autoX questions

[crawdad369]

does anyone on here autocross? I just got a camaro and am really interested in autocross roadracing ect. I'm in Little rock and fiqure I'll have to trailer to Ok, Tx, and Tn. but thats ok. any info would be great

[Lawnman]

Try to find the local chapter of the scca. I have even autoxed with the local ford and miata clubs.

[Steve L]

http://www.scca.com/Inside/Index.asp?IdS=068C63-7A7C240&Reference=RegionalSites&~=

This will get you into the local auto-x chapters. Keep in mind what LawnMan said; you can also race with the BMW car clubs as well.

[Lawnman]

Did you ever make it out to a autox ?
I ran with the Ford club last weekend . I had some fun beating up on the mustangs.:yup:

[sharptransam]

what kind of mods do you need to be competitive in our cars (mine's a ws6 with a strut tower brace added) are there really any mustangs comparable to us?:lol:

[Lawnman]

The only mods I have are sub frame connectors , lid, and air filter. I want to do a cam swap sometime. The course was set up for a shorter car. The Mustangs are that and lighter than my car . It did not matter , they felt the power of the T/A !:drivin:

[TOO Z MAXX]

what kind of mods do you need to be competitive in our cars (mine's a ws6 with a strut tower brace added) are there really any mustangs comparable to us?:lol:

The best mod out there are R compound tires, Kuhmo 710's or Hoosier A6's
Then shocls and springs, swaybars, adjustable panhard bar. It also depends on what class you want to run.
Another great mod is lots of seat time.

[sharptransam]

yeah, seat time is probably one of the best. I have some practice is going straight, but I am not very good at drifting or some of the crazy turns. what kind of classes do they have? I have free ram air, slp loudmouth exhuast, diablo tune, and a strut tower brace on a ws6

[wbna0149]

I dabble a little bit at Bitburg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaNK6YhNkVU). But not too competitive on small courses against small cars.

[TOO Z MAXX]

Lose the STB and the ram air and you could run Fstock, unless you have a WS6, then you would be A stock. Next is the Street Prepared class. Check out the rules at www.scca.com

[sharptransam]

yeah, it's ws6, thanks for all the good info guys!

[blackhawk01]

i went autocrossing before, I had a GREAT time. I did it about 3 weeks ago. It is one of the cheapest ways of fun of automotive stuff.

[sharptransam]

I need to get into something like this. is it usually some kind of prize for winning, or just bragging rights?

[blackhawk01]

neither...its to make you a better driver and get to know your car better....not only that but its a cheap way of fun. When I get my t/a I am going to take it autoxing

[Lawnman]

I need to get into something like this. is it usually some kind of prize for winning, or just bragging rights?

The Ford group I run with hands out plaques for first place. I have 2 of them.:D

[sharptransam]

nice. don't let them have any!

[Eugenio_SS]

what kind of mods do you need to be competitive in our cars (mine's a ws6 with a strut tower brace added) are there really any mustangs comparable to us?:lol:

depends on which class you want to run.

[Steve L]

Check your local autocross chapter for region-specific rules as well. I was racing in Denver with the Rocky Mountain division and they had a local car class (AT) which are stock vehicles with street tires indexed against each other. The class was made up of everything from my T/A to corvettes and even a couple of lotuses...RX-8's as well.

The stock class (A stock for the WS-6 and F stock for non WS-6) allows for some mods. You can change one, but not both, sway bars; cat back, shocks, and even get the R compound race tires.

The next class (E street prepared) allows for more suspension mods, but does not allow sub-frame connectors.

Next would be Street Modified. This class is very open as far as suspension mods, engine mods and tire size. Some removal of interior stuff is allowed here, but very few. Anything drastic would put you into a Prepared Class and there is a minimum weight that must be adhered to as well.

Most local racers won't care too much if you have some mod that might not be legal in that class...UNLESS you start winning. But if you decide to run in the Pro Solo's or a national level event, you must adhere to all classing rules or you will be protested and have to forfeit any place or trophy you might have won.

[Lawnman]

I dabble a little bit at Bitburg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaNK6YhNkVU). But not too competitive on small courses against small cars.

Great video! If you want to see a tight course you should come over here and run on a Miata course.:growl:
What are your mods and what exhaust are you running?

[sharptransam]

I dabble a little bit at Bitburg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaNK6YhNkVU). But not too competitive on small courses against small cars.

yeah, I could see turn radius being an issue. bad ass run though I would have to walk the course first so I would not get turned around.

[Killer_bluebird]

Did you ever make it out to a autox ?
I ran with the Ford club last weekend . I had some fun beating up on the mustangs.:yup:

Where are you located in in Ohio?

I run occasionally with:
http://www.noraracing.net/
http://www.autox.net/

there is also:
http://www.neohio-scca.org/ (at Lakeland Community College) I havent been to any of their events yet.

[Lawnman]

I am located 12 miles east of Columbus . Right off of I-70 East.
I am 10 minutes away from National Trail Raceway.

[Killer_bluebird]

I guess you are a little too far from the events that i mentioned.

[Eugenio_SS]

Kevin is from Columbus... he's an admin here: http://www.frrax.com
might be plenty of ppl from your area into autox ;)

[Steve L]

http://www.scca.com/Inside/Index.asp?IdS=3850BF-701CC00&Reference=RegionalSites&~=

Check out this link to find a region near you. Most regions welcome newcomers with open arms.

[IE Speed]

Try googling local tracks You would like to drive. Check out there weekend schedules. This will give You info on local clubs that hold events there. I drive with a couple of different clubs at Willow springs raceway Ca. All were helpful and supportive. I just drive on open trck days. In that way I can drive at my own pace and get better at the art driving. And the rules are usually somewhat relaxed as well as the ambiance. Oh yea and for a one day event, You could get 4 20min. sessions for as little as $125. Thats alot Yahoo! for the buck

[Steve L]

Try googling local tracks You would like to drive. Check out there weekend schedules. This will give You info on local clubs that hold events there. I drive with a couple of different clubs at Willow springs raceway Ca. All were helpful and supportive. I just drive on open trck days. In that way I can drive at my own pace and get better at the art driving. And the rules are usually somewhat relaxed as well as the ambiance. Oh yea and for a one day event, You could get 4 20min. sessions for as little as $125. Thats alot Yahoo! for the buck

Open track days are awesome and one hell of a lot of fun. BUT, be careful because your car is probably NOT set up to handle the continued stress of a short track. If you run your car hard, the first thing you will notice after about 4 laps is brake fade. Standard DOT III brake fluid has the lowest boiling point of any fluid out there and will cause your brakes to fail if you run your car hard. When you feel them start to fade, take a slower cool-down lap where you use your brakes very little to help get your brakes back before you park and let everything else cool down.

Also consider what kind of brake pads you have. I run ceramics; although they are great on the street, they are no good for short track. One open week event and I had to replace the pads on all four corners. They literally came apart in pieces.

If you want to get serious about short tracks, the first upgrades you will need are to your brakes (fluid, pads, brake lines, etc) and engine cooling system. All said and done, it is an awesome time out there...go burn some rubber!