Jekyl Jr. takes FTD at autocross ................ in the snow! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

JekylandHyde · 02-12-2006, 03:29 PM

So much for FWD > RWD in the snow

There was an autocross today, but as you may know from watching the news, we were burried in snow last night. The roads were clear by 11:00 am today so I ran up to the mall to pick some stuff up.

As I entered the lot, I remembered there was an autocross sceduled today, but I figured thye would not be running. Out of curiosity I drove around the back of the mall and sure enough the event was on!

There were only 3 cars and 4 drivers running. There were no course workers so if you knocked a cone down, you had to stop and put it back up

They were running in 3"-5" of snow.

I was in my '85 MR2 (Jekyl Jr) that had snow tires on. I dropped down my $20 and grabbed a loaner helmet.

The other three cars were a Kia Rio (not sure about tires), Honda Civic Hatch (not sure about tires) and a Nissan SX (snow tires upfront and all-seaon on the back).

The Nissan had FTD when I arrived at 1:06 and the other cars were running from 1:08 - 1:12. They had all already logged in 14-15 runs.

I never had a chance to walk the course, although the layout was very simple.
It was basically a big oval with slaloms on the long straights, but the parking lot is very hilly so there was a lot of off camber turns (in the snow!).

My first run was 1:02

and I never left 1st gear.
My third run was a 0:59 which ended up being FTD.
So, I guess RWD in the snow is not so bad after all.

About and hour after I showed up, the track started to get very slick as we were packing down the "line" rather hard. I've never wiped out so much in an autocross before. It was doing major 360°s and staying on throttle and just floating back onto course.

I've never raced in the snow before, but I would be looking forward to doing it again. What an experience.

So .... first event of the year and I took FTD.

Zero turbo · 02-12-2006, 03:40 PM

^ congrats man

really cool to hear.Is your jekyl Jr. stock?

is good to win a event with a old school car.Keep it up

.

JekylandHyde · 02-12-2006, 03:45 PM

Jekyl Jr. is not exactly stock, but it sure looks it

Below are two photos from an autocross last year.
My friend Kevin was racing Jekyl Jr and I was racing Hyde.
This is him beating on my daily driver:
http://www.scca-susq.com/photogaller...e/dsc_1563.htm
http://www.scca-susq.com/photogaller...e/dsc_1566.htm

Jekyl Jr. is a rusty stock-bodied 85' MR2 with original wheels.

It has a complete drivetrain from an 88' MR2 although.
I bought the car with a dead engine, but the suspension was 100% new (every control arm, every bolt everything, wheel bearings, everything). It included brand new Tokiko Illluminas and Eibach Springs. The engine just has a generic cone filter.

It's not a pretty car unless you get on the ground and look underneath ... everything is new - even the radiator.

Zero turbo · 02-12-2006, 03:51 PM

Sounds really nice man a old rusty sleeper

.I bet you can drift in that car

.

Rusty body with new internals

!!!!

mr2rider91 · 02-12-2006, 09:23 PM

sounds like fun

***MR2Jedi*** · 02-13-2006, 12:47 PM

How funny!... but it sounds like you had fun... boy, talk about your spur of the moment... your such an addict

Drifting Dane · 02-13-2006, 07:33 PM

im so jealous >< i want to autocross in the snow.... sigh

JekylandHyde · 02-14-2006, 02:29 PM

yeah ... so I am an addict. I can't help myself

They actually did take photos at the autocross in the morning before I got there:
http://www.nepa-scca.com/solo2pics021206/index.htm

Here are the results:
http://www.nepa-scca.com/solo2result...lts_021206.htm

Gairloch · 02-14-2006, 04:28 PM

What tires were you running? Have you driven both your MkI and MkII's in the snow? How would you compare them?

ttech · 02-14-2006, 05:07 PM

i liked the pics, way too cool!
congrats too.

***MR2Jedi*** · 02-14-2006, 07:29 PM

you did good. especially considering the conditions. I can't beleive they still had it with all that snow... anyway, it's a good addiction

JekylandHyde · 02-14-2006, 08:44 PM

I was running on some snow tire ... I forget which brand.
I have driven both MKIs and MKIIs in the snow.

Both can be good IF you have snow tires and IF you do not do anything sudden.
I have much more experience with the MK1s in the snow as they tend to be my daily drivers.

nepopolus · 02-17-2006, 10:32 PM

lol that is hillarious i bet the fwd people where like..umm?!?!? how is he doing that..lol gj

Metalroach · 02-18-2006, 10:37 AM

that is awesome jeff... im just glad that i dont have to deal with the snow down here in the south

JekylandHyde · 02-20-2006, 01:04 PM

Thanks guys

My column on this event is online at the newspaper's site for 1 week.
After that, you can see it on my site.
Here's the link: http://www.readingeagle.com/re/drivetime/14212195.asp