Just checking in... not the most experienced autocrosser or race driver, and not trying to do well at Nationals or anything advanced like that, but just getting back into it after some absence.
Haven't done too much testing prior (except tire sizes, shock settings, rear sway bar). I do like testing and analyzing, dialing things in. So another thought perhaps for people looking to get into it more than tips for the guys at the sharp end for sure.
Class restrictions -- SCCA H-Street (Stock) -- This is the most handicapped class
Wheels -- Min offset allowed 41.5mm (using 42mm and also tried wheels and combinations with 45)... the 40 and 38 and such are not allowed.
Wheels -- Max 18" min 16" allowed, must be 7" wide, went with 16" front and rear but have seen a larger diameter rear combined with the smaller diameter front to get the best rotation behavior with Bridgestone tires but some top guys.
Tires -- 200 max treadwear (stock tires are 140 BTW so they not only have less grip than some of the competition level rubber but per rules allowances not allowed for H-Street). Tried BFG Rival Hankook RS4 and Dunlop DZIII. Tried various sizes, worn but sticky 215/45R16 for the Rivals, 205/50R16 for the DZIII and 205/45R16 for the Kooks. Just a little bit of testing and prefer the behavior and overall the DZIII although I think the Bridgestones and BFG's are quicker in terms of outright grip when in the propoer temp range. Ended up with 46PSI warm front 36PSI rear warm, 100 degree day with good grippy surface.
Shocks -- stock rear shocks and Koni yellow which are adjustable for rebound setting only -- the Koni is more plush than stock at all but the stiffest setting as I think that the shock is for all Fiesta not necessarily just the ST... and they are a PITA to adjust. I ended up with a rebound setting 1 full turn out from fill stiff, but I'm also running a rear swaybar now so otherwise all the way in may work... sort of... back to the theory of every suspension works if you don't let it. Haha... anyway, most people recommend full in, so perhaps a half turn out might have been the sweet spot. Rebound is designed to properly match and control the spring, but AX is about getting through a course faster, so it can help the car rotate as it pack's down and the valving may influence compression damping somewhat.
Sway Bar -- allowed to modify one end or the other to tune the balance of the car, some people change the front, I've added a 22mm bar to the rear, and this was the last step in my testing before going out on course on Sunday.
Alignment -- there was way too much toe in from the factory on my car, even had tire wear dust on the side skirts from the increased wear. Minimized toe, and it was so much sweeter on the highway also. Didn't mess with trying to squeeze outa bit of camber, maybe next time... and slight toe out will probably improve the AX performance/response.
Changed the Air Filter (green), Oil (Penn Ultimate 5W20), and added a different shift knob. Other than struts and different tires/wheels than I chose, that's pretty much the most that can be done.
Result -- Happy with much of the high speed behavior of the car, especially on the many difficult decreasing radius stuff, it as great braking and turning from top of second gear and made made look good in this difficult area, although it was on the edge and could get to be a handful if you over drive it. For the slaloms it was lazyer than I would prefer, I expected the car to be absolutely awesome here and so maybe that's why I'm more critical, and perhaps trying to get more camber and toe out might help. Seems as fast as any H-Street car on this day, first time out for the car and my first time in over a decade, although the driver needs infinately more work than the car.
Haven't done too much testing prior (except tire sizes, shock settings, rear sway bar). I do like testing and analyzing, dialing things in. So another thought perhaps for people looking to get into it more than tips for the guys at the sharp end for sure.
Class restrictions -- SCCA H-Street (Stock) -- This is the most handicapped class
Wheels -- Min offset allowed 41.5mm (using 42mm and also tried wheels and combinations with 45)... the 40 and 38 and such are not allowed.
Wheels -- Max 18" min 16" allowed, must be 7" wide, went with 16" front and rear but have seen a larger diameter rear combined with the smaller diameter front to get the best rotation behavior with Bridgestone tires but some top guys.
Tires -- 200 max treadwear (stock tires are 140 BTW so they not only have less grip than some of the competition level rubber but per rules allowances not allowed for H-Street). Tried BFG Rival Hankook RS4 and Dunlop DZIII. Tried various sizes, worn but sticky 215/45R16 for the Rivals, 205/50R16 for the DZIII and 205/45R16 for the Kooks. Just a little bit of testing and prefer the behavior and overall the DZIII although I think the Bridgestones and BFG's are quicker in terms of outright grip when in the propoer temp range. Ended up with 46PSI warm front 36PSI rear warm, 100 degree day with good grippy surface.
Shocks -- stock rear shocks and Koni yellow which are adjustable for rebound setting only -- the Koni is more plush than stock at all but the stiffest setting as I think that the shock is for all Fiesta not necessarily just the ST... and they are a PITA to adjust. I ended up with a rebound setting 1 full turn out from fill stiff, but I'm also running a rear swaybar now so otherwise all the way in may work... sort of... back to the theory of every suspension works if you don't let it. Haha... anyway, most people recommend full in, so perhaps a half turn out might have been the sweet spot. Rebound is designed to properly match and control the spring, but AX is about getting through a course faster, so it can help the car rotate as it pack's down and the valving may influence compression damping somewhat.
Sway Bar -- allowed to modify one end or the other to tune the balance of the car, some people change the front, I've added a 22mm bar to the rear, and this was the last step in my testing before going out on course on Sunday.
Alignment -- there was way too much toe in from the factory on my car, even had tire wear dust on the side skirts from the increased wear. Minimized toe, and it was so much sweeter on the highway also. Didn't mess with trying to squeeze outa bit of camber, maybe next time... and slight toe out will probably improve the AX performance/response.
Changed the Air Filter (green), Oil (Penn Ultimate 5W20), and added a different shift knob. Other than struts and different tires/wheels than I chose, that's pretty much the most that can be done.
Result -- Happy with much of the high speed behavior of the car, especially on the many difficult decreasing radius stuff, it as great braking and turning from top of second gear and made made look good in this difficult area, although it was on the edge and could get to be a handful if you over drive it. For the slaloms it was lazyer than I would prefer, I expected the car to be absolutely awesome here and so maybe that's why I'm more critical, and perhaps trying to get more camber and toe out might help. Seems as fast as any H-Street car on this day, first time out for the car and my first time in over a decade, although the driver needs infinately more work than the car.