Hello all...

I just recently had my first autox experience and I am now HOOKED. I was wondering what people thought might be a better first mod. I wanted to do my suspension first before I began autoxing, but now I'm afraid to get bumped out of stock class with the new suspension. Plus, I haven't had a lot of seat time.

My friend suggested that I make the wheels/tires my first mod. I would really appreciate opinions from experienced autoxers. Thanks in advance.

 

cant go wrong with wheels and tires. I rode in a stock miata with aftermarket wheels and tires, i was pretty impressed.

 

What everyone here is going to tell you is do not mod anything. Since you are just beginning, learn to drive the car as is. Do not mod the car until it is slowing you down instead of you slowing it down.

Now, if you are worried about the extra wear on your street tires I would suggest this. Get an extra set of Stock wheels (or cheap wheels that are the same size as your stock) and but a set of Flaken Azenis tires. These are cheap and will provide you with a very good platfort to learn on. They have alot of the feel and characteristics of R compound tires, but not the ultimate grip. That way you have a solid tire to learn on that will last you much longer than an R compound and they are cheaper to boot. You will learn to correct your mistakes at a slightly (very Slight) lower speed too. Then when you are ready you can move up to R-compound tires and actually be able to use them properly instead of burning them up.

I have had several people I have helped start out follow this path and I have seen faster improvement from them than others that have jumped right into R-compounds.

Good luck and have fun

 

Thanks for the responses guys...anyone else?

 

yo i agree with crosser, nasir. that sounds crazy good. what size are your wheels/tires right now?

 

I also agree with crosser. But if you have shitty wheels, I suggest looking for 14" stock HX rims with some 195/60/14 Azenis wraped on them

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crosser &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What everyone here is going to tell you is do not mod anything. Since you are just beginning, learn to drive the car as is. Do not mod the car until it is slowing you down instead of you slowing it down.

Now, if you are worried about the extra wear on your street tires I would suggest this. Get an extra set of Stock wheels (or cheap wheels that are the same size as your stock) and but a set of Flaken Azenis tires. These are cheap and will provide you with a very good platfort to learn on. They have alot of the feel and characteristics of R compound tires, but not the ultimate grip. That way you have a solid tire to learn on that will last you much longer than an R compound and they are cheaper to boot. You will learn to correct your mistakes at a slightly (very Slight) lower speed too. Then when you are ready you can move up to R-compound tires and actually be able to use them properly instead of burning them up.

I have had several people I have helped start out follow this path and I have seen faster improvement from them than others that have jumped right into R-compounds.

Good luck and have fun </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yup, i agree with that, I should have said that also, but i didnt think outside the lines. to crosser. Toooooooooooooo many people buy all this high tech crap for their car and then wait till its completely finished to take out on the track. Someone once told me, learn to drive in a slow car, you will learn to be smooth, and the car wont make up for your lack of skills.
Many people drop b18c5s into their EGs, 1000 dollar suspension, blah blah. Take their caron the track and their car is driving them. Start slow, get a feel for the car and then progress.
*disclaimer* i understand there are people who can jump in a car and drive at an intermediate level their first day...

 

That sounds like really good advise ...i'll probably do that. Maybe steelies with falkens for the track and rota slips for the street. Dunno. I love Honda-Tech I always get GREAT responses!

I also have another question...I had a AEM short ram on my previous 2000 DX. Would it make sense to put it on my car for track use? Positives/Negatives? Thanks in advance.

*By the way I have 14" wheels djsbon*

 

For HPDE the AEM won't change your group or anything, which is based upon driver experience/skill.

Positives: probably a few HP, a nicer sound when getting passed by all the Z06s.

Negatives: probably not worth the effort to remove/install it evertyime you autocross or attend a track day.

 

I've seen some slower Z06 vettes out there.... they just like to speed on the straights (you notice alot when you are a corner worker). If you are tracking it (HPDE) upgrade your brake pads and tires. Upgrade the suspension after you get the track/autocross experience.

 

hahaha "phillycx", i think i'm going to do just the same. get some 14" wheels for my piece, wrap some falken's around them and RACE. mm. that 4spd auto tranny is SO SMOOTH!.

so putting just an air intake will move you in class if you were to race with it on? that's CARAZY.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by djsbon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so putting just an air intake will move you in class if you were to race with it on? that's CARAZY.

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

No, thats the rules.

The same class that requires you to run a stock airbox also allows high dollar race shocks, lightweight wheels, hoosier tires and no mufflers.

But, this is the evolution of the rules and hindsight is 20/20.

 

phillycx...sorry i did not get to see your first autox race. were you at the evo school this past weekend?

my advice to you is to stay stock....for a little bit. come summer you are going to be addicted beyond your dreams and will be dying to mod. i would say upgrading to azenis or upgrading suspension could be done in any order (but not at the same time, you must learn the car gradually). if you upgrade the tires leaving stock suspension, you will realize how bad your suspension is (rolling incredibly on every turn, dying in the slalom), i have pics if you would like to see. on the other hand, if you upgrade the suspension and leave the stock tires on, you will realize how bad your tires are (slipping around every turn). something in your suspension/tire setup will have to give, and it will be the weaker of the two (the one you do not upgrade). so i would say wait as long as you can and upgrade both, but the fact is, you will not be able to wait, so do one at a time.

anyway, sorry to be long winded, but this is what i did to my car (stock on michelins----&gt;put on strut tower braces, type r springs, si shocks, CAI-----&gt;azenis (finally)------&gt;rear sway(when the back stopped coming around). and i am very satisfied with the setup and it was very cheap too, which is nice.

hope this helped you and any other beginners on here. peace. tinkfist.

 

1.Get Wheels and Tires
2. Seat Time, Seat Time, Seat Time
3. get as much help from schools, local programs, asking experienced drivers for help, etc.
4. When it comes time to mod research and buy parts to fix specific problems with the car. Unless you can explain why your buying someting don't buy it. This will help save you money buy buying parts then replacing them. Don't throw parts at the car just because other people have them. $2,000 worth of fancy parts wont fix a bad driver.

 

Thanks for all the responses guys...I really appreciate it. I have to fight that urge to MOD!! So, wheels/tires first...sounds ok to me. Just have to dig into my account.

*This may sound trivial (and it is), but won't my car look ridiculous with new wheels/tires and it's sitting up like a jeep grand cherokee?*

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by phillycx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks for all the responses guys...I really appreciate it. I have to fight that urge to MOD!! So, wheels/tires first...sounds ok to me. Just have to dig into my account.

*This may sound trivial (and it is), but won't my car look ridiculous with new wheels/tires and it's sitting up like a jeep grand cherokee?*</TD></TR></TABLE>

yes it will look funny, but just use the wheels and tires for when you goto the track. It will look better and it will save your track tires.

 

Wouldn't you get an incredible amount of roll with stock suspension (possibly hammered suspension) and azenis?

I ran half a year with decent tires and strut bars, springs and agx's and had a crud load of fun. If winning in the first year or so isn't important then who cares what class you are in.

I am very ignorant compared to some of these other guys possibly but thats my 2 cents. And this...Its all about the fun.

 

Again...great responses. Anybody else have a response to the air intake...and it bumping me out of stock class?

(I may have mislead the readers, but I WILL NOT be taking it on/off just for races. Once i put it on it stays on...and I'm not purchasing it, I already own it.)

 

Stay Stock, have fun and learn 1st:

A few seasoned veterans gave me this advice...

- get an extra set of cheap wheels and go to a tire shop and get their thow-away bald tires. May sound contradictary to trying to go fast, but since you're just beginning, don't worry about being competitive just yet. Worry about LEARNING.
"slow in, fast out". By having poopy tires, you will learn car control at a slower speed. think: wet skid pad.

Also this will allow you to save for those R-tires and Suspension Piece once you know how to drive.

- don't put R compounds on a stock suspension especially if it's an older car. Rollover is possible. At least get better shocks first before going to an R compound.

However: I ignored both of these suggestions, wound up getting an Eibach Pro Kit and whammo, I'm in CSP. 'Tis difficult to resist the temptation to upgrade.

Evolution school is a better investment, but you can also ride with instructors for free.

3 1/2 cents

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by phillycx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Again...great responses. Anybody else have a response to the air intake...and it bumping me out of stock class?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes. The intake will bump you out of whatever Stock class your car is eligable for.
What kind of car do you have? (Year? Model? Trim level?)

Here is a basic guide for SCCA Solo2 car classing: http://moutons.org/sccasolo/

Andrew

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by emwavey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Evolution school is a better investment, but you can also ride with instructors for free.

3 1/2 cents </TD></TR></TABLE>

REALLY. Never knew that, still saving for my first evolution school. matter of time.... matter of time....

Im just glad i have some rota's and azenis...

But to answer your question, STAY STOCK & Enjoy!

 

Autocrossing on old, rockhard, all-season tires is not fun. Well actually, it might be fun if you're the kind of person who enjoy sliding around at slow speeds. So I wouldn't be one to say 'just race it as is' as far as tires go. But yeah, everything else probably doesn't matter nearly as much as tires.

 

What kind of car do you have? (Year? Model? Trim level?)


To answer your question Andrew: 2000 Civic CX

 

phillycx! nice new avatar.. heh.

i might be going to the junkyards on friday.. i'll give you a call if you want to/can join me.. i'm looking for cheap 14" steelies (under $90?)...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crosser &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have had several people I have helped start out follow this path and I have seen faster improvement from them than others that have jumped right into R-compounds.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I was one of those people Crosser is referring to.

You can spend $500 on shocks and drop .1 seconds or spend $500 on an Evolution Performance Driving School and drop 10 seconds. It's up to you.

http://www.autocross.com/evolution

good luck,

aj