My 2016 RS

[DocWalt]

I picked up a 2016 Focus RS in Nitrous Blue recently. It's got the RS2 package, forged 19" wheels, & Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. I'm really enjoying it so far, it's quick, rides pretty well, handles pretty well, and really attracts attention (from both genders ;) )

Picked up with just under 8 miles (rolled over as the pic was snapped)
http://i.imgur.com/q5CVF8b.jpg

The blue REALLY changes in different lighting. It looks really bright here, but isn't as bright in other lighting. It's pretty neat :)
http://i.imgur.com/jAKgU9L.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/MQbKDn8.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/g2xC0hp.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/m3ayKLL.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/L9MKGCZ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/cVvFEkG.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Kpc1J9v.jpg

The least inspiring looking 350hp engine I've ever seen... It sure motivates some movement though :)
http://i.imgur.com/rdDO55I.jpg

The bit I've driven the RS, it seems like a great driver's car. It really gets up and goes, has great torque with the 2.3L engine, even off boost. Cornering is a lot like my Evo X was, direct and easy to manage. The limits are quite high and the car's balance is pretty awesome so far. Definitely less oversteer than the BRZ, but it's pretty awesome just driving into a corner and exiting at WOT with the AWD system shuffling power around to make the car go where you want it to. The exhaust noise from outside is also pretty awesome. The cracks & pops in sport exhaust are VERY loud, and the exhaust isn't quiet for a factory exhaust. The exhaust is way too quiet inside though, there's a LOT of sound deadening, which is great for any sort of highway driving.

Interior quality is miles better than the Evo X. Seats are great like the Evo but otherwise the interior is miles better, there's actual style and it's awesome actually having meaningful gauges... The Sync 3 system is great so far too. Sound system is a bit flat, even with the sub. I'll have to play with the EQ (unfortunately only 3 band) and see what I can improve. Unfortunately I have a weird squeaky noise from the passenger A-pillar, sounds like it's rubbing on the dash. Completely unnoticeable with the windows down.

The paint color is simply astonishing. Just sooooo good, in my opinion. The paint quality is also pretty fantastic, super smooth. Unfortunately it's still a cheap car and there's a couple of small areas on the hood (splotches I guess) where the blue is a lighter color. Not sure what happened during painting to cause that, but it's a four stage paint so it'll be next to impossible to match perfectly so I'm unsure if I want the dealer to try fixing it.

The gas mileage is pretty abysmal, the interior is smaller than I expected because the front Recaro seats are so thick, the build quality isn't great for a car this expensive, but man, the way this car drives... They really got it right, I really hope it holds well, I'll be putting it through a lot of abuse.

[DocWalt]

I was in good company yesterday :)

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13735776_10209819318580801_8581167844093127370_o.j pg

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13615245_10209819319140815_294615125471646715_n.jp g?oh=3df7beb357279d4587b228bae2f2cccf&oe=58353659

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13692824_10209819318940810_7572096542189659491_o.j pg

[FeaRpb]

I like this

[j2k4]

Pretty cool, Doc. :D

It's huge next to the BRZ, eh?

[futurevr4man]

Pretty cool, Doc. :D

It's huge next to the BRZ, eh?

I think you would be surprised. Maybe exterior wise it is, but interior of my FRS is pretty spacious, really!

[Greg E]

It's an awesome car!

[MDoe8]

nicely done! my buddy has a fuckus st and i love that thing. I've got a fuckusuv (escape) and I love the interior as well.

[DocWalt]

Pretty cool, Doc. :D

It's huge next to the BRZ, eh?

It's tall, yes. Seating position is a lot like the GTI, much more like sitting in a chair, lol


I think you would be surprised. Maybe exterior wise it is, but interior of my FRS is pretty spacious, really!

Besides having a much more usable back seat & trunk, it's not that much bigger than the BRZ, for sure. I was never uncomfortable in the BRZ, space wise.


It's an awesome car!

+1 Now we just need to see what it does versus the FD or Exocet :p

[DocWalt]

First autocross, second in class and 8th overall. Not too shabby. This thing is a blast!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNWGC93aLDA

[j2k4]

Whoa, that is one nasty-sounding little fucker, Doc... :D

[DocWalt]

Whoa, that is one nasty-sounding little fucker, Doc... :D

Proper rally car noises with the crackling exhaust :)

[DocWalt]

3 wheelin' :)

http://i.imgur.com/n4UnPZJ.jpg

[MDoe8]

may have answered this before, but which is faster around an autocross, burze or foci?

[IPD]

Now if only it came in 2-door fastback (not wagonback) and with the 3.5L...that thing would be arguably the greatest car ever sold. It already PWNS the 1st & 2nd gen SHO's.

[Ziploc]

Nice ride!! I was looking at one of these since we've gotta get something for the wife but it looks like we may be going the Golf-R route.

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

Now if only it came in 2-door fastback (not wagonback) and with the 3.5L...that thing would be arguably the greatest car ever sold. It already PWNS the 1st & 2nd gen SHO's.

Sounds like a nice dream, but they would have to make it a foot longer.

[DocWalt]

may have answered this before, but which is faster around an autocross, burze or foci?

BRZ is quicker, based on the results from other STX competitors that were at my last autocross. Not surprised, it has racier tires and weighs less with a much better alignment (and shocks too)


Nice ride!! I was looking at one of these since we've gotta get something for the wife but it looks like we may be going the Golf-R route.

Golf R is not a bad choice at all. It's not as racy, but quicker and more luxurious.


Now if only it came in 2-door fastback (not wagonback) and with the 3.5L...that thing would be arguably the greatest car ever sold. It already PWNS the 1st & 2nd gen SHO's.

3.5 will just make it a nose heavy pig. The 2.3 makes as much power anyway... I do agree that a 2 door would be cool, but fastback would kill the practicality.

[IPD]

Problem with the Golf-R is....

It's not a Scirocco body.

[DocWalt]

You lose a lot of usability in the Scirocco body... It's better looking, I agree, but it's not more usable. The Focus is already tight enough in the back seats...

[IPD]

I get that. But for people who want a 4-door that can kick ass, there's already an SRT-8, CTS-V, M5, and a host of other choices. The world needs something like a GT-R, but without all the portliness.

[DocWalt]

Good luck convincing someone to build that.

[MDoe8]

I get that. But for people who want a 4-door that can kick ass, there's already an SRT-8, CTS-V, M5, and a host of other choices. The world needs something like a GT-R, but without all the portliness.

That's a big price difference to get into those cars.

[IPD]

agreed. that's why tossing out something on the budget end would be such a winning combo. but 'muricah. coupes can't have AWD turbocharged v6's in 'muricah.

[DocWalt]

why does it have to be a V6? Modern 4 cylinders (like in the RS or Ecoboost Stang or the latest GM turbo 4) are damn good engines and way lighter than a V6... My RS has minimal turbo lag and has tons of torque off boost.

[B-Man]

So, you want all the engineering/technology without the cost? :jerkit:

[B-Man]

Not to mention Ford's Ecoboost only makes 365hp while GMs makes 420hp (In their vsport).

Know what also makes those power figures with a better torque band? V8s. (Fords 435hp and GMs 455hp)

[DocWalt]

Picked up my RS from the dealer, had the hood resprayed under warranty due to some weird spots on the hood. No more spots :)

http://i.imgur.com/TWynL7L.jpg

parked with my BRZ (anyone want to buy it? :) )

http://i.imgur.com/URbMn8D.jpg

[Ziploc]

Yeah, the selling point for us on the Golf R was the DSG trans. I was set on a white Focus RS but since the wife is gonna be the one spending most of the time behind the wheel it had to be an auto. :dispirited:

[DocWalt]

Yeah, the selling point for us on the Golf R was the DCC trans. I was set on a white Focus RS but since the wife is gonna be the one spending most of the time behind the wheel it had to be an auto. :dispirited:

Boo :p I saw a white Focus RS and it was stunning. But the R is still one hell of a car! More usable than the RS and a bit more "grown up" for whatever that's worth, lol. That DSG trans is pretty friggin sweet too, even if it is an automatic (I'm saying that to poke at IPD a bit hehe)

[Ziploc]

Yeah, I'll still be happy with it. Both are great cars. Took me a minute to get her sold on the R over the GTI for price though.

[DocWalt]

For sure. The R is way more capable, but the price still sucks. RS is the same way, to be fair, lol

[DocWalt]

I ran an autocross today... Bloopers first :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-M1h8DqHWY

My fastest run, 50.539. Good for second place in B Street. I need to tidy up a little by getting closer to the cones... I also need better tires :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1hk25K2qRo

[DocWalt]

New wheels and tires arrived today. 255/35-19s on 18x8 ET45 Sparco Assetto Gara wheels in Matte Graphite Silver

http://i.imgur.com/uxenY1T.jpg

Quick test fit:

http://i.imgur.com/zzVLTiP.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/GmN1iZA.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ZBIveRz.jpg


For fun, my 255s on 8" wheels versus my dad's 205s on 7.5" wheels

http://i.imgur.com/9cBfWJU.jpg

[DocWalt]

Fairly successful day at autocross. I won B-Street and I finished first overall. I only ran PM, but combining the sessions I would still have been top 3 in PAX, I believe. The RE-71Rs transformed the car, I can actually slow down now (you can see me over brake in a few places) and even with a bit less than perfect driving I was still fast. The RS is absurdly tail happy on power, it's a bit surprising.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsgyVmFvYk8

[DocWalt]

I swear I drove better than this earlier in the day... but this was my fastest raw time, even with the big slides. Sometimes I just crank on steering way too quickly for the car to handle it. Second in class...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GddKRYaBjE

[DocWalt]

Here's my fastest run. Good for 3rd in class and 6th over all.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhIbnoMtGU8

and some of my stupidity from today... Not thrilled with my driving today, I was driving desperately, which clearly doesn't work.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3xqIhbvzJU

[DocWalt]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyOUrnhQjxc

[j2k4]

Compare your two - or three - cars, Doc. :)

[DocWalt]

The RS is fast, comfortable, and really fun, the BRZ is way easier to drive quickly at autocross yet still comfortable and all that, the GTI is really fun to drive but uncomfortable and unreliable.

[DocWalt]

Another good day at autocross! My brother & dad both came second in class, I was third. I was tenth overall though, so I beat them, haha :)

My Dad's fastest run:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypeKGExQYss

My brother's fastest run:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Du_bmG1vwik

My fastest run:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Dx05mobqiQ

My brother's journey through the spin cycle. I was sitting on the start line riding with my buddy and told him to be gentle on the 1-2 shift so he didn't go massively sideways... as my brother did exactly what I said not to do and spun around, haha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuilVHTg28Q

[DocWalt]

I'll add this shot someone got of me on an earlier run. PCA had dropped some baking powder last weekend and I clipped it... Super slippery!
http://s16.postimg.org/sawdh0wcl/ECv_Gk_N1.jpg

[R/T93]

Looks like a blown turbo to me. Part out.

[anyonebutme]

GT35R time, yo.

[DocWalt]

I went on a whim to South Jersey Region autocross today, thanks to a few people poking and prodding... I won PAX (first time at an event with really fast people) and was given the FTD trophy (the sombrero) because everyone that set a faster raw time left, haha. I had 4th fastest raw time :)

Such excite! Very racecar! Much sombrero! Wow!
http://i.imgur.com/eZPuFFE.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/a5C81oU.jpg

Here's the video of my fastest run. The GPS speed is a bit wonky, not sure what happened with it on this run. I left a bit of time on the table, my last run was faster up until I had a couple of slides and went off course. Oh well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shoS4b_ku50

[FeaRpb]

Looks like a damn blast

[DocWalt]

Looks like a damn blast

The sombrero? If so, yeah, it was.

[j2k4]

Pretty smoove, Doc.

Nice hat, too - I have one just like it. :p

[DocWalt]

I got this package from Ford Performance yesterday, including some goodies and a free voucher to the RS experience in Utah (instructed track time paid for by Ford with their cars, good for trying drift mode and shredding someone else's tires, hehe):
https://s22.postimg.org/5r46zax1t/A1z8_Qa_I.jpg

https://s22.postimg.org/h4qqai7kh/4ncjvvq.jpg

Nice paperweight... this is the "shifter modeled after the one in your car"
https://s22.postimg.org/txeuafj69/YIi_B52_M.jpg

Absurdly priced poster... Sure it's nice, but I'm not paying $450 for a poster.
https://s22.postimg.org/tlxdxo2q9/7pg_G91_A.jpg

[95gto]

So all you have to do is get to Utah and you get to participate in the school for free???

[DocWalt]

So all you have to do is get to Utah and you get to participate in the school for free???

Yep..

[Greg E]

I had the same offer with my ST. Couldn't make it out though. :(

[95gto]

Yep..

So can you add a person like a normal class registration.........

[DocWalt]

So can you add a person like a normal class registration.........

I think so. There was some discussion on the forums about it... I'll check. I'm unsure if I plan on going, if I do it'll likely be next year. and yes, I see where you're going with that, lol

Got a pic from autocross :)

http://i.imgur.com/V4oUutq.jpg

[DocWalt]

http://i.imgur.com/dCBMkNB.jpg

[DocWalt]

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14732396_10208681767136169_6453976920611081409_n.j pg?oh=5d4f7d4b668e4039a9f18b00973195b2&oe=58A2290C

[futurevr4man]

I see no vids. I see no resume. I see no interview! LIES!

[DocWalt]

Had fun at VIR last week with Trackdaze. I wasn't going for broke, but still obliterated my XP12/XP10 pads :( Never had AWD off or oil temp issues. I hit maybe 280 degree oil temps... but it was only 65-80 degrees and I have to stress that I wasn't going balls out.

Here was VIR full with a 2:23.184 (with traffic):


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyu54bU2OoM

and VIR Grand (Lighting Lap configuration, I ran a 3:09.9 if you start the lap at the old start/finish as I never got a single clean flying lap all the way to the new S/F location...):


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9CSAAtFlsc

Pic of the overheated front XP12 pad:
http://i.imgur.com/Ryjjung.jpg

[DocWalt]

Swapped in LED brake lights the other day, mostly for the safety reasons. A full car's worth of extra stopping distance for a trailing car at 65mph! For the study on the safety advantage: https://chemlinks.beloit.edu/BlueLight/pages/hp/an1155-3.pdf

Installed my blue Green Filter today. Easy install, even in the rain, lol. I'm glad I swapped the filter, the OEM filter had all sorts of white fuzzy stuff on it.

http://i.imgur.com/XUVfalo.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/yQIanXC.jpg

[stealthee]

LMAO Green Filter is produced in my neck of the woods. I used to be in charge of production for that company for about a year. They are part of the fuckheads I worked for that I quit a few years back.

[DocWalt]

LMAO Green Filter is produced in my neck of the woods. I used to be in charge of production for that company for about a year. They are part of the fuckheads I worked for that I quit a few years back.

srsly? :lol:

[stealthee]

Oh yeah. No lie. The filter on my Grand Prix was even produced there when I was still working for the company.

They are nice filters though, and in my opinion better than K&N due to how they are produced. It's just too bad they are poorly marketed and the company is run by a dumbass.

[DocWalt]

The filter does seem nicely made, I'll give them that. I had never heard of them before, but they're apparently pretty popular on the Focus ST and the same filter is used on the RS.

[DocWalt]

Was out autocrossing someone else's car on the Sunday before VIR. I spotted these guys at my local Wawa, I had to stop and chat. It was a beautiful day and they were out cruising around. Both young guys and they were very friendly and were doing proper things with their cars (maintenance, OEM+ builds, etc)

http://i.imgur.com/lvXQTi0.jpg

Road wrap. Bit of a PITA but it worked well enough.

http://i.imgur.com/EB3h5WU.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/CbMvSVe.jpg

One of two ACRs at the track (taken the night I got there, I went through tech and then spotted this beast):

http://i.imgur.com/tPcBFmP.jpg

Hotel overlooking Danville:

http://i.imgur.com/WDd9YxF.jpg

Ready for the track:

http://i.imgur.com/2HgCfNs.jpg

KTM X-Bow!

http://i.imgur.com/cNTcKDi.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/RwW732H.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/YCQYmg2.jpg

This guy was paddocked next to me. He was only a little bit disappointed that I ran faster times than him while he was on his slicks, lol. Similar build to my BRZ, but his was gutted, had the Saero (splitter & SARD wing), and was on slicks.

http://i.imgur.com/UFrGTDt.jpg

Proper rotary powered FB, pretty wild!

http://i.imgur.com/Gyajt28.jpg

Diasio with rotary power. This thing was a screamer and it was fast as hell

http://i.imgur.com/yirHITU.jpg

[DocWalt]

Crazy old Z

http://i.imgur.com/rYhRxla.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/CuNhA4z.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/VNkQhII.jpg

NGP was there with their rig & cars. Trackdaze started as a R32 trackday group and exploded into what they are now :)

http://i.imgur.com/68kCoWn.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/QF3VpUs.jpg

GT3 RS... Yes please :)

http://i.imgur.com/gnaLvFA.jpg

Classic BMW love

http://i.imgur.com/CBTvSqu.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/8Ym63Pz.jpg

This thing (Ex-NASCAR COTF) was a beast. Probably the fastest thing on track and hearing it tear down the back straight was amazing... then hearing the driver bang down through the gears on the brakes? f'ing epic. I'm sure it was a LOT faster ABM's car I got to drive in June, and that was a total blast. I can only imagine how much fun this thing is.

http://i.imgur.com/7uzqoqH.jpg

[DocWalt]

New Giulia Quadrifoglio

http://i.imgur.com/BX5p6g3.jpg

This Atom was in my run group... He spun off immediately in front of me at one point on the first day (hence the ballerina sticker), at the end of the back straight. I popped over the hill and he was rolling backwards off the track.

http://i.imgur.com/ubS5Frp.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/sGXjOVF.jpg

K series in the Atom

http://i.imgur.com/2HdKAsF.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/BTZJlVT.jpg

Rainbows for daze

http://i.imgur.com/ZfdfnGQ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/UkF5xX7.jpg

Snapped this to send to my dad... He had been looking for ages for a Molten Orange ST without sunroof. I was glad I chatted with this guy, it confirmed our suspicions that my dad needed to buy one without a sunroof for helmet clearance.

http://i.imgur.com/riWvPen.jpg

I honestly don't know how to feel about this color choice... I neglected to snap pics of the other 4 GT4s that were there, lol

http://i.imgur.com/nP0JMdX.jpg

Hnnnggggggg!!!

http://i.imgur.com/jjTuWK5.jpg

[DocWalt]

Mid engine crew

http://i.imgur.com/vJTdVR7.jpg

Huge amounts of tire rollover on the left front

http://i.imgur.com/t8JZcfw.jpg

Oddly, the right rear was the other tire with tons of tire rollover

http://i.imgur.com/SwGTd0W.jpg

I'll wrap up the track day pics with this pic :)

http://i.imgur.com/SmjFk02.jpg

[DocWalt]

Some videos from the track, as a spectator

Old Alfa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_MOfgtBMB8

NASCAR Bend:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xz43ux07wA

Uphill Esses:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GNvUOLSjdM

Uphill Esses (longer video):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAAWF8ShBP0

Patriot Course Esses:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo8XlNZ82pM

[FeaRpb]

Idk... I am actually loving this color

http://i.imgur.com/nP0JMdX.jpg

[DocWalt]

I didn't hate it, but not my favorite choice for that car in particular. I think it would look better on a 911

[j2k4]

You had a nice weekend, then? :p

[mdcrose]

I was at VIR in Oct. for a Chin motorsports event and got to ride a few laps in a Viper ACR, it was fast as hell. The guy had done a 1:53 on the full course that day, but I'm sure we went much slower due to traffic.

[DocWalt]

I was at VIR in Oct. for a Chin motorsports event and got to ride a few laps in a Viper ACR, it was fast as hell. The guy had done a 1:53 on the full course that day, but I'm sure we went much slower due to traffic.

One of the two guys with ACRs there took a pic of my car and sent it to his buddy who had been looking to buy an RS. Pretty funny! His buddy posted on the RS forums and said I should hace asked for a ride. Dann, I wish I had :(

[DocWalt]

Color matched Rally Armor flaps. I'm pretty happy with them.

http://i.imgur.com/6rOQja5.jpg

[R/T93]

How STI like.....

[DocWalt]

How STI like.....

While I was installing them a couple of WRXes (clearly cruising together) drove by and stared hardcore... They both had Rally Armor flaps :(

[anyonebutme]

lol. I should install rally flaps on the stealth...and the vr4 because cholo wheels throw rocks

[DocWalt]

lol. I should install rally flaps on the stealth...and the vr4 because cholo wheels throw rocks

yeah, I can only imagine the looks of people on track as you fly by with your flaps flapping away, lol

[DocWalt]

Found this pictogram detailing the different driving modes of the RS. The "Engine" mode that's referenced is essentially the throttle pedal mapping, it doesn't make more power or anything, just a sharper pedal response.

https://mk3focusrs.club/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/focus-rs-driving-modes-guide.png

[DocWalt]

http://i.imgur.com/cV5wj0U.jpg

Installed the front mudflaps today. The rears definitely keep the back of the car cleaner, hopefully the fronts keep the side of the car cleaner.

[DocWalt]

A bit of a diversion... but way too much fun to not share. I did some rallycross yesterday in a buddy's Miata. The course got slower with every run, which was a new experience.

Run 1 from the AM session:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jePOx_nc7dM

Run 1 from the PM session:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COlJU6DUK9k

Run 2 from the PM session (I was trying to link some corners with little drifts, well, I lost too much speed and had no grip to add speed, lol)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTEp4I8qxDc

and an oopsy... I scared the course workers :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSge9f7PHno

[R/T93]

How much quicker were the awd cars? That looks fun as heck.

[DocWalt]

How much quicker were the awd cars? That looks fun as heck.

I beat all but one AWD car :) http://www.bmr-scca.org/livetiming/

[Beef6]

Holy shit does that look fun!

[DocWalt]

I did the free mod too. I didn't get quite as much out of mine, the nut started hitting the curve of the bar and I wasn't comfortable having it dig in. I also didn't get the hole placement perfect... Didn't seem to be terrible and the end links still fit OK. I'd like to have some adjustable links to make sure there's no preload, but that'll be down the road. I don't want to mess with those again any time soon, there's not much clearance :(

Before:
http://i.imgur.com/K6TtC8A.jpg

After:
http://i.imgur.com/SS785HJ.jpg

All done:
http://i.imgur.com/M9eaiTR.jpg

I did the math, it should be good for about an 18% difference in bar rate, at least at the 3/4" hole spacing that I got. I'm on snow tires and I didn't push it hard or anything, but it seemed to have a bit less roll up front. I'll find out tomorrow with a longer than ~5 minute drive.

Also, I got some resistors in the mail today, I'm aiming to disable the rear shocks and have the fronts go into Sport mode to speed up transitions even more. Should be B Street legal, but I'll have to talk to a few more people about it.

[DocWalt]

Did some more rallycross last weekend too :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqdA1zddo1o


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CohdIeGI2fY

I finished third of three, lol. I pushed too hard and made costly mistakes, but had a lot of fun anyway :)

[j2k4]

Dirt = different, eh?

Have you done that before, Kenny?

[DocWalt]

Never driven in anger on dirt before the rallycrosses, other than blasting some rally roads at safe speeds in my dad's trucks (aka, above "normal" speeds, but not risking anything)

[DocWalt]

Did a Borla exhaust on my buddy's RS.. we had quite a crowd of spectators show up to help (or just gawk at us doing the work)

https://s27.postimg.org/tyx3a9pjn/r_RLRdq5h.jpg

https://s27.postimg.org/j0lts30yb/gwsm_IDoh.jpg


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bawh0Ws2vq4

[Turbo Beast]

I wish they had rally cross over here!

[DocWalt]

Installed hood struts today. No cutting of the rubber hood seals like some of the other struts on the market :)

http://i.imgur.com/1v7XrHkh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/VhSDVgQh.jpg

[DocWalt]

A bit of feedback on the swaybar mod...

It definitely feels tighter and less floppy on corner entry. Doesn't seem to increase understeer much if any at all. Even in long sweepers at 9/10ths on the Cup 2s I don't notice it understeering more than it did before. Tight corners are unaffected on exit, still tons of on throttle oversteer :)

I've got a set of Whiteline endlinks to install to make doubly sure there's no preload on the bar, maybe tomorrow. I'll check to see if there's enough preload for me to care because it's a rather unpleasant job swapping endlinks.

http://i.imgur.com/mYyOKt7.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/vSrOhte.jpg

soon...

[DocWalt]

Whiteline end links installed. Tedious, but WAY easier now that I own a set of ratcheting wrenches.

http://i.imgur.com/C9T9Igkh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/tujqDBoh.jpg

[DocWalt]

Before I start in with the pics and such... Here's a video of the stock exhaust. Cold start, some free revs, then a moderate pull into 3rd gear.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPRObYwozrM


Now for the ETS exhaust. Titanium and I custom ordered it without the "normal" blue tips. 19.4 lbs. versus 42.2 lbs. for the stock exhaust, a good deal of weight savings.

http://i.imgur.com/H3tOFEGh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/1uPM23ih.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/HnrFUSUh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/5fzWIdZh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/m95DXObh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ODxWNm2h.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/oYpCmR3h.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/bq7p1WGh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/R1ZNS2Zh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/qyO613Wh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/e3MvWFzh.jpg

Here's a really crummy video of the Ti exhaust:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6rBmdyTifI

[j2k4]

Got some zing, now. ;)

[DocWalt]

Here's the final video from me for the Ti exhaust:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i8LvDuvRfs

Any further videos will be with my normal autocross mic setup sometime down the road.

Also, since someone on a facebook group asked for it, here's a shot of the ground clearance:

http://i.imgur.com/0491SMNh.jpg

and the best part of any purchase, stickers!

http://i.imgur.com/p3hqdQgh.jpg

[j2k4]

I really like that.

Is that cold idle or warm, Kenny?

Does it change much?

[DocWalt]

I really like that.

Is that cold idle or warm, Kenny?

Does it change much?

The startup and idle is cold, but near the end of the idle/rev bit it's on warm idle. At warm idle you really can't hear much of anything, especially when auto start/stop shuts the engine off :p but mannnn when it fires back up it sounds MEAN. burble out the ass and you hear the turbo spool up like it does on cold idle. sounds amazing, lol

Thanks man, I really dig it. It's definitely got a bit of drone around town, I can't wait to find out how bad it is on the highway :p but the Ti gives it a really unique racy sound and it's by far the loudest car I've owned, so that's fun for a while. With the windows up it's boomy inside, but not loud.

[DocWalt]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OVneB9_XGw

I didn't drive particularly well, but oh well. Still had fun and had a tremendous battle today in B Street. I finished 4th exactly 2 tenths behind the winner in another RS, which may give you an idea of how close it was.

5 hour round trip to this autocross, ZERO drone from the new exhaust on the highway :) Super stoked with that. I hope it's quiet enough, I'll find out in a month or so.

[DocWalt]

First in B Street today (Sunday) at Hershey autocross. 2nd overall in PAX


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kEaYpm8uwI

dirty run that would have been good for first overall in PAX


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unGT01gVW2U

All of my SoloStorm runs are on the cloud if anyone wants to see

[DocWalt]

I got a pretty sweet picture of my car from autocross yesterday :)

https://s17.postimg.org/lwz2j04en/17505202_1867699336840864_1133896734232381826_o.jp g

credit goes to: https://www.facebook.com/XtremePhotography570/?hc_location=ufi

[95gto]

That's a nice shot, but it does make it look like your passenger has quite the mass.

[DocWalt]

That's a nice shot, but it does make it look like your passenger has quite the mass.

It was 45 degrees... It was full on winter jacket weather, lol. yes, he looks enormous, but he's as skinny as you, lol

[j2k4]

I like the noise - almost sounds like a bike...

[95gto]

It was 45 degrees... It was full on winter jacket weather, lol. yes, he looks enormous, but he's as skinny as you, lol

I was actually referring to how loaded your right front suspension was. Out of the context of high speed cornering it looks like you just have a hefty passenger. :p

And Kevin's right, the exhaust sounds sweet.

[DocWalt]

I was actually referring to how loaded your right front suspension was. Out of the context of high speed cornering it looks like you just have a hefty passenger. :p

And Kevin's right, the exhaust sounds sweet.

lol. derp. my bad :stupid2: on that note... there's evidence of the mudflap touching, sheesh

thanks. I'm really happy with it. apparently it's not too loud according to people's ears, so that's good. gotta see what it does on the sound meter :)

[95gto]

Does anyone make an Aluminum or composite skid plate for those cars yet? Given how low the front dips in the photo you may need one to avoid doing to your bumper cover what you did to your mud flap.

[DocWalt]

Does anyone make an Aluminum or composite skid plate for those cars yet? Given how low the front dips in the photo you may need one to avoid doing to your bumper cover what you did to your mud flap.

There are metal skid plates to replace the factory undertray, I actually helped install one on a buddy's RS last night. It just replaces the factory undertray though, not anything further forward... The OEM undertray has NACA ducts and scoops in it, and Ford made it out of fiber material. The scoops pick up snow, pack the engine bay with snow which pushes the undertray down, eventually scooping enough snow to push the undertray into the ground, lol.

Nobody makes a skid plate that extends forward enough to protect the bumper. I wish someone did though, I'd love to run a rallycross but the bumper lowness is a big concern.

[95gto]

My guess is that with a platform like the RS it will only be a matter of time before someone makes the parts. However you could always go the HDPE route like me. My splitter saved my bumper cover when my car decided 3 wheels was all I needed to run the road course at NG13.

[j2k4]

...my car decided 3 wheels was all I needed to run the road course at NG13.

FYI, I did not larf when I heard about that.

I felt oddly compelled to let you know. :p

[DocWalt]

There are splitters and such available, but shiny carbon isn't exactly what I'd want protecting my bumper, lol. There are more "race" oriented splitters on the way soon. Just takes time :)

[95gto]

There are splitters and such available, but shiny carbon isn't exactly what I'd want protecting my bumper, lol. There are more "race" oriented splitters on the way soon. Just takes time :)

Yeah you wouldn't really want a stiff composite plate, you would want something with better abrasion resistance than that.

[95gto]

FYI, I did not larf when I heard about that.

I felt oddly compelled to let you know. :p

I would and do laugh at it. I didn't at the time, but I feel like that kind of stuff is always something that is only funny upon reflection rather than while experiencing it.

I distinctly remember hearing the noise of the grinding and thinking I just killed my transmission. Then I realized the car was leaning excessively and that meant I lost a wheel somewhere. I also remember distinctly having my head on a swivel when I brought the car to a stop, trying to determine where the wheel was and hoping it didn't hit anyone.

[j2k4]

I would and do laugh at it. I didn't at the time, but I feel like that kind of stuff is always something that is only funny upon reflection rather than while experiencing it.

I distinctly remember hearing the noise of the grinding and thinking I just killed my transmission. Then I realized the car was leaning excessively and that meant I lost a wheel somewhere. I also remember distinctly having my head on a swivel when I brought the car to a stop, trying to determine where the wheel was and hoping it didn't hit anyone.

Aye to that. ;)

[DocWalt]

http://i.imgur.com/t7CGizx.jpg

finished the shock bypass resistors... they work, but I don't know if they make the car better yet :)

[DocWalt]

My fastest from NNJR TnT today, good for 11th in PAX, I felt pretty comfortable with my pace today. Not perfect, but not too slow


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92eEj8qLOgQ

[DocWalt]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ecy7Z365htA

1st in class, 13th overall. I had a run with a faster first half but I kept screwing up the second half, this was by far my best run on the return trip.

[anyonebutme]

Sooooo, shock bypasses ftw or ftl?

[DocWalt]

Forgot that I never posted that.

Based on exactly one event on a not super grippy asphalt lot with a lot of elevation change and weird undulations. I have the modded stock front swaybar & 255/35-18 RE-71R's.

The rear shocks being disabled makes the RS feel almost exactly like my Mk2 GTI w/ KW V1s in sweepers. A weird oscillating mess... Nowhere NEAR as bad as having all four shocks stiff though. In slaloms the front end of the car feels composed and I really liked the feel. Nice and shard turn in and it doesn't take forever for weight transfer to happen.

butttt..... I doubt the stiff front/soft rear combo is faster. I did a back to back test and tried to drive consistently. Times were essentially identical. I was just as fast in the slalom with the soft dampers. My lines weren't perfect in either case in the sweepers but the times were essentially identical there too.

I'll test the stiff front setup again at another event that I know will be stacked with slaloms and transitions instead of sweepers.

I have no clue what it will do on a grippier surface, maybe it'll be better there? Maybe it'll make the oscillations worse? Take a wild guess :)

[anyonebutme]

My guess is Ohlins and class bump, lol. All soft is probably the answer.

[DocWalt]

My guess is Ohlins and class bump, lol. All soft is probably the answer.

Not my car... but I bolted this on. Street class legal, no class bump. We're waiting for perches to do the fronts...

http://i.imgur.com/L7PpTnG.jpg

[DocWalt]

Here's my fastest run from the Pittsburgh Match Tour. I pulled a fast run out finally on Sunday afternoon during the top dog challenge. Unfortunately I bumped my dial-in up by 6 tenths (think bracket racing, but instead of breaking out you just push your dial-in up for the next round) and had a little trouble staying close to it for the later rounds, but I squeaked out the top dog win :) Fair warning, a bit of profanity at the end of the video, I was stoked. I finally pulled out nearly everything that the data was there, the car finally felt "normal" on Sunday. My last challenge run was actually VERY close to this run (and looked faster!) besides a silly mistake up over the hill in the right handed sweeper. A buddy of mine got to run out and check a cone that I wiggled in the first slalom on that last run, I was really pushing to make time to try and win it. Turned out I didn't need another "perfect" run, thankfully.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfmI9TDUQ7g

Saturday... what an exercise in frustration. The car felt pretty much awful all day, no matter what I or my co-driver did. There was no catching Alan (Audi S3, apparently much more balanced and easier to extract time, not discounting his driving at all, he killed us), even though we were much closer in the full wet conditions versus the mornings semi-wet unpredictable mess. Speaking of co-driver... I picked up a VERY fast co-driver at the event. He was very fast and really helped push me all weekend. I was definitely not planning on having a co-driver, so that was an experience. Quite a challenge keeping the car cool for the top dog challenge stuff with back-to-back runs. I sprayed the intercooler off with cool water between runs and the water steamed off, haha

[j2k4]

Alan killed Kenny? :huh:

[DocWalt]

All packed up and ready to roll

http://i.imgur.com/cbhKPfjh.jpg

En route, somewhere on the turnpike:

http://i.imgur.com/2nRheywh.jpg

About halfway through the drive, rest stop at "North Midway"

http://i.imgur.com/Y1bk8vJh.jpg

Big railroad bridge in the Pittsburgh area:

http://i.imgur.com/ZqGzjrDh.jpg

All stickered up and ready for action:

http://i.imgur.com/mAdTtZEh.jpg

Middle of a thunderstorm delay on Saturday, car sitting in grid waiting to run:

http://i.imgur.com/72pyzH8h.jpg

Sweet trophy winner hat, it's even a similar color to my car!

http://i.imgur.com/9JgKGbmh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/kZe1lDnh.jpg

A pretty badass modded Subie:

http://i.imgur.com/mYwum3gh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/YWU0LaTh.jpg

In impound after earning entry to the "Top Dog Challenge" rounds:

http://i.imgur.com/725Ir69h.jpg

My bracket to get to the Final 3 of the challenge:

http://i.imgur.com/j1p8pK4h.jpg

Gassed up and bought some dinner ~5 minutes from home after a pretty successful weekend :)

http://i.imgur.com/Od4Jhzhh.jpg

[DocWalt]

Here's a playlist of all of the videos I plan on uploading from this weekend's Match Tour autocross, including videos from my codriver's & my fastest AM & PM runs from Saturday and our overall fastest runs from Sunday.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyilmbF2Ll5eD5lUdYR6yAOTQTTUFRsfI

[DocWalt]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaBDGstRVGI


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaCC1xve5us

[DocWalt]

So the NJ Pro was not a very successful event for me. No trophy and pretty mediocre driving. :( I was off pace for all of Saturday, I looked at data and video and knew I was massively under-driving. I went out on Sunday and picked up a full second on the left side to be within a couple of tenths of the leader. I knew there was a bit more time on that side, but I got a red light and over-drove a bit. The right side... what a poor performance. I was actually pretty decent compared to most of my competitors on the right side through Saturday, but I red lit a decent run. On Sunday I drove like an idiot, I lost 4 tenths in one corner by going too slowly trying to "diamond" the corner which bogged the engine on the exit. I unfortunately never realized what a mistake I was making on the right side finish, I was doing the same "too slow, bogging the engine" stuff because I was staring at the apex cone for too long and not opening up the corner entry to carry a bit more speed. Oh well, lessons learned and on to the next event!

Autocross on the Pocono infield road course on Saturday and Sunday I'm co-driving my dad's Fiesta ST at the PA Farm Show lot. A week off for spectating a rally, then off to Toledo for the Toledo ProSolo!

I'm dropping the RS off at the dealer for this Tuesday to finally have my transfer case leak fixed, so I shouldn't have any more little leaks :) Thankfully the leak was extremely minor, maybe a few drops every few thousand miles, but it made a mess.

Here are some pics from the NJ ProSolo

Gridded up and ready to rock on Saturday morning:
http://i.imgur.com/6JYFsyQ.jpg

In grid on Sunday morning:
http://i.imgur.com/QwbeQK4.jpg

Pretty sweet 280Z:
http://i.imgur.com/b3yf96N.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/3tmUdnN.jpg

I snapped a quick pic of a buddy on course, he just happened to hit a cone :)
http://i.imgur.com/pICJWhd.jpg

[DocWalt]

I did a couple of events this past weekend. I'll start with Saturday :)

We ran a VERY technically challenging course... Not at all what I expected when I signed up for an event on the infield road course, but still fun in its own way (I guess torture can be fun?). If you made a mistake you carried the mistake through entire sections and it really cost a ton of time. A learning experience, for sure! I coned away the 2nd in class, so I was 3rd. My fast run was about 6 hundredths off of the class win, so I don't feel too bad.

Video of my fastest dirty run:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23l8RStXKIo

Quick video snapped by a friend that was out on course (don't do this :p )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLdWiHYjiKM

On Sunday I got the pleasure of co-driving my dad's Fiesta ST at the PA Farm Show lot. Pretty fantastic course, serious balls required in some areas while still having a technical section or two mixed in. I very much enjoyed the course and the car. Way too much wheelspin on corner exit, but oh well. I won the class by 2.9 seconds and nearly won PAX too, not a bad showing for my first time driving the car :)

My fastest run:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oB7Ej2Oyng

My father's fastest run:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9StGwZyZVyg

[DocWalt]

I trophied at the Toledo ProSolo this weekend, a solid 3rd place in B Street. Lots of fun and the car worked well :) I had one of the fastest 200ft times during practice starts @ 4.66 seconds, even with a "meh" 60ft of 1.9-2.0... Like DG says, ignore the times as they measurements are not likely correct, lol.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1jLhjx7oYg
(right side clean)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6PAwY1zzfY
(right side red light... fuck the stupid ABS engineers at Ford. I hit "panic assist" right after the slalom and the car decided to just park itself)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnt9xTmpCxw
(left side clean)

[Prime12]

Didn't know you still posted here! You surely have been flying recently :).

[DocWalt]

Didn't know you still posted here! You surely have been flying recently :).

Ha, I probably post more here than I do on most other forums :p I still miss my 3S, no matter how terrible of an autocross car it would be (hurray for SCCA classing...)

[DocWalt]

A fairly successful weekend at Devens, however it was also frustrating... I didn't preregister so it was a race against the clock to show up before 7 PM on Friday. I left work at 12 noon on the dot and arrived at 6:54. CT has some truly horrendous traffic, apparently.

Saturday I had time according to data but after hitting 12+ cones in one incident (in which they only gave me a penalty of 5 cones, kinda disappointed by that :( ) I just needed a safe clean run. Lymerock didn't manage to put together a clean run but his scratch times were class leading.

Sunday I was frustrated because I left 8 tenths on the table according to data. I ran a faster scratch time with two huge mistakes that cost me 0.55 and 0.32 seconds. Super frustrating knowing that I could have finished better than 4th. I still trophied, but I know I left a lot of time out there. A LOT of BS was stuck around the same sort of time in the low 61 seconds, too bad we didn't have such a close battle on day 1!

Here's my Saturday fast run:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIeSf1WFLVs

Saturday's 12+ cone incident:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOyA2tTierY

Sunday's clean run:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAXvA-j4C9U

Sunday's crappy run with fantastic sector times:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsQhHgLjbH0

[DocWalt]

I ran a buddy's RS this weekend in Oscoda, MI for the ProSolo. I finished 2nd in class, but at least I won the Super Challenge!

Here's my fastest right side run (I tagged a cone in the slalom on the return):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQYGJjG_HZ0

My fastest left side run:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMkYTBZb-XU

Here are my two Super Challenge final round runs with data:

right side (first run):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqNnauB2Ohs

left side (second run):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnTY5srGRTo

Here's a compilation of all of the Super Challenge rounds, from my point of view:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBf2KsgvgYI

[j2k4]

Congrats, Kenny.

[DocWalt]

I finished 3rd at the ProSolo Finale which put me third for the year in the championship. Not a bad result :)

Here's my fastest runs:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EszWj-TGI7M


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44ISos4ZK1Y

[anyonebutme]

Good job Phil!

[box]

Those are some clean runs, well done.

Good result on your overall placing in the championship!

[DocWalt]

Thanks guys!

[j2k4]

Doctor Phil...:lo5l: