getting started in auto crossing

[bubba]

I have been thinking about this for awhile now. The problem is is that my local scca has no love for the bigger cars. I thought about the crx but I don't think I can fit in one safely. Know It was brung to me that the contour svt would fit. I would get the focus svt but don't want a carpayment. What do you autocrossers think. Thanks in again Dan

 

[zak]

Look for "marque club" autocrosses, if the "marque" has larger cars (for example, like NESHOC's Corvette/Mustang/SHO mix) they will have more "open" courses.

Also look for ones held at airfeilds, vs parking lots. You can autocross anything other than an SUV or most pickup trucks.

Hope this helps - zak

 

[K-Dawg]

There's some guys around here that autocross Colorados and Rangers. Plus there are other large cars out there like Impalas and Monte Carlos.

 

[shomesomesho]

Plenty of "big" vehicles at our autocrosses. . . GMC Syclone, Pontiac GTO, '07 Mustang GT's, Dodge Viper . . .

 

[bubba]

Ya but I will sometime down the road like to be somewhat competitive and would like to run nats. Thanks for the tips.

 

[Ian Macoomb]

If you're just starting out run what you've got. I ran my SHO last year and it wasn't very competitive. I blew the engine up and had to resert to running my beater... a '94 Sentra. I got some cheap used Falken Azenis ($100 for wheels and tires) and took 3rd in my class first time out and only got 5 runs in before the brake line burst. I ran rental cars the next two events and came in 3rd in the class with a Grand Prix and was nearly as competitive with a rental Toyota Yaris. The wheels for the Sentra just happened to fit on the Yaris so I ran those.

Your first year you won't be competitive no matter what you run. So run a POS and just have fun.

 

[bubba]

That's what I hear that's ok. The thing is most of the parts for the sho is outlawed. That's why I wanted to see if there was a differnt car in the ford family. Anyway I would need a new sho to run autos are no fun. I want to bang gears. But I'am worried that all the mtx parts are getting rare.

 

[Shoaz]

There are several folks here autocrossing SHOs, and there shouldn't be a problem running one in SCCA Solo. It sounds like you just need a clarification on the rules.

 

[bubba]

I know what class I'm in. I will start in g-stock and work my way up. I just also want to know if the sho will be able to compete on a nat level. Where can I shave some weight? I think I'm ready to start. I'm looking for sho's know thanks for everything

 

[Ian Macoomb]

That's what I hear that's ok. The thing is most of the parts for the sho is outlawed. That's why I wanted to see if there was a differnt car in the ford family. Anyway I would need a new sho to run autos are no fun. I want to bang gears. But I'am worried that all the mtx parts are getting rare.

I wouldn't worry about the automatic. In mine I used to leave in 1st gear and it was fine. I bounced off the rev limiter in a couple of spots but it wasn't worth shifting to second only to shift back to first a split second later. In my Sentra once I get into second it stays there the rest of the course so it's not like I'm doing a lot of shifting. The only disadvantage the ATX has is the loss of power which really isn't an issue for a tight auto-x.

 

[sho_bc]

i only brought 1st close to redline/to redline at my first event. now, i shift into 2nd at about 6k rpm and leave it in 2nd the rest of the time. (unless i spin out and need to go back into first... :angelnot with my all-season tires on my slicers, i'm not all that competitive (2-3 seconds behind some SM2 porsches, 3-4 seconds behind the fastest RAW time at today's event). I'm hoping that with the Azenis 615s from Fred and the 16x7 ARE wheels from Gene, i'll be able to pick up a second or two. i'm not usually last in my category.

what do you mean by "the SHO is outlawed"? we've got everything running at our club. we had a early 90s 4dr Oldsmobile running today, we've had mid to late 80s completely stock toyota tercels, old datsun 510s, bmw, porsches, nissans, etc etc etc. everyone and everything is welcome. in our club, the more ridiculous a car might seem, the more we enjoy seeing it driving around the course.

 

[bobreimer]

I ran my SHO for years as an autocrosser. It was respectable, even though it was often the largest car at the event.

I got tired of replacing control arms from the wear and tear. By then I had also realized that what you want for that kind of sport is a light car.

My wish list was a car that is light, easy to fix, with lots of aftermarket .... and preferably a RWD.

I got an old high mileage Miata. You cannot go wrong with that car. Also would consider the Honda CRX. Both very agile, light and very fast even in completely stock form.