Has anyone ever run their Iroc in one? I have a buddy bugging me to go with. Its an SCCA event, how good or bad should I do?

Car.. 37k miles, posi 3.45's, F41 suspension, 4 wheel disc, street tires. T-5, and TPI 305, 230hp @ 4400rpm, 300ft lbs. @ 3200rpm. Engine oil cooler, stock everything.

 

Well first off let me say how refreshing it is to see someone posting about autocross on here, I get sick of all the drag racing stuff. Drag racing is cool but I want to learn more about the ins and outs of autocrossing thirdgens and that info can be harder to find.

Check out my combo in my sig, you will see my mods. I autocrossed 4 events last summer and I am hooked. I am going to run as many as possible this summer. Last summer I went head to head with many 5.0 stangs, 4.6 stangs, A GTO, and a newer Mach 1 mustang, but no street tired f-bodies of any sort were in the stock class. (i run the stock class since I do not have slicks, I run F-Stock) the only car on street tires last summer in f-stock that beat me was a heavily modified 93 Cobra, this thing was built but on street tires and he only beat me by 1 or 2 tenths. All of the rest of the stangs were in various stages of modification and I beat them all by 3-5 tenths or more every event. I dont know what the guy with the GTO was doing but I wasted him too. Anyway, I think my car does a pretty respectable job at autocross so far. Your car has a 5speed, what a no brainer! Go race it and see what you've got! Have fun, it is a blast. Let us know how you do. I think your car will do just fine. Thirdgens handle very well in stock form, and if you are a decent driver you will do well against other cars with street tires.

 

I've done my share of auto-xing, but never in my iroc. You'll have to get a set of rules to find out what you'll be racing against for your class. You might be surprised. One objective of the rules is to group cars w/ similar hp/weight ratios. Another is to make driving skills more important than the vehicle or equipment.

If the rules allow, installing a STB and subframe connectors will certainly improve your handling and give you an advantage - or put you at a disadvantage if you don't (and others have them).

I can say the fastest auto-xing vehicle that ran the North East Ohio circuit was an awesome early first gen Camaro - and the guy could drive the wheels off the thing. I doubt it was stock in the drivetrain or braking depts. But, he drove it to the course, usually slapped a set of racing tires on, and everytime that I can recall drove off w/ the fastest time of the day trophy - no matter what anyone else brought. I'm talking Vettes, Mustangs, Porsches (even a race prepped one), Rice grinders, and even SCCA formula cars. The man and his car were incredible.

I encourage you to at least give it a try. Just don't expect to start winning right away. Many drivers have been at it for years w/o a single win, but keep going back b/c it's a blast.

Best of luck. Let's us know how it went.

 

Im wanting to try this out this year, i get more excited everytime i hear people talking about it. Only problem is autos are exactly good for this kind of thing but who cares ill be doing it for fun.

 

I have never done anything like this, im used to high speed "dont know where your going" road racing.. high speed meaning better than 100mph over twisty mountainous roads. Im gonna have to relearn low speed clutch usuage.

One question, with auto-xing are you drifting/sliding the *** end around curves or keeping it solid race track style?

 

Whatever it takes to get through the course the fastest w/o hitting cones or going off course. Depending on the course layout, you may never get out of first gear.

The guy in the early first gen used to hang the rear out a little - but never appeared to be out of control.

 

I was told by my buddy who runs a civic that I should never get past 60mph, so I am assuming that I should be hitting top of second mid 3rd gear on the track. 60-75mph. I know the car can take those turns, but last time I pulled that bs, I put her up on two wheels @ 96mph.

How do these cars hold up on the slamom? It's been well over a year since the car has been driven/raced, so I have to relearn my limits. Most roads dont turn like auto-x's do so I'm at a slight disadvantage of not knowing.




Oh any suggestions on tires? Anything that fits stock 16" Iroc Rims. P245/50 ZR16

 

If your car is stock, leave it that way (including keeping the 16 in wheels) and run in F-stock. Do not add subframe connectors or a strut tower brace as that will take you out of the stock class.

Your car should do great, go to some events - chances are that you will get hooked.

taken at an auto-x a few years ago:


Your car is a great car to auto-x and with the right tires (and maybe shocks) can be very competitive.

Have fun

 

Thanks, I have seen vids of your run before. It runs nice. Thanks for the tip, any ideas what cars I would be running against?

 

I've run my modified RS in E-street prepared for the past 4 year and just moved to street modified this year.

You've been give some good advice. Keep the car stock until you know how far you want to go and have read up on the rules for the more advanced classes. Above all, have fun.

 

You have a 5.0 with a 5 speed so as your car sits you can run F stock or STX. I will be running mine in STX this year. If the local competition is using R compound tires in F stock then you may be better off in STX with street tires. Report back after you run an event and we can talk about your level of interest and what steps you can take to improve the car. Our season starts on Saturday and I have 3 straight weekends of autocross lined up to get the spring started right.

 

Hey just wanted to chime in, theres never too many autocross threads on here. I competed in my first autox a couple months ago and it was awesome. Just dont go into the event thinking its easy! that was my mistake. I had to throw away one of my runs, because i didnt pay attention enough through the course walk and got a gate. Course knowledge is super important that, and Mucho tire pressure. I was in F-stock and i am officially hooked.

 

yeah,, Im probably gonna end up running either in July or August. I need to get up a few k for insurance and a tune up/ misc stuff.

 

You can do it.

 

its fun but be prepared to blow through ur tires and brake pads really quickly...especially depending on the grip level the road surface offers.

here in nc, laurinburg is my favorite course b/c the rough road surface grips really really well but on a course like sanford, i slide around everywhere because the road is smooth there.

and yes autos do suck but they aren't all that handicapped because unlike imports, we have torque. but the disadvantage of an auto remains that if you're light on the throttle comin out of a corner, the car has upshifted and you gotta stomp it to get it back into the right gear. which sucks a lot btw since it can cause lots of unwanted oversteer.

 

Im not all too worried, I have lit the brakes on fire and im still running the stock asbestos pads.. (Street Endurance Racing)