Messages

16

General Discussion / Re: Things I learned while in Red Deer today....

« on: July 08, 2017, 08:42:40 PM »

Sorry again about the double stoppage.  I checked in the morning and was told 11:30-12:30 and 3:30-4:30 for the 2 weddings.  I checked again at 11:30 when we saw no cars there, and was told yup, still 11:30-12:30.  I checked again at 12:00 when we still saw no cars, and yup, again, 11:30-12:30.  Finally at 12:30 we see cars showing up and checking an extra time we are told 1:00-1:45... sigh.
Unfortunately that's the nature of the beast.  Lot rentals are VERY hard to come by, unbelievably hard, so we can't do anything at all that may jeopardize our ability to use the lot in the future, no matter how annoying it might be.

I really REALLY appreciate how cool everybody was about it, and I think bumping the afternoon up to 5 runs so that everybody got at least 3 uninterrupted runs was a good way to handle the challenge.

Thanks everybody for coming out and I hope everyone had a good time!

17

SASC Events / Re: This weekend event at westerner park. Sat or Sunday?

« on: July 06, 2017, 12:34:47 AM »

Sorry for any confusion - the CSCC event is definitely Saturday July 8 but I think Stephen is right and the RDSCC has an event the following day.  If you've got the time (and the tires) do them both!  They run their events a bit differently and design their courses differently plus it's more seat time

18

Technical Talk / Re: Car question

« on: July 04, 2017, 11:49:04 AM »

You must be serious about wanting a Toyota, Honda, import - otherwise, just go buy Chris's Focus for $1500 and run the crap out of it until you improve as a driver.  You'll spend at least that much modding a daily to get it where you want - 40-50% in tires alone!

^^^^^^^^ This

That Focus is about 5 seconds faster than my 2017 Mazda 3 and I will spend at least $1500 trying to close that 5 second gap.  If I had $1500 and somewhere to store that thing Id have already bought it myself.  If you have the option, take that Focus and you'll learn so much more in seat time than trying to mod something else to go faster.  You will save a ton of money this way and last I checked money doesn't grow on trees, unless your holding out on us

This is pretty good advice, especially since the focus comes with a set of RE71R.

As the seller of said focus - thanks for the marketing guys!  That was totally not coerced! (We'lll discuss payment later)

As for the focus, sorry to sort of advertise here, but my intention with selling it was to see it go to somebody who is looking to get into the sport.  The car isn't perfect - honestly, it's pretty ugly, and it needs a couple things, though the longer I sit with the car the more of them I will probably take care of, but it's a great starter car that has the potential to place well.  Even if you leave it in STF (where it currently resides) it often breaks into the top 10 at events with me piloting it, and I know for a fact when Steffan has driven it he can beat me by as much as 0.25-1.0 seconds per run which usually puts him 3-5 spots above me.  The RE-71Rs that are on it have just been flipped and will only be used at one more event (July 8, Westerner Park) before I am done for the year.  I would expect they have between 4 and 10 events left on them depending on how gentle you are on tires, but this set only cost me $561 including mount, balance and GST from Costco last fall so it's not like they are expensive.

Midnightsky - I may have beaten you by 5 seconds but I suspect your Mazda 3 has some more time left in it.  With good tires your car should be able to beat the Focus in RAW and therefore badly beat the Focus in PAX.  Practice practice practice, and then, tires, then practice some more.  I've been at this over 5 years and honestly, I still kinda suck sometimes.

Alright I should stop hijacking this thread, sorry!

19

Automotive Marketplace / Re: FS: Budget-oriented beginner friendly autocross car (2001 Ford Focus ZX3)

« on: June 30, 2017, 07:41:24 PM »

What bolt pattern are the ROTAs with the tires.  Would you sell separately?

They are 15x7 with 4x108 bolt pattern (I think this bolt pattern is pretty rare, I've seen it on some 90s mustangs, escorts, early 2000s focii and the fiesta).  I'm not keen on selling them separately since if I part with them then the car cannot be driven anywhere as the tires on the other set of wheels are not safe to drive on.

Chris, you mean you would sell the ROTA's for 1500 and include a car to go with them 

Now you're thinking!

Maybe I should just double the entry fee for the August Red Deer event and give it away to a random person.  40 people x $40 each = more than my asking price

20

Automotive Marketplace / Re: FS: Budget-oriented beginner friendly autocross car (2001 Ford Focus ZX3)

« on: June 30, 2017, 03:36:43 PM »

What bolt pattern are the ROTAs with the tires.  Would you sell separately?

They are 15x7 with 4x108 bolt pattern (I think this bolt pattern is pretty rare, I've seen it on some 90s mustangs, escorts, early 2000s focii and the fiesta).  I'm not keen on selling them separately since if I part with them then the car cannot be driven anywhere as the tires on the other set of wheels are not safe to drive on.

21

Automotive Marketplace / Re: FS: Budget-oriented beginner friendly autocross car (2001 Ford Focus ZX3)

« on: June 29, 2017, 08:51:03 PM »

I'm kind of surprised there has been no interest so far!  This is a whole car for less than many people pay for a set of tires.
If I still have it in late July I'll probably do the wheel bearings - I have the parts just haven't had the time.

22

Automotive Marketplace / FS: Budget-oriented beginner friendly autocross car (2001 Ford Focus ZX3)

« on: June 25, 2017, 09:36:02 PM »

A change in work situation (and location) means my focus is up for sale.

Some details:
2.0L Zetec + MTX75 5-speed manual, approximately 171k
Non-ABS 2001 ZX-3 so it's light
Gear oil was last changed this spring with the ford magic honey
Brake fluid was changed 2 years ago
Brake pads and rotors were done 3 years ago - normal consumer-ey rotors and ceramic street pads
Since I've owned the car it has gotten oil changes every 4-5k with synthetic oil only and motorcraft filters
Working A/C
An Atsco reman steering rack was installed 3 years ago

The car comes with 2 sets of wheels:
1) 5.5" wide 15" diameter white stock wheels with completely dead garbage tires (seriously, parking use ONLY) one is super rusty because the PO let the brakes rub through to the backing plates and so it's got metal flecks embedded in it.  I tried using polishing compound and the brown does come off but right after I started I got a really good deal on set #2 and stopped
2) 7" wide 15" diameter Rota wheels, black, I'd say average condition, currently wearing some 205/50R15 RE-71R tires with well over half tread life

Upgrades:
Poly bushings in the back end, and I have the bushings on-hand for the front end
Rear subframe with swaybar mounts and rear bar is installed, also poly bushings for the rear sway bar
K-MAC camber plates on the front
Rear disc swap (the smaller non-SVT rear discs)

Stock shocks/springs/struts
No ABS (was never equipped)

LOADS of brand new spare parts:

• Inner and outer tie rods
• Control arms (two left for some reason)
• Front and rear wheel bearings
• Spark plugs, wires and probably a coil pack
• More stuff I've probably forgotten

Some used spare parts:

• A pair of sway bars I was given in a deal.  I was told they are stock but I never measured them because I like the bars that are on it now
• Spare steering racks, one SVT one normal, both used and a little leaky but good for a rebuild
• Driver's side mirror - just needs the cables re-attached to the inner half as I had to salvage it from 2 separate cars at pick n pull

This car is an amazing deal because

• Gets me to an event in Red Deer, through a day of autoslalom and back home in about 30-32L of fuel
• It can haul 240 cones plus fire extinguishers and helmets if necessary
• Tires are super cheap because they're 15" (I checked my receipts, the last set of RE-71Rs cost me $541 including tax, mount and balance)

It does need a couple things in the not too distant future:

• I noticed after last season the front wheel bearings are starting to develop a little bit of play and need to be done soon
• During my pre-season inspection I noticed the driver's tie rod boot is torn at the outer end
• I also noticed the axle seal on the driver's side seems to be leaking a tiny bit
• The battery is getting older - it isn't showing any signs of dying electrically but it looks to be leaking a tiny bit from the top.  Maybe it's all the hard cornering or maybe it's going to fail soon.

It also has a couple minor issues that will probably not cause any significant problems:

• One of the power steering lines is VERY slightly leaking.  I noticed this when I bought the car a few years ago and it hasn't gotten any worse.  The crimp where one of the hard lines goes to the front of the car is just getting a bit built up with stuck-on grime
• The steering rack is leaking very slightly from the plate on the backside of it.  It doesn't have any play in it or any other problems but the leak annoys me - this might not require any new parts to correct
• Lots of things in the interior squeak and rattle and the seats are getting worn
• The driver's door has had a very poor quality rust repair done.  It's water-tight and solid enough but cosmetically it sucks
• The rear washer nozzle doesn't work.  It was working before I swapped the hatch and I thought I was careful not to pinch the line so maybe it's just a clogged nozzle.  I'll try to look into this and might be able to resolve it

Because I am moving out-of-province and already have a lot of problems to solve I would just like an easy sale and so I'm listing at $1500.  In my opinion this is a bargain and an extremely cheap entrance to this sport.  If you disagree feel free to make an offer but don't just message me and ask how low I'm willing to go.

This is a ready-to-go car that I regularly score 94 or higher on PAX with in STF and would be even more competitive if you downgraded it to HS.

The car will be available after the July 8 Red Deer event.  I will have it at the July 8 event if you'd like to check it out or it can be viewed weeknights or weekends at my house in Royal Oak.

23

SASC Events / Re: June 17, 2017 WCMA regional scores

« on: June 18, 2017, 07:28:35 AM »

Also, 69 of the 75 drivers are listed as rookies.

Does it count if I felt like a rookie out there?

24

SASC Events / Re: REG. OPEN: WCMA Champ June 17/18 - for Registration!

« on: June 13, 2017, 03:49:18 PM »

Looks like your number wasn't reserved in MSR, and someone else got to it before you did.

I guess you will have to add another piece of tape on each side

My tape budget just went up by 50%!! Unacceptable!

(kidding)

But seriously, it's no problem at all.  I was just confused because the top drop-down had my number as if it were reserved but then it assigned me 111 and was just drawing a big white rectangle instead of letting me pick a new number so I couldn't see what had happened.  I figured MSR was just being broken or something.

25

SASC Events / Re: REG. OPEN: WCMA Champ June 17/18 - for Registration!

« on: June 12, 2017, 03:53:43 PM »

The MSR registration page is being weird for me... It lists my focus as #11 in the top drop-down but then assigns me the number 111 and when I try to open the dropdown to fix it I just get a blank white box.

26

SASC Events / Re: June 10 practise and June 11 event scores

« on: June 12, 2017, 03:52:40 PM »

Murray - the June 10 scores seem to be missing the driver data, or something.  I think I forgot to give that to you because it's not in the event data folder (although I thought it took a copy when I generated the score files?).  Do you need me to send anything across to you?

27

SASC Events / Re: June 10th Red Deer

« on: June 10, 2017, 08:33:10 PM »

Missed a good day ( I got there late after a job so just watched)
Was neat to see the rain runs forsure!!!
Well looks like sun tomorrow so should be a good day!!
Did you guys run your track tires today? Or a differnt set?


Just looked out my hotel window... yeay the toad and turtle within walking distance!!!! 

I was on RE-71Rs today and somehow they didn't totally suck.  I had a LOT of trouble braking in a straight line but if I could get some weight on the front and the car starting to turn they seemed to cut through the water and stick fantastically.  It led to some very poor technique (light stab of the brake, turn in then tail brake) which caused about 400 spins or near-spins but got me around the track in a hurry.  I'm glad the pavement was so slippery so it keeps the tire wear under control.

Hopefully the lakes in the parking lot dry by tomorrow!

28

SASC Events / Re: June 10th Red Deer

« on: June 06, 2017, 06:46:12 AM »

Hey guys so I registered for June 10th with my Mazda 3, figured a practice event is the most practical for me to shake off the dust and rust in my driving performance.  One problem, I do not own a printer, would it be possible for someone to bring a couple extra self tech forms and I will keep them in a binder in my car for future events?

I try not to advertise this but I bring 50 empty ones to each event - don't worry, just ask for one at registration

29

SASC Events / Re: REG. OPEN: WCMA Champ June 17/18 - for Registration!

« on: June 06, 2017, 06:45:13 AM »

Drat, I really wanted to run my Mazda at this event but I just noticed the no passengers rule so perhaps I am better off going to Red Deer this coming weekend instead.  I suppose a practice at Red Deer would be beneficial to knock off some of the rust and dust in my performance as a driver since I have not been running for several years.

30

SASC Events / Re: YYC - WCMA Regional - Count as series Event?

« on: May 30, 2017, 03:32:14 PM »

If there's room for opinions on this I would suggest that we do count June 17/18 into the joint championship, but I'm not so sure about other WCMA events.  I feel like with prize money and bragging rights on the line in the WCMA series the people who would be interested are already motivated to get around to other cities to run there.  Since only CSCC/SASC members are eligible for the championship I'm not sure if it actually matters very much?

Last year when we hosted a WCMA regional we scored the first 3 runs for the regional then the best morning + best afternoon in the joint championship series.