Kgolf's Official STX Build

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by Ginger_Extract

How was the opener event with OVR? Was talking to a few different friends back home. The pictures looked like a monsoon!

Wet, very wet.


This weekend I went to Wilmington OH for a T&T and PE1. Car is fairly dialed in, however I'm still dealing with some push and the car doesn't want to seem to rotate much. Will have to continue to try and tune the suspension to act appropriately. One of the biggest differences from the Z4 is how this car brakes. It brakes VERY well compared to the Z...too much pedal and it was too easy to lock up ABS, since the suspension is much firmer it doesn't take much to get the car stopped.

Today was a decent day, had limited runs due to size of the event...so it was good mentality for next weekend.

Ended up with a 61.000 for my fastest run. That put me in 3rd for STX. First place was a 60.6xx and second was 60.75x. With that being said, I'm not far off.

Video is below, and there are a couple turns (especially the finish) where I completely blew...so hindsight 20/20, I should of been in the 60s.

PS - Enjoy no sound, it appears my external mic's battery is dead

[Suds]

Fun to watch, you gave some the cones too much safe distance in areas but you didn't hit any either, sorry your mike wasn't working, I would have liked to hear the motor rev and tires complain.

I skipped my solo today because rain, good luck in your STX pursuit! I have to root for a Bimmer.

[Ginger_Extract]

Curious to see as the season goes on how close you and Kale get, in terms of times.

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by Suds

Fun to watch, you gave some the cones too much safe distance in areas but you didn't hit any either, sorry your mike wasn't working, I would have liked to hear the motor rev and tires complain.

I skipped my solo today because rain, good luck in your STX pursuit! I have to root for a Bimmer.

I'll try and upload a video from T&T the day before. My mic went dead about half way through the day, but I think I was able to get a semi decent run.

As far as the cones, I need to get my car dimensions down. However the course was fairly wide open with exception to the bus stops and opening turns, so being a bit wide didn't hurt

Originally Posted by Ginger_Extract

Curious to see as the season goes on how close you and Kale get, in terms of times.

Kale has some tweaking to do, as well as me...so if all goes well I'll track with him.


On another note, I'm surprised the E-Diff worked fairly well. Not that much inside spin, if at all, that I noticed.

[Kgolf31]

Photographer finally got some photos edited and loaded up. Looks pretty good to me.

[Kgolf31]

Well just got home from Wilmington and the 2014 Wilmington Match Tour.

So exhausted, such a fun weekend and a huge learning experience.

To summarize a Match Tour for anyone who is not familiar. Essentially Saturday is a standard event format. You get 4 runs to throw down your best time, and that will determine your class standing. The 8 best in PAX from each heat will advance to the super shootout (on Sunday)

Sunday is a bit different. The people who do not qualify for the super shootout get to have 2 more runs (one practice/non timed) and 1 timed. Once the whole heat runs, the top 66% will advance. That 66% will run 1 more time, and from there the 66% will advance. This will happen 4 times and after the 4th cut the top 4 drivers from that heat will advance to the bonus shootout.


Anyways, I'll share my weekend.

I started off the weekend getting featured on solomatters.com in their article and on their facebook page. Solomatters is basically the blog of SCCA. Not anyone makes it and gets named. Considering this is my very FIRST national event....it was actually really cool, and at the same time put a HUGE amount of pressure on myself to make a good showing:

http://solomatters.com/tune_in_wilmi...atch_tour_2014

To no one’s surprise, STX leads the registration standings with eighteen drivers. Lance Keeley, always putting on a strong performance, is expected to lead the class with a collection of long time STXers and new comers looking to challenge him. Watch out for the combination of Kao and Prince in the ex-Pallotta FR-S to make a run along with Nick Dunlap who's hoping to repeat the success seen in Blytheville with his Mini Cooper S. Perry Ellwood is in his RX-8 and Kyle Herbst brings his 128i (a relatively newly classed STX car).

https://www.facebook.com/solomatters?ref=br_tf



Saturday was just an absolute blast. Ended up going up in compression in the rear and lowering rebound in the front a bit to get the car to rotate a bit better, however it still wants to push. We ran one of the first heats, so as you will see there is little to no rubber laid down.

Started off on solid times around 67.188 and a 67.048. Made my adjustments to the suspension and laid a decent time 66.424 but with clipping a cone.

Sitting in 5th, I tried to clean up the run and still make decent time. I ended up with a 66.815 and maintained 5th position (0.171 out of 4th) out of 18 drivers in STX.

Video of the final run. As you see....the rear started to rotate a bit more than I wanted at the end of the slalom. Very fast finish.

Sunday was disappointing; had a solid practice run (66.262) and planned to slow down to run clean...only to cone on a slower run (66.8xx) and get eliminated by only 0.1 seconds. Had to pace I think to make it close to top 4 (There was a STX car that was second in the heat with a 66.2xx).

Either way, Sunday can't be a downer for me. Only good things to come as I learn the car more, fine tune, and drop weight.

Pic in Grid ready to run Saturday:




As well, for those who are interested in a 128i weight. I give you official results!

1/4 Tank of Fuel




And lastly, a good weekend always has some downfalls. It appears I've damaged my front bumper by punting a cone in T&T on Friday. Doesn't appear to break any clips or anything, but certainly deformed the bumper. It doesn't contour the headlight anymore and the side bumper flares out...whoops. You can probably see it in the above photo as well




I'll post my 66.2 video later!

[Ginger_Extract]

Yeah, the front bumpers on these cars are surprisingly weak. I have some permanent cone damage as well. Kind of surprising considering that these cars are supposed to be tanks. The scales show promising results. Competitive STX E36 cars are what, ~2850, give or take? I'm sure there's a bit left in the car to give to get it closer to 3000 even.

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by Ginger_Extract

Yeah, the front bumpers on these cars are surprisingly weak. I have some permanent cone damage as well. Kind of surprising considering that these cars are supposed to be tanks. The scales show promising results. Competitive STX E36 cars are what, ~2850, give or take? I'm sure there's a bit left in the car to give to get it closer to 3000 even.

It seems that the bumper just deformed. There is no crease or anything of that sort form the bumper...which is really odd.

One thing to note, is that my 128i has no sunroof, manual seats, and lightweight wheels. In stock trim, I wouldn't be surprised if it was close to 3200.

Competitive STX E36 cars are indeed around 2800. I think with full prep (read: $$$) that is lightweight seats, exhaust, battery, brakes...etc I can get sub-2900.

As of now, all the weight savings modifications I've done is 17lb wheels.

[swagon]

I want your weight, damnit. And great driving. Those autoX events seems to be pretty US only, haven't seen one here in EU.

By the way, I've got the same damage on the bumper as you, but on a 3 Series. It's strange as I have no idea what I could have hit.

[Kgolf31]

Fastest scratch run from the weekend.

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by swagon

I want your weight, damnit. And great driving. Those autoX events seems to be pretty US only, haven't seen one here in EU.

By the way, I've got the same damage on the bumper as you, but on a 3 Series. It's strange as I have no idea what I could have hit.

Lol...

I'm actually surprised at what it weighed at. I'm not complaining though.

Thanks for the comments, it appears the bumper is slowly reforming back to original state....so it seems

[SamN]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

And if anyone is wondering, they fit in the back:

You R the man!

[Kgolf31]

Well after feeling the car when pushing it, the car needs more camber.

Got the front re-aligned today. Went to -3.5* camber from my initial -3*

Kept rear camber/toe the same

[Kgolf31]

Event Today in Toledo, OH.

Lot had a lot less grip than Wilmington, OH. Forced me to play around with the shock settings a good amount to where I could put power down (ended up softening all 4 corners a considerable amount)

Ended up 1st in STX. Still waiting on PAX, but I should be decent.

First gut reaction is that my camber change was for the better. Car seemed to be more oversteer bias than prior where it wanted to push. I could easily do on or off power oversteer.

[Kgolf31]

Was at Toledo Express Airport Yesterday.



Car still wants to push, but much better than Wilmington...another concrete site.

3rd in Class, 33rd in PAX. I was P1 until the final runs when 2 Drivers (both in the same RX8) threw down mid-54 times...unfortunately I couldn't improve to come close.

http://nworscca.com/attachments/resu...e2_results.htm

http://nworscca.com/attachments/resu...4_e2_index.htm

And just interesting, a comparison of my 3 runs:

[Kgolf31]

Not much of an update...but bought a new helmet.

If I can't drive fast, mine as well look fast

HJC AR10 II

[Kgolf31]

Event yesterday. Was raining most of the event but finally was starting dried out for our heat.

Finished 3rd in the PAX/Pro Class, 4th Overall in the event

[Kgolf31]

Some photos from an old event:









Video from yesterday. Good for 9th overall.

[Kgolf31]

Event yesterday.

Car ran really well, still too much rear grip.

Good for 5th in Pro Class and 5th Overall. Even though I'm bitching about my setup the car is still surprisingly fast and competitive.

Class: http://ovr-scca.org/uploads/ax_resul...2014-06-01.htm

PAX Results: http://ovr-scca.org/uploads/ax_resul...2014-06-01.htm

We are a couple weeks away from the Toledo Pro Solo...for those who do not know what a Pro Solo is. A Pro Solo is an autocross that has a 'Drag Race' start with a Christmas tree,reaction time and 60 ft times. There is a left side and right side course, which are mirrored to duplicate each other. At the end of the weekend you take your best time from each side of the course and add them together to determine a winner and the rankings for the class.

[Kgolf31]

So had an event this weekend with one major change....I added a 19mm rear sway bar.





Typically on BMWs you do not need a rear bar with alot of front camber and a front sway bar. However despite my tuning efforts the car was still pushing quite a bit.

I drove like utter crap and coned away my fastest run, which would of put me into 10th in PAX out of 92 drivers.

However I ended up settling on a run that was over a second slower in the morning when it was still wet, which put me back to 32 in PAX...Still was 1st in class.

[z3papa]

I'm hoping to be at the Toledo Pro but am still in the 30's on the waitlist. Am in the Wilmington Pro so I'm certain we'll run across each other.

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by z3papa

I'm hoping to be at the Toledo Pro but am still in the 30's on the waitlist. Am in the Wilmington Pro so I'm certain we'll run across each other.

I'm sure you'll be able to get in. I didn't participate in last years Pro but almost everyone that was on a waitlist got in....but that was also turned into a 3 day Pro, which I don't think is happening this year.