:werd: Very true. I autocrossed my car stock for almost 2 years before I decided to make a single change. And not to nag, but I came very close to killing myself, and worse, my best friend, by driving too hard on public roads before I was really familiar with the car. Have a good time and do what you like, but be smart about it.

 

thanks guys, again, quiet reasoned words are heard 100 times more than the most heated yelling.

I found a friend who knows of some auto-x action, about 2 hours away. I'll be looking into it seriously, sounds like a blast.

I'm still convinced about dropping some work into the suspension, can we reccomend any good resources that would help my research?

Upon consulting with my buddy, I won't be going with anything more than an SI rear sway, and probably keep the stock front one.

so, new wheels and tires for a couple of weeks, let me acclimate, and then rear brakes and shocks/struts.

Thanks guys, any more specific advice would be appreciated.

anyone happen to be local to CT, that could point me towards events/organazations?

Also, is my turbo civic going to have pretty much worthless power on the autoX track? due to spool times, etc. Or is that a competitive advantage (classing aside)

-PHiZ

 

most aftermarket turboed cars dont do so hot in autocross competitively. Heck, most OE turboed cars arent usually as quick as their non-turbo counterparts (case in point: mr2 turbo v. mr2 na; saab 900t v. 900s, etc). You really never have a chance to hold down the gas for more than a second or 2, so yeah, lag is a killer. Its still plenty fun, you just wont be that competitive (btw, that would put you in SM, so youd have some pretty well prepared cars in your class)

 

New England Region

 

From one who just sold a 96 Civic HB-Start slow. Do NOT go with 16" wheels. Totally good with 15". I used American Racing Spyders in 15x7 (Motegi MR12 are also nice) wrapped in a variety of performance tires (195/50HR-15) over the 3 years I owned the car. The suspension was tweaked with Skunk2 coilovers and Koni shocks. If the car has not been aligned recently-do it. I will not recommend that you buy Azenis for the street. For an overall good tire take a llok at Dunlop Sport A2's or similar.

 

SM == sport modified I'm guessing, yeah it's a bummer, I won't have any chance of being competitive. But is' my daily driver, so I'm not going to NOT modify it to find a more suitable class for like the 3 events a year I might make it to...

-PHiZ

 

Street Mod. Yeah, I have friends that autocross a few times a year just for the fun of it because their cars aren't particularly suited to the sport. THey still have a blast.

 

I still would like some advice on where to go, I'm going with 15in oem alloys with some yokohama es100 105/50/15.

I have a DC sports front strut tower bar, from the previous owner. I think my last mishap was contributed to lift-throttle oversteer. After some research, I Wish I had know more about my cars handling, and could've avoided that.

I'd like a decent setup that will give me lots of input, so I can start to learn the feel for suspension.

I have started to look into getting into some soloII events, to learn safely, but I don't want an autoX suspension, I don't want to rotate the car, like some of the autoX setups are geared to.

-PHiZ

 

The tires will go a long way in communicating road conditions, traction limits, etc... (I assume you mean 205mm ) Many autocrossers get pretty oversteer-biased suspension... but you really don't need it to do well in autocross. I find my 400f,400r spring rates to be a tad on the understeer side on the street, and pretty neutral (although pretty easy to provoke into oversteer) once I've dialed in the shocks. But there's no need to follow the herd. You don't need an "autocross suspension"--whatever that is-- to autocross.

If youre just trying to get a handle on your car's attitude and behavior at the limit, really the last thing you should do is start modifying the suspension. Find yourself a big, empty parking lot and have at it. Only once youve mastered the stock suspension will you know what you want out of a modified suspension.

 

Sorry I jumped in like I did. I know too many people who jump in this board thinking they are Gods of suspension (which I am not either), and then try to piss away at good advice.

I'll have to back up Alan in that autocrossing is a great way to push your car 110% in a safe and controlled environment. In most cases you will not have to worry about the 200 foot drop after the guard rail if you do OVERSTEER or UNDERSTEER into that guard rail. Autocross the major thing that can happen is you hit a cone. Yes I've heard of people hitting light poles or flipping their car, but those cases are rare - but you have to remember this is a sport - so like any sport accidents happen.

The big thing about doing mods now then going to an autocross is the infinite tuning you are now placed with. Whereas if you just run the car as is (stock hopefully) you will learn the limits of your car QUICKER and not having to worry about: did I adjust the sway bars right, did I turn up the shocks enough, my short shifter is too stiff, etc... whereas if you just drive the car stock the only problem you have to worry about is tire pressure AND the driver. So if you mess up you know it was your fault and not the shocks, sway bars, springs, etc....