HS Autocross chronicles

[tri-pedaler]

Just did my first SCCA event - a “school” day with the Indy region at Grissom Aeroplex. Such a good time, and it’s great to meet people who want to better their driving and not their egos (well, most of them - looking at you Porsche guy).

My car is stock except for a few small things (previous owner put in a trunk bar and 7.5” 1552 wheels). I’m on all seasons and so very traction-limited, but at this point that’s ok. Really need to learn car placement to set up the next element, and weight transfer - and that can be done on the PS A/S tires, squeal as they might. I’ll eventually do tires, shocks, and a rear bar to help with rotation, but no need to do that yet if I can’t place the car on the right part of the course!

Any new “driver tips” for this platform?

Do people trail brake to get the rear to come around, or do all their braking in a straight line?

View: https://youtu.be/TONJYFTtyaQ

 

[tri-pedaler]

Second event down - this one was a SCCA Starting Line daylong session in Cincinnati. Amazingly helpful, and best of all my coach for the day was Alex Piehl, national champ in HS in 2019 in a FiST. Lots of good set up advice from him for when I start sorting things out down the road. For now, it’s working on course placement, getting the car to rotate, and keeping the eyes ahead.

To my surprise, the Michelin PS4 A/S held up in the 90 degree heat - I figured they’d heat cycle out.

Highlight from the day was this clean run - bested 3 of the 4 Corvettes in the group and half a second off coach’s run (who was probably sandbagging)

View: https://youtu.be/bj8NUxew6Mg


Now onto a real competition day…

 

[tri-pedaler]

And just for good measure, here’s Alex’s run.

As always, videos don’t do it justice - such an aggressive but controlled driving style.

View: https://youtu.be/a5QvUHO_tSI

 

[CSM]

Hey I know that guy. Piehl is from my region and a close friend. He drove my SSC car at Nationals last year in the pro Solo and came in third. Dude is a really good driver

 

[tri-pedaler]

Hey I know that guy. Piehl is from my region and a close friend. He drove my SSC car at Nationals last year in the pro Solo and came in third. Dude is a really good driver

Alex was an amazing instructor - really pushed me. And he always chatted with people to help them improve - to the very end of the day in a roasting Cincinnati parking lot. Rare to meet someone so passionate about the sport.

 

[dhminer]

Alex was an amazing instructor - really pushed me. And he always chatted with people to help them improve - to the very end of the day in a roasting Cincinnati parking lot. Rare to meet someone so passionate about the sport.

I love people that genuinely give a shit

 

[tri-pedaler]

3rd outing, this time a bigger one - National Tour event at Grissom near Indy. Lots of very talented drivers, with some coming from as far away as DC.

You only get three runs, so this time was really about focusing on visualizing the course and trying my best to learn from watching previous heats.

Still running the all seasons, so this was another learning day - but it was a free entry with the Starting Line event I did in Cincinnati.

Overall, I was fairly happy with how I did, considering the tires and this being a third event. Still lots to learn about placement and being patient to get the car to rotate in sweepers.

After day 1 I’m in 5th out of 7 - the 10th Gen Civic sport hatches are honestly great cars with lots more rubber under them. And fast drivers too - very nice bunch

Also - a very cool course!

View: https://youtu.be/KT8NiO3YO5A

 

[CSM]

3rd outing, this time a bigger one - National Tour event at Grissom near Indy. Lots of very talented drivers, with some coming from as far away as DC.

You only get three runs, so this time was really about focusing on visualizing the course and trying my best to learn from watching previous heats.

Still running the all seasons, so this was another learning day - but it was a free entry with the Starting Line event I did in Cincinnati.

Overall, I was fairly happy with how I did, considering the tires and this being a third event. Still lots to learn about placement and being patient to get the car to rotate in sweepers.

After day 1 I’m in 5th out of 7 - the 10th Gen Civic sport hatches are honestly great cars with lots more rubber under them. And fast drivers too - very nice bunch

Also - a very cool course!

View: https://youtu.be/KT8NiO3YO5A

That's awesome! I tried to fit in that event into my schedule this year, but was tied up with some family stuff. I have quite a few friends who are there representing steel cities region.

I like the surface at Grissom but with the lot configuration it's hard to do a lot of variety with the courses. Looks like Alex Jones was able to make it work as a course designer and come up with something a bit unique for the site. Glad you had fun!

 

[tri-pedaler]

Day 2 of the National Tour. Was able to get back on account of it being Father’s Day and thanks to a very supportive spouse. Really can’t believe I’m getting to do driving days like this - never dreamed I’d get to.

I learned a lot about placement and visualizing the course. I finally feel like I’ve outgrown the all seasons - strict pedagogues though they might be.

Below is my 3rd run if 3 - good enough for 5th. All Civic Sports ahead on RE71RS tires with good drivers that taught me a lot - with one exception who won… more on that in a second.

Everything made sense to me on this run and I liked my lines, except the final chicane…

View: https://youtu.be/JXYXPBShFPE

 

[tri-pedaler]

I l Looks like Alex Jones was able to make it work as a course designer and come up with something a bit unique for the site. Glad you had fun!

Yes - Alex did a great job, and created another fun course for day 2. Hope our paths cross at the next one in IN!

 

[tri-pedaler]

So the car that got first in HS? A BMW i3! Jason P is the only person in the country running one, and a very good driver. Hats off to him for trying something different, and he does have some interesting advantages - a rwd, carbon fiber tubbed EV in HS. Smart.

The wheels though…6” rear, 5.5” wagon wheels up front. He had someone fabricate rims for him and then pinched some Bridgestones in there. Very original.


Final note - swapped with a new friend to drive a country mile in each other’s cars. His was the current alpha, the Civic Sport. It has lots of merits, chiefly the wide stock rims. The car is very practical and well sorted. But I have to say the FiST is way more fun and has more character. Hopefully that’s hit sour grapes - the CS really is impressive. But the shifter is surprisingly rubbery for a Honda, and the engine’s no fun. Very nice of him to offer a swap though

 

[M-Sport fan]

I am guessing that the weight of the battery(ies?) and motors way down low helps offset the overall height of that Bimmer (along with the lower mass carbon fiber used), to the point of even giving it an advantage?

Not to mention the instant max torque available for launching off of the apexes.

 

[tri-pedaler]

I am guessing that the weight of the battery(ies?) and motors way down low helps offset the overall height of that Bimmer (along with the lower mass carbon fiber used), to the point of even giving it an advantage?

Not to mention the instant max torque available for launching off of the apexes.

Yes, it does have several advantages. But the tires are really what kills it. I actually overestimated above. They’re 5 inch fronts and 5.5 inch rears (!)

We’ll see how he does it nationals!

 

[M-Sport fan]

Yeah, at those widths he is gonna need some '00 tread wear' , 200 tread wear donuts on that thing to be competitive at the big show.

 

[tri-pedaler]

to be competitive at the big show.

Wouldn’t we all!

 

[the duke]

I am guessing that the weight of the battery(ies?) and motors way down low helps offset the overall height of that Bimmer (along with the lower mass carbon fiber used), to the point of even giving it an advantage?

Not to mention the instant max torque available for launching off of the apexes.

Yes. Guy once had a CMAX and it had little bodyroll, but all the weight was near the axleline since it's like a skateboard chassis.

 

[CSM]

I am guessing that the weight of the battery(ies?) and motors way down low helps offset the overall height of that Bimmer (along with the lower mass carbon fiber used), to the point of even giving it an advantage?

Not to mention the instant max torque available for launching off of the apexes.

Not really. That car is never going to win nationals in H Street due to tire limitations. Jason is a good driver and it carries him at smaller events, but he was 15th at nationals last year. 1st through 9th were civic sports. They really are the overdog in H Street.

 

[tri-pedaler]

Finally got out again after a long hiatus. First time on 200tws and lightweight wheels (RPF1s). I knew they needed heat but I still almost spun the first run. After that it was pushing later and later into braking zones, and I still had further to go on a few tight corners.

it was a “Corvette course” today, so lots of high speed sections. Fun, but we were all bouncing off the rev limiters in HS (debated going to 3rd, but doubt it would be worth it).

Ended up 2nd for the day, behind another FiST. Still more to learn!

View: https://youtu.be/cyDtVLE1Nqg?si=RrkDVA9iM84exqXv

 

[FiestaSTdude]

Finally got out again after a long hiatus. First time on 200tws and lightweight wheels (RPF1s). I knew they needed heat but I still almost spun the first run. After that it was pushing later and later into braking zones, and I still had further to go on a few tight corners.

it was a “Corvette course” today, so lots of high speed sections. Fun, but we were all bouncing off the rev limiters in HS (debated going to 3rd, but doubt it would be worth it).

Ended up 2nd for the day, behind another FiST. Still more to learn!

View: https://youtu.be/cyDtVLE1Nqg?si=RrkDVA9iM84exqXv

I really like how you have the video for each auto x course you do. It looks really fun! How do you remember where to go? At least in the video it appears that the course isn’t very well defined.

 

[tri-pedaler]

I really like how you have the video for each auto x course you do. It looks really fun! How do you remember where to go? At least in the video it appears that the course isn’t very well defined.

The tipped cones point you. And you go slow at first - and get lost. It’s all part of learning and everyone’s been there. You can also get ride-alongs from more experienced drivers. Fun sport and good people.