and I must confess that I have no idea how PAX works.

An STX RX-8 appears to have a more favorable PAX (x0.827) than my C-Stock (x.834). I don't get it.

Why would a car with more preparation be given a better PAX than a stock car?

I still wound up 6 out of 15 in the novice class, and it looks like I beat some "better, faster" cars as well.

Apparently I had a cone on the last run, too. I didn't know that. Bah.

Event 2 here: http://thscc.com/autocross/events/index.php?season=2013

Brett_Murphy wrote: An STX RX-8 appears to have a more favorable PAX (x0.827) than my C-Stock (x.834). I don't get it. Why would a car with more preparation be given a better PAX than a stock car?

C-Stock assumes R-Compounds, eg Hoosiers. Tires make a huge difference.

I have All-Seasons. I guess I screwed myself.

Brett_Murphy wrote: The official results are up, and I must confess that I have no idea how PAX works. An STX RX-8 appears to have a more favorable PAX (x0.827) than my C-Stock (x.834). I don't get it. Why would a car with more preparation be given a better PAX than a stock car? I still wound up 6 out of 15 in the novice class, and it looks like I beat some "better, faster" cars as well. Apparently I had a cone on the last run, too. I didn't know that. Bah. http://thscc.com/autocross/events/2013/2013-0303%20Class%20Results.htm

PAX is like a bowling or golf handicap ... based on fully prepped, top tier drivers at national level type a-x's ... ( also based on past yrs performance )

your C stock car when prepped to the max ( and that includes R-comps) will turn quicker times than a street tired RX-8 .. even with it's suspension work ... they are limited to tires with a tread wear rating of 140 ....

a stock classed car can prep with shocks, sway bar(s) ( either front or rear, but not both) lighter wheels ( must stay the same size as stock) and R-Comps

hope this helps to clear up the PAX thing a little bit ....

one thing to keep in mind, unless your region gives out trophies for PAX it's pretty much just bragging rights, unless you're going to a Pro Solo event ( or Evo Shootout) it doesn't have any bearing on your class results ... C-Stock

if you're running in a Novice class it will usually be graded on the PAX numbers

oh, and the link isn't working

mazdeuce wrote: When I'm unpacking my car I always look around and see if I can find any newbies. It's amazing how much it helps them to have someone show them where registration is, and where tech is and what their work assignment means. Both of the guys I helped yesterday ran the same heat as I did so we checked pressures together and added some air and talked cars while we waited. If you love the sport, adopt a newbie at least a couple of times a year.

This right here is what happened to me when I started in H-Stock in 2004, one of the longest term members showed me what to do and some pointers for the car I was in(01 fukus). I am very thankful to have been "adopted" in this way. It means alot to us when new, and is much appriciated.

Brett_Murphy wrote: I still wound up 6 out of 15 in the novice class, and it looks like I beat some "better, faster" cars as well.

You don't beat cars. You beat their drivers.

In reply to DaveEstey:

Exclusion to that rule is if you are driving an EF Si in STC.....then your car is indeed beating theirs.

Brett_Murphy wrote: I have All-Seasons. I guess I screwed myself.

If your club has it, run in RTR (Road Tire Rear) with a C Stock pax index. This is a workaround for folks like me who think it's idiotic to have R comps allowed on stock cars but illegal for the lightly-modded cars.

It makes more sense now. I'm going to register in STX or street tire.

Go with RTR; then you don't have to change anything in the suspension. It's getting to be a very popular class here in Central Florida. Case in point: Deland results

I need to get out in my 8 this year. Good info on the tire classes, I have the exact same tires as Brett.

There were two yellow RX-8s at our event.

he's running with Tarheel sports car club .. an unaffiliated club .. they might not run the RT classes ... pretty sure they do run a T class, but that only gets you your standard PAX

yamaha wrote: In reply to DaveEstey: Exclusion to that rule is if you are driving an EF Si in STC.....then your car is indeed beating theirs.

So so true.

FWIW, I ran autocross for 4 years and won the regional H stock championship 2 of those years (2 and 4). Its all about showing up and driving your butt off. I was not near the best driver, but I went to every event. In nationals I wouldnt have even placed, BUT a national level driver showed at one event and I beat his tire warmer handily (they were driving a MINI) but got handed my butt by the main driver by almost 2 seconds in my 01 corolla. Thats nothing though. What really went all over me was when I swapped cars with my chief rival on fun runs and he bested my time in my car by over 2 seconds and I was behind his time in his car by more than 2 seconds. That was slightly humbling.

I got the answers:

Right now, I want to be in Novice STX, since I am running street tires and ca't have a PAX class within a PAX class. While my car is not modified to the level allowed in STX, that class still gives me the best modifier, since I will be competing against other Novice drivers and similar cars using street tires- like xxxxx last week.

Later, when I am not a novice, if the class allows R-comps and I elect to use street tires, I can be in the Steet Tire PAX modifier for that class- in my case, C-stock Street Tires, since I plan to leave my car pretty much stock, but I'll be running street tires.

If I modify it to a particular class spec and the class allows R-comps, I can get the street tire PAX modifier for that class. However, if I modify it and the class does NOT allow R-comps (like STX) then I just get whatever the PAX is for that class anyhow, since everybody is running street tires. The goal there would be to select the best street tire for my car/driving/rain/show, whatever.