2012 stf

[2000blackzx3]

Lowering the STF PAX doesn't make any sense... tracking Andy's results at Nationals is not the only baseline that should be followed. IMO there are better contenders than the Mazda2 in this class and it would be fun to see what Andy could do on another car...

Locally some people are yelling that STF is too soft, with my SVT being almost non-reachable in Street Touring, even by some well-prepped STX JCWs and last year's STR winner. I have PAXed top 3 overall out of between 60-100 drivers at almost all of 2 local championship events this year (around 10 events). I'm on my way to winning both Street Touring championships, maybe winning a club overall championship (with some luck, real position would have been 2nd), and ending 2nd overall in the other organization. I also won the ASN Canadian Autoslalom Championship by 0,5 secs in front of a crazy SM GC Subaru, a DS Type R with awesome drivers and a nice STR Miata.

Anyhow, I know that I wouldn't cut a top 20% at National level, with a fast DS JCW on Hoosiers PAXing within a sec in front of me and classing top 30 at Devens NE National event. This being said, maybe the STF index is not too far off... but should'nt be lowered.

If they lower the index to make the 2 more competitive, it could be considered to re-class some cars and keep ONLY the very low-powered FWDs in STF, and have a separate class for higher-powered non-LSD cars at maybe something between 0.800 and 0.810. Two fast drivers are running a 2002-gen Spec-V and a 2007 Civic Si locally and are always within 0,5 sec (in front or behind me), but STF PAX kills them. Only advantage with their cars IMO is the LSD, and they should'nt get a 0.030 higher PAX in STX. Usually I run the same raw times as prepped Coopers S's and new FR-S with good drivers on RS3s, 1.5 sec behind prepped John Cooper Works and within 2.5 sec of STU STI's.

With this increasing number of ST classes, I think that it could also be logical to re-organize them with the same structure as stock classes. Just sort all existing cars in A-B-C...-H street touring classes...

On my side I will be considering FSP next year if STF is made even softer, Street Touring competition would become hard to find... At some point leading your class and almost overall PAX, sometimes with runs with small mistakes that you know could have been better, is not more fun than fighting for a podium...

Oh, and that no-class-hopping rule this year is detracting... why not let play cars without OEM LSDs in STX if they want to? FSP is now the only option with a Quaife/Torsen in the SVT. We now have to choose to be over-competitive in STF or not even close to a contender in FSP.

Here's a video of my run at one of my last events :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJh5i...=ULMJh5iEcn3KI

[2000blackzx3]

Congrats to Bill for his 150th place / 1115 at Lincoln!

[ecugrad]

Originally Posted by 2000blackzx3

Lowering the STF PAX doesn't make any sense... tracking Andy's results at Nationals is not the only baseline that should be followed. IMO there are better contenders than the Mazda2 in this class and it would be fun to see what Andy could do on another car...

Locally some people are yelling that STF is too soft, with my SVT being almost non-reachable in Street Touring, even by some well-prepped STX JCWs and last year's STR winner. I have PAXed top 3 overall out of between 60-100 drivers at almost all of 2 local championship events this year (around 10 events). I'm on my way to winning both Street Touring championships, maybe winning a club overall championship (with some luck, real position would have been 2nd), and ending 2nd overall in the other organization. I also won the ASN Canadian Autoslalom Championship by 0,5 secs in front of a crazy SM GC Subaru, a DS Type R with awesome drivers and a nice STR Miata.

Anyhow, I know that I wouldn't cut a top 20% at National level, with a fast DS JCW on Hoosiers PAXing within a sec in front of me and classing top 30 at Devens NE National event. This being said, maybe the STF index is not too far off... but should'nt be lowered.

If they lower the index to make the 2 more competitive, it could be considered to re-class some cars and keep ONLY the very low-powered FWDs in STF, and have a separate class for higher-powered non-LSD cars at maybe something between 0.800 and 0.810. Two fast drivers are running a 2002-gen Spec-V and a 2007 Civic Si locally and are always within 0,5 sec (in front or behind me), but STF PAX kills them. Only advantage with their cars IMO is the LSD, and they should'nt get a 0.030 higher PAX in STX. Usually I run the same raw times as prepped Coopers S's and new FR-S with good drivers on RS3s, 1.5 sec behind prepped John Cooper Works and within 2.5 sec of STU STI's.

With this increasing number of ST classes, I think that it could also be logical to re-organize them with the same structure as stock classes. Just sort all existing cars in A-B-C...-H street touring classes...

On my side I will be considering FSP next year if STF is made even softer, Street Touring competition would become hard to find... At some point leading your class and almost overall PAX, sometimes with runs with small mistakes that you know could have been better, is not more fun than fighting for a podium...

Oh, and that no-class-hopping rule this year is detracting... why not let play cars without OEM LSDs in STX if they want to? FSP is now the only option with a Quaife/Torsen in the SVT. We now have to choose to be over-competitive in STF or not even close to a contender in FSP.

Here's a video of my run at one of my last events :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJh5i...=ULMJh5iEcn3KI

What are the details on your car? Springs/Shocks/Swaybars if you don't mind sharing.

I think there is ZERO chance of them softening the STF PAX or adding ANOTHER ST* class for FWD cars.

[2000blackzx3]

Originally Posted by ecugrad

What are the details on your car? Springs/Shocks/Swaybars if you don't mind sharing.

I think there is ZERO chance of them softening the STF PAX or adding ANOTHER ST* class for FWD cars.

With Hollis' 88th place finish at the Nationals, he's right where he used to be when he was winning his class in a Civic, so I don't see Rick Ruth still thinking about softening STF.

My car has FK Highsport coilover springs/housings, with rear Koni Yellows and front Koni inserts that were made for FK Konigsports. Spring rates are supposed to be 400 lb/in front and 350 rear, which is why I'm keeping those FKs. I may consider revalving the front Koni's for next year (anything under 3/4 max rebound damping seems a little too soft to control those springs).

Other details :
Dunlop Star Specs in 215/40/17, on 17x7 Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2
Front K-Mac plates
Rear adjustable toe arms
Rear adjustable camber arms
Stock front sway bar (did try a 22mm but I felt I was loosing some inner wheel traction)
24mm rear bar
Front control arm poly bushings
Camber around -2.5deg all around
Front caster at 4 deg