Autocrossed my budget 4 door

Hotwire · Apr 25, 2022

Just showing what my bargain basement junkyard parts can do. If I wanted to be competitive I'd definitely need better spring rates (stock now) and much better tires. Drove there, beat the snot out of it over 5 runs, then drove it home. Was an awesome day!

shovelrick · Apr 25, 2022

Now that is Enjoying and having Fun in your Chevelle 👍👍🙂

2/75NastyNewbs · Apr 25, 2022

How’d the driveshaft do?

senna · Apr 25, 2022

That looks like a great track. A lot higher speed than what I've been able to do. My tread wear is 300, I don't think I want the hassle of using track tires.

I think the higher speed more open style track would suit the bigger A body cars better.

Sent from my SM-T720 using Tapatalk

-SS454- · Apr 25, 2022

Looks like it has excellent acceleration for an auto x. Good job!

Hotwire · Apr 25, 2022

Thanks guys it was a blast! Only got 1 cone through the 5 runs, dropped time on each run, that vid was my last. Dang near driving with my finger tips trying to thread it!

2/75NastyNewbs said:
How’d the driveshaft do?

The driveshaft is awesome! I really can feel the loss of reciprocating weight when accelerating. Thank you again for the information, one of the best parts this car has!

senna said:
That looks like a great track. A lot higher speed than what I've been able to do. My tread wear is 300, I don't think I want the hassle of using track tires.

I think the higher speed more open style track would suit the bigger A body cars better.

These are 500 treadwear, they barely hold but give you a hint of wiggle room before they give up. That was all second gear, topping out at 60mph. I want to get a more aggressive tire but don't want to hear the wife when I wear them down quicker. 😣

This was one of the faster tracks I've been on, absolutely loved it! Goodguys are always tight and technical. This group I'm on is only through Facebook so I had to set up a bogus account to follow them. Might search your area for SCCA events (middle of page. https://www.scca.com/ ), they'll hopefully have some open events like this. Hagerty also lists events by area but it usually the more expensive track rentals. MotorsportReg | racing, track day, HPDE, autocross, sport bike, karting & motocross events

Next event is middle of May, might bite the bullet and get new tires before then, push the a.c. purchase back... again.

shovelrick · Apr 25, 2022

Hotwire said:
Thanks guys it was a blast! Only got 1 cone through the 5 runs, dropped time on each run, that vid was my last. Dang near driving with my finger tips trying to thread it!

The driveshaft is awesome! I really can feel the loss of reciprocating weight when accelerating. Thank you again for the information, one of the best parts this car has!

These are 500 treadwear, they barely hold but give you a hint of wiggle room before they give up. That was all second gear, topping out at 60mph. I want to get a more aggressive tire but don't want to hear the wife when I wear them down quicker. 😣

This was one of the faster tracks I've been on, absolutely loved it! Goodguys are always tight and technical. This group I'm on is only through Facebook so I had to set up a bogus account to follow them. Might search your area for SCCA events (middle of page. https://www.scca.com/ ), they'll hopefully have some open events like this. Hagerty also lists events by area but it usually the more expensive track rentals. MotorsportReg | racing, track day, HPDE, autocross, sport bike, karting & motocross events

Next event is middle of May, might bite the bullet and get new tires before then, push the a.c. purchase back... again.

Push the A/C Purchase back!?...Never mind I'm an older guy LOL

You and your car did great

Hotwire · Apr 25, 2022

shovelrick said:
Push the A/C Purchase back!?...Never mind I'm an older guy LOL You and your car did great

Thank you sir! I know I'll be regretting it as the temps are starting to hit over 80, that thing turns into a oven.

Here's an outside perspective of that run. Looks a lot slower on the outside than it does the inside. There were a LOT of light cars there with racing tires, makes this thing look like a lumbering barge. It sounds stupid loud until the cart takes off as I'm finishing. I also should have braked more before leaving the stop box area, surprised no one scolded me for that..

65cayne · Apr 25, 2022

Hotwire said:
Just showing what my bargain basement junkyard parts can do. If I wanted to be competitive I'd definitely need better spring rates (stock now) and much better tires. Drove there, beat the snot out of it over 5 runs, then drove it home. Was an awesome day!

That looks like a LOT of fun. I don't think my arms could turn my steering wheel fast enough.

Derek69SS · Apr 25, 2022

Looked great, and you drove it well.

Be careful, it's addicting.

Hotwire · Apr 26, 2022

65cayne said:
That looks like a LOT of fun. I don't think my arms could turn my steering wheel fast enough.

I'm running a quick ratio steering box out of an S10, the only time I had to get into the steering hard was when I used too much throttle and had to wheel the ol girl back into line. If you click on the link I posted above for SCCA events, I highly recommend them. I'm definitely not competitive enough to run in my class, I'm just going out to better myself, learn the limits of the car, and better my elapsed time every run. The groups that run the events usually have a handful of novice instructors that will walk you through the track and tell you where to put your car on track, then they will ride with you to help you through the course. The cost is $30-40 per event around here, unsure if that's national or local pricing? The Hagerty prices go from $200-$3,000 I've seen!!

Derek69SS said:
Looked great, and you drove it well.
Be careful, it's addicting.

Oh, I'm already neck deep man.

It took every ounce of my being to run smooth and not try to power through it. I could unload all kinds of money and there'd still be a civic or miata that would take my glory. Trying to run fast and tight on these tires has humbled me to the core. If I ever get a 200 treadwear tire on there I'll be strutting around like Macho Man Randy Savage. I appreciate the compliment, means a lot! If I ever post something that could be done better, speak freely!

Hotwire · Apr 26, 2022

Professional photographer starting putting up pics from the event, I had to grab them.

Co-worker's son got to ride with me, I knew it felt like he was in my lap on some of the turns! 😅 No more positive camber either, suspension is doing it's job.

Love the side shots, completely satisfied with the exhaust tuck I did earlier this year.

cv67 · Jun 26, 2022

Senna indeed that is a super tight track!! You can only do so much there-

Your 4 door looks like it handles and stops pretty good, what all is done to your susp. and brakes?

Id love to put some 265s back on front and try this.
Remember the fist autocross I saw with these old cars was pre 90. It was hilarious-

Love drag racing but I could totally dig this for a day.

Thing is how the hell do you keep track of what cones to pass up and which ones to weave around Id forget and just say f it mow em down.

Also..what mufflers do you have exh sounds great! Lotsa Q's I know-

Hotwire · Jun 27, 2022

cuisinartvette said:
Senna indeed that is a super tight track!! You can only do so much there-

Your 4 door looks like it handles and stops pretty good, what all is done to your susp. and brakes?

Id love to put some 265s back on front and try this.
Remember the fist autocross I saw with these old cars was pre 90. It was hilarious-

Love drag racing but I could totally dig this for a day.

Thing is how the hell do you keep track of what cones to pass up and which ones to weave around Id forget and just say f it mow em down.

Also..what mufflers do you have exh sounds great! Lotsa Q's I know-

Main thing is it's lowered, corrected the front end geometry, big sway bars, and factory 2002 Camaro V6 disc brakes front and rear. Still running rotors I got out of the junkyard, using napa adaptive one pads. Don't have fancy braided lines or anything, stock 80's corvette master and no distribution block, using inexpensive wilwood proportioning valve on rear line. Stock springs with silver kyb gas-a-just shocks. I do need to go to a firmer spring, but I'm having a lot of fun with what I've got now.

I'm running 255/40/17 all the way around, but 500 treadwear tire is killing me as it doesn't bite as well as I need it to. Will be updating to a better tire soon, but am not looking forward to hearing the wife complain about wearing them down quicker.

The group that runs the autocross allows you to walk the track before the event and has guided tours to explain how to enter and exit each turn. Sometimes they'll chalk the track so you have a good indication of where you're supposed to be, but most of the time it's watching the cones. If you haven't done it before you get lost quickly. If you watch my run look at how the cones are set up. You can see they lay the outside cone to the direction you need to be. This track was a little confusing as it overlaps itself in the middle.

Hooker longtube headers, summit 3" mandrel bent pipe, 3" magnaflow high flow catalytic converters, hooker VR304 mufflers (basically magnaflows), and flowmaster tailpipes that exit @ the rear tires.

Here's a better video of the run from the outside, guy had zoomed in on the run. You can see there is body roll but the sway bars catch it and keep the car flat. Just states that I need higher spring rates.

Derek69SS · Jun 27, 2022

You're giving up a lot of time in that finish slalom by not being close enough to the cones.

For a good "seat time" tire, I liked the Federal 595 RS-Pro. It's not a top tier tire, but it's close enough that it's a great tire to learn on, gives good feedback, and manages heat pretty well, while being one of the cheapest options available in somewhat competitive 200tw tire. Kumho V730 is really affordable too, but I have no experience with that tire... they need heat to be sticky, which doesn't work great in my climate for early/late season events.

Hotwire · Jun 27, 2022

Thanks Derek, I'm definitely not a professional. Most of that track time is with the car unsettled balancing tire grip, almost like driving in the rain on a set of good tires. Can't trust the grip, space is my band aid, although I have a couple of good marks on the pass side that reminds me I'm not a professional from past events. 😅

Also thank you for the heads up on the tires. I really need to just bite the bullet and get a set of track tires. I was going to try and thread the line running nitto 555s all the time? Just worried that a better tire will boost my confidence and I'll be running riskier on the backroads. Purposely trying to keep myself from getting any stupid trophies by throttling things with ok tires.

Derek69SS · Jun 27, 2022

Even once you have really good tires, you should still be just beyond the edge of grip most of the time. Fastest way around on any tire will include some slip-angle. If you're not sliding or spinning, you're not pushing hard enough. If it feels like it's "on rails" then you're driving too slow.
...and if you're not hitting cones frequently, you're not getting close enough to them.

It's not a bad thing to learn on tires that suck. Their breakaway point is usually more gradual and occurs at lower speeds, so it's safer.
Getting used to driving just a little beyond that "hooked up" feeling will help you to be fast if you can duplicate it on good tires.

The Federals might be about a second slower than a Yokohama A052, but they last twice as long and cost half as much, and you won't have to spray them with water before every run to cool them off. Wait to spend the big bucks on top tier tires once you're in range where ~1 second will make a difference, consistently.

Autocrossed my budget 4 door

Hotwire

shovelrick

2/75NastyNewbs

senna

-SS454-

Hotwire

shovelrick

Hotwire

65cayne

Derek69SS

Hotwire

Hotwire

cv67

Hotwire

Derek69SS

Hotwire

Derek69SS

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities