Road racing guys

[hairybeanbag]

Alright guy's,

I have been following these great threads about FWD race/autocross cars. I have a fairly well modified 90 gst that has brought me tons of fun to drive, For the last few months I have been looking for an AWD chassie that is in great shape. Everytime I find a good car I'm torn away saying to my self I could have John Shepard build me a race LSD tranny for the same price.

Why do you guy's choose the fwd platform to build you roadracers/ autocrossers over an awd? I'm trying to decide what I really want (awd or FWD) before investing in big brakes, rollcage and some other things that won't really bolt onto a diffrent car.

 

[4BangR-x]

I think it has to do with the fact that, once you are gone from the starting line, AWD is kind of a restriction. Where on a front drive car, you tranny is only putting power to 2 wheels, not 4. I think the loss in handling going from AWD to FWD can be tuned into the chassis with the right suspension.

 

[Greg Collier]

The AWD would be the best platform to begin a road-racing venture. Why you ask? Drive-ability, potential of an independent suspension setup, equal power distribution to the wheels, and a more balanced weight distribution from front to rear (corner balancing)

 

[4BangR-x]

Oh so you just do FWD because thats what you had to start with? Im sorry for my misinformed post then, I was under the impression that you and a bunch of others raced FWD for a reason, other then what you had to work with.

 

[hairybeanbag]

Last year I had a chance to drive Hartland Park in Topika Kansas during the NA 2005 meet for Toyota MR2's All-Trac's and Lotis Elise's. Since than I have been building my GST from stock, I have a lot of parts that will transfer over to a diffrent chassie wich is fine! but before spending money on brakes, coilovers and a rollcage i wanted to make sure I was going to be happy with my platform since these parts will not fit an awd.

 

[Greg Collier]

Oh so you just do FWD because thats what you had to start with? Im sorry for my misinformed post then, I was under the impression that you and a bunch of others raced FWD for a reason, other then what you had to work with.

No I didn't say that... A good driver can drive FWD-RWD-AWD and kick butt. All three of these cars are setup completely different. You have race series that are running almost 90% FWD verses series that are running 100% RWD. The reason being is that the production-based vehicles have been putting the big hp in the RWD cars, and the lower hp in FWD cars. For the different race series to be competitive the race teams must stay within the confines of their respective horsepower.

This is the reason why the turbo charged vehicles have had such a difficult time finding a home, and it goes with the AWD vehicles. Someone who is AWD oriented will tell you that they have a definite advantage over FWD/RWD, but this isn't always true. If the hp is the same, the FWD will have a weight advantage and be quicker.

A novice driver is going to have much more success racing an AWD vs. a FWD/RWD vehicle, because the car is instantly more controllable. A veteran driver can drive either or. When they started to run the AWD Audi's in the GrandAm series the cars kicked butt on the launch at the beginning of the race and did well to the middle of the race. Because they were AWD they used their tires up that much quicker and had to slow down and or pit more often. There are advantages and disadvantages in all car designs. It's continuously being proven as no one car is always… winning.

I enjoy my FWD; it’s been a challenge to learn how to drive it. I used to race Porsches. I prefer a challenge...

 

[terefic181]

Well for me, at least, it is partialy run what ya brung, but then, I've owned mine probably as long as most anyone on here. I bought my FWD, new in April of 1989. I think another reason for sticking with the FWD is because of the work, in the early days, of RRE and guys like Tallini who were running and "winning" using the FWD platform.

pix's below of Tallini and the RRE car:

 

[4BangR-x]

oooooh ok lots less now. Good so my post wasn't misinformed. Well anyway, great replys!

Also terific we purchased ours in 1995. It feels so good to own a car for this long, since new, and still enjoy it!

 

[Ludachris]

I think you have to step back and plan what series you want to race in and then go from there - that is, if you're going to go out and buy a car to build up. If you already have car, then you need to look at what series you can fit into.

AWD will help the inexperienced drivers but it's also it's a heavier platform and has more pieces that can break. And yes, you'll eat up tires faster. Pro's and con's for everything I guess.

 

[mavisky]

I agree with Chris. Figure out what you want to do and start from there if you want to be competitive. I wanted to have fun and already had the car I have today and it's slowly developed from a daily driven nt to a rarely driven near-race-car.