2011 Autocross Season Summary

[SS_Killer]

My first acquaintance with Autocross was in 1984 when Dodge/Chrysler brought a Laser to the IU foot ball stadium parking lot and let delinquent college students drive around some cones with the shifter locked in first gear. Great fun, but I had no idea what I was doing. Next was in 1988 when I noticed that the SCCA was holding an event at my old high school. I brought out my 1987 Shelby Daytona Turbo Z and had a lot of fun driving erratically (and slowly) around a 1-minute parking lot course. My driving left everything to be desired, yet a veteran driver of a Cavalier Z24 (also in G Stock) broke into a cold sweat when he realized that my Daytona had an intercooled 174 hp Turbo II!

As an old fart with a 2010 Camaro LS looking for a competitive outlet, I have again turned to Autocross. This year was my first full season campaigning the Arnell Motors/Weaver Boos Consultants Camaro. Modification and preparation of the car for 2011 included the following parts installed by Arnell Chevrolet as a sponsorship contribution:

• Pedders front radius rod bushing inserts
• BMR rear subframe bushing inserts
• Spohn sway bars front and rear
• Eibach lowering springs
• Alignment with 1.2 degrees front and 0.9 degrees rear camber
• ASA wheels, 24 pounds each, fitted with Goodyear F1 Supercars (255/45 ZR 18)

My own preparation included four Solo II events during 2009, finishing at the back of the pack with nothing more than the Spohn rear sway bar to kill understeer. My 2011 season went like this:

Event #1 – April 27, 2011 – Tire Rack Test Track, South Bend – SCCA South Bend Region
First in the Novice Index Class of 6 drivers, 23rd overall in the Tire Rack Index class of 53 drivers, and 3rd of 3 in the Class Street Touring Extreme (STX), bested by two drivers in the same 2011 Mustang GT 5.0. The Mustang was quick! My best raw time was 47.848 seconds, which was good enough to take a 2010 Camaro SS by more than 2.5 seconds. This event was the first Autocross on the Tire Rack’s brand new pavement that was laid just before the snow began falling in winter 2010.




Event #2 – May 2, 2011 – Tire Rack Test Track, South Bend – SCCA South Bend Region
First in the Novice Index Class of 6 drivers, 36th overall in the Tire Rack Index class of 71 drivers, and 1st of 1 in Class STX.

Event # 3&4 – May 14 & 15, 2011 – Majestic Star Casino, Gary – SCCA Indiana Northwest Region (Great Lakes Divisional Series Event)
This event was held on the Lake Michigan shore with light, but horizontal rain driven by 48 degree (F) gale-force winds. I placed 20th overall in a poorly attended PAX class of 29 drivers, and 2nd of 2 in Class STX, bested by an excellent driver in his 2004 Subaru WRX. I learned how to drive competitively on wet pavement during this event, which is quite interesting by the way.

Event #5 – June 4, 2011 – Grissom Airforce Base – SCCA South Bend Region
First in the Novice Index Class of 7 drivers, 31st overall in the Tire Rack Index class of 59 drivers, and 1st of 1 in Class STX.

Event #6 – June 26, 2011 – Portage High School – SCCA Indiana Northwest Region
32nd overall in the PAX index class of 47 drivers. My best raw time was 51.280 seconds. I placed 3rd of 3 in Class STX, bested by two drivers in the same well-prepared 2011 Mustang GT 5.0 who posted a raw time of 47.434. I always like tearing up the parking lot at my old high school.

Event #7 – August 21, 2011 – Majestic Star Casio, Gary, - SCCA Indiana Northwest Region
35th overall in the PAC index class of 45 drivers. I learned what it means when tires get hot and greasy at this event. Turn the wheel and nothing happens! The best thing about this event was that I nearly took a green driver of a 2011 Mustang GT. Unfortunately, he got me by 0.4 seconds on a 55 second course. His car was also highly prepped, including a Watts linkage on his rear axle and Advan tires.

Interesting Camaro-specific things that I learned this season include the following:

• SS Camaros are easy pickings for a slightly prepped V6 Camaro at the Autocross course.
• Whether traction/stability control is engaged or disengaged matters not after learning how to drive a little. A smooth line and good rhythm keeps the nanny out of things.
• Fifth Gen Camaros need a LOT of preparation to be competitive in Autocross. Mine is less than half-way to being decently prepped.
• Tires are a key. The Goodyear F1s are marginal for Autocross. The sidewalls are nice and stiff, but the ultimate grip is lacking.
• The 2010 Camaro is very durable and happy to be driven at the absolute limit of acceleration, braking, and cornering for 60 seconds at a time with no ill effects.

Now that my season is over, I have to say that Autocross is a very fun (and safe) way to compete. Five first place trophies in seven events are also pretty sweet. My 2010 Camaro has over 70 Autocross runs (and 50,000 miles) on her now and has held up great. Nothing has broken, not even the mods. It is only a little hard on the tires. Speaking of which, I’ll need new tires if this continues next year. With some real rubber, the 2010 LS should consistently run in the upper half of the pack in the two regions I drive. And finally, I would just like to say that it seems like few Midwestern Fifth Gen Camaro owners like to put on their pants and actually drive. I drove against only one other Fifth Gen Camaro all year. Piss-poor-participation, people, if you ask me.

[comm54]

AWESOME

We have attended a few autocross events this year and my wife and I can't wait for the next!

[NitroBeagle]

Originally Posted by SS_Killer

My first acquaintance with Autocross was in 1984 when Dodge/Chrysler brought a Laser to the IU foot ball stadium parking lot and let delinquent college students drive around some cones with the shifter locked in first gear. Great fun, but I had no idea what I was doing. Next was in 1988 when I noticed that the SCCA was holding an event at my old high school. I brought out my 1987 Shelby Daytona Turbo Z and had a lot of fun driving erratically (and slowly) around a 1-minute parking lot course. My driving left everything to be desired, yet a veteran driver of a Cavalier Z24 (also in G Stock) broke into a cold sweat when he realized that my Daytona had an intercooled 174 hp Turbo II!

As an old fart with a 2010 Camaro LS looking for a competitive outlet, I have again turned to Autocross. This year was my first full season campaigning the Arnell Motors/Weaver Boos Consultants Camaro. Modification and preparation of the car for 2011 included the following parts installed by Arnell Chevrolet as a sponsorship contribution:

• Pedders front radius rod bushing inserts
• BMR rear subframe bushing inserts
• Spohn sway bars front and rear
• Eibach lowering springs
• Alignment with 1.2 degrees front and 0.9 degrees rear camber
• ASA wheels, 24 pounds each, fitted with Goodyear F1 Supercars (255/45 ZR 18)

My own preparation included four Solo II events during 2009, finishing at the back of the pack with nothing more than the Spohn rear sway bar to kill understeer. My 2011 season went like this:

Event #1 – April 27, 2011 – Tire Rack Test Track, South Bend – SCCA South Bend Region
First in the Novice Index Class of 6 drivers, 23rd overall in the Tire Rack Index class of 53 drivers, and 3rd of 3 in the Class Street Touring Extreme (STX), bested by two drivers in the same 2011 Mustang GT 5.0. The Mustang was quick! My best raw time was 47.848 seconds, which was good enough to take a 2010 Camaro SS by more than 2.5 seconds. This event was the first Autocross on the Tire Rack’s brand new pavement that was laid just before the snow began falling in winter 2010.




Event #2 – May 2, 2011 – Tire Rack Test Track, South Bend – SCCA South Bend Region
First in the Novice Index Class of 6 drivers, 36th overall in the Tire Rack Index class of 71 drivers, and 1st of 1 in Class STX.

Event # 3&4 – May 14 & 15, 2011 – Majestic Star Casino, Gary – SCCA Indiana Northwest Region (Great Lakes Divisional Series Event)
This event was held on the Lake Michigan shore with light, but horizontal rain driven by 48 degree (F) gale-force winds. I placed 20th overall in a poorly attended PAX class of 29 drivers, and 2nd of 2 in Class STX, bested by an excellent driver in his 2004 Subaru WRX. I learned how to drive competitively on wet pavement during this event, which is quite interesting by the way.

Event #5 – June 4, 2011 – Grissom Airforce Base – SCCA South Bend Region
First in the Novice Index Class of 7 drivers, 31st overall in the Tire Rack Index class of 59 drivers, and 1st of 1 in Class STX.

Event #6 – June 26, 2011 – Portage High School – SCCA Indiana Northwest Region
32nd overall in the PAX index class of 47 drivers. My best raw time was 51.280 seconds. I placed 3rd of 3 in Class STX, bested by two drivers in the same well-prepared 2011 Mustang GT 5.0 who posted a raw time of 47.434. I always like tearing up the parking lot at my old high school.

Event #7 – August 21, 2011 – Majestic Star Casio, Gary, - SCCA Indiana Northwest Region
35th overall in the PAC index class of 45 drivers. I learned what it means when tires get hot and greasy at this event. Turn the wheel and nothing happens! The best thing about this event was that I nearly took a green driver of a 2011 Mustang GT. Unfortunately, he got me by 0.4 seconds on a 55 second course. His car was also highly prepped, including a Watts linkage on his rear axle and Advan tires.

Interesting Camaro-specific things that I learned this season include the following:

• SS Camaros are easy pickings for a slightly prepped V6 Camaro at the Autocross course.
• Whether traction/stability control is engaged or disengaged matters not after learning how to drive a little. A smooth line and good rhythm keeps the nanny out of things.
• Fifth Gen Camaros need a LOT of preparation to be competitive in Autocross. Mine is less than half-way to being decently prepped.
• Tires are a key. The Goodyear F1s are marginal for Autocross. The sidewalls are nice and stiff, but the ultimate grip is lacking.
• The 2010 Camaro is very durable and happy to be driven at the absolute limit of acceleration, braking, and cornering for 60 seconds at a time with no ill effects.

Now that my season is over, I have to say that Autocross is a very fun (and safe) way to compete. Five first place trophies in seven events are also pretty sweet. My 2010 Camaro has over 70 Autocross runs (and 50,000 miles) on her now and has held up great. Nothing has broken, not even the mods. It is only a little hard on the tires. Speaking of which, I’ll need new tires if this continues next year. With some real rubber, the 2010 LS should consistently run in the upper half of the pack in the two regions I drive. And finally, I would just like to say that it seems like few Midwestern Fifth Gen Camaro owners like to put on their pants and actually drive. I drove against only one other Fifth Gen Camaro all year. Piss-poor-participation, people, if you ask me.

I enjoyed reading your post. I have an SS and I just started running autocross this year. Two SCCA events in Iowa and one GoodGuys event in Joliet on Super Sunday(all years allowed that day) I have a blast doing it but no mods yet. I am looking into some things. I have two more possible events here. See ya on the course someday.