[eRic]

So... someone showed me this video of a Fiesta ST that got up on 2 wheels during an autocross

Has anyone else experienced or seen this happen? This year I did ST Octane Academy, 19 autocross and 2 track events and the most I have experienced or witnessed was an inside rear tire lifting off the ground.

 

[jasyatz]

I know the guy. The lot topography had a lot to do with it.. If you look at the corner right before "the incident", there's a dip that fully loaded the left side stock suspension and when the grip returned at right side turn in, the car bicycled. I was told it was much more dramatic then as it appeared in the video, so much in fact this single incident caused said (previous) owner to immediately put the car up for sale.. I had run against the car one week previous and it was bloody quick. Quick enough to up the Mini by a little over half a second. And it is a very well prepared Mini that runs with the top 5 guys at Nationals.

 

[Cesso]

That was a very unfortunate layout with that dip. Even as mild as it is on camera, that looks absolutely terrifying.

 

[jasyatz]

A small footnote: The Fiesta ST was deemed within compliance for CG by the SCCA but the base Fiesta is now excluded from HS competition due to CG rollover risk. Stock shocks and sticky tires have always been a fine line in HS with rollover risks. This "new generation" of taller hatches (B segment cars) seem to be at a much higher risk, and therefore are being evaluated on a case by case basis by the SAC. So far it's the base Fiesta and the base 500 on the street exclusion list. I'm sure we will see more as more data points become available. My Mazda2 spent 1 event in HS and immediately I was concerned for just this reason. I prepped the car for STF and no issues whatsoever.

A good set of shocks will greatly reduce the risk of more than 1 wheel up in the ST under all but really extreme circumstances. The driver of the vehicle in the video and I had already spoken about what his shock plans were for next season (prior to the incident). He was looking at Koni single/doubles or having some other high $$$ stuff built to control (slow) the roll in the chassis between abrupt transitions. (slaloms and aggressive turn in on late apex corners)

 

[Mister_Mino]

He got an off course, ...right?

 

[jasyatz]

Yes but at shit stained as he was, still finished the run fairly aggressively. I think that was the last run for him in that car though. I believe it's still for sale as of today.

 

[eRic]

hmm... I wonder if 225/45-16 tires on 16" wheels contributed to this since they effectively raise the ride height and soften the spring rate vs. OE size 205/40-17 tires on 17" wheels.

 

[razorlab]

That's weird. I've come off curbing at the track with two wheels in the air on a hard left hander and the car never felt like that. That said I'm running 215 ZII Star Specs and coilovers with 7k/6k spring rates. I have no idea what tires he was running.

I wonder if the stock suspension basically just bottomed out , lost travel and levered the car?

 

[jasyatz]

That's weird. I've come off curbing at the track with two wheels in the air on a hard left hander and the car never felt like that. That said I'm running 215 ZII Star Specs and coilovers with 7k/6k spring rates. I have no idea what tires he was running.

I wonder if the stock suspension basically just bottomed out , lost travel and levered the car?

That's my theory.. loaded up on the bump stops and all that energy released at the exact time turn in happened.

Same with me on the spring rates. Lowered CG and the shocks completely controlled the porpoising effect off the bump stops.

 

[ryst]

If I was him, I would have turned around and drove off course. I'm real impressed he finished.

 

[k757]

I was wondering why the owner had his new wheels for sale. I also think the course was an issue. Should a safety steward have noticed a possible course design issue?

 

[Mightymango]

He wasn't going to keep the car long anyway ;-) He was REALLY aggressive in the run, kind of over cooked that turn imo , but that isn't what caused all of the issue.

I saw that awhile ago on RR and couldn't believe it. I have never had that issue in my car and that was with 3-4 different drivers and 250 plus runs last year. I think the course design didn't help and from what you and others have said that area is an issue with that site. According to the thread he was on the sparcos with the 225/45/16 ZII, same tires many of us have run.

Like you said I think the stock suspension didn't help but I don't think any of us have had any issues here with that. I have no fear about flipping my car....but I have no plans on running hoosiers.

 

[jasyatz]

I was wondering why the owner had his new wheels for sale. I also think the course was an issue. Should a safety steward have noticed a possible course design issue?

I don't think so...The course wasn't "unsafe", it was a combination of factors that contributed to the situation. The dip definitely "helped" it along, otherwise we don't have this video, and that beautiful Blue Fiesta is still in his garage (for now) as many of you know who this is

 

[Slowclimb]

Just when I decided that keeping the FiST was okay until I figured out what I wanted...have been considering Mustangs and the Camaro with the 1LE performance package, maybe a WRX or a BRZ...ugghhh

 

[k757]

I think your car is mostly stock so I can't pillage it.

 

[Slowclimb]

Ha ha...

 

[Slowclimb]

Probably keeping it another year... Just going to get some konis for it....They will be for sale next spring.

 

[k757]

don't forget to order more magnets, at least an "H"

 

[djdennehy]

props for keeping his foot in it...

 

[RodMoe]

Saw a Video like this on one of the FoST forums too...