[Autocross] Points Event #6 with TSCC: September 2023
Autocross testing of the MK8 PCV experiment (again)
Finally the weather is starting to cool off and it was not downright miserable out like the last couple months. We had a good showing of MQB cars which has been pretty typical this year - (3) GTIs, (2) Golf Rs, and (2) Golf Sportwagens.
The 4 XA class MQB cars running in 2nd heat - my GTI plus the red one, and the two white wagons.
I was actually feeling pretty good at this event and was overall happy with my driving aside from hitting a cone on my first two runs. I was able to clean it up for my third which ended up being my fastest as well. If there’s anywhere that could’ve used improvement it is on the back side of the course right before the 180 deg RH sweeper - I got just a BIT behind but was able to salvage it from being too awful a mistake.
The car dances around cones pretty well, but the V730s are definitely not ideal for this. I think that adding more camber could be the help they need to get a bit more front end bite, and also to help tire wear (though it’s not terrible). This thing with better tires (Bridgestone RE71RS or Yokohama A052s) I think would be really darn good and have potential for taking top PAX locally if the hood were reverted back to STH.
I was very pleased with the results overall. TSCC runs a bunch of PAX based bump classes for event trophies. Since I’m running XA (Xtreme street A) due to the hood vent, that puts me up against all of the CAM (Classic American Muscle) classes which have a relatively soft PAX overall.
1 / 8 in XA
4 / 17 in the "PC” (Provisional Class) PAX bump classes
5 / 84 in raw time overall*
9 / 84 in PAX overall*
*Note: in all fairness the 3rd heat got a bit of rain during their first couple runs. I probably would have finished a bit further back if it were not for that.
I kind of wish I had a stock/unmodified hood to swap back on to remain in ST… I would have finished 2nd in the PC class and 2nd in PAX overall… but oh well. That’s work to swap hoods repeatedly that I’d rather no do.
I had ZERO knock events happen all day. I made an adjustment to the tune since last time which I think took care of my mystery EPC light that happened at last event. It was an intermittent problem that only happens when on/off/on throttle either driving like an idiot or at an autocross. Or driving like an idiot at an autocross? Either way it at least didn’t happen this time so my hopes are high that problem stays away.
Up next in two weeks is Fastivus at Summit Point, so the last bit of prep for that will take place this week.
It’s been a while since going over how the car is set up so here’s a basic rundown:
Handling stuff:
17x9 Apex SM10s with 255/40R17 front and 245/40R17 rear Kumho V730s.
034 Camber plates + Powerflex offset LCA forward bushings and BFI solid rubber “RS3 style” LCA rearward bushings (all good for about 2.6-2.8 deg camber).
Koni Special Active shocks with stock GTI springs.
H&R 26mm FSB on stiff, stock end links.
H&R 26mm RSB (non adjustable), Moog end links.
Power/drivetrain stuff:
DO88 Intercooler.
ARM downpipe.
Tuned by myself via Simos Tools with SwitchpaTCh Traction Control and Map Switching - it’s conservative on the boost at ~25psi tapered to 17 at redline, with timing a bit more aggressive in the 7-8 deg range at 6k RPMs when the IATs aren’t too hot.
034 upper + lower dogbone inserts.
Brakes:
Nothing special for autocross. Just Ferodo DS2500 pads and blank Zimmerman rotors.
Backing plates removed.
Data:
Running Simos Tools with the 3E high speed logging patch to get all the data you see in the video above (and then some).
Ancient POS GoPro Hero3. Need something newer but it just works for now.
