New to Autocross!
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 48
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From: Fremont, CA, USA
New to Autocross!
Hello!
Upon reading about Autcross, I became extremely interested in the sport. I recently acquired a 96 Integra GSR, and I plan on prepping my car up for Autocross :D I kind of want to just stay in the uhm..street touring class? The one that limits to just bolt ons and such. I don't really want to go all out and gut my car or anything, but just treat Autocross as a hobby and would do every once in awhile for fun :]
Anyway, I just wanted to post here and see if anyone could give me some advice on someone new to Autocross. If people with the same car as me could tell me their set up and experiences, that would be great! I know I should goto an event and just talk to people there and drive to gain experience, but I know a lot of you are very knowledgeable about Autocross, and I wanted to see if some of you would be willing to help a new guy like me out. Thanks in advance for helping me :]
Upon reading about Autcross, I became extremely interested in the sport. I recently acquired a 96 Integra GSR, and I plan on prepping my car up for Autocross :D I kind of want to just stay in the uhm..street touring class? The one that limits to just bolt ons and such. I don't really want to go all out and gut my car or anything, but just treat Autocross as a hobby and would do every once in awhile for fun :]
Anyway, I just wanted to post here and see if anyone could give me some advice on someone new to Autocross. If people with the same car as me could tell me their set up and experiences, that would be great! I know I should goto an event and just talk to people there and drive to gain experience, but I know a lot of you are very knowledgeable about Autocross, and I wanted to see if some of you would be willing to help a new guy like me out. Thanks in advance for helping me :]
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: ct, usa
Sounds like you have a good attitude going into this. The first couple events I'd just recommend you go out with your car as-is and focus on having fun as well as learning as much as you can. Get there early and tell them you're a novice and would love some assistance.
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 16
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From: Lehigh Valley, PA
Re: (granracing)
Definitely do not go mod crazy until you autocross it a few times in stock form. If you are serious about it then take a look at the rules (and your budget) and try to build the car for a certain class. Ask around to ride with more experienced drivers and get some pointers 
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Brownstown, Ohio, USA
Re: (granracing)
As previously stated, seat time is the best upgrade you can buy for your car. I have a dsp preped 96 gsr, I ran sts for 4 years before I decided I wanted a quaiffe LSD (which bumped me to dsp). Here were my mods for STS, I will put them in the order that I purchased.
1) Sticky tires, I went with Kuhmo MX
2)H&R sport springs with kyb agx 4 way adjustable struts
3)ITR rear sway bar with comptech subframe reinforcement kit
4)All energy suspension bushings
5)Header, exhaust,cai
6)Homeade rear strut tower bar
I spread these mods over 4 years before getting into dsp. You can take it a step furthur if you want and remove some weight. I removed my AC, all the sound deadening material from the trunk to the firewall can be removed (and these are FREE mods!!!) It all comes down to you and the comfort level you want if this is your daily driver. Mine is only driven occasionally in good weather so the no AC doesent bother me and the noise is tolerable. JRSC goes on this winter, SM here I come!!!
1) Sticky tires, I went with Kuhmo MX
2)H&R sport springs with kyb agx 4 way adjustable struts
3)ITR rear sway bar with comptech subframe reinforcement kit
4)All energy suspension bushings
5)Header, exhaust,cai
6)Homeade rear strut tower bar
I spread these mods over 4 years before getting into dsp. You can take it a step furthur if you want and remove some weight. I removed my AC, all the sound deadening material from the trunk to the firewall can be removed (and these are FREE mods!!!) It all comes down to you and the comfort level you want if this is your daily driver. Mine is only driven occasionally in good weather so the no AC doesent bother me and the noise is tolerable. JRSC goes on this winter, SM here I come!!!
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 469
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From: Wiscago, usa
Re: New to Autocross! (lumnite)
#1 upgrade for STS would be tires: go with 205/45-16 Bridgestone RE01R's on lightweight wheels, unless you want to wait until sometime in 2008 when the new crop of ST_ tires is out. The RE01R's are the best tire compound out there right now, and wear very well despite the 140 treadwear rating.
Suspension is pretty easy, Koni Sports and Ground Control with your choice of spring rates. Add a rear sway bar. For my rarely autocrossed GSR I run 400/350lbs, which is plenty comfortable on the street but still capable enough for the occasional autox/track. You'd want spring rates in the 500-650lb range with revalved Konis for a dedicated autox Integra, but some people might find that intolerable on the street. I usually leave camber in the -2 range that you get from lowering it a couple inches and have it aligned to 0 toe front and rear. More camber and more aggressive toe would be good for racing but I wouldn't bother if it's your daily driver. Upgrade the front strut brace if you have an extra $100 sitting around.
For power: an intake, lightweight 1-piece header, and lightweight exhaust. If you get the car retuned after these mods it might be worth it, either with some system that fits in the stock ECU case or a VAFC. Underdrive pulleys are also allowed.
Better brake pads are good for autox. Axxis/PBR Ultimates are cheap and very effective. Fancy rotors aren't necessary.
For lightening: you can remove AC, lightweight battery, seats have to weigh 25lbs with all mounting hardware, wheels, and that's about it. My GSR sedan weighs 2600lbs with nothing done other than 11lb wheels.
That's all I can think of. Like everyone says, improving the driver will net you the most improvement in times. But setting up the capable DC/DB chassis for autocross is nothing magic, so I say go in that direction as soon as you can afford to. But be prepared to be chasing 89 Civic Si's forever unless you become an exceptional driver. They can fit the same size wheels/tires, weigh 600+lbs less, and that's what wins autocrosses despite all that VTEC goodness your GSR has.
Suspension is pretty easy, Koni Sports and Ground Control with your choice of spring rates. Add a rear sway bar. For my rarely autocrossed GSR I run 400/350lbs, which is plenty comfortable on the street but still capable enough for the occasional autox/track. You'd want spring rates in the 500-650lb range with revalved Konis for a dedicated autox Integra, but some people might find that intolerable on the street. I usually leave camber in the -2 range that you get from lowering it a couple inches and have it aligned to 0 toe front and rear. More camber and more aggressive toe would be good for racing but I wouldn't bother if it's your daily driver. Upgrade the front strut brace if you have an extra $100 sitting around.
For power: an intake, lightweight 1-piece header, and lightweight exhaust. If you get the car retuned after these mods it might be worth it, either with some system that fits in the stock ECU case or a VAFC. Underdrive pulleys are also allowed.
Better brake pads are good for autox. Axxis/PBR Ultimates are cheap and very effective. Fancy rotors aren't necessary.
For lightening: you can remove AC, lightweight battery, seats have to weigh 25lbs with all mounting hardware, wheels, and that's about it. My GSR sedan weighs 2600lbs with nothing done other than 11lb wheels.
That's all I can think of. Like everyone says, improving the driver will net you the most improvement in times. But setting up the capable DC/DB chassis for autocross is nothing magic, so I say go in that direction as soon as you can afford to. But be prepared to be chasing 89 Civic Si's forever unless you become an exceptional driver. They can fit the same size wheels/tires, weigh 600+lbs less, and that's what wins autocrosses despite all that VTEC goodness your GSR has.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 48
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From: Fremont, CA, USA
Re: New to Autocross! (tronic)
Thanks for the replies guys! It seems like there's only a few mods that you can really do. The rest is just seat time and modding to suit the driver better. Makes sense :]
By the way, I just wanted to ask you guys how you started Autocross. Meaning, after you first found out about it, what did you go about doing? Any mistakes or experiences you would like to share? Also, I am really curious as to how your first event went. Did you do horribly and knock down every cone, or did you do amazingly well for your first event? It would also be cool to see what you guys learned in your first experience driving in Autocross, and if you learned something that completely changed the way you thought about driving. Things like that. Just want to know whether all of you started out as unknowledgeable as me, so I can feel a little bit less nervous about starting :]. Your posts really help ease my mind and prepare me mentally for Autocross! Again, thanks in advance for the replies!
By the way, I just wanted to ask you guys how you started Autocross. Meaning, after you first found out about it, what did you go about doing? Any mistakes or experiences you would like to share? Also, I am really curious as to how your first event went. Did you do horribly and knock down every cone, or did you do amazingly well for your first event? It would also be cool to see what you guys learned in your first experience driving in Autocross, and if you learned something that completely changed the way you thought about driving. Things like that. Just want to know whether all of you started out as unknowledgeable as me, so I can feel a little bit less nervous about starting :]. Your posts really help ease my mind and prepare me mentally for Autocross! Again, thanks in advance for the replies!
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Joined: Apr 2005
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Your first event you will suck, just go out there and have fun. Talk to the experienced drivers, ride with them and have them drive your car.
There are two kinds of autoxers, ones who are there to have fun and ones who are there for the competition. See where you fit after your first few events, playing at the top level takes time and money.
I knew about autox many years before I started, it was just a matter of going to an event. I had the benefit that a close friend of mine had been autoxing since the early 90s and he helped me through the first few events.
There are two kinds of autoxers, ones who are there to have fun and ones who are there for the competition. See where you fit after your first few events, playing at the top level takes time and money.
I knew about autox many years before I started, it was just a matter of going to an event. I had the benefit that a close friend of mine had been autoxing since the early 90s and he helped me through the first few events.
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: santa clara, ca, 95054
why dont come out to our events?
u are in teh SFR region... we have basically live in autox heaven... u can pretty much run every weekend if you really wanted to...
also we have lots of quality drivers in our region... STS in SFR is a lil scary considering we have top national competitors like kevin mccormick and others... which isnt something to be scared of... because you'll learn a whole lot from these guys and they are all friendly
why dont you bring our your car the way it is.. and learn and build from there
u are in teh SFR region... we have basically live in autox heaven... u can pretty much run every weekend if you really wanted to...
also we have lots of quality drivers in our region... STS in SFR is a lil scary considering we have top national competitors like kevin mccormick and others... which isnt something to be scared of... because you'll learn a whole lot from these guys and they are all friendly
why dont you bring our your car the way it is.. and learn and build from there
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 48
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From: Fremont, CA, USA
Re: (vietnameeh)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vietnameeh »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">why dont come out to our events?
u are in teh SFR region... we have basically live in autox heaven... u can pretty much run every weekend if you really wanted to...
also we have lots of quality drivers in our region... STS in SFR is a lil scary considering we have top national competitors like kevin mccormick and others... which isnt something to be scared of... because you'll learn a whole lot from these guys and they are all friendly
why dont you bring our your car the way it is.. and learn and build from there</TD></TR></TABLE>
That sounds like a good idea to me!
http://www.sfrscca.org/index.php - Found it :]
I'm a little confused as to how the events work. I found that the next Autocross event is on December 9th, Slush Round 6, at the Oakland Coliseum. I'm assuming this is the last event of the year? So are they going to post 2008 events later? Also, if I wanted to simply just visit to see how Autocross worked, would I be able to randomly drop by and look around? Oh and how do the novice classes work? That seems like something I'll be doing soon :]
Sorry for all the questions
u are in teh SFR region... we have basically live in autox heaven... u can pretty much run every weekend if you really wanted to...
also we have lots of quality drivers in our region... STS in SFR is a lil scary considering we have top national competitors like kevin mccormick and others... which isnt something to be scared of... because you'll learn a whole lot from these guys and they are all friendly
why dont you bring our your car the way it is.. and learn and build from there</TD></TR></TABLE>
That sounds like a good idea to me!
http://www.sfrscca.org/index.php - Found it :]
I'm a little confused as to how the events work. I found that the next Autocross event is on December 9th, Slush Round 6, at the Oakland Coliseum. I'm assuming this is the last event of the year? So are they going to post 2008 events later? Also, if I wanted to simply just visit to see how Autocross worked, would I be able to randomly drop by and look around? Oh and how do the novice classes work? That seems like something I'll be doing soon :]
Sorry for all the questions
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 789
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From: ct, usa
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">started out as unknowledgeable as me</TD></TR></TABLE>
Absolutely! Take your time, hang out, talk with people at the events, and before you know it people will be coming to you for advice. For my first event, I looked at the course and it just looked like a sea of cones. After a while, things fell into place and my comfort level grew. I'm sure the same will happen to you.
Absolutely! Take your time, hang out, talk with people at the events, and before you know it people will be coming to you for advice. For my first event, I looked at the course and it just looked like a sea of cones. After a while, things fell into place and my comfort level grew. I'm sure the same will happen to you.
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: santa clara, ca, 95054
Re: (lumnite)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by lumnite »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
That sounds like a good idea to me!
http://www.sfrscca.org/index.php - Found it :]
I'm a little confused as to how the events work. I found that the next Autocross event is on December 9th, Slush Round 6, at the Oakland Coliseum. I'm assuming this is the last event of the year? So are they going to post 2008 events later? Also, if I wanted to simply just visit to see how Autocross worked, would I be able to randomly drop by and look around? Oh and how do the novice classes work? That seems like something I'll be doing soon :]
Sorry for all the questions</TD></TR></TABLE>
yes this sunday is the last and we wont have any till next year ... u can visit and watcha nd learn how things work( how they do grid, tech, how they switch out workers... cause you have to work in order to play)... novice classes work u can run any class as a novice which is your own class... but you must be on street tires and have less than a certain amount of events under your belt to be in novice... thats about it
That sounds like a good idea to me!
http://www.sfrscca.org/index.php - Found it :]
I'm a little confused as to how the events work. I found that the next Autocross event is on December 9th, Slush Round 6, at the Oakland Coliseum. I'm assuming this is the last event of the year? So are they going to post 2008 events later? Also, if I wanted to simply just visit to see how Autocross worked, would I be able to randomly drop by and look around? Oh and how do the novice classes work? That seems like something I'll be doing soon :]
Sorry for all the questions
</TD></TR></TABLE>yes this sunday is the last and we wont have any till next year ... u can visit and watcha nd learn how things work( how they do grid, tech, how they switch out workers... cause you have to work in order to play)... novice classes work u can run any class as a novice which is your own class... but you must be on street tires and have less than a certain amount of events under your belt to be in novice... thats about it
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 48
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From: Fremont, CA, USA
I was wondering if there is something fatally wrong with my setup, or if it's decent. I bought my car like this, so I have no problem replacing things...eventually. Haha.
From what I understand, everything is completely stock. The only thing modded is an AEM SRI, Eibach Sportlines, Koni Shocks, and 17 inch ADR wheels with Yokohama ES100's.
How good/bad are these parts for the car? Since it's just springs on the Koni shocks, I'm stuck with these spring rates, huh? Is there anything I can do with the Koni shocks, though? I hear that those are actually really good shocks! And my rims are apparently too big. They rub my fender :[ Anyway, I just wanted to know where my car stands as of right now and if there is already something on the car that's a big NO NO. Thanks :]
From what I understand, everything is completely stock. The only thing modded is an AEM SRI, Eibach Sportlines, Koni Shocks, and 17 inch ADR wheels with Yokohama ES100's.
How good/bad are these parts for the car? Since it's just springs on the Koni shocks, I'm stuck with these spring rates, huh? Is there anything I can do with the Koni shocks, though? I hear that those are actually really good shocks! And my rims are apparently too big. They rub my fender :[ Anyway, I just wanted to know where my car stands as of right now and if there is already something on the car that's a big NO NO. Thanks :]
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: santa clara, ca, 95054
everything is fine... keep the car the way it is and learn to drive it... i would keep the shocks cause u can have them upgraded/modified in the future when u feel like u want to keep going with your car. dont read too much about spring rates and get confused in that stuff just yet... i find it annoyign when noobs come to their first autox and start talking about stuff like that haha anyways. the only reason cars are fast its cause of the driver. theres a guy in out region that campaigned a car like yours in dsp .. ran it some of national tours and stuff he can prolly help you out when u start coming out
your can run your car in sts... i would try to get some smaller rims which i have some for sale
and dont worry about modding your car yet... learn to drive.... develop skills ...and just try to come in open minded ..
your can run your car in sts... i would try to get some smaller rims which i have some for sale
and dont worry about modding your car yet... learn to drive.... develop skills ...and just try to come in open minded ..
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 48
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From: Fremont, CA, USA
I really didn't want to come off as a noob who talks about things he doesn't understand. I just really wanted to learn as much as possible about cars, but I guess that's just too much for me to handle Sorry about that.
I think I'm done asking questions for now. I'll just participate in the events and learn more that way. Thanks for all your replies!
Sorry about that. I think I'm done asking questions for now. I'll just participate in the events and learn more that way. Thanks for all your replies!
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 31
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From: Highlands Ranch
wow, that's cool how easy going you guys sound. I'm an extreme noob too. I turbo'ed my civc just for the fun of it. I don't street race, speed, or any of that nonsense, i just thought it'd be a fun way to learn a thing or two. so what kind of class would i enter in? is there a place where i can read up a learn about the rules and stuff?
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: ct, usa
http://www.NASAProRacing.com
http://www.SCCA.com
From there, look to see what region(s) are near you and look at their websites.
http://www.SCCA.com
From there, look to see what region(s) are near you and look at their websites.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,610
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From: santa clara, ca, 95054
Re: (niCastro)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by niCastro »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so it looks like i'm over-qualified for the normal honda racing but under qualified for any racing with turbos? that stinks. oh well.</TD></TR></TABLE>
no such thing.. u can still race and have fun
no such thing.. u can still race and have fun
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 31
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From: Highlands Ranch
Re: (vietnameeh)
haha, that's what i meant in my first post, you guys are so chill. That is a good point too, i guess i could just go out there are drive my car just for the fun of it.
but did you mean actually race? if so, what class would i fall into, i couldn't really find one that seemed to pertain to me. Thanks
but did you mean actually race? if so, what class would i fall into, i couldn't really find one that seemed to pertain to me. Thanks