New experience - Autocrossing with the DDM Stage II SC

"Maine"-iac · 04-27-2009, 04:54 AM

Well I managed to get my SC installed late last Thursday in time for a two day autocross event in New Hampshire. I don't have a trailer to cart extra r-comps around, so I compete with street tires (Dunlop star specs). I also removed the stock shocks, springs and anti-roll bars and replaced them with lowering springs, Koni sports and Eibach bars and went with Hawk HPS brake pads all around.

Wow, is the only word I can use to explain the difference. It's a completely different car and I will need to learn how to drive it properly all over again. All the mods bumped me from C stock to SSM, but that's okay. I'm not looking to compete nationally, just to have a street car that's set up nice and does well on the course as well.

There is very little body roll (compared to stock)...corners pretty flat, so I'm liking the new suspension. And as for the supercharger...holy crap. With that instantaneous on demand power it launches out of the starting gate like a thoroughbred...don't have to worry about downshifting if I am in a lower rpm range, the power is there, just step on the gas and go. It takes some getting use to as I found the rear end wanting to constantly step out on me...so throttle inputs need to be a little bit smoother. The straight line shots from one corner to another is like Star Trek's Enterprise going into warp drive.

Overall I was about 2-3 seconds behind the fastest car on the course and placed 3rd and 2nd consecutively in the SSM class for the two day event... not a bad start to the season with a "new car" and on street tires. Can't wait for the next event now to get some more seat time.

69T/A · 04-27-2009, 06:04 AM

Great Job!!! Can't wait to check the car out and see what the suspension changes did for the look. Still would like to do the same just not sure I could get down my street or in my garage..

LatinVenom · 04-27-2009, 09:58 AM

I would also add the DDM Backbone and brace to this car.

"Maine"-iac · 04-28-2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LatinVenom

I would also add the DDM Backbone and brace to this car.

Can't do the backbone for autocrossing...not a legal mod according to SCCA rules. I have the pro beam but haven't had a chance to install it yet. It corners pretty flat now and the course was pretty bumpy and the car was quite stable across the bumps...can't imagine what it would be like with the pro beam installed as well.

"Maine"-iac · 04-28-2009, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69T/A

Great Job!!! Can't wait to check the car out and see what the suspension changes did for the look. Still would like to do the same just not sure I could get down my street or in my garage..

To qoute the guy at a local tire store..."man that car looks slammed". It's sitting less than 3 1/2 inches off the ground at the door sills...couldn't even fit a 2x4 on edge under it. The exhaust hangs down a little so actual ground clearance at the lowest part is about 2 1/2 inches...pretty low (probably too low) for New England roads. I have to watch every bump, stick and rock in the road now when I drive. It's not too different from riding a motorcycle as far as staying alert to road conditions is concerned...actually the acceleration is pretty comparable now as well!

Dave@ddmworks · 04-28-2009, 02:03 PM

Very cool, glad to here you had a good time with it and glad we could help you get some more enjoyment from the car, now you just need to get some more practice out there

"Maine"-iac · 04-29-2009, 04:18 AM

I agree with the practice part. One of the difficult adjustments I had to make was having the instant power all across the rpm range. With the stock set up I could get away with mashing the gas pedal to the floor...not so with the sc installed. The first few times I "instinctively" tried to accelerate hard, the rear end got real squirrely on me and started stepping out in directions that I didn't want it to go. So I had to... A. Wipe the smile off my face...and...B. Back off a bit and learn to accelerate gradually but quickly. Great product Dave and thanks for making the extra effort to get things to me overnight so that I had time to finish making the install and get to the event with the sc in place.

bigblau · 04-29-2009, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by "Maine"-iac

So I had to... A. Wipe the smile off my face...and...B. Back off a bit and learn to accelerate gradually but quickly.

Yeah, it's a very important safety concern. You should never drive with a smile on your face ...it obstructs your vision.

DrJones · 04-29-2009, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigblau

Yeah, it's a very important safety concern. You should never drive with a smile on your face ...it obstructs your vision.

Yeah, i find i puff out my cheeks when i'm driving. I never noticed it untill I saw this picture...

2KWK4U · 04-30-2009, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by "Maine"-iac

Can't do the backbone for autocrossing...not a legal mod according to SCCA rules. I have the pro beam but haven't had a chance to install it yet. It corners pretty flat now and the course was pretty bumpy and the car was quite stable across the bumps...can't imagine what it would be like with the pro beam installed as well.

The backbone isn't even allowed in SSM??

"Maine"-iac · 04-30-2009, 04:17 PM

Nope...SSM is what I now compete in after the SC install. The backbone is considered to be a chasis stiffening device despite the fact that it bolts to an existing mount and replaces the flimsy piece already there. I guess many folks have made the argument to scca from what I've gathered from reading other posts, however scca hasn't changed their minds that I know of. You can use the pro beam (but don't connect the middle section) or the kappasphere bar to tie the rear end together a bit more.

DrJones · 04-30-2009, 06:56 PM

Yeah, the back bone is a big no no for SSM or lower. it would be legal for the respective Prepared class (XP as of now, I assume it'll be FP legal at some point) or Modified class (E-Mod). and the SCCA would never allow it in SSM or lower as it would open a pandora's box of allowments (think of a backbone brace that also ties the outter edges of the car together across the bottom of the car.

I still argue that the stock backbone piece isn't bad. I can lift an inside front tire coming out of corners.
It's amazing what a thin piece of metal can do when used to close off a box section or as a stressed skin element.

Although, i'm not aguing the Backbone piece is useless either. It's obviously going to add some rigidity.