I got a chance to test out my handling mods - the adjustable rear KYB shocks and the Altima SE-R front sway bar in a night time autocross. Anyone who thinks that the front bar will make the car understeer, needs to look at the first pic of me with the 3 cones that the course workers pulled from under my car after I hit EIGHT cones after the car slid and then snapped into oversteer. I had the shocks set to 5.

The car great nice turn in and neutral handling. It had really good acceleration and the sound is really remarkable. With more practice and better tires, this car really can move. It doenst seem suited to tight courses, but it can hold its own very well. I havent driven tight courses like this in over 12 years. i am used to the wide open fast time trial course that I race at once a year.

Although I was last in a class of 8, I competed in DSP, with some very very fast cars on a tight 50 second course. Most of them had race compound tires and weighed 500-1000 lighter than me. The 6th Gen Maxima is truly an amazing performance car.



My two younger kids raced, my 18 yr old son for the first time without any coaching, and my 16 yr old daughter for the second time with me in the car coaching her. My son got within 6 seconds of me, and my daughter, dragging me around in the car, got within 8 seconds on me.


Here is a video of my son's second run. Its very dark, but its kinda neat to see a night autocross. Disregard the background commentary. My friend Renee Angel, who also was the event chairperson and is my very good friend, came behind me and hugged me while I was filming, lol.



Not sure which link works. Try this if the other one didnt work:
http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...t=PICT0559.flv

 

Nioght autocross sounds sweet of course i'm a litle buzzed but fun none the less.

 

so whats your final thought of the ser bar? is it a good mod, or is the oversteer a killer?

 

Night autocross? When and where was this? Deus you gotta keep me in the loop on these, you know how bad I want to get my car on a track!!!

 

For those who live in Southern California, go to www.solo2.com. There is a practice autocross next weekend at the California Speedway in Fontana, off Cherry Ave north of 10 fwy, for 2 days I believe. If I dont go out of town, I'll be there. Its a GREAT way to check out your suspension and handling and show these smaller cars how good a 6th Gen Maxima really is.

Tek: Final thoughts on SE-R bar are that although it may reduce understeer with no other mods, with a larger rear bar,adjustable shocks, and modifiying the tire pressure, it complements the handling of the car, and I highly recommend it. I was chatting with another racer who drives a stock Acura RSX. He told me, the FWD racers in stock class increase their front bar size, and then comepnsate for it with increased front tire pressure and adjustable shocks.

 

thanx Deus, this will be one of my next mods.

 

Sounds like a meet to me!

 

Props for throwing the shocker in the first pic!

 

Thanks Canadian. By the way, someone had to get under the car with a flashlight to pull all the cones out. The cones were SMOLDERING when they were pulled out. I think they were pressed against exhaust pipes and brake rotors.

 

yup yup...do u think garages do the work at all? cause i'm tryin to maximize my handling before goin performance.

 

That's great - I only thought they did night ones in TX. So what's the deal with corner workers at night events? How do they stay out of the way and not get run over?

 

The course does have lights and the cones are marked with reflective tape so they really stand out. There were very few DNFs and those that did, just barely got off course.

 

Nice work Dues!

 

Thanks guys. My settings were tire pressure raised in front to 45, rears at 35. Rear shocks set to 5. Nice firm ride. Handles like go kart.

 

Nice Deus,

What a hoot, the workers must have feared for their safety, considering you are taking out cones, what's next?

Way to go, looks like you had a blast!

Swee

 

Deus, let's go on Sunday!! I want to do this but I'd like to go with someone who has done it before (I'm a rookie) Woohooo...

 

you could send that video to one of those UFO shows, and get them all exited, i think i saw like 30 in there

give you props, man, if i dont go to vegas this weekend, im down to go up there, and show those ricers to respect my autorithaa

 

Im going to Northern Cali this weekend. If for some reason, my plans change at last minute and I stay, then Ill go. If not, there is always next time.

 

Do it, the ksport coilovers are so stiff, it handles like crazy. I have no doubt that it will easily outhandle my old spring/shock setup. If you do go put on the stock 18s, I bet u can give deus a run for his money.

 

Well, its that time of year. I ran the night autocross again. This time, I had better tires and rims, Koni fronts, and lightweight battery. Man, I tell you guys. The car does not lean and if it wasnt for weighing 3400 lbs or so, it would be able to make those quick turns. I cant beat laws of physics, but I tell ya, its incredible what this car can do. I clearly does better on the open courses like Lone Pine. But to see this large car handle like it did . . . was great. I ran DSP, and I was about 5-6 seconds off the winner. These guys are some of the best in the nation.

 

Awesome post Deus and that last picture of the 3 of you should be framed and on your wall!!! Thanks for sharing...

 

Which event/club was that with this year?

 

The original post was LAST year, but I ran it again this year. Go to www.solo2.com for events held by Calclub, a subdivision of SCCA. The event is called "Night of the Living Dead" since it is run at night. It is a championship event.

 

Pretty damn good for a car that's "lost it's way a bit"!

 

hey thats pretty cool....

 

Just to make it clear - I started this thread last year, and then added to it this year regarding the same event - Nigh of the Living Dead, a night time autocross here in so cal. Post #20 is from this year forward.

 

Here is the pdf file of the 2007 result on saturday. I was car #649 and my son was #650 in D street prepared.

http://www.solo2.com/results/2007-08-04r.pdf

 

Good job but I think old age is catching up to you....

 

Yeah, those young bucks drive well in their little lightweight cars.

 

Here is a video of the race just to show you guys what it was like. Its NOT ME, but someone in (I think) a Miata.

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

 

Its always good to have fun with the family. Looks like your son is catching up to you Deus.

 

As usual Deus great job showing what the max can do...by the way do you have a video of what your exhaust sounds like up close? I want to buy a cattman catback like yours.

 

Yes, there is a thread on here somewhere of exhaust sound both inside and outside the car.

 

I tried to search but I cant yet. If its not too much trouble could you post it for me?

 

Try this: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....attman+exhaust

 

Thank you Deus.