I have a 98 Accord ex with an automatic. I want to take the road racing class at Pacific Raceways but I may not be able to get my engine and transmission swap before the summer. Would it be worth my while to still take the class or should I wait until I get a manual?

 

Road racing class as in a high performance driving event or something similar? If so, contact the club just to make sure they don't have a problem with it (I've never heard of a club who does). To answer your question - yes, it'll be worth it. Your first few events you'll be focusing on learning many other things such as the driving lines, how to look ahead (harder than you'd think), amoung other driving techniques. Go for it and have fun!

 

Driving schools normally won't have a problem but generally they will not let you compete in Wheel to Wheel racing with an auto.

Shawn

 

okay thanks guys

 

Just curious Redhead, why would an automatic not be allowed for competition? I haven't known anyone who's wanted to do that, but don't know why it would be a problem if they did.

 

as much as i hate the good old automatic transmissions, i would say go anyway. you will still have a blast and learn a lot about how the car drives. no modification to the car can replace the reflexive knowledge of the car.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Stinkycheezmonky &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just curious Redhead, why would an automatic not be allowed for competition? I haven't known anyone who's wanted to do that, but don't know why it would be a problem if they did.</TD></TR></TABLE>


I don't know the reasoning. Maybe that if you accidentally put it in park or something. LOL

Here is copy of part of the SCCA GCR talking about automatic trans.

9.3.7. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND HAND CONTROLS
Automatic transmissions are prohibited in all classes. However, the use of alternative transmissions, including automatic transmissions, and/or hand controls may be approved on a case-by-case basis. Such approval shall be in writing from the Club Racing Technical Manager and shall be in the driver’s possession at all competitions.

 

Interesting, and good to know.

 

wow! i am surprised...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Stinkycheezmonky &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just curious Redhead, why would an automatic not be allowed for competition? I haven't known anyone who's wanted to do that, but don't know why it would be a problem if they did.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i always assumed that it had to do with the likelihood and the quantity of transmission fluid that could get dumped on the track.

as hot as our manual LSD trannys get, i have no idea how hot an auto would get.

 

Is it more likely due to heat for whatever reason? Blown seals or something?

 

I would have to imagine some cleaver tuning could be done with an "automatic" tranny, no?

 

I considered that, but...what could possibly be a potential benefit? Faster shifts? I don't know how that could work. Even then, that'd be silly in classes where sequential transmissions are allowed.

 

Go... have fun and learn. worry about the swap to a manual later. When you get the swap all will be right with the world. Learn Learn Learn.

 

O.k., now you have me curious what the reasons are why autos aren't allowed. I can guess, but that's all it would be. I'll have to pester a few friends who can find out the rationale.

 

I've done it in the past and yes it is still pretty fun, you definitely get to learn about plenty of things, plus you get to learn about your own car.

 

It is the same reason that wagons are not allowed as well. Back in the olden days you could get wagons with towing packages that had super strong transmissions and drive trains. Clubs realized that and therefore disallowed both automatic transmissions and wagons from competition. As the rule states you can get around it on a case by case basis but that is usually related to medical conditions.

For what you will be doing in HPDE get out there and get seat time. Once you are comfortable on track figure out what car you really like and then pick that one up and race it. Oh yeah, you are always better off buying a used racecar.

Additionally you should pick up a copy of Dave's book, it gives a lot of incite and inspiration to people who want to race and breaks it down in a manner that makes it realistic to the common man.

Z

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Stinkycheezmonky &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">why would an automatic not be allowed for competition?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I was always told it was because of downshift lag. When accelerating out of a corner, the manual is already in gear, while the computer for the automatic doesn't know to downshift until the gas is pressed. This can cause a manual to rear end an automatic car in tight racing conditions.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Zephyr-The Subaru Guy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It is the same reason that wagons are not allowed as well. Back in the olden days you could get wagons with towing packages that had super strong transmissions and drive trains. Clubs realized that and therefore disallowed both automatic transmissions and wagons from competition.

Z</TD></TR></TABLE>

Meaning, the auto/wagon guys would have an unfair advantage? Am I thinking about that right?

And mc, that's interesting, but weird. If that were the case, wouldn't the auto guys HAVE to be running significantly slower laptimes? I understand the principle, but unless they had way more power to make up for that lag when they were in gear, it seems like they'd be losing time every time the car wasn't shifting.

 

From what I've been told recently, it really relates to a philosoply From what I've been told recently, it really relates to a philosoply that was adopted many years ago. There were talks about it being allowed, but some thought it would mean cars might need to be classed differently. Others believed that it would take away some of the skill set needed and shouldn’t be in this type of racing, kinda like we need to disable ABS in many SCCA classes.

Btw – thanks for the book plug Zephyr, I do really appreciate that.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Stinkycheezmonky &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">wouldn't the auto guys HAVE to be running significantly slower laptimes?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Personally, I would have thought this as well, so who cares. However, if auto's were allowed, and they were slower, they might get classed accordingly, bringing their lap times down with the manual cars. Plus, the driver is the biggest factor, so you may have some of the slower manual guys hitting the slightly better auto drivers.