Any AutoX'ers out there?

[HokieDSM]

Hey folks,
I'm new the the board, so hey everyone!
Anyway, I'm wondering how many out there have run their AWD/Turbo DSMs in STOCK class in SCCA Autocross. I know, there's autocross.dsm.org, but the info there is vague and seems outdated.

But I'd love to hear expreiences from folks out there on what the best tweaks that they've done to the car, and I'm also wondering exactly what is and is not allowed as far as changes for stock class on a 2G DSM. The Autocross DSM site mentioned an exhaust and whatnot, but as I said, it just seemed 'vague' to me. I have taken my 1G 1.8L out to AutoX numerous times, but never did any mods or changes to the car, but still had tons of fun. I'm looking to make things a little more serious this time.

I can't wait to take her out to the pylons

 

[Atavism]

Your going to have a tough time auto-xing your turbo in stock unless you are running race tires which should put you in GS up against the V6 camaros which rotate better, but you will have better hook up. Course if your not out to win its all good anyway!

Without race tires, you will be running 'F' with all the other street tire guys. The 2G's are heavy cars and stock the don't like to rotate very well so you will probably lose to alot of Honda guys. But you can add a 3" cat-back exhaust and a K&N filter to free up 20hp (Turbo Magazine saw 11hp and 20ft/lbs from the cone filter alone!) or so and that should help. Also a good set of Tokico shocks with the rears set full firm should help the car rotate. Good brake pads would help some too. Get REAL good at keeping the turbo spooled mid corner (left foot braking or riding the clutch helps: I still suck) and try to apex early to hit boost for the straights.

I run my '92 GSX in 'F' with a Street Mod index simply because I have a manual boost controller. Other than a rear sway bar, crappy all season 225R16 tires and a cone filter I'm stock. On 93 octane and a warm day I can run 16psi and that gets me up to around 240-50 crank HP which is enough to break the tires loose at full boost in second as I am apexing which is the key to getting these heavy cars to autox well. I have crappy all-season tires on, but keeping the fronts at 58 PSI (NOT recommended but I was desparate) and the rear at 36 would let the car drift at partial throttle. Once I figured that out I cut 2 seconds.

DSM's can DOMINATE Street Mod, but you need a BIG Ball Bearing turbo hitting full boost by 3000 rpm and somewhere around 300-350 WHP at peak. Basically build a Rally car without the huge suspension travel and put slicks on it. That's what I am going for, just waiting for the extra $10k to show up on my door step.

For now I place mid field and have a BLAST doing it!

Good luck!

 

[HokieDSM]

Thanks for the reply!

I ran this weekend, and as far as I know, classes have nothing to do with Tires. All DSM Turbos run G-Stock unless they are modded, regardlesss of Tire Configuration (assuming stock size), whether its slicks or street tires.

You're right though, I definitely need slicks! =)

Camaros, etc usually run F-Stock, along with the Mustangs, etc etc....

(Just AFAIK anyway, from my experience)

As far as how I did, I was running in GS and got pummeled by the two other dudes running GS, a guy in a Saturn and another in something else---but they're seasoned veterans that I couldnt' have hoped to beat out I probably could have done better with my 1.8L 1G running in H-Stock

 

[Atavism]

I felt the same way in my first (only this year) race in the GSX. I used to race a '91 Jetta in HS and then STS after I threw on a rear sway bar. My street mods have this nasty habit of classing my car in an index I can't possibly compete in...

The FS cars are V8's, the GS Camaros will have the V6's if your broke down like we are in the CenDiv.

My biggest frustration was being off-boost for 2/3 of the course. So basically I had a 3100lb 140hp car tat understeered like a drunk pig. Luckily the 2 biggest impacts you can have on spool up without a turbo swap are intake and exhaust and for $600 it can be yours. Thermal seems to be who my buds recommend for the Cat-Back, though Buschur gets good reviews too.

My tranny is dying (car has 155k on it and I know it has been auto-x, rally-x'd, and road raced by preious owners) so it's due for a rebuild. I am having TRE install the EVOIII shift forks and heavy duty 1-2 synchros in an attempt to be able to grab 1st on the course. THAT should solve the spoolup AND rotation problem REAL quick! After that I will slap on an exhaust so my Turbo can breathe and cross over the 250hp mark and then address the suspension. Heck I might even do the suspension first.

 

[HokieDSM]

Hrm. It'sl looking like your CenDiv classes things ever-so-slightly differently than we do, at least at the BRR (Blue Ridge Region) local AutoX's.

Originally posted by Atavism: So basically I had a 3100lb 140hp car tat understeered like a drunk pig.

I like that quote, I did notice that when I took the TSI AWD out this past week.....

From what I gather, there are ways around it though, it just takes more practice (which I intend to get). It seems though, that you did indeed put yourself into a class that would be hard to compete in. Of course, AutoX is really all about the driver (hence a G-Stock Staturn SL2 that gets better track times (not PAX) than most STS and SM cars). What I was intending was to run in Stock for at least my first year, and then modding up to Street Prepared or Street Modified afterwards...but doing all the mods at once so I don't get outclassed by doing one mod. For stock class though, for next season I intend to tweak as much as I can (like you said, exhaust; then slicks, etc) to get the car to run as well as possible then work on my driving

(a somewhat crappy picture of my two cars can be found in the gallery, along with some others of either car if you're curious. I didn't see any of yours though).

 

[Atavism]

I posted a 'still' shot of my ride, Smoke Banshee, on the gallery. Will try to get some good quality driving shots next season-hopefully all crossed up exiting a corner with the rear lit-up. Pigs may fly too...

Dig the black on the 2G's- good pick. I would have gone that route as I definetly prefer the styling, but chose to save the mon for future mods on a 1G. Course that money is now going to the delivery my second baby next spring-bad for the car, but GREAT for my family!

What suspension are you considering? I know mine is pretty spent, when I hit 16psi in second the wieght transfer makes steering more wishful thinking than technical precision. I put HUGE sway bars on my old Jetta and it did corner FLAT, but the front was too big and I was unable to induce oversteer. At a rear only on my 1G and I like it. I am leaning towards Ground Controls/ KYB AGX's as I can't afford the JIC true coilovers. Those JIC are SWEET: 15 way adjustible, pillowball upper mounts and camber adjustable. Course at $1800 a set they had better be!