AutoX vs Open Track

[Sam Strano]

Hey Sam . . . ever get out to NJMP?


Norm

Not yet. Mostly Summit, PittRace for me, more local.

 

[Sam Strano]

Sam I may be contact you about my C5Z.

That's not what I expected to see when I logged in today.. But please feel free.

 

[Sam Strano]

General opinion versus S197, but....

Like Sam, I never changed any hard parts. He mentions alignment tweaks, which I have done as well. But, those alignment tweaks have been with the aim of settling down an otherwise loose car. Most of my setup experience is on a Civic, where I had rear toe to play with, and that was the biggest thing I would change. 1/8" toe out on autox, 1/8" toe in on track. The Civic certainly was setup loose for autox, and it became scary at triple digits. The aero acting on it certainly did it no favors either at high speed. It wasn't just in corners - The one time I took it to the strip I did so without touching the autox alignment, and it was a handful just keeping it straight at the big end. That said, the more stable alignment just plain didn't work at autox. Dunno if it was driving style, or if the Civic just needs to be loose (most of them are), but any time the rear toe was reigned in, the car got slower.

Mostly due to the fact the Honda wants to understeer. FWD, in your case power, long wheelbase too (relatively). You would need to help the rear rotate at autocross, because it's just along for the ride whereas on the Mustang the rear tires are doing something more.

I'm also sure the shape of the Civic didn't help rear stability at speed. At least a CRX is more of a Kamm tail design. I could see a Civic having lift on an already pretty light rear end. Add toe out and yeah wild ride I'm sure.

 

[DocB]

csamsh- what can you say is the biggest improvement you feel, driving the car, with those 800 lb. front springs?
And what rate springs are you comparing them to? (That you had before).
Do you feel the car is "balanced" with 800/250?
If not, how so?

 

[csamsh]

csamsh- what can you say is the biggest improvement you feel, driving the car, with those 800 lb. front springs?
And what rate springs are you comparing them to? (That you had before).
Do you feel the car is "balanced" with 800/250?
If not, how so?

I can't yet. Car is out of commission for a while. Struts are out getting rebuilt/revalved, and...winter is coming.