I want to AUTOCROSS! But I need help...

WP60 · 04-22-2009, 10:23 AM

Ok so I'm new to MR2s, and new to autox, but I am highly interested in both. I have an 87 with the stock 4AG motor, stock suspension, stock everything basically. The car has 16 in wheels with low profile tires, but i also have my stock wheels.

I was wondering if there are any autox veterans on here who might have any suggestions to point me in the right direction. Im thinking of maybe buying another set of wheels to put slicks on, but idk what size is best as far as price and availability. Im planning on putting new springs and KYB shocks under it too, but ikd what springs are the best. I want to be able to drive the car to the track and still make it home at the end of the day.

Also, if anyone could tell me what the best place to buy parts for MR2s or imports in general is (ie something like Summit or Jegs), I would appreciate it.

Thanks,
WP

lsgheero · 04-22-2009, 11:33 AM

First make sure the car is sound (working correctly nothing needs replaced) then take it to an autox as is before you worry about buying slicks, etc lol.

mr2nv · 04-22-2009, 11:50 AM

Once you use wheels other than stock sizes and you replace the stock springs, your car gets bumped out of stock class. If you care about what class you're in, then you might want to reconsider.

If you're new to autox the best thing to do is run on street tires for a season or two. This will teach you to be smooth with your inputs and patient as well as improved car control. If you go straight to slicks, it will mask your bad habits and you will hit a plateau very quickly. The less modifications your car has the more it is about the driver. In a stock car, it's probably 80% driver, 20% car so it is best to work on your driving first and then worry about the car.

fvillota · 04-22-2009, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr2nv

Once you use wheels other than stock sizes and you replace the stock springs, your car gets bumped out of stock class. If you care about what class you're in, then you might want to reconsider.

If you're new to autox the best thing to do is run on street tires for a season or two. This will teach you to be smooth with your inputs and patient as well as improved car control. If you go straight to slicks, it will mask your bad habits and you will hit a plateau very quickly. The less modifications your car has the more it is about the driver. In a stock car, it's probably 80% driver, 20% car so it is best to work on your driving first and then worry about the car.

nice! i'll keep this in mind myself!

kbrew8991 · 04-22-2009, 12:46 PM

drive the car as is to see if you really enjoy it before you throw alot of money at the car

it'll save you $ and help you improve your driving more rapidly. It'll also give you a chance to learn more about the classe(s) and let you move into one that suits what you want to build, where you want to run, or let you figure out that you don't care about classing at all... there is no one size fits all

There's a big difference between getting through the course kinda quick like most people can do first time out and getting through the course really fast like the guys that have done it for years

Racer88 · 04-22-2009, 02:00 PM

This actually helped me out as well. I am more interested in Roadracing but autox, from what I understand, is the same sort of thing. WIth less to no people on track with you.

kbrew8991 · 04-22-2009, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racer88

This actually helped me out as well. I am more interested in Roadracing but autox, from what I understand, is the same sort of thing. WIth less to no people on track with you.

thats the route I went.. though you may develop 1 or 2 "bad habits" to break, you should also have a good handle on the feel of the car and catching slides - the two hardest things to teach imo.

mr2nv · 04-22-2009, 03:42 PM

While road racing and autox might sound like the same sort of thing, they are quite different. There are some skills that translate to both motor sports but each have their own set of advanced skill sets. Most people say that the transition from autox to road racing is much easier than going from road racing to autox. Most good autocrossers can be good road racers but being a good road racer is no indication for how successful an autocrosser you will be. Also, road racing is much more dangerous than autox. If you aren't prepared to total your car every time you go to the track, you shouldn't really be road racing. That goes for track days as well. One bad slide and you're rolling your car. Personally, road racing/track days don't give me near the adrenalin rush as I get when I autox. I'm sure wheel to wheel is a different story. When I autox, I'm going 10/10ths the whole time as opposed to on the track where 10/10ths could have my car on a flatbed at the end of the day. I don't think I'll ever go to the track again without race tires.

WP60 · 04-22-2009, 09:48 PM

Thanks guys, I really wasn't expecting to get this many replies this fast. I'll keep everything in mind and look over the SCCA rulebook. I've only had the car for a week, so I'm still working some of the bugs out of it. I think you all told me everything I wanted to know, but if there is any other advice out there I'm open to anything.

mach5mr2 · 06-12-2009, 10:34 PM

Where in Ky are you ? Come up to the Cincinnati Region auto-x events and I will be happy to help you out. Some of them are actually in N. Ky.

John

04-22-2009, 10:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
WP60 No Skills Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Central kentucky Posts: 4 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I want to AUTOCROSS! But I need help... Ok so I'm new to MR2s, and new to autox, but I am highly interested in both. I have an 87 with the stock 4AG motor, stock suspension, stock everything basically. The car has 16 in wheels with low profile tires, but i also have my stock wheels. I was wondering if there are any autox veterans on here who might have any suggestions to point me in the right direction. Im thinking of maybe buying another set of wheels to put slicks on, but idk what size is best as far as price and availability. Im planning on putting new springs and KYB shocks under it too, but ikd what springs are the best. I want to be able to drive the car to the track and still make it home at the end of the day. Also, if anyone could tell me what the best place to buy parts for MR2s or imports in general is (ie something like Summit or Jegs), I would appreciate it. Thanks, WP

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04-22-2009, 11:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
lsgheero RAR! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 747 Thanks: 9 Thanked 31 Times in 31 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	First make sure the car is sound (working correctly nothing needs replaced) then take it to an autox as is before you worry about buying slicks, etc lol.

04-22-2009, 11:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
mr2nv Beams Owners Group Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 179 Thanks: 0 Thanked 10 Times in 8 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Once you use wheels other than stock sizes and you replace the stock springs, your car gets bumped out of stock class. If you care about what class you're in, then you might want to reconsider. If you're new to autox the best thing to do is run on street tires for a season or two. This will teach you to be smooth with your inputs and patient as well as improved car control. If you go straight to slicks, it will mask your bad habits and you will hit a plateau very quickly. The less modifications your car has the more it is about the driver. In a stock car, it's probably 80% driver, 20% car so it is best to work on your driving first and then worry about the car.

04-22-2009, 12:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
kbrew8991 gimme some turns Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,685 Thanks: 76 Thanked 82 Times in 70 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (5/100% )	drive the car as is to see if you really enjoy it before you throw alot of money at the car it'll save you $ and help you improve your driving more rapidly. It'll also give you a chance to learn more about the classe(s) and let you move into one that suits what you want to build, where you want to run, or let you figure out that you don't care about classing at all... there is no one size fits all There's a big difference between getting through the course kinda quick like most people can do first time out and getting through the course really fast like the guys that have done it for years

04-22-2009, 02:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
Racer88 No Skills Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Newark, CA Posts: 25 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	This actually helped me out as well. I am more interested in Roadracing but autox, from what I understand, is the same sort of thing. WIth less to no people on track with you.

04-22-2009, 03:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
mr2nv Beams Owners Group Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 179 Thanks: 0 Thanked 10 Times in 8 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	While road racing and autox might sound like the same sort of thing, they are quite different. There are some skills that translate to both motor sports but each have their own set of advanced skill sets. Most people say that the transition from autox to road racing is much easier than going from road racing to autox. Most good autocrossers can be good road racers but being a good road racer is no indication for how successful an autocrosser you will be. Also, road racing is much more dangerous than autox. If you aren't prepared to total your car every time you go to the track, you shouldn't really be road racing. That goes for track days as well. One bad slide and you're rolling your car. Personally, road racing/track days don't give me near the adrenalin rush as I get when I autox. I'm sure wheel to wheel is a different story. When I autox, I'm going 10/10ths the whole time as opposed to on the track where 10/10ths could have my car on a flatbed at the end of the day. I don't think I'll ever go to the track again without race tires.

04-22-2009, 09:48 PM	#9 (permalink)
WP60 No Skills Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Central kentucky Posts: 4 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Thanks guys, I really wasn't expecting to get this many replies this fast. I'll keep everything in mind and look over the SCCA rulebook. I've only had the car for a week, so I'm still working some of the bugs out of it. I think you all told me everything I wanted to know, but if there is any other advice out there I'm open to anything.

06-12-2009, 10:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
mach5mr2 93T, 88 SC Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 107 Thanks: 0 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Where in Ky are you ? Come up to the Cincinnati Region auto-x events and I will be happy to help you out. Some of them are actually in N. Ky. John