So i signed up for this SCCA sanctioned autocross event at Fort Devens Air Force Base in Ayer Mass last weekend with the full intension of running my 94 turbo C4 Corvette. Well wouldn't you know right as I was pulling it out of the garage the car gods took a poop on my plans and it developed a massive boost leak that I have not yet figured out. Well here comes plan B... I look at my wife's 2012 TSX and then my 2012 TL... well not wanting to sleep on the couch and listen to all the drama I picked the obvious choice and took my bone stock 2012 TL. Well the car was a total blast on the course and man was it a fast course too. It was nimble handling very well though the slollums and sweepers and didn't really get upset that easy. The only improvements I could see would be better tires rather than the Michelin all season tires and maybe a little bit better brake fluid as the petal started to get a little spongy on a couple runs. Here are some videos and i must apologize in advance for all the wind noise as its the first time I have used my Gopro and i didn't know that I should use a different case for it.









Run #1

Run #2

Run #3


Run #4

Run #5

Run #6

 

SH or Base?

... That was epic...

 

Front wheel drive with the tech package... the car did well for a daily driver with a car seat in it. The car is very predictable a little bit of understeer and will oversteer when off in corners when pushed to the limits during braking or but get back in line once under throttle

 

Fun stuff. How did the stock brakes hold up?

 

They felt fine they just got a little squishy towards the end of the final runs

 

You should have put a doll in the car seat

 

This is one of the best posts I've seen in the last year on here. Thanks for sharing the videos and story! That autox course was the perfect setup for the TL, long sweepers with lots of speed. Most autox courses I see are low speed tight turns better suited for miatas and s2000's.

 

FWD TL! Epic!

 

Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed that

I'm going to auto-x mine next weekend (one day only) on a very similar course here at Road America and then return to the track next year with a diff machine.

Should I bother replacing the brake fluid this week? VSA on or off?

 

I would only race with VSA off because it is way too intrusive. ... as far as fluid are you talking upgrading to a higher temp fluid or just standard maintenance... if it's higher temp I wouldn't bother if it's a one time event

 

I'm talking higher temp for the one time event, I'll leave it as it, thanks.

 

How'd you finish in the HS class?

 

I finished 2nd in the novice class and 5th overall in h class....I got hosed during this event they marked me as DNF (meaning I went off course) 20 mins after for run# 2 which it was clear I did not go off course

 

Enjoyed your videos .

 

sorry to bring back an old thread and I see your in MA, but was in Devons air base?

 

That was Ft. Devens in Aayer.... it really is the safest autocross place no obstacles to avoid such as light poles and plenty of room to recover if you lose control

 

Awesome!!! I wonder how well the progress 22mm RSB would have helped on those slaloms. Heck, it may have turned you 180 on that run 6 instead of being corrected.

I really want to track my car to get a feel for its characteristics. The body roll was noticeable on the slalom, but for a 3,700+lbs car, it did really well. Perhaps the RSB and some stiffer springs would help.

Aren't Honda V6's notorious for being hot engines? Did you notice any heatsoak towards the end affecting throttle response?

I'm so jelly right now. Good job dude.

 

The engine performed flawlessly without any cooling issues or throttle response issues... the only thing I noticed was the brakes got hot and I noticed a different in the pedal feel towards the end of some runs. The car is pretty well balanced and composed with a little bit of oversteer when pushed hard in the corners... tires and brakes would go a long way in these things for light track usage

 

Here's my car going on the track


https://www.flickr.com/photos/herber...in/dateposted/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/herber...in/dateposted/

 

Exhaust sounds awesome Herbert, is that the XLR8 catback?

 

Yes sir, car is also a lot of fun

 

Eh-um. These cars are super nose heavy. I experienced massive plow even with my AWD. Perhaps to you it felt like oversteer, or maybe you failed to take the body out of the trunk before the run.