My "rotating" Tacoma that is! Rear anti-roll bar installation is complete and she's treaded with Falken Azenis sports... this baby handles now! Toyota Tacoma extended cab + Bilstein HD dampers + Roadmaster Active Suspension + custom modified Hellwig rear ARB + Falken Azenis sport tires = weeeeeeeeeeeeeee! She doesn't need to fear the slolams anymore... Based on a few other Tacoma autocrossers (OK... 1 other Tacoma crosser... ) it looks like 40psi front and 33psi rear should be a good starting point for the Falken Azenis.

Here's the course she (and I, and the others) will be facing:



I'll be bringing my digital SLR, so hopefully there will be some good pictures of the Sunday event to share next week sometime.


Vracer111, going for first in STF class this sunday: the truck has the potential to place - but not sure on the driver...

 

that's pretty cool.... will you be running the course to scale? or whatever fits your lot? lemme know if you beat 49.6 seconds...

 

What's STF?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Vracer111 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Here's the course she (and I, and the others) will be facing:



...</TD></TR></TABLE>

That is a replica of this years Nationals South Course.

 

south course nationals! w00t!!! I liked that course (jumped from 9th to 5th all b/c of the south course!)

be prepared to sack up and hold on....oh, and make sure your 2nd-1st shift is good too

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by J01SH &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What's STF?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

F Street Touring - currently where the Ford Foci, Mazda MP5's, Honda Civic Hatchback's, and others with mild performance mods hang out. And we're all chasing this guy... Mr. SpeedChannel himself (607 )......Mike Spears.

2nd to 1st downshift...where, turn 3?

 

yea at three. you have to go down to 1st before the tight right into left 180. it's a free downshift if you do it right. i didn't, ever and thats where I lost the most time too.

 

[Thinking out loud mode = on] I think I have a reference point for the 2nd-1st gear shift - the pointer cone opposite the light pole. Figure what, 20-15mph at around 4,000-3,000rpm; 3,000rpm at 15mph would probably be best since that's when the 2RZ motor comes alive. Hold her in first til 5,000rpm where she'll be screaming like a banshee - probably (hopefully) before the first of the two pointer cones on the inside of the 180 degree left turn. Shift to 2nd. Easy! [Thinking out loud mode = off]

 

i grabbed second at the 2nd pointer....but i was on hoosiers and concrete...don't know what surface you'll be on.

 

speaking of the course surface - Topeka is a large flat concrete area right?

Gulf Greyhound Park is asphalt and with most course layouts has peaks and valleys, negative/positive camber turns, and some loose gravel in the turns.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Vracer111 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">speaking of the course surface - Topeka is a large flat concrete area right?

Gulf Greyhound Park is asphalt and with most course layouts has peaks and valleys, negative/positive camber turns, and some loose gravel in the turns.</TD></TR></TABLE>

It is large but it's not very flat. South couse is on an incline running from west to east (west lower than east) and there's a leveling off on the easternmost 1/3 of the course. Nnorth course is very bump with some elevation changes. Both courses accumulate water oddly if it rains. There are some sites around the country that offer a better autox surface.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Vracer111 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">[Thinking out loud mode = on] I think I have a reference point for the 2nd-1st gear shift - the pointer cone opposite the light pole. Figure what, 20-15mph at around 4,000-3,000rpm; 3,000rpm at 15mph would probably be best since that's when the 2RZ motor comes alive. Hold her in first til 5,000rpm where she'll be screaming like a banshee - probably (hopefully) before the first of the two pointer cones on the inside of the 180 degree left turn. Shift to 2nd. Easy! [Thinking out loud mode = off]</TD></TR></TABLE>

no! don't do that! 2nd gear the whole way man. if you hit "obligatory rude turn" correctly and don't push wide you'll have just enough momentum by the 180* turn that you'll have to lift to get the thing to point in. with all the torque the 2RZ motor makes, 1st gear will just burn up tires. that's assuming the scale is nearly the same...

nate

 

i forgot to add that the 2-1 shift was beneficial to me because i actually could put the power do lol lsd

 

Most of our courses range between 45-55 seconds for the tops guys - so the scale should be similar I think since it looks like a 'larger' course. I guess you've got a point on staying in second - the 2RZ should do fine to accelerate in second gear. Plus I really don't know how successfully I could do a first gear shift, since she's more stubborn to go into first than and integra. Just gotta run a smooth line I guess...

On a side note, I just ran by the Academy store today to get a new pair of gloves for autocrossing (sick and tired of buying batting gloves) and found something I really like! Extreme Handball gloves - these babies rock! One piece leather glove that is designed for tactile feel and rough punishment.... plus the fit is perfect! Can't wait for tomorrow!