Any AutoCrossers?

[jtace]

Just curious how many autocrossers we have around here, SCCA and the like. Once I get out of college and get a job I'm thinking about messing with it myself. Too broke to do it now. heh... ;)

[Justin Martin]

I'd like to do it too, but obviously full size trucks don't autocross very well. ^_^

What i'd really like to try is SCCA Improved Touring. It is a class that is open to cars more then five years old that have either rotary, 4cyl or 6cyl engines. Engine mods are fairly limited, mainly just external bolt on parts, but quite a few suspension mods are allowed. The whole focus of IT is to provide a cheap intorduction into sports car racing that doesn't allow people to win on horespower, it makes people first learn to drive, then learn to modify suspension. There are four IT clases, the slowest is cars like the Chevy Chevette and Ford Escort, fastest is cars like the Datsun 240Z, early '90s BMW 328 and the 2nd gen Mazda RX7 Turbo, so most of the elligible cars cost under $10,000.

One of Car And Driver's editors built a Honda CRX for IT, and wrote an article about it. He basically modified it to the full extent of the rules, and still only had $20,000 invested in it! In most racing series, 20 grand will barely buy you a decent car, certainly not a fully modified one. He reported that with the minimum safety mods, (roll cage, harness, etc) and the odd and end repairs he had to make to make the car track worthy, he could have been racing for less than $5000.

[jtace]

That's pretty cool. :) Yeah I'd like to try maybe the Solo or Solo II for starters. If I'm still single for a bit after college, and hence have some extra cash, :D I'm thinking of getting a cheaper car just for racing.

Something to spend money on I guess. :)

[Aw614]

I got the prefect autoX car, but I need to upgrade its suspension and tires and brakes.
I have the MKI Gti stock suspension, brakes, but not wheels.

[Mike Henderson]

I've considered it, but don't have any money to get into it, and if I screw up my car then I've got no money to fix it, hehe. It looks like a lot of fun though!

[jtace]

yeah, it's all about having some spare cash.. heh.. :)

[DC_Spd]

Matt(DCMattius) is into autocross with an RX7. I'll mention this thread to him, maybe he can give you some info if you have ???'s.

[DCMattius]

Thanks Lance,
Josh, I did Solo-II racing for about 5 years from 96-00. It is broken into about 7 car classes (Superstock, A-F), and 6 categories (stock, street prepared etc). They can be found at: http://www.scca.org/amateur/solo2/classes/index.html

You usually don't have to drive to far to go to a local autocross. Autocrossing (Solo-II) is a beginners sport to closed course, single car, timed racing. The event is usually broken into 3-5 runs around a coned 45 to 150 second course. You can bring any car/truck (no motorcycles). Winners usually receive some type of prize (trophy/shirt), and possibly 2nd or 3rd depending on how many cars in your class. The cost is usually between $20-$30 per event. The events I went to in Central Florida had anywhere from 30 drivers to 100 drivers. If autocrossing isn't enough, the Solo-II puts on the Solo-II National Tour and also the ProSolo-II where you can win contingency and prize money. The highest Solo-II race is in Topeka Kansas called the TireRack Solo National Championship. I've been to all but the big one. The ProSolo-II is kind of cool because they setup mirrored courses and 2 cars start the field from a drag-strip type of time tree.

My '91 Rx7 was at the edge of the stock rules. I had some BFG-R1 autocrossing tires on some light Konig wheels, a cat-back exhaust system, Koni shocks, a stiffer front sway bar and an aftermarket air-filter. It won the C-stock class in 2000.

I don't know too much about Solo-I, but have been to a few events to watch. I do know the entry fee is about $100/car and you have to have a special license to race there along with more safety equipment in your car (roll cage/fire extinguisher etc). You do get to run on tracks like Daytona and Sebring though with a lot of other cars...maybe some day.

Matt
DCMattius
Demolition Crew
Fair-Fun-Fast

[jtace]

Yeah I remember you mentioning it before. :) Well when I get some spare cash, out of college really heh, I'll probably go do a bit of solo II at least. I know I'd enjoy it.

[Justin Martin]

Matt, is a SCCA competition license required for SoloII? Also, is there a tech inspection on cars?

[DCMattius]

Hey Justin,
A regular drivers license is all you need. You don't even need to join the SCCA, you can usually drive for about $10 extra as a guest. They have this thing called "Speed Freakz" for under 26 years old, can usually join and race for free for less than racing as a guest. It depends on the local scca chapter.

There are inspections of the cars. They check to make sure you have all your lug nuts, and that the battery isn't being held in by bunji cords. It's a safety inspection really. There was one event that I missed where this guy got thru the inspection somehow. During one of his runs, his accellerator got stuck and he had started the car with a screwdriver, so he couldn't shut it off. Well, he ended up driving way off the track and landing sideways next to a tree. The safety inspector was much more strict after that close call.

I remember my first few times it was a lot of fun. It's kind of like having your own roller coaster. You'll be very nervous the first time that starter drops the green flag and everyone there is watching you zoom around. Once you do it a few times, it's not as nerve wracking.

They usually write your number and class on your windows with shoe polish. Later you can buy or make some magnetic numbers/letters. I have two 2s, 3s, and 4s, to make many combos. They also have loaner helmets if you don't have one. You have to wear a helmet and your seat belt during a run. Some events allow passengers, but they have to wear the same stuff and keep their hands/arms in the window. Also, at some events, they allow fun runs after the event or the day before the event. You can practice a similar track as many times as you'de like.

Have fun,

Matt

[Aw614]

I guess I got to look around Tampa for an events.
Do you know if a manual or automatic makes a difference. My 2000 lbs VW is a manual

[jtace]

I imagine a manual would be preferable, but I'm no expert on it all.. heh.. :)

[DCMattius]

That's funny Aw614, because my 3200lb rx7 convertible was an automatic from when I got it to 1998. I took the automatic out after it's 3rd need for a repair. I think autocrossing really hurts the transmission (at least it did with mine). I put a 5-speed in it from another rx7 with all the pedals/hardware. It's funny when the techs look at it and ask what the green D is on the dash and the flashing HOLD. The automatic had a button that you could press to hold it in gear. As far as speed goes, it probably depends on the car. I was just about as fast with the automatic as I was with the 5 speed. The 5 speed was more fun though. One good thing that came out of autocrossing for me was wearing my seatbelt. I didn't wear it much before racing, but afterwords always do. One of the guys at work does drag racing and I told him about my autocrossing. His car wouldn't go thru inspection though because they don't allow Nitrous.

Have fun,

Matt

[Radius]

Any body out there autocrossing a 914?

I'm in the PCA and auotcrossing a 914. Never been to an SCCA event but local motorsports club is closest to it.

In my class (stock) I was the car to beat. Mid-engine, really low center of gravity and cheap bolt on suspension mods make the car handle lie its on rails.

90-hp wont get me far in a hurry but the key is rhythm in a slalom.

[DCMattius]

I had a chat with [XR]Chey, she also autocrosses an RX7 over in California. Maybe she'll post her experiences and or thoughts here.

Matt

[racecar1]

I've run both Solo II and Solo I amongst other things.
In Canada, Solo I does require a competition licence which is issued by CASC. But its a simple and cheap grade of licence and easily available. Club racing is a different matter, there are different grades of licencing however even the lowest level requires that you attend and pass a one day race driver's school.
Solo I and most Driver's Schools at racetracks require varying degrees and technical inspections. Usually its a certificate signed by your mechanic (or yourself) and a visual inspection at the track. A common requirement is that brake fluid has to have been changed within 3 months of the event, usually to a high spec fluid such as DOT4.

I'm sure its the same with SCCA in the States because both organizations accept each others licences, at least in Club racing levels they do.

And as Matt mentioned, Solo II is just your own street licence. A great way to get started I think, not only because of the driving but also to be part of an organized event.
Many people find adjusting to a structured event plus the atmosphere overwhelming (you have to experience it to know what I mean).