Autocrossing carnage

"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
10/01/2017 at 20:23 • Filed to: None

This was a Method Racing wheel and Yokohama slick formerly used by one of SRT USA’s GRC cars. It’s supposed to be skookum as frig. It met it’s death today at the hands of a heavily modified 1st generation Legacy in its 20th run of the day. Never seen a wheel fail like this outside of a big hit in a rally environment.

This awesome HiAce showed up during my morning runs. I want one. When my run group started their afternoon runs I took the opportunity to hop in the Exocet which is run by one of the regulars. It’s a stock 1.8 from an NA with slicks and it blew my mind. This thing was in a completely different league compared to my little Mini. I need one.

As far as my results went this was the best autocross I have ever driven. From the very first run of the day the car felt perfect and was fast. Every run I did became my new best run ever (except the 3rd run. I hit a cone on the 3rd run). Runs 3-10 I was putting in consisteint times in the mid 56s range. This left me 2.4 seconds of the pace of my class which didn’t really bother me. I was 6+ seconds off the rest of my class last weekend and both drivers have much more experience than I do and they also have much better tires than me. My 11th run was after they had to go recover the 3 wheeled Legacy and was a throw away at 57.5 because I forgot to turn my traction and stability control back off after turning the car off. My final run though was magical. Last ditch effort, maximum commitment, nothing left on the table (apparently at one point I had my left rear tire 3 inches off the ground. Not sure if I believe that. It was certainly off the ground but I don’t think it is possible to get 3 inches of lift with 500TW tires and stock suspension). I had the perfect run and managed to drop 1.2 seconds off my previous best to get down to a 55.2 and climb to just over 1.2 seconds to the class lead (I believe it was 1.206 but I forgot to get a picture and the full results aren’t available online yet). I am really happy to end my season after just 3 events and be within an event or 2 and a decent set of tires of winning my class. Here’s hoping I don’t get super rusty over the winter.

DISCUSSION (27)

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
10/01/2017 at 20:42

Holy cow that’s a lot of runs. We normally would get at most, 4 runs. Unless it was a solo school. That’s really something with that wheel. I guess the track time it did beforehand was pretty rough on it.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc
10/01/2017 at 20:49

The best thing about being in a small region is that you get tons of runs at events. Doing 6 runs in both the morning and afternoon really allows you to experiment and adjust to how it feels on a run by run basis.

Nick Has an Exocet > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
10/01/2017 at 20:54

ONE OF US. ONE OF US.

Kinja'd!!!

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
10/01/2017 at 20:55

Yeah that’s awesome. That’s one reason I’d just do the solo schools around here in metro Detroit. More seat time. Since the boys came along, not much time for autox right now, but once they grow up, I can see it happening again. Or better yet, track days.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Nick Has an Exocet
10/01/2017 at 21:03

It is now firmly number 1 on the lists of things to eventually replace the Mini with.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc
10/01/2017 at 21:13

It’s nice to get to do a bunch of runs and be able to get to and from the event on some nice backroads. I enjoyed every minute from when I left at 6:30AM to when I got back at 7PM.

Dusty Ventures > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
10/01/2017 at 21:35

I’ve heard a rumor that the Methods on the SRT cars aren’t actually Methods

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Dusty Ventures
10/01/2017 at 21:39

Probably some kind of secret witchcraft.

Dusty Ventures > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
10/01/2017 at 21:45

Modified Speedlines, or something like that. They had trouble with the Methods breaking, so they secretly switched. Which may in fact mean this wheel was a method from before said switch.

Speaking of, if you know anyone who wants a set of Methods I’ve got some. They had tires mounted on them but have never been put on a car. Driver gifted them to me, but the outback and the STI have different bolt patterns.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
10/01/2017 at 22:00

i mean method is now known for mall crawler jeep wheels so doesnt surprise me they broke

Matsayz > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
10/01/2017 at 22:43

Really?

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Matsayz
10/01/2017 at 23:27

if its the same company that im thinking of. Pretty sure ive seen them at discount tire

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Dusty Ventures
10/02/2017 at 08:14

Would make sense that it could be an older wheel they moved away from. Would be a bit strange for them to be just giving away a full wheel and tire package to an employee if they were still using the wheels.

Dusty Ventures > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
10/02/2017 at 08:58

My set isn’t from SRT, they’re from a driver I co-drove for. Or do you mean the guy who broke them was an employee?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Dusty Ventures
10/02/2017 at 09:02

The guy who broke this one works for Vermont Sportscar. They basically came straight off the GRC car and onto his car. Not uncommon for teams to sell/give away their used tires but they usually hang onto the rims as they can be used again.

Dusty Ventures > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
10/02/2017 at 09:17

Ah gotcha. And yeah, ditching wheels is rare

Matsayz > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
10/02/2017 at 09:36

Method Wheels are known for rally racing. I highly doubt you can pick them up at Discount Tire.

Any wheel can break but these are purpose built for abuse.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Dusty Ventures
10/02/2017 at 09:41

More fodder for the idea that SRT isn’t running standard Methods anymore.

Dusty Ventures > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
10/02/2017 at 09:47

Yep

uofime-2 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
10/02/2017 at 11:18

That’s a 17" so its not a VT-spec gravel wheel those only come in 15"

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > uofime-2
10/02/2017 at 12:01

On the stage rally cars they only run the 15s as the taller tire sidewall is a benefit on the gravel and they don’t need the huge brakes on gravel. This package is off of one of the GRC rallycross cars where they need the bigger brakes and shorter sidewall for performance on the tarmac sections. If you look at about 1 o’clock you can see the GRC marking indicating the tire compound.

The GRC spec Yokohamas are popular among the Subarus in my region as we are able to get used ones cheaply from Vermont Sportscar and they are designed for sprint racing so you don’t need to get a ton of heat into them to get them to work like you would with a road racing slick.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Dusty Ventures
10/02/2017 at 12:08

Quick question: what size are the Methods you have? We still don’t have snow tires for my Mom’s 2017 Outback and I believe it uses STI sized wheels (UPDATE: It is a 5x114 pattern like the STI). I personally dig the way the Methods look on the new Outbacks and if they are 17s (apparently 16s don’t fit) I may have to float the idea past my dad when I see him this weekend.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Matsayz
10/02/2017 at 12:53

hmmm must be a similar name then. im pretty sure ive seen method wheels on many mall crawler jeeps around here but ive been wrong before :)

Dusty Ventures > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
10/02/2017 at 13:54

15s. They’re competition wheels

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Dusty Ventures
10/02/2017 at 14:19

What I would do is bring them to an event with you and leave them in front of your service area with a sign on them. I’m sure someone there would want to buy a nice set of 15" rally wheels for their Subaru.

Justino6969 > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
10/02/2017 at 15:02

Confirmed, I have Methods on my mall crawler truck.

Kinja'd!!!

Dusty Ventures > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
10/02/2017 at 15:14

Eh, I’ll just put them on the rally classifieds facebook when I’m not feeling too lazy