Autocross and MS3

[mcb]

Its my 2nd season of auto-x and now that i have a good car to do it i enjoy it more every run. (i had a n/a heavly modded sunfire GT (hand) wich was doing very bad at auto-x)

1st thing, i would run stock if i was you... those little beast are well prepared against the standard competitors. Most of the top ranked stock car are: integra (type r or GSR) MSP and Mini. For large/fast track you gonna hand them their a$s if you know how to use the car.

2nd thing TIRES... Stockers are good but to perform in auto-x you will need something little more sticky/wide. I use 225/40 Hoosier A6, wich is prolly the best auto-x tire out there, but to run R compound tire you need to be in Stock or in Modified. If your in STU you gonna need to stick with street tire (140 tradeware minimum if i remember). You could use semi-race tire like Falken azenis.

3rd the best mod to do is behind the steering... Take the time to walk the track. I usually walk 3-4 time just to be sure i know where i go. Yes we have great cars but learning how to drive it at is max is not gonna take only 5 runs...

4th HAVE FUN!! Dont rush yourself for the first rank. I saw many newcomer with great cars and cry because a car with half of their power/mods smoke them by 5 sec or more on a 60 second track. There are some very good driver out there... Watch them, talk to them, learn from them.


Good Luck!

 

[Kosh]

I could go back to the old airbox but I don't think I could drive with the old rear mount. I don't want to have to get in there and swap out mounts before each event. I'm starting half way through the season so I'll use the rest of the events to get used to navigating and learning what the limits of the car are. I think I can do well if I stay in STU and will compare my times with what DS and DSP are running.

Right now it is all about fun and learning. I'll keep asking for ride alongs and next year will take novice classes when I have a few events under my belt.

Next event I am borrowing wheels from another forum member and will see how I like them before purchasing some of my own.

I just wish there was some place I could go to practice between events. I don't think the police would be very happy if I practice slalom between the white lines on the highway(stooges)

 

[blacksheepms3]

I could go back to the old airbox but I don't think I could drive with the old rear mount. I don't want to have to get in there and swap out mounts before each event. I'm starting half way through the season so I'll use the rest of the events to get used to navigating and learning what the limits of the car are. I think I can do well if I stay in STU and will compare my times with what DS and DSP are running.

Right now it is all about fun and learning. I'll keep asking for ride alongs and next year will take novice classes when I have a few events under my belt.

Next event I am borrowing wheels from another forum member and will see how I like them before purchasing some of my own.

I just wish there was some place I could go to practice between events. I don't think the police would be very happy if I practice slalom between the white lines on the highway(stooges)

I got an aftermarket motor mount for ms3, i think it's better having it on the autox than the stock, you wont have wheel hop. I autozed last april for the first time and havent gone back yet. all i had was cai. i beat a porshe, a wrx and a legacy. Maybe it was their first time too, but so it was for me. My first run i plowed through turns though i never hit a cone. Then I asked for a ride-along and the guy told me that whenever u are trying to turn and ur car is not responding it's because it's understeering so he told me to "do less of everything" that means give less gas and return your steering to a lesser angle and your car should recover. He stayed in for the next run and saw improvements. It felt like i was goin slower but the clock dont lie i did the course in less time. From then on I talked to other drivers and they gave me tips like "slow in, fast out" and "modulate your gas" maintain power through turns, "take the apex", stay on 2nd gear cause when u shift down to 1st it's not even worth it. So yeah, I had fun with my ms3

 

[Kosh]

It is more about driver ability than car power. That is what I like about it. If I stay in STU and get good at running the courses I think I should do quite well against cars with more mods in my class. This season is all about learning and practice. Next season I will be more serious about time and points.

 

[mcb]

Thats the way to go ! (cool)

btw i dont think your motor mount put you out of stock... but not sure tough.

 

[brian8599]

Classes?

First, hello folks!

4 days ago, I took delivery of a black MS3GT. Overall, I'm very happy with my purchase. I do have some gripes but I realize nothing is perfect, especially for the $. 3rd gear is an absolute blast. I need to wash all the brake dust off my front wheels.

In a former life, I used to autocross a stock '99 Miata Sport (and a '95 R-pkg before that) with NER. I've been absent from auto-x for 4+ years but will be returning once my car breaks-in. I'm anticipating a serious challenge autocrossing a FWD turbo car. The Miata was very easy to autocross. (I wasn't all that fast)

Forgive my ignorance. What are the SCCA classes for an MS3? From what I gathered from the posts, DS for a stock car, STU for a slightly modified car on street tires, STS for more modifications on street tires.. What is the class for an MS3 with race rubber, a CAI and a rear engine mount?

What are the permitted mods in STU? STS?

-Brian

 

[dolphin]

Here is a link to the site you can use to download the Solo rulebook.
http://www.scca.org/_FileLibrary/File/2007SoloRules.pdf

The MS3 like the MSP is not allowed in STS. It has both a turbo and a non-viscous type limited slip.

 

[xelderx]

MS3 = D Stock, STU, DSP, Street Modified

 

[blacksheepms3]

Thats the way to go ! (cool)

btw i dont think your motor mount put you out of stock... but not sure tough.

they probably wouldnt know i got a motor mount. they dont go under the car to check. Any changes in power and susp[ension i'd let them know base on honor system. Otherwise I'll b cheatin myself.

 

[Kosh]

Just finished my second auto-x in the ms3. Lot lore fun today than last month. Felt more comfortable opening the throtle more around turns. Found out how much fun it is running no traction control and actually spun the car around. Really want to find some tires and wheels just for running auto-x. Next event in a week (burnout)

 

[dolphin]

I think that autocrossing has gotten another addict.

 

[drledford93]

I had my first autox in my MS3 today. I haven't autoxed in nearly 8 years (was REALLY into it back in the late 90's with my dsm awd...)

However, I went with a bone-stock MS3 and came within 0.2 sec of beating heavily modded Subies which were running many, many more horsepower than I was...(nana)

However, this thing pushes like a pig! I was surprised to say the least. Not much off-throttle oversteer to speak of. (Of course, this is without an alignment. 1/16" toe out in the rear will help cure both...) This car does slalom very well, especially in third! I am pleased at that. Take that, subie fans...(spank)

I think things will turn out much differently once I get some lighter-weight wheels and a CAI...(nana)

Daniel

 

[Kosh]

Is pushes like a pig a bad thing? The problem with this car is it has too much power There was a hairpin turn in the middle and I just wanted to stay on the throtle for half the turn and the car pretty much hopped sideways until it straitened out. Freaking awesome! I have some video of me and Velocifero getting in a couple runs in my car I will try to upload tonight.

 

[TinmanMS6]

By "push" he means understeer, and yes, that's a bad thing, but I think you got a taste of the off-throttle oversteer he's missing yesterday when you spun it.

 

[TheTam]

Congrats Kosh! You have really got me interested in auto-x now and I am going to try and attend a few events this year to see if it's for me. If so, maybe next year I'll head down to Hotlanta and give you a little competition in class. (nana)

 

[drledford93]

Yes, Tinman, that's what I mean. I could not get the rear to step out at all. Of course, I did not adjust my tire pressures, as I just wanted to see what it could do. My pressures were set at 36 f/r. This morning, I set them to 34/43to try and get the thing a bit more loose...

The car still slalomed like a madman, though...(spin)

 

[TinmanMS6]

Yeah, it was a lot of fun to ride in. I can't wait to see what it does with some RT-615s or RE01-Rs on it. The stock tires seem to complain a lot.

 

[Kosh]

The turn on the back of the course where the outfield was located was a great turn. googlemap The car has way too much power for that turn. Need to learn to really feather the throtle until the car gets turned around to keep the sideways hop and wheel spin under control. I could see how better tires would help grab that corner. I agree with the tires. Seemed to have the loudest tires in class.

Holy crap I'm so happy we have another event next weekend (cabpatch)