Autocross setup

[shehan1212]

Hey guys,

I need some advice on how to setup my car for light auto X in summer. It is currently on Tein S tech springs. It has a staggered setup with 265/35/18 in the back and 225/25/18 in the front with -2 rear camber. Tires are Dunlop direzza z101 ultra high performance summer. I have a budget of $1500. What mods will make the biggest difference in an autoX?

Thanks!!

[fledonfoot]

I've always been told driver first.

Then driver.

Then brakes, then tires.

[xDBOYx]

@shehan1212 seat time is the best mod. Get use to the car and find out if you like autox befote building an autox car.

[sklimo]

Lol fix the driver first. Seen you in action bro. And you still owe me a beer

[AG3NT_5CARFAC3]

Get BURT hat

[psyclone07]

Still new to this as well, but won't that staggered setup cause a good amount of understeer. Lots of grip in rear lack of grip up front? Not sure ; maybe not An issue with stock power levels though. Trying to get into some autocross this year as well. Don't know where to start.

Good luck!

[hyper4mance]

Check the rules for the class you want first.

SCCA rules: http://scca.cdn.racersites.com/prod/...%20reduced.pdf
MSNE: http://motorsportsne.com/2008/rules/...rulesclass.htm

For SCCA, STX is very competitive. Stock for stock, our cars are very good so changing everything back so you can run in C stock might be a good idea for just starting out. With your mods, it seems like you are in unlimited since STX rules are tires no wider than 255 for RWD. If you are running with MSNE they might bump you from D class to C class (slightly different rules/classifications).

(Edit)
I should also mention ANY suspension work pretty much bumps you up to a more competitive class/group of people. Best mods are 1) seat time and 2) lightweight rims and good tires within class specs-unsprung weight. Adding a few hp here or there isnt going to shave off seconds, but seat time will. I would suggest to stay away from suspension mods until you know how everything feels at the limit and know how to cure those issues. Brakes never hurt but aren't necessary unless you are going for class standings.

[Propaganda]

I didn't know you were trying to get into autox?! It's addicting, lol.

Seat time is the biggest mod, really. Save that $ for now. From my experience: I've driven RWD cars, and I own an older 911, but I've never really driven them hard until I got the FR-S. I wanted to go a certain route with it, so I threw on all the mods once the autox season ended (I got the car mid-season and didn't autox it). Big mistake. HUGE learning curve; I had an idea what the car could do, but wasn't really sure how much farther the limit was out, or where it was.... It took me about 4 or 5 autocrosses to really start seeing improvements in times/positions. So, save that $ for now and just go to an autocross.

As mentioned, figure out what class you want to be in. STX is competitive (and fun), but your tires are 10mm too wide... Depending where you go, if you do want to run in STX, they might let your rear tires slide once... just say it's your first time and you're looking more to get a feel for the car and to see how it will do and you're not looking to really compete...... might work? who knows. Worth a shot. But you will definitely have to change the tires after that...unless you want to run in a mod class and not be competitive

Decent springs (or coilovers), tires, and a decent exhaust will make your car competitive enough. You're allowed to run only one cat (250 cell min.) provided it is within 6" of the original cat. You can do a tune, header, exhaust, intake, sway bars.... basically most of the "typical" mods.

[Jive Turkey]

take it as it, drive it, see what YOU think the car needs.

what i like and prefer, isn't what you or the next person likes.

start with tires, move on from there. its more addicting than crack.

[sklimo]

Shehan why don't you just ask Kevin??

[campy]

I wouldn't change anything on your car currently until you get used to it. Honestly the only mod this car really needs to make it more competitive is tires, and you've already got that covered.

Do you have a DOT approved helmet? If you plan on autocrossing more than once or twice, it's nice to have your own helmet instead of sticking your head in a sweaty shared helmet.

[Pete156]

Originally Posted by shehan1212

Hey guys,

I need some advice on how to setup my car for light auto X in summer. It is currently on Tein S tech springs. It has a staggered setup with 265/35/18 in the back and 225/25/18 in the front with -2 rear camber. Tires are Dunlop direzza z101 ultra high performance summer. I have a budget of $1500. What mods will make the biggest difference in an autoX?

Thanks!!

HPDE

Side note: Wrong tire size in the front. They don't make 225/25

[Propaganda]

Originally Posted by sklimo

Shehan why don't you just ask Kevin??

Lol

@shehan1212, just go to one with your car as it is. Seat time helps a lot. You will go from this:

Horrible lines... idk wtf I was thinking at the time
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5_e0TajHf0"]Salem Autocross 4-21 FR-S - YouTube[/ame]



...To this (much better lines, smoother, braking at better points)
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7t3U4POxN0"]2013 FR S BRR Autocross 11-3-2013 - YouTube[/ame]

[NYCsubaruBRZ]

i cant wait to auto x. last year i only had a few mods. should be interesting to see my times compared to a stock brz/frs