Driver tryouts for TAMU Formula SAE
11-17-2002, 05:37 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NASA/JSC - Clear Lake, TX
Posts: 870
So we went out to an old abandoned airport here in college station for driver tryouts for the Texas A&M Formula SAE team. We rented a new Ford Crown Vic and ran some old tires we had. It was fun, my times were about 2 sec above the average of 51 sec with the top time around 47 sec. it was fun, but a crown vic isn't made for autocrossing. so at the end, we all took our cars out there for a few spins.
the top was a 90 somthing integra at 44 sec, not too bad, but his crown vic times were around 49 sec. Mine did 49 a couple of times, but i was oversteering like crazy and had problems deciding which gear to use, that and it's rough steering and shifting. that, and i haven't checked my tire since i bought the car (yeah, its stupid) but i'm lazy. either way, my car was understeering like crazy. this was only my 3 rd time autocrossing, and there were people out here trying out that are TAMU SCC autox regulars. oh well, it was still fun. i need more practice that's for sure, and a stiffer suspension setup. maybe air up the tire, stiffen up the back and see if i can't get a little more neutral steer.
the top was a 90 somthing integra at 44 sec, not too bad, but his crown vic times were around 49 sec. Mine did 49 a couple of times, but i was oversteering like crazy and had problems deciding which gear to use, that and it's rough steering and shifting. that, and i haven't checked my tire since i bought the car (yeah, its stupid) but i'm lazy. either way, my car was understeering like crazy. this was only my 3 rd time autocrossing, and there were people out here trying out that are TAMU SCC autox regulars. oh well, it was still fun. i need more practice that's for sure, and a stiffer suspension setup. maybe air up the tire, stiffen up the back and see if i can't get a little more neutral steer.
12-05-2002, 04:18 AM
#2
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Austin Texas
Posts: 20
why don't you guys do the time trials in last year's SAE car. I'm a member of the UT Austin SAE team and we go autox'ing in the previous cars from the last three years. Anyways...have you guys started building your car up for this year yet?
12-22-2002, 04:40 PM
#3
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,928
Originally Posted by RX-7Aggie' date='Nov 17 2002, 06:37 PM
....but i was oversteering like crazy and had problems deciding which gear to use, that and it's rough steering and shifting. that, and i haven't checked my tire since i bought the car (yeah, its stupid) but i'm lazy. either way, my car was understeering like crazy.....
01-16-2003, 02:50 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 191
A&M can't run last years car because last I heard their Motec up and lost it's brain. 
UT-Austin hasn't had good cars until the last couple years. Try driving the 1999 car back-to-back against the 2002 car. It's like going from a '76 Buick to a Z06.
Even if you don't get selected as a driver you should stick with it. I learned A LOT from FSAE; welding, F.I tuning, suspension setup,... etc. Driving is a crap-load of fun though.
UT-Austin hasn't had good cars until the last couple years. Try driving the 1999 car back-to-back against the 2002 car. It's like going from a '76 Buick to a Z06.
Even if you don't get selected as a driver you should stick with it. I learned A LOT from FSAE; welding, F.I tuning, suspension setup,... etc. Driving is a crap-load of fun though.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)