Quick Question, would the negative camber help if i slammed it for the event? without the alignment? Or would i be better off stock hight? BTW i'm running on KUMHO excstas....i got 2.0 60's with them last friday why not try the auto X too right?

 

Lowering obviously reduces the car's center of gravity and helps somewhat in cornering and reduces some body roll. But don't go too low or you'll rub your tires/wheel wells. Negative camber also helps put more tread on the road in a hard corner but will eat your tires up in daily driving.

I just got Kumho Ecsta MXs (all around) a couple weeks ago an love them. I've had them on a track once, and still have to get used to the fact they don't make noise (driver feedback) until right before they break away. But they stick like crazy on the track!

For all that I've done to try to improve handling - lowering, Hotchkis F/R swaybars, Bilstein shocks, brake bias adjustments, negative camber set to the outside limits - autocross is still mostly about the driver of the car. That is exactly what makes it both educational (you'll be a better driver) and fun (you can compete against faster cars based on driver skill). And it's all in a controlled and safe environment off public roads.

Best example - a schooled driver showed up at an event I was entered in a rented Dodge Intrepid (his BMW was in the shop). He blew away over half the field including some new Porsches. I always wondered if Enterprise Car Rental knew what he was doing with their Dodge?

 

Good points, CAJUN!
Do you remember back when we were just getting crazy about cars in the late 60's - you could rent Shelby Mustangs from Hertz?
Guys used to rent them on Fridays, take 'em to the drags on Saturday and Sunday, get the trophies, and return them on Monday!
Hmmmmm, wonder why Hertz quit doing that?

 

Well, I can remember most of the 60s. Except for 1968 when I dropped out of college and moved to California. That year is sort of a purple haze. And I remember working for a Ford dealer out there selling those 'Stangs to folks. Then came the world's largest canoe club (USN) for four years. Then after graduating I really went really berzerk and got married. Oh well........

My very first car in '65 was a used Austin Healy Sprite (AKA change the head gasket almost every week and tune those SU carburators every day) that I ran between cones in shopping center parking lots on Sundays over in Tallahasee in 1965-6 in SCCA events. I remember my very first mod was a set of Perelli radials and thinking I was Jimmy Clark.

But Hertz did mistakenly rent one of those Mustangs to me in Atlanta one time where I promptly ran loops around the city for a couple days. Upon returning it at the airport when asked how I liked it, I just said, "It understeers like crap and the valves start lifting at 5800 RPM." The kid behind the counter just looked at me like, "What does that mean?"

 

CAJUN,
YOU - had a "Happy Frog???"

 

I gotcha.

 

I had subscribed to Car & Driver and they had a writer - Henry Manney (could have been Manning??) who called them that. Also called Ferrari "Fazzazz" as I recall. Very funny guy!
My first car was a 1958 Austin-Healey 100-6. Had the traditional Lucas electronic systems (3 switch positions - dim / flicker / off) and had electronic overdrive for 3rd. & 4th. gear. I'd be driving along and the "electronics" would short out and it would be like someone had kicked in the passing gear on an automatic
I also had radials on it (a new thing at the time!). However, only on the back (the preferred place for them if you didn't do the whole car).
Having learned everything I knew from the guys at the corner garage, I KNEW that I had to rotate the tires. So, I put them on the front . Nearly killed myself because of the handling mess!!
Ah, those were the days, my friend!
And people wonder why I appreciate my C5 so much !

 

This is going to be a great time...
...if StuzVette is in the shop for paint and bigger boost, Im going to work on Jami to run her S2000...

 

The S2000 should do well on the track. We'll have all sorts there. You and Jami can still drive it in circles with us.

 

Jim, I can't make this one but hopefully there will be another one soon. Have fun!

 

Thanks - we'll post anything we do here, too.

Actually the NCCC season is just starting up (as it gets cooler) so there will be lots to do and lots of fun.

 

I'll be there, a little more lowered and....Since the Formula car isn't running.....:-( I'm gonna borrow a part or two!

 

 

Great! Just bring a roll of duct tape in case something falls off your car.

 

oooo, it may be a 99, and I may be payin for it...but it's Still a chevy and not a RICER! The parts don't fall off! they just..... Lock up, burn oil, or make lotsa noise....


And granted at least when i'm sliding off the track i'll be able to SEE it!



ps. i'm running my older o2 sensors incase of large bumps in road or something...

 

cajun, please state all the requirements to participate. hope to see ya there. Matt

 

Matt - I'm sending an email to you with the registration, requirements and hotels to you separately. Right now golf isn't planned. After you've done this event - you'll probably understand why. It's a little more athletic than most think.

Good to hear from you, too.

 

Can you send me the registration requirement's also. thanx

 

Eddie: Check you email.

Thanks,

Jim

 

I have my own helment this time. But I will use your old rims.

I hope Stu makes it, I really want to see that car run.