First time Auto X with my Z/28

[ariZona28]

Great time at AMP in W. Phoenix metro area!!! So fun to take my car out and wail on it without the fear of red and blue lights flashing in my rear view mirror! My times were respectable for a rookie and only 1 DNF (59.5 sec) as a result of passing a cone on the wrong side during 1st run. Got the car loose a few times (kinda on purpose cuz it's fun!) but I never spun out. Steady improvement each run by 1 sec. I used traction control 4 for the 1st 3 runs then setting 5 for my last, best run of 56.3 seconds. Already planning a strategy for next month.

[Silveradoss573]

Sounds like a blast! Are you still going to take the vette that you just bought?

[ariZona28]

Originally Posted by Silveradoss573

Sounds like a blast! Are you still going to take the vette that you just bought?

Oh yeah! Working on a few improvements to the Z06 and if the stars align correctly I may do a track day at Wild Horse Pass in April.

[ronchev]

Fun stuff sir, you get a chance to run with DriveAutoX out your way do it, great group and no cone shagging its well worth it. Oh and if you haven't tracked your Z yet now thats when you get tons of seat time and crazy speeds..These cars are amazing and I can't imagine letting one set as a garage queen for the next guy to enjoy

[joelster]

Our cars are pretty good at autocross, especially when the layouts favor the faster cars. What tires are you running?

[ariZona28]

Originally Posted by joelster

Our cars are pretty good at autocross, especially when the layouts favor the faster cars. What tires are you running?

I'm running the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. NOW I see what guys are talking about when they say a 300 tire is good on the street but challenging in any form of competition. The air temps were low, around 50 degrees and cloudy/breezy. They seemed to spin/slide fairly easy but I was just out to have fun. Next month it should be warmer and now I've got an idea of what's going on. Didn't sleep at all the night before due to anxious/worry/excitement.

[joelster]

Those are good track tires and probably work ok for autocross. They will work better for you when it gets warmer out. You should make a habit of checking tire pressure before each run, and place the palm of your hand on them after each run. They should be very warm.

[joelster]

Originally Posted by ronchev

Fun stuff sir, you get a chance to run with DriveAutoX out your way do it, great group and no cone shagging its well worth it. Oh and if you haven't tracked your Z yet now thats when you get tons of seat time and crazy speeds..These cars are amazing and I can't imagine letting one set as a garage queen for the next guy to enjoy

I did one of the DriveAutoX events last year, and had a blast! Some of them are just too far away for me to consider doing the whole series though.

[ariZona28]

Originally Posted by joelster

Those are good track tires and probably work ok for autocross. They will work better for you when it gets warmer out. You should make a habit of checking tire pressure before each run, and place the palm of your hand on them after each run. They should be very warm.

Running again this upcoming weekend. Temps should be '70s and sunny out. Any suggestions on tire pressure? I normally run about 32psi cold but not sure what I should be looking at WARM with this tire set-up. I'm already getting excited!

[Coz3z3]

I’m no expert, but I usually try to run around 32 warm. I’ll drop it to about 28-30 cold so when they warm, it comes up to about 32. Haven’t done, but one autox in the Z. But my SS I did quite a few and I would run 28-30 front and 32 or 34 rear just because I had staggered tires. Try to help with that understeer (I think, I always get them confused)

But also, I think you kind of just have to play with different combos to see if you can notice a difference on a certain one. I know it’s hard at an event, here especially with only being able to run 3-4 times with a good 10 minutes in between runs.

[ariZona28]

Originally Posted by Coz3z3

I’m no expert, but I usually try to run around 32 warm. I’ll drop it to about 28-30 cold so when they warm, it comes up to about 32. Haven’t done, but one autox in the Z. But my SS I did quite a few and I would run 28-30 front and 32 or 34 rear just because I had staggered tires. Try to help with that understeer (I think, I always get them confused)

But also, I think you kind of just have to play with different combos to see if you can notice a difference on a certain one. I know it’s hard at an event, here especially with only being able to run 3-4 times with a good 10 minutes in between runs.

Thanks for the info. I'll probably start out with 30 at all four tires and see how much they increase. I'm not really at the level yet where I need to squeeze out every tenth of a second but if I can pick up advice from my fellow Camaro enthusiasts I'll certainly put it to good use.

[Coz3z3]

For sure, and I couldn't tell you what really "worked" and what did not. I would be shaving off seconds every run because I learned the course more and more, and would learn where to put the pedal to the floor and where not to, etc. Then by the 3rd or last run, the tires would be up to temp, and be nice and sticky. And then the day is over lol

[Og Neon]

Nice! My only question is where were you a few years ago when I use to run with them in my White Z/28? I heavily autocrossed my Z/28 with them and around the country so if you need any advice let me know.

[Coz3z3]

I’ll speak for both of us and say I think we would both love your opinions on the tires pressure. I ran the trofeos and Goodyear’s on my SS. No one has ever really given me advice at the course, just ran what I would read about and figured 32 because that’s what GM advised on the door sticker lol