Autocross questions

IMWEZL

Sorry but that made me laugh.

We had a course n Myrtle Beach and it rained hard. I would understeer in a turn and then go into oversteer. I was basically going in too fast and then hammering the throttle. Eventually, I pulled my head out and slowed down just enough while rolling onto throttle and unwinding the steering wheel.

ChrisSlicks

If you're power sliding without an LSD then that is pretty impressive! With an LSD you can expect even more of that but it is easier to control via throttle modulation. For now regulating your right foot will probably go a long way

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trickle80

This is from the march 25th event in Tucson AZ. I placed 8th. My buddy with the EVO placed fourth/buddy with the roush placed 9th/buddy with the mazda speed 3 got 12th.

Yea I am really wishing I would have gotten the sport package for the bigger tires and VLSD just to start off with. Looked at the $1100 lsd's and thats a lil to much cash right now. I'm wondering if maybe shifting to third to put the RPM's down will reduce the wheelspin and with that i wont have to countersteer as much to keep the car under control. Countering that with keeping the RPM's up enough, around 4000, for the engine to be producing decent power.

Jacob Meuth

1. 51.077
2. 50.576
3. 49.468
4. 48.421

2003 Ford/Mustang Mach 1
STX
48.421
39.802
43
38
897

2
Deana Kraft

1. 51.878
2. 59.227 2
3. 50.089
4. 49.996

2001 Toyota /Celica GT
STC
49.996
40.997
47
45
871

3
Pete Sterling

1. 50.393
2. 51.818
3. 50.942 20
4. 60.629

2007 BMW/335i
FS
50.393
41.574
49
48
859

4
Adam Smith

1. 50.631 20
2. 50.949
3. 51.428
4. 50.464

2010 Mitsubishi/Lancer Evolution GSR
STU
50.464
42.440
51
49
841

5
Nicholas Haines

1. 53.290
2. 51.053
3. 53.375
4. 57.341 22

2012 Subaru/STi
STU
51.053
42.936
53
50
832

6
Andy Phan

1. 51.710
2. 50.133
3. 52.372
4. 52.704

2005 Honda/S2000
BSP
50.133
43.064
48
51
829

7
Chris Bjurman

1. 53.377
2. 52.547
3. 52.237
4. 51.330

2006 dodge/charger srt8
STU
51.330
43.169
54
52
827

8
Cole Reinbold

1. 57.325 2
2. 53.899
3. 53.178
4. 0.000

2009 nissan/370z
CS
53.178
44.297
58
56
806

9
Kevin Carpenter

1. 54.782 24
2. 52.887
3. 51.918
4. 87.595

2009 Ford (Roush) Mustang
SM
51.918
44.961
56
58
794

10
Jeromy Chatfield

1. 57.101
2. 57.160
3. 55.614
4. 56.039

2012 Dodge /Charger
FS
55.614
45.882
60
59
778

11
Tony Nusall

1. 61.438
2. 61.690
3. 58.499
4. 56.891

2012 Dodge /Charger
FS
56.891
46.935
61
61
761

12
Andy Espinosa

1. 57.064 2
2. 55.638 2
3. 55.569 4
4. 55.770 2

2012 Mazda/Speed 3
DS
57.638
47.321
64
62
755

13
Timothy Mazzaferro

1. 58.487 20
2. 59.160
3. 58.072 2
4. 57.102

2005 Mazda/RX-8
CS
57.102
47.566
62
64
751

14
Steven Truett

1. 63.691
2. 63.464
3. 62.472 2
4. 61.519

2004 MINI/Cooper S
DS
61.519
50.507
66
65
707

15
Eric Gutierrez

1. 60.975
2. 59.890
3. 58.898
4. 58.419 2

2007 Chevrolet/Aveo
SM
58.898
51.006
65
66
700
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cossie1600

You are way overthinking, get some tires and just drive in 2nd. Control car with pedal and steering, there is no reason to think LSD is the only thing keeping you away from trophy, especially in a street tire pax class....

cavemancan

So first post (Flame suit).

I'm coming from a modified Rx8 that I started to autocross last year. It was NA but tuned (most bolt-ons) with suspension and 18x10 forgestar F14's 265/35's. I toyed with getting it turbo'd but decided I wanted something new/different. That car handled like a dream.

Anyways, my point is I have a 370z sport on order and I want to keep autocrossing. I heard a few things here and there as far as what I should look into modifying first etc. I've been reading non-stop for a few days now but I haven't seen much do's and don'ts in regards to suspension and offsets. So this is what I know...I was hoping you all could add to it so I know what needs to be addressed.

Tire size...The Rx8 requires a square setup. Same size offset and tires sizes on all four corners. The Z it seems based on a few members responses likes a slightly bigger tire in the back but what about offset? Should they be stock like while accomodating the larger tire sizes? What are the don'ts of offsets for racing? Yes I read the offset thread...what I got from that is what makes what look pretty. I don't believe in form without function.

Suspension...whats everyone running in stock class and are springs allowed. Sorry havent checked the rules yet. I'm eye balling the Swift springs since they have great spring rates.

Camber...seems we need camber arms in the front which goes in line with what a racer friend told me that the 370Z needs more camber in the front but would getting the camber arms kick you out of stock...I'd say yes.

Finaly...what class has a good amount of competition for the 370 but is not saturated?

IMWEZL

Just take your Z out as is and race. You will be in CS which is pretty damn competitive. Learn how you and the car take a course....well several courses. After a season make small changes that way you only have one variable at a time.

cavemancan

Well take it this way...I like to plan ahead but you are correct. I prob won't do anything mod wise till the end of the year but if I did where to start will be deteremined by

1) Driver interaction with the car (me)
2) Effectiveness of mod in class

Either way I like knowing the information. I am an engineer at heart but not that type of engineer. I am an Cisco aka IT guy.

P.S. Is there any special way to turn of the traction control? Up up down down left righ select start? The Rx8 was a pain but I didnt have that issue since the base did not come with it. I plan to race without it ofcourse.

cossie1600

You hit the off button.....

Don't talk about modding or even winning until you have proper autox tires on it

cavemancan

I was thinking the hankook v12's since it's a daily driver.



I should have the car anytime between the 30th till the 10th. Carmax takes too long to frieght the dang cars...grrr!

ChrisSlicks

The stock tires will be better than those.

No spring changes allowed in stock class, no offset or wheel size changes either (can be different wheels but at stock offset and diameter).

Yes the car needs more front camber, and no you can't add anything to change it while in stock class.

For street tires the stock shocks are pretty good.

__________________
Hotchkis ARB | Stillen CAI | Art Pipes | Berk CBE | Stillen AP Racing Brakes | AE Performance Oil Cooler | BC Racing ER Coilovers | Doran Control Arms

cossie1600

Thats not a proper autox tires. You need hoosiers or one of the autox tires, else you will not win against any good driver.

I had an rx8 too (two), two cars are very different

IMWEZL

Hoosiers are great but I would stick with a good street tire because it will help you more on developing good habits.

I'm not trying to discourage you. Modded classes usually have two types of drivers, those that are really fast and noobs that can barely control their car so they end up with a lot of DNFs or slow times.

The Z in stock form is a great platform to compete with. Just watch out for those Miatas they're freaking quick.

cavemancan

F'ing Miatas!!!!!

Yeah, I had trouble with those guys but then again they were on slicks and I was on street tires.

As far as Hoosiers I don't think that is immediately realistic as I would need to buy another set of rims. Although I know a friend that sells used Hoosiers for dirt freaking cheap. So that might be an option but then how do I get the 2nd set of wheels to the track...LOL!! I think street tires it is.

As far as the v12's...I heard those were better tires than the stock Bridgestones that came with the Rx8...Not sure what comes with the 370.

P.S. How forgiving is the 370 at the limit? If I ever got the Rx8 in a slide it was easy to recover. Just wondering what I should pay attention to.

cossie1600

Hard to answer without knowing your skill level or tires. Its harder to correct than the rx8 from the speed factor, but it is not a Corvette. The vlsd keeps the car in check pretty well.

Street tires are fine, just buy better ones. The v12 didnt impress me, they felt like the quoeter version of my ecoplus tires

cavemancan

Understood...I am a competant driver...Some say I am much better than that but I do not like tooting my own horn so to speak cause I am my biggest critic. I still need to work on looking ahead and keeping both hands on the wheel. I've been seen doing drifts in a hairpin turn with one hand...LMAOO!!! I didn't even know I could do it till it happened.

Story: We were at Sebring and we were lucky to have two large sections to ourselves which meant we could build a much bigger track than normal. Well, on day two we had a very high speed course (third gear in the Rx8 = 80 mph). On the final turn the track designer decided we should slow down...A LOT...and added a very tight hairpin which requires you to shift into first. Well, if you know anything about Rx8's the synros don't like you shifting into first at any decent speed. You almost have to come to a stand still. Fortunately my tranny was in good condition and I know how to do it. I attempted a sad excuse for heal toe without the heal and could not blip the throttle. I got the car into first and tires SPUN big time and I turned into the DK of the autoX. So much so that the spotters in the final turn were applauding me as I exited. I think I saw Vin Diesel too (he gave me the finger).

I did that three times in a row...LOL!! I think I secretely wanted to do it cause it was fun...shhh dont tell anyone! Eventually, I got better at it.

The point is I know enough to not be dangerous...lol!

Whats a good affordable autoX tire? Lets say in the $900 range for the set and have decent treadwear?