Considering a FRS as a starter car for auto-x.

[EN2_Squirrel]

I agree with upgrading tires but GET A DEDICATED SET OF RIMS FOR THEM. @CSG Mike I have hit third gear at qualcomm, but same has to be said i also used third gear this past weekend at 86 fest. (inside speedway)and that is a considerably smaller lot than qualcomm.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by EN2_Squirrel

I agree with upgrading tires but GET A DEDICATED SET OF RIMS FOR THEM. @CSG Mike I have hit third gear at qualcomm, but same has to be said i also used third gear this past weekend at 86 fest. (inside speedway)and that is a considerably smaller lot than qualcomm.

what kind of times were you running? I only used 1st and 2nd when I ran a 20.7xx (I only did two runs; 1st was a 22.4xx?)

[Sccabrz192]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

I still don't understand why all the Autocrossers say that... because while AutoX is cheaper per event, you're also getting significantly less seat time (even considering only cornering time).

Additionally, each discipline teaches a small subset of skills; you should do everything to be a well rounded driver.

Autocross is probably the worst in terms of factoring in time spent at an event and cost against racing seat time... I autocross for these benefits..

1) Far more event availability, if you don't live close to a road course, chances are there are parking lots around which local clubs autocross on. (even though I travel 2 hours to Toledo Express Airport and 3 hours to Wurtsmith AFB in Oscoda, MI when Waterford Hills Road Race Course is LITERALLY behind my backyard I'm back asswards on this)

2) There is far less potential of mechanical wear/tear... car temps are cooler, brakes are far less taxed, and runs are short. when you start elevating temps wear is accelerated.

3) and this is my biggest: If I for some reason try to superhero something and it goes all wrong, buffing out a few cone marks (or recently replacing a fenderliner) isn't a huge deal. The opportunity to unseat a bead on a wheel or god forbid stuff a guardrail or wall if I go off, that's it. I ran at waterford hills once, and there is not any runoff room in a few spots... I wont go back there with a car that I can't afford to smack a wall with. If I can't feel comfortable with the reprocussions, I'll just worry about it the whole time and won't have much fun.

4) I'm competitive. I understand time attack can meet this need, but I do think autocross provides some of the highest level of competition against some of the best at their discipline without much significant investment.

[des]

Some scary figures! But it's possible to do this on a lot less money.

Here's a stock prep sample for 15 months:

• Cusco 20mm FSB -- $300
• Camber bolts -- $12
• Alignment X2 -- $175
• Exhaust cutoff/turndown -- $75

Total: $562

Consumables:

• Entry fees (Nats, 2 NTs, 2 Super Regionals, 30 locals) -- ~$1,500
• Dunlop ZIs -- $200 (sold the factory tires for $450)
• 2 sets Dunlop Z2s, plus mounting -- $1,500
• Oil changes, brake and diff fluid swaps: $500

Total: $3,700

Tire consumption numbers really don't reflect the 25K street miles, dozens of fun runs, and 100+ runs by co-drivers. If I switched out tires for the street and used the Dunlops only for my runs, I'd still be on the first set.

At a certain point, you'll travel for better competition and venues. I've spent as much on gas, hotels, food, etc. as on everything else.

[BlaineWasHere]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

@BlaineWasHere: I'm surprised you've gone through more tire than we have! We also have our stock tires which are literally at 95% of their tread depth.

I'm not that surprised. I drive on my autoX tires to and from events so they do get some street miles but the big thing is I autoX often on really REALLY abrasive concrete which is far far more abrasive than any track you run on. Also, 8-10 4-5K RPM launches on that same abrasive surface. You don't do that at track days. That's how I busted the axle I'm sure.

Originally Posted by Sccabrz192

Autocross is probably the worst in terms of factoring in time spent at an event and cost against racing seat time... I autocross for these benefits..

1) Far more event availability, if you don't live close to a road course, chances are there are parking lots around which local clubs autocross on. (even though I travel 2 hours to Toledo Express Airport and 3 hours to Wurtsmith AFB in Oscoda, MI when Waterford Hills Road Race Course is LITERALLY behind my backyard I'm back asswards on this)

2) There is far less potential of mechanical wear/tear... car temps are cooler, brakes are far less taxed, and runs are short. when you start elevating temps wear is accelerated.

3) and this is my biggest: If I for some reason try to superhero something and it goes all wrong, buffing out a few cone marks (or recently replacing a fenderliner) isn't a huge deal. The opportunity to unseat a bead on a wheel or god forbid stuff a guardrail or wall if I go off, that's it. I ran at waterford hills once, and there is not any runoff room in a few spots... I wont go back there with a car that I can't afford to smack a wall with. If I can't feel comfortable with the reprocussions, I'll just worry about it the whole time and won't have much fun.

4) I'm competitive. I understand time attack can meet this need, but I do think autocross provides some of the highest level of competition against some of the best at their discipline without much significant investment.

So for me almost all of this is true.

1) I do live within 1.5 hours of Laguna Seca, Sanoma Raceway and about 2 hours from Thunder Hill. The problem is the first two host of a lot of "real" racing like ALMS, Grand Am, NASCAR, IRL, WTCC, and several other things so when there are weekend track days they are SUPER expensive. Taking a weekday off work to do a track day is hard. BUT I also live within 1.5 hours of three predominant autoX venues and because of this sometimes on given weekends I can choose which event I want to go to! So even though I live by awesome tracks, AX is much more available on any given weekend.

2). This is important to me. My FR-S is my DD.

3). I love to get right at the limit of the car to push the car and myself at every moment of the run. I've spun the car, gone off course, and "run out of talent" several times and all that happened is I've lost 2 fender liners and had to polish off a bunch of cone marks.

I used to live in Grand Rapids, and I ran Waterford Hills once in my old car. Three people totaled there cars there just that day I was there and I spent all day driving at 85-90% so I didn't crack my car up. I just can't have fun going 90% even if the speed is actaully faster. I wanna go 10/10ths or nothing.

4). I love the competition. Having battles where you come off course and find you took the lead by 2 tenths then a moment later to hear you lost it by 3 tenths known you have to go back out on course and find that time is so much fun. I'm not sure HPDE can replicate this.




In a few years when the FR-S is paid off and I have a nice powerful German sedan for DD action the FR-S will see a few tracks days a year, but I ain't gonna quit autoX!!!

[P@ul]

I had a lot more fun running AutoX in Detroit and around Indiana than in SoCal. There were more cheaper, casual events that had less participants, more runs, and less frying in the sun. I live too far from everything now. =(

Strangely enough, I've never done a real track day (I did a fake one at Waterford) but I've raced in Lemons once at Buttonwillow. After Lemons, I don't know if I want to do a track day, hahaha!

[BlaineWasHere]

I've thought about building a car to do Chump Car. My buddies have a 4cyl E30 they race in Chump Car and it looks like a blast. Maybe I just need to ask to be a co-driver.

[Tt3Sheppard]

Originally Posted by BlaineWasHere

I'm not that surprised. I drive on my autoX tires to and from events so they do get some street miles but the big thing is I autoX often on really REALLY abrasive concrete which is far far more abrasive than any track you run on. Also, 8-10 4-5K RPM launches on that same abrasive surface. You don't do that at track days. That's how I busted the axle I'm sure.




So for me almost all of this is true.

1) I do live within 1.5 hours of Laguna Seca, Sanoma Raceway and about 2 hours from Thunder Hill. The problem is the first two host of a lot of "real" racing like ALMS, Grand Am, NASCAR, IRL, WTCC, and several other things so when there are weekend track days they are SUPER expensive. Taking a weekday off work to do a track day is hard. BUT I also live within 1.5 hours of three predominant autoX venues and because of this sometimes on given weekends I can choose which event I want to go to! So even though I live by awesome tracks, AX is much more available on any given weekend.

2). This is important to me. My FR-S is my DD.

3). I love to get right at the limit of the car to push the car and myself at every moment of the run. I've spun the car, gone off course, and "run out of talent" several times and all that happened is I've lost 2 fender liners and had to polish off a bunch of cone marks.

I used to live in Grand Rapids, and I ran Waterford Hills once in my old car. Three people totaled there cars there just that day I was there and I spent all day driving at 85-90% so I didn't crack my car up. I just can't have fun going 90% even if the speed is actaully faster. I wanna go 10/10ths or nothing.

4). I love the competition. Having battles where you come off course and find you took the lead by 2 tenths then a moment later to hear you lost it by 3 tenths known you have to go back out on course and find that time is so much fun. I'm not sure HPDE can replicate this.




In a few years when the FR-S is paid off and I have a nice powerful German sedan for DD action the FR-S will see a few tracks days a year, but I ain't gonna quit autoX!!!

Broken rear axle?

[BlaineWasHere]

Originally Posted by Tt3Sheppard

Broken rear axle?

Yes. It's happened to 3 or 4 of us the boards. There is a thread about it in the track section. We've all had the baring carrier fail. Others are starting to see the early symptoms I saw too.

[Tt3Sheppard]

Originally Posted by BlaineWasHere

Yes. It's happened to 3 or 4 of us the boards. There is a thread about it in the track section. We've all had the baring carrier fail. Others are starting to see the early symptoms I saw too.

Hmm interesting. I'm gonna search for this now.

[BlaineWasHere]

Originally Posted by Tt3Sheppard

Hmm interesting. I'm gonna search for this now.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40463

[track_warrior]

Im selling my track prepped fr-s if you are interested its perfect for auto-x or track days.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43106

[MR_X]

^ not bad. If I would had seen this 3 weeks ago when I was in Austin visiting my brother, I would've jump on it out of excitement but to be honest one thing I like to do is build my cars with my kids. Old photo of my son putting my FD back together after HE did the JDM tail light conversion.

[EN2_Squirrel]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

what kind of times were you running? I only used 1st and 2nd when I ran a 20.7xx (I only did two runs; 1st was a 22.4xx?)

20.642 best.