After making quite a few adjustments to the suspension and what not, the maxima was semi-track ready.
I went to an autocross this weekend with the THSCC/MSCCNC.
I actually did MUCH better than I was expecting, and the car handled way beyond what I thought it could do.
I got many compliments from very experienced driver, and my instructor was very impressed with the improvements I made over the course of the day...
I'm editing a video right now of two of my runs+ a ton of other cars... i'll have it up on youtube by mid week hopefully...

Here are some results from the final course run:
I ended up placing 8th in Pax time out of 39 drivers.
My actual course time was 65.952.
A few cars that actually timed slower than me :
2006 Lotus Exige: 66.643
2006 Mazda RX-8: 67.943
1993 RX-7: 66.555
1991 RX-7:68.737

Just to give you an idea of what really good times for the course was:
1. 1999 Miata: 60.896 Pax: 49.508
2. 2000 Miata: 60.999 Pax: 49.592
3. Miata: 60.397 Pax: 50.612
4. 1991 Miata: 63.401 Pax: 51.1010
5. 2005 Lotus Elise: 60.579 Pax: 51.613
6. 1994 Miata: 61.028 Pax: 52.117
7. 1993 Miata: 65.104 Pax 52.278
8. 2002 Maxima: 65.952 Pax: 52.365
9.1993 RX-7: 61.783 Pax: 52.762
10. 1993 Miata: 65.917 Pax: 52.931

All in all i'm very happy with how I did... My actual track time was within 1/2 a second of an M3, RX-7, RX-8, and faster than an exige AND an elise, and quite a few other pretty good cars...

I need SFC's and a LTB and i'll be good to go for my next event!

 

I just noticed...you were running those G35 boat anchors?

 

Yep! They're not thaaaat heavy

 

Nice showing against cars 2/3 your size! Curious what comments your instructor did make about possible improvements.

Also, if you care adding the SFC's bump you from GS to either SM or EP (xbrace). You'd need to shave off another 3-4 seconds to hold that same PAX position.

 

Full results:
http://www.msccnc.org/events/ax/02-2...ts/ax_raw.html

http://www.msccnc.org/events/ax/02-2...ts/ax_pax.html

Yeah after doing a little reading on the SCCA site, I think i'm going to leave my car it it's current state for at least another 4-5 events.

A few things I remember my instructor said was that my car's suspension was set up well, I had good slow hands for a new racer, that it felt like I have a natural skill for racing, and I held a line very well. He said I learned early turning pretty quickly, and that I need to work on looking a head a little more, and making sure I don't over-drive my car.

That's all I can remember off the top of my head...

 

Almost everytime you drive with an instructor you'll hear that.....

memorizing the course better is more useful than looking ahead, overdriving the car isn't exactly accurate, you're overdriving your tires.

 

John, I think I've beaten you a couple times running those "boat anchors" before I got the 5zigens..

 

I've never seen you run the 18's, and when did you beat me?

















on PAX anyway

 

ok...so I was running the G35 17s that year (the ones that are my winter wheels now) - but they actually weigh more than the 18s do!

you mean this event:


yeah, where you took out the entire line of cones?


You beat me in PAX 41.207 to 41.287, but recall that I was running up-class in STU in an STX car...which would have put me below you, sucka! We did BOTH beat Cutler in the Miata, in both PAX and actual time ....

Since neither of us was top-100 in PAX at that event, its pretty much academic anyhow

 

You know I just bring it up because I think it bothers you a little......

Well.....Miatas ARE slow......

top 100? I thought we were close at like 115 or something, no?

 

that sounds about right

whatever, I was 4th in class behind 3 Subaru STI's (and in front of 2 other STIs)

I fart in the general direction of PAX.

 

I fart in everyones general direction

 

who would autocross a maxima anyway? GOSH

 

Those cones had it coming.....they taunted me a second time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkwWMnvVl6w

 

How's this course layout look for our larger cars
http://carpron.com/multisite/d/11419...fordsprint.wmv

 

apparently you!

 

i had to learn that...dont look at the current turn, look past it. if you are always looking ahead, you already saw and registered the current turn. looking ahead gives you more time to react.

 

8th out of 32 is not bad at all