Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

I would love to see even a large group of the usuals at the oh-so-close rock falls and actually run their cars. It would be a lot of fun! I would also try auto x but im a laggy pos.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

Shit, I gotta buy a helmet too. Reading your post reminded me, kevin hahaha.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

i dont think I'm going to drag this year. 1st gear is slipping on the launch and 2nd gear is having a tricky time catching :P :( This year's also going to be pretty busy for me because I'm going to be done with college, and then heading out to Thailand for a month or so. Basically going to be busy march-july! argh!

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

I wish I had that kind of time off--enjoy it while you can. I'll be going for a week in April.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

I'd like to do a few more/different type of events this summer. I heard no mention of rallyx though :(

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

All of the potential events sound fun but I really had a good time at MAP's BIR event last year. I'll be going back to BIR if there is another MAP event this year.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

+1 to the MAP event, the timing is PERFECT for me and I Anna may even be up for coming if others are bringing significant others; we could all get a condo, or condos. Perhaps if we all focus on getting ready for that we could bring a landslide of MitsuStyle cars this year!

As far as autoX goes, I'm undecided. The novice school seems perfect, but also the test&tune day would be fine too IMHO, I don't mind spending a little extra. Would anyone else be interested in doing either of these?

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

Do it! There's usually a convoy of us St. Cloud guys a few times per summer up to BIR

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

I'd do the Novice School again if they'd let me, I'll try to get out and take some pics there, though. The T&T, count me in.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

I know everyone always talks down on them, but I actually liked Rock Falls a lot. I like the fact that the pits are right there next to the fence, and next to the bleachers. So everyone can hang out together on the sidelines when they aren't racing, even those who are just spectators.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

Kinda like how everyone talks up Cedar Falls, while my buddies down in Iowa hate the fuck out of it, and I had a poor experience myself. It's all objective, really.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

I think the word you were going for was subjective.

Anyway, doing the novice school again is a great idea, it was soo helpful, and I'd like to do it in dry conditions.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

I'm down for some drag racing events... I know it doesn't make sense cause our cars are imports and all, but If you go on fun days to rock falls, they tend to put more traction compound down it seems. I know import days they don't put any down... guess you AWD guys don't care as much as the 2 of us that want to race our FWD dyno queens. Game on!

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

I think I'd like to do a drag event or 2. My car isn't prepped for drag, nor do I find it all that interesting, but I have just never done it and would like to see how quickly my basically stock 1g could do it in.

I'll also almost certainly be at the novice school, with my chumpcar team and car to get everyone some seat time in it before any real events.

I'm also hopefully doing more autox events this year as well.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

They are not!!!!


I definately plan to hit up the drag strip this year again though. I'll get kicked off again probably, but it'll be fun to watch others. Maybe I'll try to run my DD just for kicks. Last year at rock falls I got to go on both an Import day, and a Fun day. They were both quite fun to attend, but the lines were way shorter on the Fun day. But even with the long lines on the import day, I still got 6 runs in, and it wasn't so bad because it let your car cool down. The Fun day had some mean looking cars, but most of them were just loud and not all that fast.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

heh, should have went on the fun day on back to the 50's weekend... I ran the bike I clocked like 19 runs. It was open season, all that practice and I only ran a 10.02... Damn 9's are elusive.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

Actually, BIR usually wont let people run on full slicks on Wed nights. Unless you tech the car on street tires then swap out to slicks.

It is actually a DOT approved helmet. But I do plan on getting a new one this year so I can get past tech for AUTOX and some full track time at BIR!!!

these cars turn pretty good with the right parts!!

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

Eh, whatever.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

this.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

Unfortunately, that isn't an option. The novice school exists as an introduction to autocross so you don't go to your first event completely blind. Beyond that we hold an intermediate autocross school for MAC members sometime during the year, otherwise you really should just go to an event.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

Lol, it's only an hour drive pussy. :P

but yeah, we would figure something out for sure.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

You do know that the DOT approval doesn't typically cut it for racing. It has to have a Snell rating usually.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

I thought Jeremy ran slicks on his Civic? (NOGRIP)


Wednesday nights they don't even check. We both rocked that helmet last year on Wed nights and they never even looked twice :lol:

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

Ha, well it's your head to do what you want with ;)

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

With an 89 mph trap speed, I wasn't really worried to much

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

I'm buying a helmet soon. The best bang/buck helmet I've found on the market is rated SA2005, and both Hughes and Zac bought one last year, they're pretty nice:

http://www.soloracer.com/pyroopenfacesa.html

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

I'm not a fan of the open face, cause i'd like to use mine if for some reason go snowmobiling, or buy a motorcycle. I'll prob take a trip up to the dennis kirk outlet up 35, and see what they have.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

I'm aware, that is also why I'm picking up a new one for this yr. They let it go with Mike trapping sub 22 sec passes and under 90mph and me pushing 120mph. However, last time I autox'd they didnt let me use it at all. And I'm guessing the road course will be a different story from a wed night drag session. I should find that out sometime this season, with a dot and snell helmet. ;)

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

Hey now!!! I ran 16's and trapped at 93 once thank you very much!!! :lol:

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

BIR has their schedule online for the HPDEs. They are fairly spendy. We usually just get up early and drive there and back in the same day to save lodging costs. One day that I went last year was on the long course for 1/2 of the day. HPDEs are generally on the short track though which was SCCA certified last fall. Both tracks are fun, but I like the big one better as I was able to go 150 on the straight.

I went to a HPDE event at Mid America (nebraska) last year that was cheap but it was 6 hrs away. Planning to go again this year. It is sponsored by woodhouse. You might be able to find info on that one if you look on their website.

I hope to go to many this year.

Car condition-stock and waiting to be driven.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

Current autocross rules calls for a SNELL2000 or newer rating, but after this upcoming season that will change to SNELL2005. MAC is fine with M or SA, but I believe the SCCA is more strict and requires SA.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

I only did 110 on the short course. You could probably do 130 or more if you were confident with your braking. haha. Not me.

Good stuff! I'll be seeing you out there.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

Seems like there are always a few purpose built race cars there. Most people do not have much experience and are just there to have fun. In the few times I have gone, I haven't seen anybody really trying to compete with anyone else. People are just there to have fun. There will always be faster cars and slower cars.

Were you there the day someone brought a 60s mustang there and was "cruising" around the track?

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

Yeah, that was the day that I went. I understand it was a woman driving her husbands 'baby' so she was driving about half the speed that everyone else was...

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

On the short course, I didn't feel comfortable enough to go much higher than 130 going in to turn 2. Rather not learn the limits of my car the hard way at that speed while turning :) Could probably push it a little further on the long course if I was a little more confident in the braking. Was the only time we were on the long course though.

I am sure I will see you there :)

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

^I would love to join in this.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

Might want to fight the tempation. It is expensive and is very addicting :) I almost considered building a car specificlally for doing this. Figured I could spend 7k or so, go as fast if not faster than my car around the track and could total out that car for cheaper than replacing my hood.

The nice thing is that it isn't too competitive. Most people don't care if they are the fastest one or not. Once in a while someone will brag about the car they are driving and how fast it is only to be put in their place by a car with less power or one not set up as well.

My goal is to have fun and not be the fastest one there.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

Totally. I'm guessing that tire wear will set me back as much as entrance fees.

It was my first time on the track so I wasn't pushing it at all...half the time I was in the wrong gear. I was also more likely to slow down prior to turns rather than brake hard. I've heard of guys boiling their stock brake fluid and that sort of thing...I doubt that I even came close.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

Not sure how picky you will be on your tires, but I will probably try to make 1 set of tires last most of the year. I think my brother and I will plan on using 1 car as we did the day you went because it is still close to $400 for us to share a car and we get plenty of driving time.

Make sure to change your brake fluid frequently as I have heard of fluid failing people. I will probably put some high temp fluid in. I have gone into a few turns a little fast and have had to really lean on the pedal a few times. It usually leads to the brakes being fairly spongy for the rest of the day and isn't as fun. The last day we went in 09, John was black flagged due to sparks coming from the brakes. Looked them over with the tech and did some 45-0 hard braking but didn't find any issues so we were able to continue.

Re: 2010 Bench Racer's League
 

I bought mine for quite a bit less, and I love it. Very comfortable, and it's Snell2005 :) If u wanna try it on you're more than welcome.

http://mitsustyle.com/forums/showthr...ghlight=helmet