Okay, this is my first car. I'm just out of high school

My plan is to basically build up my car over the next four years so that by the time I'm out of college I will have a well equiped car, ready to for autocross. Basically my question is: what are the things most important in autocross. Is it power? Suspension? The replacement parts (rotors, pads, tires)? Basically I ask this because, lacking funds, I obviously cannot afford to do everything at once and I just want to know what order I should go about doing this. Please keep in mind that I will need to keep this car drivable on the road for the next four years.

So what order would you go about doing these modifications?

Engine Performance
Suspension
Interior (racing seats)
Replacement Parts (like when should I start using performance rotors, pads, etc)

If you would like to be more specific, naming exact modifications, that would be even more appreciated. just fyi the car that I plan to do this with is a 94 civic ex.

if you think this is a stupid thread, u dont have to say it

and yes ive searched, the only build ups i get are those that are done by people with money in short periods of time... not really specific to my question

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by variablevalve &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Basically my question is: what are the things most important in autocross. Is it power? Suspension? The replacement parts (rotors, pads, tires)?</TD></TR></TABLE>
It is the driver.

 

Spend the money on driver. Don't change the car. Use any money to get seat time. Seriously. MAYBE tires but that's it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by variablevalve &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
My plan is to basically build up my car over the next four years so that by the time I'm out of college I will have a well equiped car, ready to for autocross.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Your car comes from the factory ready to autocross. The best way to figure out what mods your car might need is to go autocrossing and see for yourself. Talk to veteran drivers in your region and ask for their opinion.

 

The most important thing in autocross is the driver. Don't waste money on building up your car to be an "autocrosser" as all that's really needed for car performance in autocrossing is dampers in good condition (If you can get Bilstein HDs for the Civic I'd reccomend those), good brake pads (Hawk HPS should do fine), and good tires on stock wheels (Yokohama ES100's would be a great first tire to try if you need new tires!). Run the Civic in stock class and get familiar with how the car handles. There's no reason to wait 4 years to autocross, run it as is for the $20 or so it costs to autocross. I ran the Tacoma bone stock the first time I took it autocrossing, mainly because I wanted to see how it would react and handle stock. Plus if you autocross your daily driver you will know how it will react if you find yourself in a real world situtation requiring evasive manouvers to avoid an accident - In other words you will be better prepared and have more options available should the need arise, especially if you have autocrossed for a while and in all kinds of weather. Word of warning though...once you start autocrossing, you might not be able to stop autocrossing!

So just make sure your car is in decent shape and try an upcoming event out in your area with your car as it within the next few months! Let us know how it goes...

 

Don't spend a dime on your car (outside of safety) for quite some time.

1) Theres no point in spending thousands on your car before you know how to drive it correctly. You'll show up at your first event thinking you have the right setup, but when you see you are 4-5 sec off the pace the frustration will kill you. Leave it stock, concentrating on safety, tires, brakes, and maybe shocks.

2) Make your you don't underestimate the costs of school! Trust me, I'm going through it now. College was supposed to cost me $12,000 for four years. Right now I've spent over $13,000, and still have three more semesters to go (at approx $3500 a sem, growing at 10% a year). If I had known then how much it would cost me, I would never have spent $5,000 on my MR2 and later another $1,200 or so on parts when I got my car two years ago.

I know this isn't what you want to hear, but we have all been there before and this is why there is a common theme in all these posts.

 

I know plenty of 1989 Civic Si (in HS) and even a 5th Gen Civic DX sedan that would beat out alot of novice autocrossers who spend thousands of dollars on their cars including motor swaps and turbos.

Just get seat time and fix the driver - it is the most important mod you can do to the car.

Listen to the experts we know what we are talking about. PLus like some said you barely know your car yet when pushed hard. Add on top of that all the mods you will do and autocrossing a car you barely know can be really frustrating PLUS you add more variables to what made you slower.

I know someone their 1st year autocrossing a SM WRX. He had a lot of money invested in it. Every event he would get done with a run and blame his slow times on something on the car - everything from sway bar stiffeness, too much camber, boost controller was too low, etc... WHereas if you start off in stock class you only have 4 variables to worry about: 1) air pressure, 2) too much gas or not enough, 3) and learning how to drive the course, and 4) too much brake or not enough. Even starting out with street tires is what most of us recommend because street tires give better feedback to the driver when you've gone past the limit compared to DOT R tires. And I know someone who corded a good set of Hoosiers (mind you around $600-800 for a set) their first year out.

 

As long as your car is driveable, I would agree with what everyone else has said.

I just started autox this past spring and aside from some maintenance work, I plan on keeping the car stock. Everyone I have talked to online and at the events have told me I should stay stock or that they wish they had.

No matter what you do to the car, you will be having fun. This is the most important part of autox.

 

The 2 most significant mods (besides tires) you can do for autocross would be springs/coilovers as well as performance struts.

As for tires, get Falken Azenis.

 

Drive!

I autocross my stock auto accord on 400 treadwear tires and I'm still trying to figure things out after about 15 events...

 

Everyone thus far has offered good advice. One other item you might consider is a racing oil pan (an oil pan with internal baffles). Autocrossing allot will take a heavy toll on your engine without one of these. This is especially important if you must rely on your car as a daily driver.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by variablevalve &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Okay, this is my first car. I'm just out of high school

My plan is to basically build up my car over the next four years so that by the time I'm out of college I will have a well equiped car, ready to for autocross. Basically my question is: what are the things most important in autocross. Is it power? Suspension? The replacement parts (rotors, pads, tires)? Basically I ask this because, lacking funds, I obviously cannot afford to do everything at once and I just want to know what order I should go about doing this. Please keep in mind that I will need to keep this car drivable on the road for the next four years.

So what order would you go about doing these modifications?

Engine Performance
Suspension
Interior (racing seats)
Replacement Parts (like when should I start using performance rotors, pads, etc)

If you would like to be more specific, naming exact modifications, that would be even more appreciated. just fyi the car that I plan to do this with is a 94 civic ex.

if you think this is a stupid thread, u dont have to say it

and yes ive searched, the only build ups i get are those that are done by people with money in short periods of time... not really specific to my question</TD></TR></TABLE>

we have ALOT in common. although, im about to get out of the military, (may 2005) and then WYO TECH OCT 2005. same car, same questions, already looking to spend the money I dont have yet. I was really wanting to be involved with the honda challenge, but I think auto cross is a little more my thing. I just wanna be in an involved racing club....and hang out with people who enjoy the same things I do, and race in a good, clean enviroment.

 

like everyone is saying, mod the driver first then the car. I have been auto-xing a stock 42hp crx hf with stock tires and no mods. I have run better times than a 2000 pontiac trans am, a 2002 porche boxter, and a brand new civic si just to name a few. I am not trying to brag I am just stressing the point that performance on the track is in the driver's seat, not in the engine bay.
By the way just to let you know my .02 1.tires 2.suspension 3.brakes 4.power as far as the car is concerned

Good luck!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Everyone thus far has offered good advice. One other item you might consider is a racing oil pan (an oil pan with internal baffles). Autocrossing allot will take a heavy toll on your engine without one of these. This is especially important if you must rely on your car as a daily driver. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Which is ILLEGAL in stock class.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CivicSiRacer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Which is ILLEGAL in stock class.</TD></TR></TABLE>

FWIW, A baffled oil pan is definately not a necessity for autocross use.

Either way, I dont think you'd ever find yourself under protest for having one.

 

a knife, so you can flat everyone tires on grid. lol

 

What they said ^^^^^^^^^^^^

Don't spend $$ on the car, ESPECIALLY if you're going to college. Why? By the time you get out and start auto-xing, your tastes may change and you may no longer have that car.

Also, why wait until AFTER college to start auto-xing? Most autoxing goes on in the spring/summer... so you can start going to events now. THis way, when you're out of college, you'll have 4 years of part time experience under your belt and know what you really need or want to do after you get out.

It's almost all driver.

--kC

 

Spring and summer? Heck I autocross all year round Even did a snowcross event back in January and that was FUN AS HELL! Although I felt bad for my Civic