First autocross - damn this car is fun!

jchadwell

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It just pulls so hard. My previous autocross car was a 2015 Miata so, obviously, there's a big difference there. However, before that I ran a 2004 Z06 for 5 or 6 seasons. It's been a while but the Supra seems to pull much stronger than I remember in the Z06. Having torque peak at like 1800 RPM makes a big difference it seems.

I do need to get used to the short wheelbase and very quick turn-in but overall an excellent first event. I finished second in pax by about a tenth even though I had cone troubles on most runs. I clipped a cone on my two fastest runs because I had trouble getting used to how quick the car turns in. I also couldn't get comfortable enough today to turn VSC completely off. I ran in traction mode every run. I'll try turning everything off after more seat time but I must say traction mode was very lenient it seemed. I noticed very little intervention and it actually let the car slide quite a bit. Here's the top 20 pax list. That 911 Carrera 4S was very cool. Launched like it was shot out of a cannon with 4 wheel drive. I was pleased to be right on top of him though considering I could buy my car three times over for what that car costs. And my fastest run with a cone was actually 57.17 to his 57.12. Those pesky cones...

Pax Pos. Pos. Class # Driver Car Model Total Factor Pax Time Diff. From 1st

1 1 as 53 Philip Coyner 2020 Porsche Carerra 4S 57.123 *0.821 46.898 0 0
2 1 bs 2 Jerry Chadwell Toyota Supra 57.743 *0.814 47.002 0.104 0.104
3 2 bs 26 Santo Degennaro 2020 Subaru STI 59.202 *0.814 48.19 0.56 1.292
4 1 ds 59 Mike Terry 2017 Volkswagen Golf R 59.722 *0.807 48.195 0.005 1.297
5 1 km 126 George Nelson 2014 Tony Kart CR125 51.851 *0.930 48.221 0.026 1.323
6 2 sth 23 Greggory Rome 2014 Ford Focus ST 59.37 *0.813 48.267 0.046 1.369
7 2 km 26 Alexander Nelson 2014 Tony Kart CR125 52.227 *0.930 48.571 0.304 1.673
8 2 ds 16 Ashley Nelson 2017 Volkswagen Golf R 60.289 *0.807 48.653 0.082 1.755
9 2 as 351 David Brunny 2017 Chevrolet Stingray Z51 59.422 *0.821 48.785 0.132 1.887
10 3 as 535 Amy Coyner 2020 Porsche Carrera 4S 59.47 *0.821 48.824 0.039 1.926
11 1 cs 6 Ralph Cummings 2016 Mazda Miata 60.37 *0.809 48.839 0.015 1.941
12 1 ss 802 David Wesel 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport 59.862 *0.823 49.266 0.427 2.368
13 3 sth 12 Mike Kessler 2019 Volkswagen GTI 61.277 *0.813 49.818 0.552 2.92
14 3 bs 42 Joshua Clore 2020 Toyota Supra 61.217 *0.814 49.83 0.012 2.932
15 1 xsa 402 Christopher Terry 2016 BMW M3 58.912 *0.846 49.839 0.009 2.941
16 4 bs 88 Mark Wageman Chevrolet Corvette 61.905 *0.814 50.39 0.551 3.492
17 1 cam-t 344 David Thompson 1999 Ford Mustang GT 61.679 *0.817 50.391 0.001 3.493
18 1 fp 87 Robert Cook 1996 BMW M3 57.9 *0.871 50.43 0.039 3.532
19 1 hs 96 Alexander Ward 2019 Toyota Corolla hatchback 64.62 *0.782 50.532 0.102 3.634
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diablo2112

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Back in the 90s, I had more fun running my 125cc Shifter Kart as well as an 82 Van Dieman Formula Ford in local/regional autocross events. I see the shifter kart finished 5th, after time corrections. I really should take the Supra to a local event; I haven't autocrossed in probably 15 years. Congrats, great finish.
 

Escapist

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I've never done autocross but (and this is just my opinion) it looks like something that's a lot more fun with a vehicle not as powerful as the MKV. I feel like you wouldn't be able to make use of the entire rpm range like you would with say a Miata or Toyota 86.
 
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XtremeMaC

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I've never done autocross but (and this is just my opinion) it looks like it's something that's a lot more fun with a vehicle not as powerful as the MKV. I feel like you wouldn't be able to make use of the entire rpm range like you would with say a Miata or Toyota 86.
Even in those you barely use half the gears, but really depends how the track is set up. I've had faster ones in airports, slightly stretched straights...but of course you want quick directional changes. I haven't tried Supra yet, but sounds like the short wheelbase and steering comes in handy despite the weight disadvantage.
Like he mentioned having full torque at 1800 can get you there faster and possibly recover faster...

@jchadwell did you let the car manage the shifts? If not, was it a hassle to change gears, delays, hesitations?
 
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jchadwell

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Even in those you barely use half the gears, but really depends how the track is set up. I've had faster ones in airports, slightly stretched straights...but of course you want quick directional changes. I haven't tried Supra yet, but sounds like the short wheelbase and steering comes in handy despite the weight disadvantage.
Like he mentioned having full torque at 1800 can get you there faster and possibly recover faster...

@jchadwell did you let the car manage the shifts? If not, was it a hassle to change gears, delays, hesitations?
Full auto mode. That's one of the things I was looking forward to is having a transmission that would downshift for me and always be in the right gear. I am, to some degree, a save the manuals type but I also think fast is fun and there's no doubt today's automatics are faster. This is the first automatic "fun" car I've ever purchased. I did (and still would) enjoy manual transmissions but in my experience so far (limited, I know), the magazines are correct when they say the ZF programming is really good. The car was in the correct gear every time I was back on the gas. I don't know, maybe there will be a situation in the future where the circumstances are right between gears and the trans gets confused but that didn't happen on yesterday's course.

I've actually never even tried the paddles. I guess I just don't see the point. If the transmission wasn't smarter than me or faster than me then maybe I would try the paddles but I'm not that bright or that fast...
 

Evolution

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Full auto mode. That's one of the things I was looking forward to is having a transmission that would downshift for me and always be in the right gear. I am, to some degree, a save the manuals type but I also think fast is fun and there's no doubt today's automatics are faster. This is the first automatic "fun" car I've ever purchased. I did (and still would) enjoy manual transmissions but in my experience so far (limited, I know), the magazines are correct when they say the ZF programming is really good. The car was in the correct gear every time I was back on the gas. I don't know, maybe there will be a situation in the future where the circumstances are right between gears and the trans gets confused but that didn't happen on yesterday's course.

I've actually never even tried the paddles. I guess I just don't see the point. If the transmission wasn't smarter than me or faster than me then maybe I would try the paddles but I'm not that bright or that fast...
I just got done with auto-x this weekend. I left mine in auto as well. There were only 2 parts of the track that the trans didnt like. Both were at the end of a stretch where it was just about to shift out of second but had to tap the brakes for a slight turn, then get back on the gas. It would shift to 3rd but in reality, 2nd would have been better. I would just hit the flapper mid way through the turn so it would go back to 2nd. Again, there were only 2 turns like that so it was easy to get used to. Other then that, it was nearly perfect.

Next time, do try it with no traction control systems on. Takes a bit to get used to but I was putting down a lot better lap times. The car can definitely step out fast but it is very controllable at the same time.
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