Autocrossers Around??

I occasionally co-drive a P5 in STS in the San Francisco Region events. The car has the following mods: MazdaSpeed (the ugly green ones) 5-way adjustable struts all around;Ground Control coil-overs (375lb front, 500lb rear); AWR 21.5 rear sway-bar w/end-links, AWR motor mounts, AWR rear trailing arms; Injen CAI; some sort of larger "non-rice" stainless muffler(?); Rota Slipstreams 16x7 w/Falken Azenis Sports 215/45-16; front -2.5 camber, max caster, some toe-out; rear -1.0 camber, zero toe. The car does well, when driven well, and seldom loses locally, but Nationally it's too heavy to run with the STS big dogs. I run my 2002.5 DX sedan sometimes too, but it's not quite as modded suspension-wise, most notably I have RB springs instead of coil-overs, non-adjustable struts, stock motor mounts and trailing arms, and the 19MM rear bar. Despite my weight advantage, the coil-overs and larger rear bar really make a huge difference and I normally can't beat his P5. Our diving abilities are very evenly matched, but the P5's owner is more consistent than I am, but he cones much more often.
 
I'm veryn new to the autocrossing scene. I put on some Skunk2 adjustable coilovers, an Injen cold air intake, and a GReddy exhuast. I'm tryin to figure out what would be the next most important thing to do that isn't gonna blow out my bank account.
 
mspeedP5 said:
Oh yeah, and tires too! :)
(mswerd)don't do what I did, I'am also a noob to auto-x scene and I ****** up my stock tires really bad. Now I need 2 new replacement tires for the front. Invest in some good auto-x tires.
 
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that thread really should be made a sticky, that was very informative. Seems I had the wrong idea on how to go about this. Thx for the advice.
 
i drive an '02 ES in Philly region. last season i ran HS with only a set of V700s on stock rims, but this year i'd like to move to STS. my mods will be minimal since i'm in law school.

and yes, buy a set of tires. if you're new, stay on street tires like the Kumho MX or falken Azenis (i.e., no R-compounds). i ran through my stock tires in one winter season (8 events and novice school). i realized it's actually cheaper to have a set of dedicated autoX wheels/tires than to replace the $108/each dunlops every year.

rusty- a few questions. last i heard, the green MS struts were unavailable. ??? i'd love to have a set of those for the rear.

what would you say is the best place to start for someone on a limited budget? my plan is:

MSP springs ($50-$75)
Tokico HPs ($340)
AWR 21.5 rear bar w/ endlinks ($215)
AWR front endlinks ($65)

if possible (aka, "my girlfriend doesn't strangle me by this point"):
205/50/15 Azenis ($330)
15"x6.5" MX-6 wheels (*sob* the Rota GB is killing me right now) ($70)
Hawk HP+ pads ($65)
TWM short shifter ($130)

probably won't bother w/ power mods. how did he get -2.5 degres of camber? what sort of toe? i'm probably going to run 1/8" out all around.
 
rusty- a few questions. last i heard, the green MS struts were unavailable. ??? i'd love to have a set of those for the rear.
probably won't bother w/ power mods. how did he get -2.5 degres of camber? what sort of toe? i'm probably going to run 1/8" out all around


He's had those Green Meanies since early-mid 2002 season, I remember he got them very soon after getting the car. I've also heard they are rare/impossible to get too. All four of his struts are getting tired, but they are the only ones I know of with the rear adjusters where they belong! He is using camber bolts in the front to get the -2.5. He has the front stock toe settings marked with paint, and toes it out at the events, I think about 1/4". Not very scientific though. He briefly tried a set of Tokico Illumina's in the front, but lost gobs of travel due to different dimensions in there somewhere. He's messed around with rear toe-out, can't remember why he went back to zero.
 
I autox my msp. welcome to the gang!!!!!! I don 't think autox should be considered a hobby (like my wife says) it's more of an addiction..
 
IM STILL A NOOB as well....my second event is june the 13th and i hope to have my harnes sin by then...im runnin ds with my msp for now.....im hopin to get a second set of wheels and run the stockers with either some azenis or r-compounds.......this winter i plan to work out some coilovers and other suspension pieces and enter stx next season
 
I tried that Toe out in front thing that Rusty mentions after Steve showed me his method. I ended up DESTROYING a set of tires because I totally messed up the recovery at the end of the event.

I've been happier leaving the front at zero, and lots of toe out in back. My at-the-event adjustment method I have found to be much more accurate and repeatable as well.
 
AutoBox-

you going to the Holbert event at Ripken on June 26th? i can't wait.

He's had those Green Meanies since early-mid 2002 season, I remember he got them very soon after getting the car. I've also heard they are rare/impossible to get too. All four of his struts are getting tired, but they are the only ones I know of with the rear adjusters where they belong! He is using camber bolts in the front to get the -2.5. He has the front stock toe settings marked with paint, and toes it out at the events, I think about 1/4". Not very scientific though. He briefly tried a set of Tokico Illumina's in the front, but lost gobs of travel due to different dimensions in there somewhere. He's messed around with rear toe-out, can't remember why he went back to zero.

actually, i looked around: MM lists them, but their inventory check says "0". Cork Sport has them in stock, but at $229/ea. :eek: there's no way i would go w/ a top adjustable on my sedan, but i thought w/ the P5, the tops were accessible in the rear. hmm. i'm going w/ the "paint marking" toe-out strategy as well. scientific, schmientific.

thanks for the info! good luck this season.
 
ON MY P5 IF I AM GOING WITH FALKEN AZENIS SPORT 215/45/16 WITH ROTA SLIPSTREAMS 16x7 SET UP ,WILL I HAVE TO ROLL THE FENDERS OR WILL IT BE A GOOD FIT?
 
titan5 said:
ON MY P5 IF I AM GOING WITH FALKEN AZENIS SPORT 215/45/16 WITH ROTA SLIPSTREAMS 16x7 SET UP ,WILL I HAVE TO ROLL THE FENDERS OR WILL IT BE A GOOD FIT?


My friend uses that exact setup on his P5 with no problems. He is lowered with ground control coil-overs. No rubbing.
 
I run that exact setup on my Mazdaspeed. I'm lowered about 3" in the front and have no rubbing. Just make sure to get +45 offset slipstreams. +40 could rub in the rear under exteme compression.
 
H stock in vancouver, bc
"Mods" are rims, tires, alignment, synth oil, and lots of autox and track schooling and racing

Jackal14075 said:
Anybody here auto-x yur MP5?? What mods did you do and what region do you race in?
 

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