First autoX and need some advice

track370 · 08-11-2011, 10:07 AM

Awesome detailed information and very helpful from all of you, especially from you shamu.

Its funny how u bring up how sloppy the z is in stock form shamu. Its the first stock car I've ever done any track or autocross with so I was prepared and expected things to not even be close to the same level or similar at all. I don't know how it compares to others, maybe the z is especially sloppy in stock form (anyone with experience with autoXing other stock cars chime in please!). I just had this discussion a few days ago with my buddy when he asked me how it compares. Its completely different, and I wasn't expecting it to compare or be at that level so I wouldn't go as far as saying its no fun, it definitly is, but the responsiveness/transient behaviour, balance, acceleration, braking... everything is just way off from an formula sae car but I think its inherent to expect it to be. Also not having 4 way dampers, front and rear adjustable bars, spring rates, camber shims, ackerman brackets, etc to tune with on the fly between runs is a huge downside definitely. Saying it that way makes me rethink what I'm doing trying to keep the car in stock form when I could probably have a lot more fun with it if I was able to step out of stock. Haha, its just I don't even want to see how much a set of good dampers, a few spring rates, adjustable suspension linkages, front/rear bars, diff, etc start to cost for this car.

But I think an adjustable 2way damper is inevitable and will be a very near upgrade (outside of my front bar), but I'm going to give it at least one track day and a couple of autox before the investment.

As for the bar discussion. Can the car in stock form just on rcomps get benefits from using just a front hotchkis? I feel with a stock loose rear end and the already prevelant understeer it would be difficult for front end grip having just a front bar that stiff. Does switching to rcomps really play that nice with this setup? Maybe they are less load sensitive than I thought they would be and that's why :/ That would be very suprising to me, especially cause the z isn't that light. I just figured even on rcomps with a stock car the stillen would have enough stiffness in it to balance that fine line of stiffening up just one end of the car enough before u start having diminishing returns and losing time. Has anyone on here ran front hotchkis and rcomps with an otherwise stock stepup at the track or autox? Or are u front hotchkis guys also running other mods(like a rear bar, different spring rates, dampers, etc)?

Thanks a bunch and I enjoy the conversation greatly. This is all great information for someone just getting started with autox and track days in a z. At least for me it is.

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08-11-2011, 10:07 AM	#24 (permalink)
track370 Base Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: North Jersey Posts: 12 Drives: 2010 370 Blk MT Sprt Rep Power: 15	Awesome detailed information and very helpful from all of you, especially from you shamu. Its funny how u bring up how sloppy the z is in stock form shamu. Its the first stock car I've ever done any track or autocross with so I was prepared and expected things to not even be close to the same level or similar at all. I don't know how it compares to others, maybe the z is especially sloppy in stock form (anyone with experience with autoXing other stock cars chime in please!). I just had this discussion a few days ago with my buddy when he asked me how it compares. Its completely different, and I wasn't expecting it to compare or be at that level so I wouldn't go as far as saying its no fun, it definitly is, but the responsiveness/transient behaviour, balance, acceleration, braking... everything is just way off from an formula sae car but I think its inherent to expect it to be. Also not having 4 way dampers, front and rear adjustable bars, spring rates, camber shims, ackerman brackets, etc to tune with on the fly between runs is a huge downside definitely. Saying it that way makes me rethink what I'm doing trying to keep the car in stock form when I could probably have a lot more fun with it if I was able to step out of stock. Haha, its just I don't even want to see how much a set of good dampers, a few spring rates, adjustable suspension linkages, front/rear bars, diff, etc start to cost for this car. But I think an adjustable 2way damper is inevitable and will be a very near upgrade (outside of my front bar), but I'm going to give it at least one track day and a couple of autox before the investment. As for the bar discussion. Can the car in stock form just on rcomps get benefits from using just a front hotchkis? I feel with a stock loose rear end and the already prevelant understeer it would be difficult for front end grip having just a front bar that stiff. Does switching to rcomps really play that nice with this setup? Maybe they are less load sensitive than I thought they would be and that's why :/ That would be very suprising to me, especially cause the z isn't that light. I just figured even on rcomps with a stock car the stillen would have enough stiffness in it to balance that fine line of stiffening up just one end of the car enough before u start having diminishing returns and losing time. Has anyone on here ran front hotchkis and rcomps with an otherwise stock stepup at the track or autox? Or are u front hotchkis guys also running other mods(like a rear bar, different spring rates, dampers, etc)? Thanks a bunch and I enjoy the conversation greatly. This is all great information for someone just getting started with autox and track days in a z. At least for me it is.