Would turning my 99 Si into an autocross/roadcourse car be a good idea, could i be competive or will i get stomped on by all the rwd cars. Do you guys that can really drive ever beat rwd cars? im from a land where everyone thinks rwd cars are god and fwd cars are **** any help would be great. thanks guys

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Red_EM1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Would turning my 99 Si into an autocross/roadcourse car be a good idea, could i be competive or will i get stomped on by all the rwd cars. Do you guys that can really drive ever beat rwd cars? im from a land where everyone thinks rwd cars are god and fwd cars are **** any help would be great. thanks guys
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good god wasn't there a huge topic on this just a couple days ago? define 'competitive.' in what class? Most STS autox cars are FWD. And for what it's worth, I am a crappy driver and I have posted faster times than an S2000 (I think the S2k was near DFL that day). Which has nothing to with either car's drivetrain configuration.

 

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

good god wasn't there a huge topic on this just a couple days ago? define 'competitive.' in what class? Most STS autox cars are FWD. And for what it's worth, I am a crappy driver and I have posted faster times than an S2000 (I think the S2k was near DFL that day). Which has nothing to with either car's drivetrain configuration.</TD></TR></TABLE>

To my knowledge, nobody has ever successfully raced a Honda in any series It's all futile...

 

Honduh sucks........

:::shifty eyes:::
:::waits for WWIII:::

look up results for autox's and regional races, that'll tell you if the car is competitive.

 

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

:::shifty eyes:::
:::waits for WWIII:::

look up results for autox's and regional races, that'll tell you if the car is competitive.</TD></TR></TABLE>


ive been doing alot of that, but 7/8ths of the hondas listed are old hatchbacks (for good reason) but i just want to know about this particular car.

 

ok.......if everybody runs old hatchbacks, and not a 99-00 si, what might that tell you?

 

Its competitive in SCCA's Showroom Stock C class, and Honda Challenge H5 (in SSC trim) or H3 otherwise.

Biggest downside is torque, i.e. that there is none of it.

There will always be something cheaper/faster/more competitive

 

you still need to define your goals. first of all, you said "autocross/roadcourse." I am not sure exactly what you mean by that, so let's just assume autocross in say... STS class. Will you win nationals in your 99 Si? No, probably not, but it might be awhile before you have the driving skill for that anyways. Can you have fun at a regional level and be somewhat competitive in your 99 Si? Yes, most likely, especially if you become a good driver.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tnord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ok.......if everybody runs old hatchbacks, and not a 99-00 si, what might that tell you?</TD></TR></TABLE>

right i realize that that would be a better platform but do you think that a 99 Si could potenially be a competitive car, or would it be like trying to pilot a v6 mustang around a roadcourse with a pack full of cobras

 

Would be a nice H3 car.

 

frankly, if you've never done this before, you'll suck and it won't matter what car you're in.

just run the stupid thing for a year or two and have fun. worry about getting a competitive car after you know an apex from your *******.

EDIT: don't worry, we all suck when we start. don't worry about being competitive, worry about yourself.

i was told i needed to be more positive


Modified by tnord at 4:24 AM 4/22/2004

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Red_EM1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

right i realize that that would be a better platform but do you think that a 99 Si could potenially be a competitive car, or would it be like trying to pilot a v6 mustang around a roadcourse with a pack full of cobras</TD></TR></TABLE>

the Si is a pretty good STS/STX platform and i think a 99 si can be competitive regionally maybe even nationally, but not until you've developed the driving skills, like everyone has said.

once you become a good auto-x driver (which is 90% of auto-x'ing anyway) then you'll probably have a good feel about whether your chassis is holding you back. even in your example: if the v6 stang was being driven by schumie, and the cobras, vipers, and other fast cars were being driven by guys like myself, chances are schumie would destroy me by god knows how many seconds/lap.

the most important thing is to get out and drive, talk to everyone, and enjoy yourself!!

 

I know locally the car is great. I've taken 1st in my region for the past 3 years and other regions too. I also know I am pretty much close to the limit of my car. Running with other regions sometimes I get stomped and sometimes I get stomped on REAL BAD! I've run against Christ Shenefield (2002 National Champion in STS), his co-driver Tad Kaminski (who now owns the car Chris won with), and against local hotshoe Corey Ridgick. Corey was about 2 seconds ahead of me at most events, but recently I've made up 1 second somewhere. I've driven the 1989 Civic Si that won Nationals in 2001 and 2002 and they are llike go-karts.

I think the potential is there for the 99-00 Civic Si, it's just that no one has taken the time and patience to try it. My car is almost there - just need to shed another 100-200lbs. I know on some longer courses I do catch up to some of the faster cars in STS because of the high redline our cars have. But on slow and slippery courses I start to fall behind due to no torque.

Right now my car is down to 2500lbs and I still have: A/C, power steering, pretty heavy wheels, stock seats, stereo, and stock battery. I figured with all those mods done (about 120-150lbs deleted) plus a reflash of the ECU or VTEC controller it will be there.

Taken me 4 years to build the car, but also remember autocross is more driver than car UP TO A POINT. And who cares if you can beat rwd or not. Autocrossing is not about that. It's about being smooth, and being fast at the same time.


Modified by CivicSiRacer at 12:20 AM 4/22/2004

 

thanks to all of you for the help CivicSiRacer, i made this same post on CSi hoping to get your input, i didnt know you were on here . not when you talk about regionals do you compete with other platforms or just fwd? thanks again for everyones help.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Red_EM1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Would turning my 99 Si into an autocross/roadcourse car be a good idea</TD></TR></TABLE>

No.

It's not competitive in anything. And it is always cheaper to buy an already-built race car than build one from scratch.

ITS (road racing, if it's even classified) you'll get rolled.
SM (autocross) you'll spend a truckload and still get rolled.

Regionally it could be an okay car, but to be "competitive" I assume you're talking National class events. At which you would get handed your ***.

 

In my class (STS) in mostly comprised of FWD and AWD. The car I thought to have was the Nissan 240SX but it was heavy.

But remember autocross is 90% driver so I should be able to hope in any car and do well in it. A car is a car - 4 tires, 4 wheels, 4 shocks, steering wheel, shifter, gas pedal, and brake pedal. Doesn't matter if you have 5hp or 500hp it's how the driver can drive the car.

 

just wait.........this year the car to have in STS WILL be the 240.

&lt;----knows about a certain 240 in the NE who qualified for nationals last year, and the car is way faster now. nobody has been within 2secs of him thus far.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CivicSiRacer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
My car is almost there - just need to shed another 100-200lbs. I know on some longer courses I do catch up to some of the faster cars in STS because of the high redline our cars have. But on slow and slippery courses I start to fall behind due to no torque.
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hmm i'm wondering how to shed that amount of weight while remaining in compliance with the STS/X ruleset? you've gotta run full interior, and there can't be any CF parts...i'm interested b/c my car could definitely use a 200lb liposuction procedure while still being stx legal.

 

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

hmm i'm wondering how to shed that amount of weight while remaining in compliance with the STS/X ruleset? you've gotta run full interior, and there can't be any CF parts...i'm interested b/c my car could definitely use a 200lb liposuction procedure while still being stx legal.

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http://forums.clubsi.com/showf...art=1


read his post here (first reply) it kinda breaks it down. atleast sort of.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CivicSiRacer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">In my class (STS) in mostly comprised of FWD and AWD. The car I thought to have was the Nissan 240SX but it was heavy.

But remember autocross is 90% driver so I should be able to hope in any car and do well in it. A car is a car - 4 tires, 4 wheels, 4 shocks, steering wheel, shifter, gas pedal, and brake pedal. Doesn't matter if you have 5hp or 500hp it's how the driver can drive the car.</TD></TR></TABLE>

so if you put yourself in your car the way it is against you in a 240 with basic suspension/tire mods which do you think you would be faster in. (considering u got some time to get familiar with the 240 around the track)

 

Here I'll save you the click:

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just last week with 1/4 tank of gas = 2508lbs.

Soon I will have a lightweight battery (20-30lbs lighter), two Cobra Forenza seats (70lbs lighter), and lighter wheels (4lbs per corner, 16lbs lighter (remember rotatinal mass). If I calculated right my car will be 120lbs lighter Plus I still have my A/C, power steering, cruise control in the car AND my two amps, speakers, and equalizer too (approximately 80lbs). I wish I could drop all that too, but it's my daily driver. I need some creature comforts.

I'll be around 2390lbs hopefully by the Washington DC Tour.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Considering that the car came stock with 2716lbs (give or take) I already lost 200lbs with my Kosei K1s, Koni Yellows, Ground Control springs, Skunk2 front camber arms, polyurethane bushings, A'PEXi N1 ehxaust, A'PEXi GT header, AEM intake, AEM pulleys, rear upper and lower strut bars, and 2 amplifiers (for ballast , Brembo rotors, Hawk HPS pads, and stock interior that's pretty good.

 

Well I have driven someone's well prepared 240SX SE. I just wish he had more patience to stick around for autocrossing. I think he was sick and tired of getting 3rd and 4th place every event since it was always: me, 200SX SE, 1986 Civic Si, and then him.

I say the car has potential, lots of torque, can fit wider tires, but I don't know about the power delivery. If I remember right redline was 7000rpms?

It really all depends on the course, each car set-up. Can't really tell you who would win. Too many variables.

 

I look forward to it. The 240SX is so sassy!

 

It doesnt really seem like you put drive wheels at the top of what makes a car "good". not good or bad just an obeservation.

 

let's just say the car got about a 50hp bump, and added some R compounds this year as the short list of improvements

redline is 6500 stock.


red em1.....you seem to have missed the ENTIRE point of that RWD vs FWD thread. please go back and read it again, as i really don't want to start this again.