I have a 96 coupe w/ a b16 and a few mods.....I've mainly drag raced, but it's getting boring and alot more auot-x events are starting to pop-up everyone around me.

My main question is.....what is an ideal suspension setup.

I have tokico boues and neuspeed sport springs along with a upper front and rear strut bars.

What else should I look at doing to my car to help with the handling?

I also have a set of 15' slips wrapped in azenis....so I hope this will help.

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

you will be smoted in SM, but have fun

 

You're fine. Have fun.

 

I'd just run what you have for now. Unless you find a horrible handling problem, it will take a while to get good enough to need more suspension and by then you will have a better idea of what you need. The one thing I would look out for is suspension bottoming. I've seen it a few times with cars lowered more for looks than handling. You will know if the front bottoms in turns by sudden understeer in the middle of turns even when off the power. If the back bottoms, you will go into sudden oversteer even if on the power. I found this all out when I went from stock to SP. Mostly just have fun, learn all you can, ask questions of others.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by spektrum &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What else should I look at doing to my car to help with the handling? </TD></TR></TABLE>

well, i jumped right into auto-x in a modded car (SM also) and it is tough. to be honest, don't worry about your car setup so much in the beginning. autocross has a steep learning curve. concentrate on finding lines etc first. if you find that autox is something you really like, then the setup will change as you evolve as a driver. good luck.

 

Yeah, what they said--go have fun. If you want to spend some money, I'd look at a beefier rear anti-roll bar, but I'd first put the money and effort into seat time, seat time and seat time, followed by an alignment. (Do you even know which way your tires are facing?)

We have some B-series non-Si coupes down here, and they're kind of cool.

 

Agreed, just have fun-down the road you can look at your suspension etc...

 

The best advice anyone has given me is "go slower to go faster" which means that the quickest drivers are usually the smoothest. Also, it's a lot more fun and less frustrating when you aren't sliding and pushing around all over the track.

At this point, if you are feeling the need to mod your car, invest in a nice set of sticky tires... Check around your area for a slightly used set of slicks and you'll notice a world of difference.

 

Drag racing is about 60% car and about 40% driver. Auto-X is about 10% car and 90% driver. This is not meant to be a cut at drag racing.

So what you care about first in drag racing is how well the car is setup. In autoX we only care about the car after we have done everything we can with the driver. So, since you're new to autox, there is a lot that you can do to improve. What you should avoid doing is spending your time and money trying to improve your car. Instead, leave the car as it is so you have a consistent platorm to learn on.

Spend all your money on seat time and schools. There is usually an event every weekend within 100 miles of most people. go to as many as possible and you will be amazed at how much you learn. It's like getting an extra 10 hp every event!

Regards,
Alan

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jovial111 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The best advice anyone has given me is "go slower to go faster" which means that the quickest drivers are usually the smoothest. Also, it's a lot more fun and less frustrating when you aren't sliding and pushing around all over the track.

At this point, if you are feeling the need to mod your car, invest in a nice set of sticky tires... Check around your area for a slightly used set of slicks and you'll notice a world of difference.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I've driven along with a few national champs, and I sure as hell wouldn't call it smooth. I'd call it more like..driving like your *** is on fire. If there's one thing it is, it's precise. Also the azenis is by far the best street tire to run on. Don't worry about a slick, you don't need it yet. Just goto schools, and as many events as you can.
~james

 

work on driving techinques in parking lots n **** (find one in a secluded area with no cars)..... thats what i do. THen when you think your ready sign up and jump on the bandwagon.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 00R101 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Drag racing is about 60% car and about 40% driver. Auto-X is about 10% car and 90% driver. This is not meant to be a cut at drag racing.

So what you care about first in drag racing is how well the car is setup. In autoX we only care about the car after we have done everything we can with the driver. So, since you're new to autox, there is a lot that you can do to improve. What you should avoid doing is spending your time and money trying to improve your car. Instead, leave the car as it is so you have a consistent platorm to learn on.

Regards,
Alan</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have very little to add to this, I just wanted to make sure this was shown again, as it is one of, if not THE best explanations to someone new about why they should leave the car alone. Alan, BRAVO!

 

You guys seem very Helpful on Spektrum's post, I dont want to be a ***** and make double posts, but Im special.
I too have always wondered whats going on in AutoX.
Im a big fan of Honda318dx, Corey.
I drive a 93Si. Stock. I had it lowered but the ride was too bumpy.
What I want to know.
How DO I get started?
As with everything How much cash will be involved, for a beginner.
Im not working anymore and Im going to start College, so beginning AutoX is out of the question at this moment.
But Will I be fine with a Stock H23 if I just work on the Suspension and and Braking System? Im trying to have fun right now, Not serious about winning.
I have to register with NASA and get a competition license right?
Or do I only need that if I am in a racing circuit?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Puki &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You guys seem very Helpful on Spektrum's post, I dont want to be a ***** and make double posts, but Im special.
I too have always wondered whats going on in AutoX.
Im a big fan of Honda318dx, Corey.
I drive a 93Si. Stock. I had it lowered but the ride was too bumpy.
What I want to know.
How DO I get started?
As with everything How much cash will be involved, for a beginner.
Im not working anymore and Im going to start College, so beginning AutoX is out of the question at this moment.
But Will I be fine with a Stock H23 if I just work on the Suspension and and Braking System? Im trying to have fun right now, Not serious about winning.
I have to register with NASA and get a competition license right?
Or do I only need that if I am in a racing circuit?

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

I know around here its going to cost your around 20-30 bucks for about 3-4 runs.... so money isn't a big deal.

And as for setup... don't worry about it... just goto an autocross event and as soon as you end up pushing your car to the limit change what needs to be changed....BUT.... a good set of tires is always going to help (MORE GRIP PLEASE)

you don't need any special lic. .... BUT.... you can get a SCCA license and get $5 off each race.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Fuuma0083 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

And as for setup... don't worry about it... just goto an autocross event and as soon as you end up pushing your car to the limit change what needs to be changed....BUT.... a good set of tires is always going to help (MORE GRIP PLEASE)

</TD></TR></TABLE>
I got some Falken Azenis, will those be ok?

 

Don't do any mods. People think mods will make their car faster, but it's actually the driver who makes the car faster. Get lots of seat time and worry about mods later on in the Fall.

Mods also cover up bad driving habits, and that person will think more mods will make them faster, which is not true.

Well the other thing is when you mod your car you are adding more variables to an already complicate piece of machinery.

When it's stock all you have to worry about are 3 things: tire pressure, shifting, and driving. You can't blame your bad times or actually inconsistent times (cause you want your times to be consistently behind another driver) on anything but yourself.

When you start adding shocks, springs, sway bars, camber plates, intakes, racing tires, etc... Now you have like 20 different settings you have to get right. So now you start wondering if I should have had the shocks turned up to this and that, my sway bars were too loose, I didn't have enough camber, etc... Instead on concentrating on the most important aspect - the driver!

Mods also don't lower your times as much PER DOLLAR as driving schools and seat time. A typical coilover is like $1000 and might shave off .5-1.0 second on a 60 second course. Going to an Evolution School $225+(http://www.autocross.com/evolution) or NOvice Autocross $50-100 school will shave off 4-8 seconds on the same course.

Also read the help page in my sig.