Autocross

[91ghp5.0]

For all you guys that autocross:

One day I'd love to road race. Obviously, that's pretty out of the question right now. I have been to several autocross events, and that looks like a fun way to get into some twisties and not require huge HP numbers.

My car is pretty balanced, has most of the bolt-on suspension stuff, and only requires a few more things in the engine department (stock valve springs and roller rockers with a FMS B-cam...they gotta go).

So my question is this: What is really required for autocross? I know I'll need a set of different wheels with some different tires on them (don't want to chew up perfectly good street tires). What suspension modifications are "smiled upon" or "required."

Thanks guys!

 

[Adams91LX]

buy a miata... strip it down... leave the mustang unmolested?

 

[91ghp5.0]

oh I'm not talking hardcore..im talking about doing it for fun on the weekends. the stang is my DD and will continue to be for a while.

 

[Adams91LX]

im not talking hardcore either... miata's are pretty cheap... and easier to axc with...

 

[91ghp5.0]

cheap on a college student budget lol? if it was up to me, i'd have a daily driver and save my other money to mod the fox. but i have no space for another car..doh!

 

[sirr0bin]

You don't need anything! Just up the pressures on your street tires and you are good to go! If you are just going a couple times a year, I wouldn't worry about spending the coin on seperate tires and everything, unless you are talking about wanting to run R-compound tires (v710, a6s05's and the like)

I'm an avid autocrosser, my vbgarage is linked below if you want to see what I'm running

http://www.wpg-autox.org/forums/vbgarage.php?do=view&id=403

If you want to know anything specific, or how an event works, or anything like that feel free to ask

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Man don't buy into the hype about what you HAVE to have....all you really need are good grippy tires. You can't expect to really see what you or your car are capable of with typical radials. After that, some good lowering springs would be a great start along with subframe connectors if you don't have them, a strut tower brace, and at least some really nice brake pads (no autozone cheapies...braking is more important than acceleration when it comes to autocross/road racing). After that, a decent set of adjustable shocks/struts and upper/lower control arms in the rear will really give your car some nimble ability.

At that point, you haven't really broke the bank and the mods you've done thus far don't turn your car into a racecar by any stretch of the word, and you're still plenty streetable and probably more comfortable driving than you were to start with. This is where you decide how serious you wanna get, and then after that i'd say pick between Griggs or Maximum Motorsports (i'd pick Griggs just out of preference) and throw the whole catalog at your car....next thing you know you'll be smoking high dollar German rides on the road courses.

Oh, and autocross is really cool but sorry, it can't hold a candle to road racing....nothing like pegging the tach going full throttle down a straight and then hitting the twisties and really getting a full range of driving. Some autocross setups have some decent straight aways but nothing like a lot of road courses.

 

[91ghp5.0]

I know autocross is nowhere near road racing, but then again A) I don't want to (and can't) devote my car solely to any aspect of motorsport, its my DD B) It's as close as I can get to it and C) It seems like a pretty good start to me!

I understand that there is nothing that I "have" to have, I was asking more for the things that would benefit me.

Aside from the new set of tires, I have just about everything listed I believe. Eventually I'd like to throw a MM maximum grip box on it, big brake kit, and a new TKO, but that's all just a pipe dream until there is more cash in the wallet

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Even if you did get pretty much everything that MM has to offer for handling, your car would still be plenty streetable, although might be a bit of a rougher ride on city streets. Road racing doesn't have to mean you have an all out dedicated racecar. Pretty much all tracks have days for anyone to race on the track.

As for the most beneficial things....in order of most important i would say 1) better tires 2) better brakes 3) better shocks/struts (unless you have those). Even with stock control arms and otherwise totally stock suspension, if you've got good tires and good brakes to slow you down, a good set of adjustable shocks will make the car grip a lot better than stockers.

 

[Woodrow]

the best mod you could do is a trip to driving school, imo

 

[sirr0bin]

the best mod you could do is a trip to driving school, imo

Yes! I took the local WSCC driving school, and the EVO stage 1 & 2 schools this year, and they helped me FAR more then any mod could have made

Worth every penny

 

[mob]

I agree with everyone, If I had tread on my tires I wouldnt hesitate throwing my swaybar back on and heading out to the gainsville test and tune autocross every month. On all stock suspension. Like everyone else said a driving class will help you alot more then anything else, our cars may not be the fastest car there, or the one with the least body roll, but if you know what your doing I guarantee you will have the time of your life with a fox on an autocross course.

 

[91ghp5.0]

Are there any driving schools in FL that don't bend you over and rape you for costs? I've looked into Skip Barber and Bob Bondurant racing schools...the prices are ridiculous.

 

[sirr0bin]

Contact the evo folks, they go all around the contry

http://autocross.server269.com/evolution/modules/news/