Hey all...I wanted to share my experience with all of you.

Woke up at 5:45 Saturday morning...had a lot to do before the big day AND was too excited to sleep any more.

Stopped to gas up and headed over to meet my buddy (Magnum srt8).

The event was being held at the local air national guard base...20 minutes later we were at the gate being inspected by the guardsmen. They needed proof of insurance and registration. I thought that was a little weird...I expected it from the SCCA people, but not from the National Guard.

Having never been at an auto-cross event I didn't know what to expect. We parked and looked around at the other cars already there (about 12 guys or so). 2 M3s, Lotus Elise turbo, Geo Metro, a couple of Mitsu. Evos. Several Corvettes...

As we were milling around trying to figure out what to do another Elise pulled up beside me. The driver looked like he was barely 18. Turns out he was. His dad bough it for him on his 17th birthday. His daily driver and he takes it to high-school with him...!!!

The line forms for registration and we joined in. When I got to register, I informed them that I was a first timer (only $10). I gave my name etc...the question was then posed "What car are you driving?"

I responded "'08 Jeep Grand Cherokee..." before I could even say SRT8 a guy behind the table spun around and said "Oh no you are not".

I said "Yes, I am."

He said "You cannot drive a tippy truck...they tend to roll over on courses like this"

My reply "Even though it is an SRT8?"

He obviously had no idea what I was trying to say. He told me I needed to talk with the head tech guy...

I met with him and he walked over with me. When he saw it he complimented the vehicle. He then proceeded to open the door and rock the vehicle. I looked all over and concluded that I should be fine as long as I increase the pressure to 45 in the tires "I'd rather the tires slide than roll".

Back to the registration line (which is really long now...probably a total of 40 cars showed up)...talked to a doctor (with the turbo elise) he is ordering an Ariel Atom!!!

Many minutes later I over hear the tech guy talking with the guy that told me I couldn't race...he assured him that I should be ok...

OK...I will cut all of the details from this point forward:

1. Registered...
2. walked the "track"...
3. got the saftey speech...
4. added pressure to tires (38psi cold)
5. Lined up to race.

Heart pumping...
Given the "go"

6. End the end it turned out that I missed 4 gates the first time and 2 gates the next 2 times. The 4th run a guy went with me to show me the right way around all of the blasted cones.

7. Then it was our turn to let the other guys run their cars...I thought it was going to be boring standing on the track waiting for cones to be knocked over...but it was almost as much fun as driving (well not that much fun, but a LOT of fun)

8. Lunch Break

9. Our turn again
10. Cone runner again
11. Go home.

I think I did pretty good for my first time ever. My best time was 57.xx plus one (meaning one cone knocked over). Best time was missing one gate (wouldnt have added any time if I hit it) 54.xx. If you miss a gate the time is DNF.

My best official time was 9 seconds off the fastest out there...it was either the turbo elise or a turbo miata.

My buddy had the same time as me 57.xx plus one.

The most fun around the track to watch was either the carts (by far the fastest but not part of the scoring) or the Evos. 2 of them had only 3 wheels on the track most of the time. It was CRAZY. Watching people spin out was a blast too.

Next time I will turn off traction control...and know a lot better how to navigate the cones.

Sorry for the uber long post.

Ok... forgive the question from the 4 wheel newbie here but wouldn't traction control give you better handling around the twistie course (thinking AWD Subaru's etc).

Unless I'm not understanding the traction control correctly.

Thanks!

Glad you had a blast, but where's the fricken pics?

I have to fight to be able to race practically every time I go. First it was the tires... Pirelli PZero's are not good enough. Funny, those tires performed much better than the GY F1's. Then I tried a drift competition..... They really, really did not want to let me run. It was only after the FIA president came around and mentioned I'd raced a dozen times already taking 2nd last season in the BM class, that they finally let me have a go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETN1iaejdHo

Good to see someone else having fun with the Jeeps like they were meant too.... :D

Sorry guys...I brought the camera but was so excited and peroccupied with trying to figure out everything I didn't even think to get it out of the jeep.

I made people think twice about the SUV though. Several people went for a ride with me around the track...and all of the people said..."woah!!" when I punched it off the line.

The Dr. with the Lotus Turbo couldn't stop talking about what a TQ moster it is :D

Next time I will actually take some photos.

sweet vid!!

Ok... forgive the question from the 4 wheel newbie here but wouldn't traction control give you better handling around the twistie course (thinking AWD Subaru's etc).

Unless I'm not understanding the traction control correctly.

Thanks!

No, autocross and traction/stability control don't mix at all on the Jeep. Stability control causes power to be cut under hard transitions, when you least want it to be cut.

My Jeep has run decent autocross times, but only because of it's launch and straightline power. It doesn't transition well and the steering is way to slow to move it quickly through slaloms. Rcomp tires would help, but I'd be concerned about too much grip creating a roll hazard. So that means lowering it with coilovers, which aren't available yet.

The SCCA has yet to class the car, even though it was up for consideration recently. I suppose that could be partially due to some concerns about safety.

Alex

Now its time to add a set of Bwoody Sway Bar links. It should help somewhat through the turns. I noticed a difference on the track!

No, autocross and traction/stability control don't mix at all on the Jeep. Stability control causes power to be cut under hard transitions, when you least want it to be cut.

My Jeep has run decent autocross times, but only because of it's launch and straightline power. It doesn't transition well and the steering is way to slow to move it quickly through slaloms. Rcomp tires would help, but I'd be concerned about too much grip creating a roll hazard. So that means lowering it with coilovers, which aren't available yet.

The SCCA has yet to class the car, even though it was up for consideration recently. I suppose that could be partially due to some concerns about safety.

Alex

It's still a truck when you get right down to it.
Alex,
Are you totally disabling the TC when you run? I find I fight the traction and esp big time when transitioning. Sometimes I worry I'm going to break the shifter slapping it trying to get it to do what I want :D

It's still a truck when you get right down to it.
Alex,
Are you totally disabling the TC when you run? I find I fight the traction and esp big time when transitioning. Sometimes I worry I'm going to break the shifter slapping it trying to get it to do what I want :D

I've never pulled the fuses, but that would be my next step. It ain't pretty but that power and dig makes up for a lot of handling stink. :p

Alex

No, autocross and traction/stability control don't mix at all on the Jeep. Stability control causes power to be cut under hard transitions, when you least want it to be cut.

My Jeep has run decent autocross times, but only because of it's launch and straightline power. It doesn't transition well and the steering is way to slow to move it quickly through slaloms. Rcomp tires would help, but I'd be concerned about too much grip creating a roll hazard. So that means lowering it with coilovers, which aren't available yet.

The SCCA has yet to class the car, even though it was up for consideration recently. I suppose that could be partially due to some concerns about safety.

Alex

Didn't you say it was better than the Shelby GT500?

Didn't you say it was better than the Shelby GT500?

Yup, it ran similar times as the Shelby on street tires. But it was much harder to drive.

I wouldn't have wanted to push the SRT8 an faster without significant changes to the suspension geometry though.

Alex