If it was your first event I'd say get seat time before doing anything else.
Need help with a build for Elise!
Hey everyone I have had my 05 elise for 3 years now and just did my first auto x event yesterday, though I had a blast I felt like I didnt do well at all...The only thing I have done to it is a Katana 2. I need more handling and grip in corners my front wheels dont like to keep traction... Please help. BTW I still want to be able to drive it wherever I want since I drive it every week.
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If you have only done one track event it is unlikely your skills have exhausted the capabilites of the car even in its original form. I did my first trackx in my Lotus ( first 8 turns of our track vs. racing around cones) last fall and I felt like I was fighting the car. Truth is my braking/turn in points and throttle modulation were not even close to what it should be. Obviously my Viper was much different on the track and I needed to adjust my driving style.
If you go into a corner too late (typical for us beginners) it will result in a understeer condition and the car will feel like the front end is fighting to the outside of the turn. This loads up the front tires and the front end feels very heavy. The car is best when it is in an oversteer condition (back end it trying to swing loose) as the weight/HP will allow you to modulate the throttle and that will cause the car rear end to hunker down and avoid the tail end from coming loose. The old saying is turn in early and slow and you will come out smooth and fast. Then begin your turn in point deeper into the curve until you to get the perfect line . If you running out to track at your track out position your in too early, if your fighting the front your in to late........if it is smooth you know you got it right.
If I were you I would spend the money on a HPDE track day. The instructor will work with you on getting the most out of your car. Those stategies will transfer to your Autox events. The first time I tracked my car, I wanted to get all over it as you only have so many runs and you want to get the most from it. Better to take it slow, get the lines right and the speed will come. You may end up slower than the others now but you will eventually begin to CONSISTENTLY post better times than the ricers.
I also have a desire to upgrade the car, but first I am investing on upgrading the driver. For example, guys are spending $300 on a battery that saves them 3 lbs. If I could just lay off the dounuts for a week I could drop 10lbs and save myself 7lbs and $200. Then I could use that $200 to buy a HPDE track day. I beleive I will know it when the car is holding me back but I suspect that will be awhile.
If you go into a corner too late (typical for us beginners) it will result in a understeer condition and the car will feel like the front end is fighting to the outside of the turn. This loads up the front tires and the front end feels very heavy. The car is best when it is in an oversteer condition (back end it trying to swing loose) as the weight/HP will allow you to modulate the throttle and that will cause the car rear end to hunker down and avoid the tail end from coming loose. The old saying is turn in early and slow and you will come out smooth and fast. Then begin your turn in point deeper into the curve until you to get the perfect line . If you running out to track at your track out position your in too early, if your fighting the front your in to late........if it is smooth you know you got it right.
If I were you I would spend the money on a HPDE track day. The instructor will work with you on getting the most out of your car. Those stategies will transfer to your Autox events. The first time I tracked my car, I wanted to get all over it as you only have so many runs and you want to get the most from it. Better to take it slow, get the lines right and the speed will come. You may end up slower than the others now but you will eventually begin to CONSISTENTLY post better times than the ricers.
I also have a desire to upgrade the car, but first I am investing on upgrading the driver. For example, guys are spending $300 on a battery that saves them 3 lbs. If I could just lay off the dounuts for a week I could drop 10lbs and save myself 7lbs and $200. Then I could use that $200 to buy a HPDE track day. I beleive I will know it when the car is holding me back but I suspect that will be awhile.
First auto x event not first time racing my car I were doing road courses but where im stationed at all I have now is auto x to go to. I need more grip in the front. I was wondering if canards would help at those speedIf it was your first event I'd say get seat time before doing anything else.
Luckly for my I am 25 and weight all of 155lbs haha But I get what your saying I think I was attacking the corners to aggressively but at the same time i wasnt getting any understeer at all I was getting more oversteer and i want to fix that. But what your saying makes more since Auto Xing and road courses are completely different for me its a whole other beast. But its the most fun 50 seconds im going to get around here hahaha. Also Im not using toyo's or yoko's im using falken all weather tires I'm sure that has to play a big roll in not gripping up. But I dont have money to buy sets of tires after another. I drive my elise alll the time and I dont want to eat through those tires. What is the tread wear really like if you were to daily drive it.If you have only done one track event it is unlikely your skills have exhausted the capabilites of the car even in its original form. I did my first trackx in my Lotus ( first 8 turns of our track vs. racing around cones) last fall and I felt like I was fighting the car. Truth is my braking/turn in points and throttle modulation were not even close to what it should be. Obviously my Viper was much different on the track and I needed to adjust my driving style.
If you go into a corner too late (typical for us beginners) it will result in a understeer condition and the car will feel like the front end is fighting to the outside of the turn. This loads up the front tires and the front end feels very heavy. The car is best when it is in an oversteer condition (back end it trying to swing loose) as the weight/HP will allow you to modulate the throttle and that will cause the car rear end to hunker down and avoid the tail end from coming loose. The old saying is turn in early and slow and you will come out smooth and fast. Then begin your turn in point deeper into the curve until you to get the perfect line . If you running out to track at your track out position your in too early, if your fighting the front your in to late........if it is smooth you know you got it right.
If I were you I would spend the money on a HPDE track day. The instructor will work with you on getting the most out of your car. Those stategies will transfer to your Autox events. The first time I tracked my car, I wanted to get all over it as you only have so many runs and you want to get the most from it. Better to take it slow, get the lines right and the speed will come. You may end up slower than the others now but you will eventually begin to CONSISTENTLY post better times than the ricers.
I also have a desire to upgrade the car, but first I am investing on upgrading the driver. For example, guys are spending $300 on a battery that saves them 3 lbs. If I could just lay off the dounuts for a week I could drop 10lbs and save myself 7lbs and $200. Then I could use that $200 to buy a HPDE track day. I beleive I will know it when the car is holding me back but I suspect that will be awhile.
No. Just no.First auto x event ...
I was wondering if canards would help at those speed
You are looking in the wrong direction. If you're going to make a change beyond more seat time (which is *all* you really need to do for the moment), scrap the crappy all season tires and get some real tires on the car. (you should do that anyway. All-seasons on these cars is a bit of a crime, imo). That alone will wake the car up. If you can't spring for a new set, do yourself a favor and start saving for them (or put the money into more entry fees
). Most anything else is wasting money at this point. Seriously, nothing will make you and your car faster right now than more seat time.
Here's a good book.
[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Solo-Racing-Techniques-Autocross/dp/0962057312/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392078443&sr=1-1&keywords=autocross[/ame]
A heavy duty sway bar from Blackwatch racing makes a big difference too.
[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Solo-Racing-Techniques-Autocross/dp/0962057312/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392078443&sr=1-1&keywords=autocross[/ame]
A heavy duty sway bar from Blackwatch racing makes a big difference too.
You did fine, it will come, you don't pick it up overnight.
First big mods I did with noticeable improvements was Slicks, shocks, bar, Sector arms, pulled my shims.
It was good meeting you, PM me if you have any questions.
First big mods I did with noticeable improvements was Slicks, shocks, bar, Sector arms, pulled my shims.
It was good meeting you, PM me if you have any questions.
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