Ok some of you may know that I'm jumping on the AutoX band wagon. Having never done this before I'm reading all that I can. There is an event here on the 2&3 of August so that's where I'll get my feet wet. I'm going to be stuck im SM2 but I was wondering if it would be better to jump to Dmod right away. While I don't have any experience on a road course I have raced for several years in the 4 cylinder class here at the local speedway. Now that I'm tired of making only left turns, I decided to turn both ways . Anyway, having never been to an event which would be better to start in. I know I'll get my *** handed to me in either class but which would be the best one to start in. Dmod is appealing cause it'd be nice to strip the interior and build a cage right away for it. A little info on my car as it sits.
1988 CRX SI
DOHC ZC
ZC/SI hybrid tranny, quafie,centerforce clutch
4-1 header, race cat, 2.5 in mandrel bent stainless (was going to boost in the future), and a pilot muffler( ricer muffler)
CAI, pm-7 ecu, Mugen chip,B&M shifter
koni yellows (very soon), sparco race springs, 15x7 rims with 205/50-15 Michelin Pilot's.
I should have the Koni's, prothane bushings and strut bars installed before the 2nd. Any help or Ideas would be appreciated.

 

Looking at that list, I don't see what's keeping you out of Street mod. Or am I missing something...

If the club that hosts the event your going to has a website, go on it and see if they post results from previous races. then look through the 2 classes and see which one has a smaller turnout (less competition) and is posting slower average times (the more modified classes aren't always the faster classes in local events, remember, it's a driver's race.)

Unless you want some good competition. then do the opposite.

 

To tell you he truth you are outclassed in either category.... You should just race for fun against other similar cars (STS, STX, CSP) and compare times to them.

If you were to get serious and planned on prepping your car I would suggest D Mod. In that class there are at least weight and engine size limits. In SM2 you would be up against cars with serious displacement.

In the end your best choice would be to remove the engine swap and race in a stock class or an SP class.

 

The fact that the CRX is a 2 seater car and specifically excluded from SM is what is keeping him from it. My friend is in the same boat if he were to ever run in SCCA events, which we rarely do. But he is typically vying not for a class win but for FTD in his CRX, so....

I say forced induction and SM2. (Jackson actually makes a CRX/ZC supercharger kit after all. I personally think that would be better than turbo for autocross, but just drive it for now ) See what you can do against modified Corvettes, etc. Gotta be some truth to everyone's theory that there is no replacement in autocross for a lightweight car.

Oh, and you can run a bar in SM2, don't know about a full cage, but I think you can do that too.

 

Stick with SM2 for now.
Several reasons:
1. DM allows slicks, SM2 allows only R compounds
2. DM allows tube frames (cars are nominally production based only)

If you decide at some point you want to engineer a suspension, SM2 allows you to do quite a bit (basically everything that is bolted to the chassis/subframe can be altered except the chassis/subframe itself). DM allows you to go one step further, but unless you're really into car building , you'll never make use of the allowance.

SM2 allows fairly substatial weight reduction, evn if total gutting is prohibited.

 

Go SM2, I have a similar setup and win the smaller venues and place at the larger venues. Everyone else pretty much covered all the other pro's/con's. Don't go run with the tube frame guys quite yet, Get a feel for turning right first.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SIRX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ok some of you may know that I'm jumping on the AutoX band wagon. Having never done this before I'm reading all that I can. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Just go out and drive. Don't worry about classing quite yet. You likely won't be too competitve in either class until you get some R-compounds (or full race slicks in D-Mod). I'd say go into whatever class you're allowed right now (SM2), stay there for a season, and go from there. Good luck.

 

http://ackthud.net/autox/toledo/DSC04181.JPG

http://ackthud.net/autox/toledo/DSC04182.JPG

http://ackthud.net/autox/toledo/DSC04331.JPG

When considering DMod, realize this is the car to have as people use them for their light weight (800-1000lbs.) depending if the person decides to use aluminum, fiberglass, or carbon fiber...

Add in the chassis' ability to accept a plethora of engines... Many making in excess of 250-300hp(!) as people use Toyota Atlantic spec 1.6L or even the 2.0L Honda S2000 motor.

Factor in large slicks and $3000 in shocks/springs/etc. and you begin to get the idea as to why most people shy away from most Modified classes in the SCCA unless you can make a $ub$tantial financial and mechanical commitment.

Or you can just have fun with the CRX, but coming from a competitive arena already, I doubt you would be content for very long.

Oh, my long-term autocross goals is to have one of the said Lotus7 replicas with S2000 power and carbon fiber bodywork... Not that I'm trying to sway anybody.

Anthony "Mario" Crea

 

/\ /\ /\ reasons why I am in D-mod... I want to get used to the class while I save up for a Super Seven

I went with D-Mod because I took out my carpet and rear interiro panels on my GSR powered 1992 Civic CX. The DSM guys kicked me out of SM after I won an event, they have shown me the light. I now have even tougher competition from an EMod tube frame Midget powered by a turbo rotary motor. Sick stuff and I am still having fun competing and using stickers that say "SM is for wimps" etc....
The only guy in DM is another civic hatch from Buffalo. So there really is no other competition on a regular basis, but I always get first?! yay?!