I went to my first autox event a couple weeks ago and I'm officially hooked. I'm going to start running my '94 GSR pretty regularly once I get my membership. My question is this:

Just how competitive can a GSR be in DSP? I was looking at some of the class listings and it appers to be fairly competitive with most of the cars in it's class. Being inexperienced though, I'm wondering if that is truly the case.

To anyone who drives an Integra in DSP, what is a good way to make it competitive? I'm very happy with the setup I have now (minus the lack of sticky tires) but need a few more runs under my belt before I can really get a feel for what I need to do. Any input (other than "HPDE's are better") is appreciated.

 

The best finishing GSR at nationals was 10'th, I think. Regionally they do well, nationally it depends on how many well set up BMW's and the Lexus 3 series clone (I always forget which model it is) are there.

Setup wise, a Quaife, stiff springs, shocks tuned for the high rates and able to run much lower than stock ride height, rear swaybar, 8"+ width wheels with good race tires. There is some debate between using the 13" wheels as used on other SP cars or going to the 15" wheels. The usual intake/exhaust can help a bit for power and takes weight off. Run a bit of toeout in front, around 1/8", and the back around 0". Take out as much weight as the rules will allow. Light seats, no AC or cruise, header, no cat. About 125lbs can be removed, maybe 150 on the later cars with heavier seats.

Run lots of events for seat time. Try to get to an Evolution school. Decide how big your budget will be. Do you want to keep the car a daily driver? Fully set up the car will be low and stiff. Got back problems? If I try to get out of the driveway with the 13" race tires on, all sorts of stuff bottoms out. The car corners way too well and if I drove it all the time, I would probably lose my license by forgetting to slow down for corners and pissing off the guys with all the flashing lights.

 

Let's start things off correctly...


What is *YOUR* definition of "competitive"? Locally? Regionally? Divisionally? Nationally?

 

Locally the Integra is a fine DSP car but on the national it's a bit of an underdog.

Some crucial items for the Integra are LSD + 13" wheels.

 

Local & Regional ... not shooting for a national car. This thing is still a daily driver.

Thanks for the info so far.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by whiteboygsr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Local & Regional ... not shooting for a national car. This thing is still a daily driver.

Thanks for the info so far.</TD></TR></TABLE>

then the GS-R is a fine car. keep going to events.

 

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

then the GS-R is a fine car. keep going to events.</TD></TR></TABLE>

ditto. and quit practicing your autox skills on the street....

 

Locally and regionally (unless you have a national DSP driver in yer region) a GS-R is great car for the class. Maybe not so much as a RS (with its much lighter weight) but it can still be VERY competitive locally. Here's what I run on mine...

Suspension
- Custom Advance Design DAs
- Eibach Springs 650F/800R
- Comptech 22mm swaybar with tiebar
- Mugen Front Upper strut tower bar
- Toe - 1/8th out Front and 0 Rear
- Camber -2.8 Front and -2 Rear
Brakes
- Hawk HP+
Wheels / Tires
- Panasport C8 3-Piece Modulars 13x8.5
- Hoosier A3S03 (225/45/13)
Drive
- Quaife LSD
- 8.5lbs Zex Chromoly Flywheel
- ACT Clutch
Engine
- AEM CAI
- DC Sports 4-2-1 Header (ceramic)
- Thermal R&D Exaust
- TWM ITBs
- Electromotive Engine Management
- Underdrive crap
- No AC
- Hi-Flo Cat
Safety
- Bieffe SA2000 helmet
- Crappy Harness
Misc
- Short Shifter

I think that if I clean up my driving this car should be in the top-10 at nationals. I'm convinced it was only one sloppy mistake on tuesday this year that kept me out of the top-10 even with the low compression 128k mile motor.

Overall though? Good car, easy to drive and is a blast to run locally (should do well too!).

 

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

ditto. and quit practicing your autox skills on the street.... </TD></TR></TABLE>

Who me? Nah, I got that "I'm cool. I'm a street racer" crap outta my system years ago. No tickets for 3 years and no reason to get tickets. It's nice to not squirm every time you see a cop car.

And thanks for all the info guys. Looks like a got a lot of work ahead of me this winter.

 

I see that you're in Athens, GA. Were you at the last Atlanta event?

 

I was at the novice school, yes.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by whiteboygsr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Local & Regional ... not shooting for a national car. This thing is still a daily driver.

Thanks for the info so far.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I autox my S2000 in B-STOCK. Local, hey I won first place in my class last weekend (I was the ONLY ONE)

Nationally - I'D GET MY *** HANDED to me on a silver platter. I'm not that good.. I'm still learing how to autox and how to handle my S.

I'm like you though - HOOKED so now all we can do is go to every event possible, and practice practice practice.

 

I'm in pretty much the same situation as you are. I've just started autocrossing my near-stock GSR in the Atlanta region this past year. One word: ADDICTION. Anyway, I thought I would mention that STS might be a good stepping stone on your way to DSP, especially for a daily driver. You could get your suspension sorted in STS without worrying about the LSD and R-compound tires neccessary to be competitive in DSP. Also, from what I can see at this time, spring rates above 600lbs aren't needed in STS to be competitive....yet. When it doubles as your commuter car it is something to consider.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thirdvector &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Also, from what I can see at this time, spring rates above 600lbs aren't needed in STS to be competitive....yet. When it doubles as your commuter car it is something to consider. </TD></TR></TABLE>

They are for a heavy gsr. I even think on my old 00 si I used to run 350/400 was way too soft for sts. we now have my car and caseys gsr sedan to show the time difference. we are pretty even as drivers I think so its a good comparison of what each car can do. I'm going to have to get him to drive my car sometime to see what he can do in it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thirdvector &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Also, from what I can see at this time, spring rates above 600lbs aren't needed in STS to be competitive....yet. When it doubles as your commuter car it is something to consider. </TD></TR></TABLE>

lol. here i am thinking 700lb springs are too soft of a 2250lb car.

"hello, ground control? yeah, can you send me a pair of 1000lb springs?"

nate

 

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

lol. here i am thinking 700lb springs are too soft of a 2250lb car.

"hello, ground control? yeah, can you send me a pair of 1000lb springs?"

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

Yeah, make sure to order some additional chassis welds with those springrates too.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Yeah, make sure to order some additional chassis welds with those springrates too. </TD></TR></TABLE>

i thought seam welding was legal in STS???

nate

 

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

lol. here i am thinking 700lb springs are too soft of a 2250lb car.

"hello, ground control? yeah, can you send me a pair of 1000lb springs?"

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

i really think you guys are nuts....really.
maybe when i get my tow rig i'll run 900lbs up front and 1200lbs springs out back, but for now, i'll keep it under 600