Private Tuning Hands v3.0

pic by Mark M.

Walked the course, twice. Just to make sure that I remember key elements of the course. Check my shock settings and tire pressure making sure they are correct. I kept a mental note of the course in my head as I come up to the starting line. 1st run, I did a low 40's. That's good! I felt that I am in a good position to break into the high 30's. Stupid me, I did not capitalize. 2nd and 3rd runs were slower. Round 12

Racing weekend! First time running 1st run group. Clarice and Carlo is still there rooting for me! Its cool because Carlo also helped me swap tires; from my drift tires to my autox tires. We were kinda late so I was hurring with registration, course walk, and setting up the car. Carlo wants to ride so I said to him I'll let him ride the first run. When we got to the grid, James Creasy told me that first run group was an inverted grid! Doh! totally forgot about that!

So I went my way to the very first on grid. I was the track duster! Its okay, hey at least Carlo is having a blast eh? The course, created by Cliff Fong, was especially tricky in that not all the slalom cones had pointers. Only the entrance and exit to the slalom had pointer so I had to really look at those or else I'll end up DNF'ing.

pic by fishnfst598 

First run, whew I didn't DNF but the usual, slow. I thought those slalom would be a problem but it wasn't. I had a hard time with the later part of the course. Carlo really liked the slalom course. He thought it was like a roller coaster ride.

Since he had a great time riding with me in autocross, I told him he can also ride my 2nd run. My second run was better by ~1.3 secs., but it was still slow. I felt that I can step on the gas harder on the back part of the course. On the third run, I had no passengers. First part of the course, I was about the same as my other 2 runs. But I really felt faster this time at the back part of the course. And then, I missed a pointer cone! And I even saw it pass by. I was like "damn! this could be my best time yet" But oh well, I already have enough points to be eligable for OSP-N trophy. Just having fun on the course and happy Clarice and Carlo made it. Im still on a quest for faster autox times though. I hope I can do better next round. Round 11

Racing weekend! Drift on Saturday, autox on Sunday! I haven't been to ThunderDrift event for a while so I went to practice my jerifts. Its better this time because my girlfriend Clarice and her brother Carlo was able to join me. I'm not a lonely drifter this time. It was cool because Clarice drove her Honda Odyssey so I was able to bring the tires for autox in her van plus some stuff.

I saw pogikip86 and Wesley in Chevron gas station before we got to the track. It was cool to see another 86 in the crowd. I was able to score 2 sets of Falken zeix 512 thru my local used tire shop! Hopefully, these 2 sets plus a new set of zeix 912 would last me the whole session.

Projected turnout was low. However, it turned out pretty good with about ~10 cars on Saturday. Still a whole lots of track time. I somewhat gave pointers to pogikip86 in his corolla about manjiing. I let him ride my car, rode his car, and even drove his car! Its cool to drive other people's car!

pic by Wesley

Manji requires a lot of concentration and adaptation, especially in a corolla with little horsepower. You drop your engine rpm, manjiing is over. Its controlling steering input and throttle position to achieve proper drift angle, engine rpm, and speed. I told him its a tall order, but with practice he will get it.

Eventually, pogikip86 was getting there. His speed was getting faster and was able to drift and do switchbacks in certain sections without spinning out. I hoped I helped him with some of my advice. Love driving his car! Though it had softer sping rates and significant body roll, its still very much driftable. Hey, its an 86 after all! His front tire is kinna washing out though, probably becasue its was kinna bald already. Anyways, good times. Nice to see new people get into drifting. 

Okay, I did learn something from the Autox schooling. So hopefully, I would use the things that I have learned. By accident, I realized that a 7/8 rear damper setting isn't so bad; no too much oversteer whatsoever. So for this round, I did exactly the same. I walked the course and picked key elements in the course where I need to really slow down. I looked at key cones as indicators so as I could look further ahead. Cool! I should see gains after the school.

 Blech. 1st run, I entered some corners too fast. Went of the line, and lost traction. Okay, I'll just re-adjust for the next run. 2nd run, I still was too hot in some corners and the rear is somewhat sluggish on the showcase corner. 3rd run, I did better, but marginal. My final time, a 50.0xx is okay. But I was not happy with my driving. What did I want? I want a 47.xxx dammit! I know the car can do it. (per Dave's driving) It's just me.

 After the runs and thinking back, what could I have done? Well I guess I should have braked harder in the points on the course where I need to slow down. My apexes we not right, I guess I was late apex'ing. What I think looking at certain cones is not good? I guess that's it. Looking at the cones, you tend to drive too it in a straight line. I guess that the reason why I was always late apex'ing. Anyways, I'm eligible for novice trophy already!!! Can't you believe, the season is more than halfway through already? Round 10

pic by Mark M.

I have a lot of questions coming into this autocross school. Initially, I was stoked to see that Ken Falconitin, a Toyota Starlet driver, will be my instructor. But he wasn't there.  However, I had Peter Thana no less! (STS Champ for a couple of years!) We first walked the course and gave me some hints along the way. Learn were your have to really slow the car to be fast. So he pointed out some parts of the course where I have to really slow down. I asked him one question that is always bugging me. When to brake, how hard to brake, and how long to brake in certain parts of the course. His suggestion was simple yet very effective: look ahead. Instead of looking 2~3 cones ahead, look 5~7 cone ahead. There was a section on the course where there is a constant radius corner followed by a hard left turn. By looking ahead (looking the that hard left cone) is was able to judge the correct amount of braking.

We had a break from the main course. In my group, they made a small rectangular course. It was kinda boring since were essentially just going around. Tons of gravel didn't help help either. After the lunch break, we were back again to the main course. This time around, I started looking at my times. First run was I think a high 58 secs. I always mess up the last portion of the course. The dropping pavement really reduces my traction.

At day's end, I think I improved my time to a mid 57's, a good second or so. Peter eventually dove my car and I was happy he liked it. Dave (baautox's gotzoom) also asked me if he can drive my car since he is building a Corolla to campaign. I said yes without hesitation. First run, out the bat, he got 55.xxx! Wow! did my car did that? He easily said the he can even see a 52 in my car! His only critique is that my brakes do not have feedback. He even let me drive his Mazada Miata for comparison! And yes the brakes on the Miata felt like night and day compared to the Corolla! And also, the Miata was a blast to autox! But other than that, he said it was great. When I was packing up at the end of the day, I realized that I set the rear shocks 7/8! It was a mess up but it did felt okay on the course. Hmmm, maybe I need to reconsider my rear shock settings?

pic by fishnfst's (baautox.com)

It's autocross again at Oakland. This time, I have increased the tire pressure; 39psi front and 37psi rear. That's about 2psi higher than the last round. Front shock setting is at 4/4 and 3/8 in the rear. On my first run, I did a 41.5. Not too good for the first run. On the final left turn, I ride the brakes too long that the car initiates into a drift before the corner. I was also not tucked in entering the 2 slalom cones on the back course.  

On my 2nd run, I improved my time by 3/10 secs. That's good, but I still unintentionally drifted the final back turn and still not tucked in on the back slalom. I still left my tire pressure and shock settings as is. I said to myself that if i can break 40's, I would be happy. On the 3rd run, I did break 40's! I got a 40.6, nearly half second quicker than my 2nd run! I was happy I got into the 40's, but then again, if I started with 40's to begin with, I might have gotten into the 39's eh? I still have a hard time analyzing and reading the course when doing the walk.

 I stuck around for fun runs. And guess what? I further improved my time to 40.3! That's another half second less. I didn't break where I used to break. I just let the momentum flow. And mind you that was a sloppy, not thought-out run. Maybe I should think too much when I run? Anyways, the highlight of the day is when James let me ride his Cobra. Man that thing is a beast!!! I got more tired riding in his car than driving mine! Gobs of acceleration and traction. Round 9   

pic by Scott Fong

Its been ages since I entered an amateur drifting competition. For some reason, I got butterflies in my stomach everytime "competition" is attached to a "drift event". I said to myself that: calm down; think of it as another drift session and just have some damn fun!

 pic by Brian H.

pic by Brian H. 

There were about 35 people who entered the competition. Throughout the morning, it was practice sessions. Rolling clouds mean that the track was wet most of the times. During my practice sessions, I was having a hard time being consistent. At first, I was hitting the cones mad after my 1st switchback. Sometimes, I would just spin out. There was also one scary moment when I straightened out heading for the gravel. Good thing I was able to stop in time! It is when the track was really soaking wet that I somewhat got my consistency down. All the while, I was humming Bob Marley's 'We're Jamming' song so I wouldn't be tensed.

 pic by Brian H.

 pic by Brian H.

 pic by Brian H.

Qualifying runs are up. On my 1st run, I messed up. My switchback was too late; I hit the outer cones and spun out. On my second run, I did good; just staying on course and didn't understeer. On the third run, no spin out however, I did straighten out right before the 180 sweeper. When they announced the top 16 drivers, I said to myself: "gee, it would be nice if i I got to top 16". Sure enough, they got to mention my name! Yippie!!! I get to drift more! By this time though, the track was much more drier than before. And those would be the last of my runs; on my 1st run, I was late again on the switchback. I hit the outer cones yet again and spun out. On my 2nd run, again I straightened out just before the 180 sweeper. Derryl mentioned to me that on my 2nd run, I lifted my left rear tire in the air! Man, I guess that bump played a role in unsettling my car's suspension when the track dried out.  

So I got dropped on top 8. However, 3 corollas continue on and eventually win the competition! Rick, Tom, and Rich were really consistent throughout the competition. Rick and Tom were even tied for 1st! Rick's killer drop-dirt run sealed the win. 

   Coming from a great round 7 at Candlestick, I said to myself that I was finally getting into the groove at autocrossing. I had somewhat of a confidence coming to this round. I mean common, less than a second difference from the top dogs at OSP? That felt awesome! However, this round told me that I still have waaaays to go in being 'good' at autocross.

1st run, I hit a cone near the starting line. On the long sweeper section, I inadvertently braked into a turn, resulting to a pretty sizable amount drift. I said to myself: "great this will be a sucky time." Top players in OPS were hovering in the 42's. If I get around the 46's I would consider that a success. Sure enough 2nd run was no better scratch 2 cones and 3rd run was clean but a measly 50's. I even lowered the rear pressure and damper setting on the 3rd run.

What was my problem? I guess when I break it down, it boils to being too hot entering into corners, bad trail braking habit, and funky vision hitting those cones. Too bad; although the course was tight, it was good flowing course. Too bad I didn't capitalize on that. (top pic by Mark)  Round 8