I´ve autocrossed 2 tims in the last year and it was lots of fun. I´m switching now from JRSC to Turbo, cause I want a car with way more hp than the SC can deliver me. IS it a pain in the *** to autoX with a DRAG III turbo kit or just a bit to learn when to step on the gas to let the turbo spool when I need boost?


[Modified by austrian ITR, 1:21 AM 1/17/2002]

 

Turbo lag and the nonlinear delivery of power will make it tricky, to be sure, both at AutoX and the track. I have a friend with a 99 Turbo Si, and while his car goes like hell in a straight line, i was significantly quicker on the track, and he was eating oil like a demon (turbos tend to introduce problems in cars that were designed to be NA). Why do you want more horsepower? Sometimes i think 200 is too much...don't give in to what we in america call "Tim Taylor Syndrome"....it's from a sitcom called Tool Time, and the main guy, Tim, always wants "more power"...often with hilarious results. I'd recommend learning to drive what you've got to the limit before upping the limit just for the sake of having more power.

 

It will be a lesson in left foot braking to start spooling the turbo before you exit the corner so you get a decent drive down the next straightaway. I've seen one turbo Integra autox with a big turbo before. On that particular course, he could barely make use of the turbo since the choppy layout of the course never allowed his turbo to spool and actually make power. The rest of the time, he was stuck in turbo lag. Throttle response seemed to be fairly weak.

 

Turbo FWD car on an autox course is a pain the the @ss. JRSC is a much better choice for autox.

 

what about a really small, ball-bearing turbo, pushing 5-6 psi on stock ITR compression?
should spool up better and not have as much problem with turbo lag, and still be responsive in the low rpms..
i dont really know much about it, but have been wondering about that.
--Sean

 

Yeah, wouldn't want to pilot a turbo FF car.

I wouldn't mind having a FD though... those are very nice in the AP class.

 

Nuttin for nuttin but either SC or Turbo is not exactly the way to go for Auto-X with the ITR, I mean if you want to be competitive. As most know the ITR is very competitive even bofore mods and the R's that I see at the auto-X's that are modded usually aren't adding HP Go-Go stuff, just suspension, brakes and handeling things like really sticky tires. As we know in Stock class the ITR rules pretty well in the right hands.

Now, I have followed your postings for a little and am absolutely not going to flame you,"if thats what you might think next." I admire someone willing to take our car to the edge but, I still don't agree with boosting with either Turbo or SC/FI, absolutely IMHO.

As a helpful example I'll try to illustrate for you:

My first Auto-X was this fall. Needless to say I was pleased as a peach and am thoroughly addicted. I ran in CSP and was having fun comparing myself to the other CSP guys. Of course I was looking to any other ITR's that might be out there. It just so happened that a 00 FBP R that had a JRSC, I/H/E, suspension, and wheels was the only other R competing that day. I had noticed it before and had talked to the owner earlier. It was a nice car and I was curious what it could do.

I kept watching this guy as he drove the first 3 runs and was having trouble between acceleration and turning and just maintaining grip. The HP/TQ that he produced churned his tires into smoke and added up to useless power. Now, I know it may have been the driver altogether but, as a beginner for me and a novice for him as well, I felt that having less power and just learning the car itself was more important than a straight line speed. Don't get me wrong, I have an intake, and header too but, I stopped there and thankfully so, "I actually contemplated a JRSC for 2 seconds," Then I saw this guys runs and the black smoke pluming from his exhaust and said NO!

As a side note I was able to keep up with this guy and best his last 3 runs, He didn't stick around for fun-runs later unfortunately, because I did want to talk to him.

Turbo and SC equal power and lots of it, but in our car that is so finely balanced I really don't think we need it. thats not to say you shoulden't go ahead and do it, that's your decision. For Auto-X I would just do a FD and flywheel for a more short track friendliness, "which are BTW sitting on my livingroom floor right now."

So Good luck to you and say Hi to any Brunner's that you run into, "family name."

A.

 

i'm from the nyr and we actually hav a couple boosted honda's running SM. one is a b18 that runs mid to high 11's. but its set up for autocross (boost all the way down and suspension work) and does very well in sm.....thats was untill the a41.8t's got there act together. but you can def. run a turbo FF and be compettitive. i dunno about an nat'l events, but locally it can be done. but it all relies on the nut behind the wheel.

 

If I were you i would run w/ out an intercooler during auto-x to help spool up. It'll take much more driver input and a lot more technique to auto-x a turbo Integra, but if all is done right and you drive the car right it will be faster w/ more HP, it's just a matter of knowing how to use it.

 

Brunner:

Thanks for your opinion. I do AutoXing only a few times in a year and I´m not a pro. All I want is a little fun at the AutoX-day. MY question should be better when I say: Is AutoXing with Turbo as fun than with the JRSC.

 

It would definately be a challenge, which to me would make it fun, so yes i think it would be as fun as the JRSC

 

You will see a lot of people saying not to turbo charge or SC for autox simply most of the ppls here dont even have experience with a well set up FI FWD car in autox. People just post what they THINK or Heard! You can make a FI fwd car fun and competative in autox, but it takes a lot of seat time, money and research. Just dont expect to do well by just adding on a turbo kit or sc.....

 

OK...I am going to post not "what I heard," but what I learned while instructing a guy with a turbo Civic at a track event:

They need a limited slip to put the power down.

 

ok... i know (have driven) high hp turbo cars on autoX courses. To make it work they need:

1. LSD's (to put the power down when it comes on)
2. Sticky Tires (to keep the speeds and revs up to keep turbo spooled)
3. Open Course (see #2)

Missing any one of these and you have a frustrating day trying to be smooth and left foot brake and 1st gear downshift in tight corners around the course.....

-Ryan