Newbie AutoX tips?

Sylvan · 08-24-2007, 11:54 PM

I've autocrossed my 91T twice so far. First time, I had just gotten it, and I had some worn shocks and a missing rear stabilizer bar. It was fun but not very rewarding because I was understeering so bad and the tires were also pretty crappy.

Fast forward a bit, and now I have nice new tires and suspension. I autocrossed last weekend and although I did better, I still need lots of practice. First off, it was totally fun. Even though I got beat by pretty much everybody, I loved it and I want to keep improving.

The power level is stock right now. I was excited that I was able to kick the back end out if I mashed the throttle coming out of some corners. That was fun, but it may not have been very productive. Also, I would brake late and hard after a straight, and sometimes kick the back end out when turning in. Again, it felt and may have looked cool, but I don't know if it was helping my times.

So what I'm thinking is I need to work on getting smoother, and carrying more speed in the turn with less sliding around. Does that sound right? Do you guys just mash the gas as soon as possible coming out of a turn, or do you apply it gradually until you are pointed relatively straight?

And how about shifting.. do you do it? I just left it in 2nd the whole time. My trans is pretty crappy and I have a really hard time shifting. Seems there are no synchros left. When you guys come into a tight corner do you ever pop it into 1st?

What about left-foot braking? I thought about this as I was coming out of a slow turn in 2nd. I had no boost and I was at pretty low RPM (about 1500-2000). I thought that maybe if I braked with my left foot in the turn, I could keep my right foot on the gas to build boost. Anyone do this? Good idea, bad idea? I don't know what it would do to the balance of the car in the turn so I was thinking about trying it next time to see what I could do.

I think my times were suffering mostly from these low-speed corner exits where I was kind of slow for 2nd gear but my trans won't let me shift into 1st gear until I'm at like 3 mph or less.

TreyMR2 · 08-25-2007, 12:11 AM

I know its not cheap but probably your best solution is a new trany.

sickof5sfe · 08-25-2007, 12:11 AM

it all totally depends on the track/road..but usually what i do on most turns is let off the gas, slow down, shift into 1st or 2nd depending on the turn, and very gradually as I pull through the turn accelerate but not a tremendous amount...i basically work up to full throttle halfway through the turn and coming out of it..other wise the back end comes out or the car spins completely...never floor a turbo 2 coming out of a turn until the majority..if not all of your sideways momentum is gone

TreyMR2 · 08-25-2007, 12:13 AM

^true, if you have ever drove a turbo with a LSD in the rain you will find this out really fast.

sickof5sfe · 08-25-2007, 12:14 AM

and with the left foot braking...the best way of doing this is using the toes of your right foot on the brake...while the heel is on the gas...this way you can brake harder and give just enough gas...keep the left foot on the clutch

Sylvan · 08-25-2007, 05:08 PM

Thanks for the tips guys. I do plan on getting a new tranny by the end of the year anyways. I have some track days scheduled early next year. I'll probably go with the 93+ LSD trans. Until then, I'll keep autocrossing and hopefully getting better!

TreyMR2 · 08-25-2007, 07:24 PM

yeah well think of it this way. Once you get good with the crap transmission you'll be way better when you finally have a good transmission.

08-24-2007, 11:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sylvan Bad Dude Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 878 Thanks: 22 Thanked 38 Times in 34 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (10/100% )	Newbie AutoX tips? I've autocrossed my 91T twice so far. First time, I had just gotten it, and I had some worn shocks and a missing rear stabilizer bar. It was fun but not very rewarding because I was understeering so bad and the tires were also pretty crappy. Fast forward a bit, and now I have nice new tires and suspension. I autocrossed last weekend and although I did better, I still need lots of practice. First off, it was totally fun. Even though I got beat by pretty much everybody, I loved it and I want to keep improving. The power level is stock right now. I was excited that I was able to kick the back end out if I mashed the throttle coming out of some corners. That was fun, but it may not have been very productive. Also, I would brake late and hard after a straight, and sometimes kick the back end out when turning in. Again, it felt and may have looked cool, but I don't know if it was helping my times. So what I'm thinking is I need to work on getting smoother, and carrying more speed in the turn with less sliding around. Does that sound right? Do you guys just mash the gas as soon as possible coming out of a turn, or do you apply it gradually until you are pointed relatively straight? And how about shifting.. do you do it? I just left it in 2nd the whole time. My trans is pretty crappy and I have a really hard time shifting. Seems there are no synchros left. When you guys come into a tight corner do you ever pop it into 1st? What about left-foot braking? I thought about this as I was coming out of a slow turn in 2nd. I had no boost and I was at pretty low RPM (about 1500-2000). I thought that maybe if I braked with my left foot in the turn, I could keep my right foot on the gas to build boost. Anyone do this? Good idea, bad idea? I don't know what it would do to the balance of the car in the turn so I was thinking about trying it next time to see what I could do. I think my times were suffering mostly from these low-speed corner exits where I was kind of slow for 2nd gear but my trans won't let me shift into 1st gear until I'm at like 3 mph or less.

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Posted By	For	Type	Date
Toyota MR2 Message Board	This thread	Refback	08-25-2007 10:56 PM

08-25-2007, 12:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
TreyMR2 Gen3 swap DONE!! Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,472 Thanks: 30 Thanked 60 Times in 58 Posts iTrader Rating: (10/100% )	I know its not cheap but probably your best solution is a new trany.

08-25-2007, 12:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
sickof5sfe doing a secret build >:D Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Richfield Minnesota Posts: 364 Thanks: 11 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	it all totally depends on the track/road..but usually what i do on most turns is let off the gas, slow down, shift into 1st or 2nd depending on the turn, and very gradually as I pull through the turn accelerate but not a tremendous amount...i basically work up to full throttle halfway through the turn and coming out of it..other wise the back end comes out or the car spins completely...never floor a turbo 2 coming out of a turn until the majority..if not all of your sideways momentum is gone

08-25-2007, 12:13 AM	#4 (permalink)
TreyMR2 Gen3 swap DONE!! Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,472 Thanks: 30 Thanked 60 Times in 58 Posts iTrader Rating: (10/100% )	^true, if you have ever drove a turbo with a LSD in the rain you will find this out really fast.

08-25-2007, 12:14 AM	#5 (permalink)
sickof5sfe doing a secret build >:D Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Richfield Minnesota Posts: 364 Thanks: 11 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	and with the left foot braking...the best way of doing this is using the toes of your right foot on the brake...while the heel is on the gas...this way you can brake harder and give just enough gas...keep the left foot on the clutch

08-25-2007, 05:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
Sylvan Bad Dude Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 878 Thanks: 22 Thanked 38 Times in 34 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (10/100% )	Thanks for the tips guys. I do plan on getting a new tranny by the end of the year anyways. I have some track days scheduled early next year. I'll probably go with the 93+ LSD trans. Until then, I'll keep autocrossing and hopefully getting better!

08-25-2007, 07:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
TreyMR2 Gen3 swap DONE!! Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,472 Thanks: 30 Thanked 60 Times in 58 Posts iTrader Rating: (10/100% )	yeah well think of it this way. Once you get good with the crap transmission you'll be way better when you finally have a good transmission.