1st autox on the new Ecstas

[NoCones]

results here:
http://www.brr-scca.org/12-09-01ax.html

Tim Aro showed up and lapped the field. He and I talked a little about the new Ecsta V700's before the event...he has tried them and characterized them as "horrible" the first time out and then better after they got some wear/heat cycles on them.

I certainly found grip to be lacking...hopefully I'll see some improvement the next time out. It didn't help that a couple sections of the course that demanded hard acceleration were uphill with some turning...quite a recipe for wheelspin. The course also had two verrry tight turnarounds that required 1st gear.

With the new tires and cold weather conspiring against grip, I don't know if I can fairly say whether or not I prefer the 205 to the 225...stay tuned...the fact that I didn't get loose in a downhill slalom gives me hope that the 205's are providing some better grip in the rear.

[B1mmer]

Hey Bryan... not sure if I'm going to ever buy the Ecsta V700, but if I did, I would shave them to start. Apparently, they will wear the same, yet give you much better traction than full tread. I know in your case you just want them to last for a bunch of events, and you'll use Hoosiers at the National events so you won't finish over a second behind me! Ha ha. You still ran pretty well overall at the Charity event, and I've heard about the Ecsta's being less than grippy their first few events.

Scott's going to co-drive my car this weekend at VMP on a set of BFG R1's. These babies are vintage, one of the close-out sets sold from Tirerack in April. The guy barely heat cycled them.. they look brand new, and for $200, who cares how competitive they are. It's a pair of 225's and a pair of 205's. I'm going to experiment with the 225's up front to start, and during fun run's, put the 205's up front.

We need to run an event together. See if the family will let you run the next VMP event in January. Later, Aaron :D

[autxr]

I haven't been overwhelmed by the new Kuhmo's yet.

Our first event on them they were great - but that was on a gritty lot where street tires were often good. A new set of full tread stickies were the right tire for the job...

The next event on them the car did a snap oversteer thing on Sally's first run (cold tires) and boom (literally). The rest is history.

Not looking like we'll get the car back by this weekend. They have promised before Christmas.

They better hurry I'm starting to like my Ford Ranger rental.

Not.

This truck can't even maintain speed up light hills on the highway. It needs to downshift. These are the same hills I can go up in the Celica in 6th gear, at the same speed and accelerate.

Scott

[NoCones]

Aaron--I might be able to swing that Jan NASA event...especially considering I'll be spending the next week at home with Meredith, who has the chicken pox...that ought to give me enough leverage for an autocross day!

I think you guys will find 225 up front and 205 in the rear to be a good combo. I think we should try that with Hoosiers if we run national events together.

[ConeKiller]

What is the date of that January event (NASA?) I don't have anything to go to until Ft. Myers...

Rick

[autxr]

January 13 if I remember right.

First car off at noon. Email Karen Krause for any details, she runs the show there in VA.

i'll probably run on street tires. It'l be my wifes first event back after the wreck so we want to take it easy.

Scott