Autocross with a TH400
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
Autocross with a TH400
Our local club is arranging a weekly autocross and the guys there are trying to get me in , I really would like to try it out, but since I have a TH400 car, I don't have any idea how it would act against the manual cars, how do you usually use your automatic in a autocross track? , is it OK to manually moving the shifter from 2 to 1 in the whole track? .. will I be stressing the transmission that way? .. I just need some more information/experience from you guys who autocross your 'vettes with a TH400.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 4
From: Arlington texas
My old club did this. It was a pretty small and simple course just for fun. Didn't put much wear and tear on the car and anyone could get involved with little or no experience. It usually took less than 3 minutes to complete then let the car cool down.
Your auto will do just fine on something like this. Depending on the course and the drivers experience, the auto will be competitive. Just put it in drive and let the transmission do the work for you til you get a feel for it.
Word of warning....these are usually done inn parking lots and alot of garbage and gravel can be down there. Get you some tape and protect the bottom of your rear fenders from the debris and have fun.
Your auto will do just fine on something like this. Depending on the course and the drivers experience, the auto will be competitive. Just put it in drive and let the transmission do the work for you til you get a feel for it.
Word of warning....these are usually done inn parking lots and alot of garbage and gravel can be down there. Get you some tape and protect the bottom of your rear fenders from the debris and have fun.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
A lot depends on your rear gear and the size of the course. Most autoX you will never get above 60 mph. If your carwill do 60 in 1st gear there is no need to take it out of first. I will usually drive the autoX in 2nd gear all the time and my rpm will be between 3500 to 6500. You don't want the thing shifting around on you. If you are in a corner and stand on it the sudden downshift will most likely break the tires loose. Select a gear and stay in it.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
Its a very short course (usually they finish it with in a 1.5 min or so) and the rear is 3.08, so I think I would try to keep the shifter in 2 position and see what the car can do.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I'll bet with a 3.08 and a short course you will not get out of first gear. You should be able to do about 50 mph in first gear and most low speed autoX you will rarely get to that speed. Good luck and best of all have fun with it. If you don't spin it you are not trying hard enough. 
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
I'll bet with a 3.08 and a short course you will not get out of first gear. You should be able to do about 50 mph in first gear and most low speed autoX you will rarely get to that speed. Good luck and best of all have fun with it. If you don't spin it you are not trying hard enough.
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