 LINCOLN,
NE -- My 2006 Mazda MX-5 (3rd generation Miata) is prepped for C Street
Prepared class autocross competition, where I compete against the smaller &
much lighter 1st and 2nd gen Miatas.
My drivetrain/suspension mods include AST 5220
coilovers, Hyperco springs, Hotchkis RX-8 front swaybar (no rear bar), full
polyurethane bushings, and Mazdaspeed LSD. The engine is producing close to 200
hp and 170 tq (crank). It weighed 2360 at Nats this year, or nearly 400 lbs
more than my competition.
My best finish at Nats was 11th in 2010,
although the car does have a National Championship title (Juliann Pokorny won
the CSP Ladies class in 2009, in the rain on Day 2, on Hoosier Wets).
As a matter of fact, I've
never been to Lincoln NE for a National-level event when it didn't rain! This
past May, I was there for a 4-day combined SCCA National Tour & ProSolo,
and it rained for the Tour. We finished mid-pack on my street Dunlop Direzza
Star Specs, so I vowed to be prepared for rain at Nats.
I bought some
"insurance" for Lincoln and installed a fresh set of the brand new
Hoosier H2O Wet racing rain tire (275/35R18 on Enkei RPF1 18x9.5" 45ET
wheels) just before the 2011 Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships. I also
had a fresh set of Hoosier A6s for my dry race tires (295/30R18 on Enkei RPF1
18x10” 38ET).
We
were in the first heat, and it had rained all night so there was not just
standing water, but small rivers flowing across the course. After 1st runs, we
were way ahead of our competition, and stayed on the H2Os as everyone else
switched from rain tires to dry and back again, trying to find the edge. On my
last run, with drying conditions accentuated by standing puddles, I laid down
an astonishing run and finished Day 1 in 1st place, .6 seconds ahead of the
field. I finished in 4th after Day 2 in the dry and I give all
the credit to the fantastic Hoosier H2O Wet tires for helping me achieve my
first Nationals trophy! -- Chris Robbins
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