First Autocross event!

JoeyD

I did my first Autocross event this weekend. On Saturday I participated in a Novice school in the poring rain. The rain made for some of the most fun I have ever had behind the wheel of car (although working the course was not so great). On Sunday THSCC (Tar Heel Sports Car Club) put on there first points event of the year. I didn't do as well as I had hoped but I did manage to edge out a GT-R. The other side of that coin is that I got beat by the likes of a Saturn SL1. I placed 8th in Novice class out of 20 drivers.

My impressions of the car are about what you would expect. SCCA classed the 370Z in B-Stock. Without the Sport Package I don't think it should of been classed there. Applying power out of any type of high-speed turn would result in almost instant wheel slip (and a few spin outs throughout the weekend). By the end of the weekend I had come down from 45PSI all around to 45 F 35R. Even at 35PSI the rears showed no signs of rolling under. I'm not complaining by any means. The Z, even without the sport pack, is a formidable sports car. In order to be truly competitive I'm going to have to piece together a sport package.

Any of you auto crossers out there that want to help me out could answer a question for me. The one part that is blaringly hurting my times is the lack of a Limited Slip. I've been reading SCCA rules and am finding some conflicts. It would appear that in order to retrofit the Sport Package LSD I would have to buy every piece of the Sport Package. Is this correct? I would much rather just get the Limited Slip and NOT the brakes and Wheels.

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When was the last time you did 230MPH in something with 4 seats?

ChrisSlicks

45 is too high for the rear of a rear-wheel drive car. I haven't driven it at the auto-x yet (will be this coming weekend) but on previous experience I think the ideal is going to be between 34-39. The front probably somewhere around 40. Those were about the numbers I used in my G35 last year.

To get any part of the sport package you would have to get the entire sport package including brakes. You could probably buy these off some track junkie that is upgrading his brakes even further.

However unless you are going to compete at the nationals I wouldn't worry about it. Just bolt up an LSD, no-one is going to challenge you at a local event.

JoeyD

^True, but I want to remain true to the spirit of an event. If I do manage to pull off a win I want to be able to say I did it within the rules. An aftermarket LSD puts me in STU and I'm not ready to throw down the kind of money I would need to to be competitive in that class. It's about $3200 for the stock LSD and brakes, cheaper if I could find them used. The wheels aren't as restrictive. I can use the following legally 19X9 F 19X10 R +/- 6mm's of offset. So far Work Emotion XC8 Wheels are the cheapest option if I have to buy new. The real problem with the SCCA rule is how far it goes. I know the A-arms between sport and non-sport have different part numbers as do many other parts. Without going through the entire parts manual I have no idea how many parts I would have to change to be compliant. I'm swaping the LSD and Brakes and getting some wheels, but I'm not changing anything else.

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When was the last time you did 230MPH in something with 4 seats?

ChrisSlicks

I guess technically you would also have to install the syncro rev match software and the little switch to turn it on or off. Some of the rules are pretty retarded.

JoeyD

Well I'm a 7AT so that's not really a concern, but I get the point. I've been reading the rule book and I think there is a loophole. Should I write and ask for clarification? The Rules say:

L. Limited-slip differential, transmission and differential ratios, clutch
mechanisms and carburetion, fuel injection or supercharger in-
duction systems must be standard as herein defined.


12.4 STANDARD PART
An item of standard or optional equipment that could have been
ordered with the car, installed on the factory production line, and
delivered through a dealer in the United States. Port-installed op-
tions provided by the factory are considered to be the same as
those installed on the factory production line. Dealer-installed options
or deletions (except as required by factory directives), no matter
how common or what their origin, are not included in this definition.
This definition does not allow the updating or backdating of parts.

I interpret that as saying that the Limited Slip is allowed as a stand alone part, because it is specifically mentioned. The part is neither being updated or backdated. Any thoughts?

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When was the last time you did 230MPH in something with 4 seats?

ChrisSlicks

Possibly. The issue I see with that paragraph is that it was not available from the factory as a separate option, the entire sports kit was optioned.

I would put up a post to those more experienced with SCCA rules on the SCCA forums. There's a lot of guys there that know how to test the limit of every rule

SCCA Forums - Rules and Classing Clarifications

JoeyD

Ultimatly I am more interested in track days and time attack than actual autocross. Maybe I should just upgrade within the limits of STU and call it a day.

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When was the last time you did 230MPH in something with 4 seats?

ChrisSlicks

STU has the advantage that you would be competing against street tires (140 TW) where as BS most people will be on slicks (Hoosier A6 / Kumho V710). It is nice to be able to drive to the event and not have to tow a trailer with expensive racing tires that wear out in no time. Most of the upgrades you would make for STU would also be beneficial on track, e.g. 2 piece rotors, large sway bars, lowering springs, shocks, camber kits, battery etc. Probably better for you in the long run.

HKYStormFront

i almost came to this event to take pics of my friend adam (the white GTR), if i hadn't gone to raleigh on saturday for an Xterra club meeting i would have been there

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Patrick // 06 Frontier 6spd Nismosis // Mods: Uprev Tuned @ Z1 Motorsports: 257whp & 292 ft lbs
09 Pontiac G8 GXP // M6 // Sunroof // Tint... For now

JoeyD

I remember that GTR. I spoke to your friend a bit during the course walk. He didn't end up doing so great. I think his tires where toast. But his GTR was sick.

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When was the last time you did 230MPH in something with 4 seats?

HKYStormFront

yea he's getting the dunlops (OEM Base tires) in a couple weeks, also his brakes were brand new and not bedded properly so not functioning 100%, also he found out today he is still having boost problems, his custom COBB dyno tune is being rejected by the computer... so lots of little things against him, plus he said he did not like the course at all

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Patrick // 06 Frontier 6spd Nismosis // Mods: Uprev Tuned @ Z1 Motorsports: 257whp & 292 ft lbs
09 Pontiac G8 GXP // M6 // Sunroof // Tint... For now

JoeyD

THe course was a bit difficult. It was tight and not particularly friendly on a car of the GTRs length and weight.

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When was the last time you did 230MPH in something with 4 seats?

HKYStormFront

yea i've been to 2 autox's to shoot, one for MC, the other for adam (the white one). both of them, the GTR seemed out of it's element... now track day at VIR was a whole different animal lol, adam let me ride along for 5 hot laps and i am now convinced the GTR is everything nissan made it out to be, the car is phenomenal

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Patrick // 06 Frontier 6spd Nismosis // Mods: Uprev Tuned @ Z1 Motorsports: 257whp & 292 ft lbs
09 Pontiac G8 GXP // M6 // Sunroof // Tint... For now

jeffreyfranz

Congratulations on your first time, Joey. Be sure to get 18" wheels, not 19. Tires and the wheels themselves will be cheaper, and much lighter wheels are available.

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SLO Car Club

cossie1600

Car is CS, not BS. The sports package doesn't add that much to the car, it's not going to get you from 8th to 1st.

370z are not STU legal I don't think. Sorry to tell you, the car is not going to be competitive at anything at the national level unless they have a new class for big RWD cars. The AWD cars dominate STU while the little Hondas and Miatas dominate the rest of them.