FINALLY...my first AutoX with the Elise AND>>

[YELOTUS]

what a total hoot. Been AutoXing 15 years now and I can say without
hesitation that the Elise is the best car I have driven for AutoXing...communicates beautifully,
love the ability to power oversteer at will, go kart like for sure
Couple observations:
First though thanks to Ellen for 'loaning' me YELOTUS

-Elise has the non LSS setup and I ran with OEM tires since I wanted to
find out what it could do with a street set up...my confidence level
driving this car went up a 1000%

-Part of the course was a 360 twice around and I could (for fun not
for time..had total of 8 runs for the day so some I did
trying out things knowing my time would be impacted...my real time runs...well lets say
there were about 6 WRX STi with mods drivers shaking their heads
Anyway could drift the car at will but also could produce the dialed in
understeer that Lotus so wisely designed into the car. Definitely for the
more serious AutoXing the autoX tires are in the future.

-Car handles like a dream in a torque steer situation...you just feel
everything and no surprises

-Was able to keep car 'in the cams' whole time...that is a big plus
and having the high rpm capability is another big plus... the Elise and
the modded out S2000 were the only two cars out of fifty there that
could keep in first gear thru 75% of the course...and the S2000 was banging
the rev limiter whereas the Elise was not...not once

-Brakes were great...had Audis and VWs (GTI and R32) doing the ole
burnt brake smell and the Elise...nothing...piece of cake (weight weight
weight).

-This was a funny...I was in the second flight of the day...drove car
there, unloaded etc, tech inspection etc and then parked...hour later
hopped in car and staged (4th in line)...looked at instrument cluster...no digital
readout on engine temp...OH SH*T...knowing car would not go past
4500 rpm without that read out on I was reving engine waiting waiting for
the numbers to come on...just as I was motioned to stage it come on..whew.
So lesson is make sure your car is warmed up before staging...


As pic shows did the tape thing but not one cone or even clipping a
cone thank you so much

I will say the Elise was the eye candy and worship receiver for the
day...more compliments and things like 'that is one sweet drive and
wow! does that thing look good on the course'... took a young guy
out on one of the runs (mod GTI) and he was speechless other than
'my God...we don't have a chance'

Now to something we will all live with...SCCA has placed us in the
SS class...along with C5 & C6 vettes, 996, 997 & 996 turbo,
Espirit, and a few others...we have our work cut out for us!

That's it...totally jazzed!
Michael

[EdHahn]

Great job! Thanks for the story and the photos...and let me know next time you go to an event.

ed

[ConeFusion]

Interesting on the second picture: It looks like the inside rear tire is almost in the air, while the front has more ground contact. Makes it easy to see how a stiffer front swaybar can help the car.

I can't wait until our first event, just a little under two weeks to go.

[Carl AMG]

Michael,

Glad to see you made it to the event. It's nice to see an Elise out there.

What was your best timed run? My silver WRX (in your picture) is not an STI but has chip, exhaust, Stoptech brakes, some mild suspension mods (STI struts, sway bar, etc.) and Toyo RA-1's. My best was 37.3 which I believe was 4th fastest of the day. I did have the situation of first being too low in some areas and second being too tall. Third was the blue WRX with similar upgrades to mine plus a stage 4 engine (upgraded turbo, frount mount intercooler, injectors, etc.) The two STI's were stock.

I'd love to see another Elise with the Sport Package on the course to see the differences. Hopefully we get some takers from the board.

Carl

[Chris D.]

Carl,
My car has the sports package, and I am going to try to make it to the next event.

[Carl AMG]

Originally Posted by Chris D.

Carl,
My car has the sports package, and I am going to try to make it to the next event.

I would suggest you show up at about 8am on the morning of the event (May 22) to get your name on the list to run that day. Season pass holders have priority to run so you'll need to wait to get word that you will run that day. I can't recall seeing anyone turned away in the past but showing up early will help.

Information about the events (and times) will be posted at http://www.gws-mbca.org/ax/autocross.html. You can see results from past events there now. I competed last year in the AMG class with my C32 and won the season series. Though I have about 8 days on the track with my WRX, yesterday was the first time I have autocrossed the Subie.

I frequent this board as an ex-Elise deposit holder. When the time came to order, I came to the realization that the car is too small for me (and my feet) especially wearing a helmet with the hardtop that VIR requires if you run there. I'm keeping my C32 AMG and WRX but the two seat sports car niche looks like it will be filled with a new Boxster S. I hope to be autocrossing it at the MB events later in the year.

[YELOTUS]

Hi Carl...
Was a fun event... I figure with street tires and my having never AutoX the Elise and if I did not make a total klutz of myself I would be very glad to make in the top 10 times...might not have. My best time was either 38.03 or 38.1... couldn't hear the times clearly so I will have to wait for the time postings. Congrats on 4th...
Yep..will be interesting to see a LSS version run...
Michael

[EdHahn]

Originally Posted by Carl AMG

I frequent this board as an ex-Elise deposit holder. When the time came to order, I came to the realization that the car is too small for me (and my feet) especially wearing a helmet with the hardtop that VIR requires if you run there. I'm keeping my C32 AMG and WRX but the two seat sports car niche looks like it will be filled with a new Boxster S. I hope to be autocrossing it at the MB events later in the year.

Just a point of clarification - VIR does not require the hardtop - it's the club that sets the rules. The Mazda club was at VIR recently, and 4-5 Elises ran without a hardtop required.

ed

[Carl AMG]

Originally Posted by EdHahn

Just a point of clarification - VIR does not require the hardtop - it's the club that sets the rules. The Mazda club was at VIR recently, and 4-5 Elises ran without a hardtop required.

ed

I know this seems to be a point of contention about who sets the rules and I have been told by organizers of various marque event that the club must work within the track guidelines/restrictions and get appropriate insurance. However, I'm not an expert on the subject and it appears it is a club restriction from your example. But for me, it really doesn't matter who sets the rules if events have the restriction. I also don't think I would pass the broom stick test in the Elise anyway.

Please note the very specific Lotus restriction in the upcoming joint MB, BMW, and Audi club event:

http://www.nccbmwcca.org/index.php?id=8,425,0,0,1,0

Is this unusual or is the Mazda Driver's event out of the norm?

[coulthard fan]

Originally Posted by Carl AMG

Please note the very specific Lotus restriction in the upcoming joint MB, BMW, and Audi club event:

http://www.nccbmwcca.org/index.php?id=8,425,0,0,1,0

That's odd, the head of the NCC BMWCCA dirving schools told me 6 weeks ago that the Elise could not participate - at all, hardtop or not - in their events. Is this a change of tune? I'll try to find out.

[EdHahn]

Originally Posted by Carl AMG

Please note the very specific Lotus restriction in the upcoming joint MB, BMW, and Audi club event:

http://www.nccbmwcca.org/index.php?id=8,425,0,0,1,0

Is this unusual or is the Mazda Driver's event out of the norm?

Mazda Drivers has always allowed for convertibles with roll bars (4-pt mounting to body + broomstick test) - otherwise they would have to exclude the majority of their market (Miatas). FWIW, the Miata hardtop doesn't make a bit of difference (it's all roll-bar or not).

Dunno if they pay additional insurance as a result...but they do allow it, without any difficulty, at all of their sponsored events (which to date have been at Summit Point and VIR.)

ed

[autoxelise]

Nice post. This is the main reason behind me getting an Elise. I love auto-xing and its good to hear this from your guys.

[Ralbertina]

Originally Posted by ConeFusion

Interesting on the second picture: It looks like the inside rear tire is almost in the air, while the front has more ground contact. Makes it easy to see how a stiffer front swaybar can help the car.

I can't wait until our first event, just a little under two weeks to go.

Reto:

I'm from the St. Louis area. I've never auto-xed but have an interest in learning. Can you let me know where and when the first event is. I'd like to watch and learn

[ConeFusion]

Ralbertina, our first event is on April 24 at the Gateway race track (in the drag strip parking lot on the East side of the oval). We were supposed to have a couple of events earlier, but we've been having issues with our other site, which is UMB Pavillion (formerly known as Riverport). Chrysler uses it as overflow lot for the minivans they can't sell.

You can find the full schedule at http://www.stlsolo.org. Come on out. Watching is ok if you prefer to just check it out first, but IMHO it's not much of a spectator sport. Sign up and run! Our novice school had to be rescheduled (to an undetermined date) because of the lot issues. It was full, but you could still try getting on the list in case people drop out.