While the official GRM number panels are cool, they don’t quite fit on the Civic—they’re just a little too tall to fit between the rub strip and the top of the door. We sectioned a set of number panels to make them fit, but that meant running some small numbers. (Although our UGP numbers are cool, yeah, they’re a little short.)
Since our editor’s next column is about all of the crappy numbers seen at local autocross and track events, he figured he should set a good example. These nice, bold, 10-inch-tall numbers were cut by Tim at Hawkeye Signs & Graphics (phone 386-274-5885.) Each set of numbers was placed on an 11-inch-tall magnetic panel. We were after a supercross-type look. These numbers are now technically legal for SCCA autocrosses as well as NASA HPDE track events.
Did they make us faster? No, unfortunately not, as we had some serious cone trouble at this past weekend’s event.
We also tried some new-to-us tires, as the Civic ran on a set of RT-615 Falken Azenis. We started with 35 psi up front and 36 psi out back, numbers we had used with our BFG’s, but the surface was so loose that after a pretty big spin we dropped the rears by 4 psi. That made the car a little easier to drive. Still didn’t keep us from nerfing the cones. If there was more time between runs, perhaps softening the rear anti-roll bar would have helped.
The Civic will be on track again this weekend, as the Martin Sports Car Club hosts their MiniPrix event at Gainesville Raceway. From there, we’ll be heading south to the St. Pete Grand Prix.
Oh yeah, bleeding the brakes helped a bunch. Have you bled yours lately?
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