Just wondering. Cause some guy told me his Saturn would whoop my *** in the autocross. I was like shut up buddy. I hate it when ppl dis Third Gens thinkin are car can't handle at all. Anyways. Im dumpin money into the suspension now. Just bought some Eibach sportlines and Im workin on getting the cash for Sphon LCA's and Relocation brkts. And of course my new Kumho 712 Ecsta Supra's, The sheer fatness of 255 out back and new 245s in front give me butterflies in my stomach. I think im just goin to get KYB GR2 struts and Gas Adjust rears shocks. IM thinking with everything together my handling should definetly go up. Hehe maybe i will handle as well as the girlfriends 3000GT VR4.

 

First and foremost, the most important modification is the driver in autocross. A good driver in an inferior car will be a bad driver in a fast car.

Second, the only sensible thing to do when taking about cars in this way is to start off with the stock classes.

The Camaro (V8) is classed in F-stock.
DOHC Saturns are classed in G-Stock
8v Saturns are classed in H-Stock

There is a multiplier that is used to allow competitors of different cars in different classes, called PAX. Please go here for an complete explanation.

http://www.steelcities-scca.org/Solo...s%20scored.htm

Note that the PAX multipliers for the above classes are as follows:
F-Stock: 0.809
G-Stock: 0.785
H-Stock: 0.779

Autocrosses are time events. The fastest time in a class wins the class. In order to assign overall points towards the championship, all times in the event are multplied by their respective PAX indices to determine who really was fastest.

Let's say that the Camaro, a DOHC Saturn and an 8v Saturn all ran a 60 second run. The times are the same. However, Tthe 8v Saturn is "fastest" because the PAX-ed number will be lower (faster) as follows:

8v Saturn: 46.740
DOHC Saturn: 47.100
Camaro: 48.540

So in this example, the Camaro is "given" and extra 1 to 2 second handicap for a PAX-ed time.

If the Saturn were really superior, it would not have a helpful PAX. Your friend is wrong. This is a nationally sanctioned racing series and they would not be wrong with this.

However, bear in mind that a better driver will usually win straight time or definitely PAX.

 

To improve any car for autocross:

1. Focus on having good bushings in the suspention. In stock they must be factory rubber or the better 1LE bushings.

2. Shocks. Koni or Bilstien are best.

3. Tires. Get DOT race tires like Kumho V700 victorracers. These can buy you 2 seconds a run.

4. Practice

 

Your Saturn guy may be correct. Depending on the course that you guys are running on, the Saturn could make you eat humble pie. Many autox's are run on small parking lots, and may be too tight for your Camaro to put down any horsepower. I've seen it many times on small thight courses where the little underpowered 4 bangers have better times than the big V-8's.

The best advise one could give a new Autocorsser, is seat time. seat time seat time. As said in another post, DOT autox tires will help. Kumho and Hoosiers are your best choices. Be ready to spend $$$ for your tires, and wheels, You don't want to run your autox tires on the street.