Need help - modding for track and autocross?

[KCjohnny]

First time poster here, and I need help from the forum. (hi)

I have a 2007 Mazda3 /4 door sedan / 5 speed / I-touring /with the 2.0 L engine. It is completely stock, with about 69,000 miles on it, and it is my daily driver and only vehicle. I just started taking her out for open track days at a local raceway (twice so far), and I now want to start autocross as well.

Given that I am starting with a stock vehicle, what moddifications would you recommend I do to:

1) increase horsepower???
2) increase handling capability???

Also, I am getting another set of rims and tires just for the events. Any ideas for those?

Any and all suggestions and recommendations are greatly appreciated!

 

[bigjae1976]

At a minimum, you should upgrade to track spec brake pad, bleed your brakes, and go with some good summer tires.

Then do suspension work (springs, sways, bushings, etc). I'd leave the engine alone until later on.

 

[major error]

The 3 is very competitive in H Stock; Save yourself a lot of money, and play with it stock for a while--tune the driver first!

There are some good pointers in the motorsports section stickies: http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=51

My suggestion is definitely get another set of OE wheels and put a good set of summer tires on them. Suggestions would be Kumho XS or the Dunlop Direzza Z1 star-spec (someone has a set of wheels for sale now! http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123749157 )

Get a season or 2 under your belt before you do anything else.

In the Stock classes, you're pretty limited on what can change....
In order of impact:
Driver
R-comp tires
everything else ( DA shocks, FSB, air filter, brakes)

 

[Strobe Media]

2007 with 69k miles 8O

mine has 68k and it's a 2004 haha

 

[KCjohnny]

Thanks everyone for the feedback!

Bigjae1976 - I was thinking along those lines too

Major Error - after taking her stock to the track (with Goodyear Eagle F1s) I was very impressed with how the car handled with zero modifications. Your advice makes sense

Strobe Media - 50,000 miles were put on the car in less than 2 years - a 3 hour round-trip commute 4 times a week will do that LOL. Great way to break in the engine!

 

[KCjohnny]

Hey Major Error and bigjae1976, I took your advice - car goes into garage Tuesday for the following performance upgrades on my all stock OEM components:

1) new brake lines installed, Goodridge G-Stop Stainless Steel
2) brake fluid flushed and replaced, Ate Super Blue
3) new rotors installed, Centric Premium Vented Blanks
4) new brake pads installed, Hawk Performance Plus
5) oil changed from regular to Pennzoil Full Synthetic 5W20 and K&N Filter (screw-on)
6) manual transmission fluid changed to Redline MT-90
7) air filter replaced, K&N drop-in
8) new tires, Dunlop Direzza Star Spec Z1s (replacing thoroughly used up Goodyear Eagle F1s)

3 more track days are on the way, and potentially 2 autocross events - I'll let you know how it goes vs. stock components