1st autoX ever in my NSX

[apapada]

Hello,

today I stumble onto an autoX event organized by the local Clemson Car Racing Club and decided to stay and watch a little. Immediately people came around my car and I and started giving me compliments (about the car, not me !). They even talked me in to competing the car into their event although they had started 4 hours earlier. My 92 NSX is stock with ECSTA 712 (less than 1,000 miles on them). Cost of the event for 4-5 runs = $5 !!!

I am an amateur autoXer and maybe do 2-3 events a year. This was the first one in my NSX (got it last month from Donymo)

First Impression: borrowed helmet would touch roof. I'm only 5'11" and could not find a comfortable position. Gonna try my own helmet. Hopefully I'll have some clearance (I like my seat at a right angle)

Second impression, I'm sure there are better tires than these for autoXing. These KUMHOs are a real disappointment.

Third impression was how controllable my NSX is, and how much fun it is to steer it just by using the throttle (occasionnaly using the steering wheel for corrections) . I would do this again and again, very fast flawlessly. I have owned other mid-engine cars in the past, some more powerful than the NSX, some less powerfull. Although attacking the corners was in a general way similar, this NSX is much more predictable than anything I've ever autoXed or tracked. I would just hope the fine balancing line was a bit broader, I'm sure better tires/different setup will help with this (didn't have the equipment to play with tire pressures, the only mod I could have done).

Fourth impression: TCS needs to be turned off, or power cuts shave some serious time off the run. With TCS off, going back on the gas gets a bit more tricky, but not too much.

Fifth impression: I need a "Number #065 being served now" sign to manage effeciently all the shotgun-rides those kids were lining up for... A really pleasant surprise overall !

Looking forward to my first track event with the NSX, at CMP at the end of September.

later

 

[4AU4LIFE]

I have always wanted to do that. Maybe will work up the courage one day also.

 

[Tank]

I keep trying to tell folks that autox is a great way to enjoy the car. Where else can you drive it at 100% without fear of destroying it? I'm racing mine in ASP and have finally become competitive this summer. In our last championship - July13th - I finished 4th but only a little over 2 seconds separated me and first place. That's the tightest ASP has been in this region in a long time.

I stayed on crappy street tires for a long time to get the feel of the car. When I switched to Kumho Ecsta V700s, it was a quantum leap in handling. I'm moving up to the Hoosiers by the end of the year. Those 2 tires plus the Victoracers are the only tires the fast cars run on out here.

At 6-2, I had to pull the bottom cushion out of the driver's seat to fit in the car w/ helmet. You really do have to sit upright to drive.

And the waiting list for riders ain't bad either.

Tank

 

[apapada]

I keep trying to tell folks that autox is a great way to enjoy the car. Where else can you drive it at 100% without fear of destroying it?

I would even say: "where else can you learn to drive it in order one day, not to distroying it ? IMHO, Auto-X is the best "real-street" driving school one can go to. I know the reflexes I learnt during the last 5 years have saved my butt twice (in avoiding other boneheads on the road).

At 6-2, I had to pull the bottom cushion out of the driver's seat to fit in the car w/ helmet. You really do have to sit upright to drive.

Do you remove the bottom seat for the event only ? How does one do this (remove+re-install) without braking anything ?

Thank you in advance

 

[supercharged]

"First Impression: borrowed helmet would touch roof. I'm only 5'11" and could not find a comfortable position. Gonna try my own helmet. Hopefully I'll have some clearance (I like my seat at a right angle)"

There are easy ways to get clearance - some talked about here on Prime regarding the lower seat cushion, this should make you feel more secure in the seat also.

Cheers

 

[Tank]

Auto-X is the best "real-street" driving school one can go to.

Absolutely!

Do you remove the bottom seat for the event only ? How does one do this (remove+re-install) without braking anything ?

As Supercharged said, there's some stuff in FAQ. There is a bit of a trick to getting the lower cushion off if you haven't done it before, but no big deal. You have to remove the entire seat to do it right. The problem is the small plastic studs that hold it to the frame bottom ( I just broke mine off). I liked having the cushion out so much I just left it that way, although it's pretty easy to put back. I put a thin pad from Pep Boys over the exposed frame to give some padding. Dali Racing sells an insert that's more finished looking than my home-made version. But since they don't make it in tan, mine is just as good at this point.

Keep on racing!