Anyone auto-X or track their car?

HMP

HMP

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I know one member (@Les ) runs a car on the track (integra, I think), but curious if anyone else does any autocross events or track days.

Yes, I know that right now nothing is going on. But I want to get involved this year.

My next big project on the MR2 is suspension. I'll likely not go 'all-in' on it right now, just some KYB struts with good springs (maybe Eibach pro kit), instead of doing some Bilsteins or Konis (2x+ the price), but also replacing all the bushings with prothane kit and making sure all the suspension is tuned up to factory specs or better.

Friday I subscribed to Grassroots Motorsports, a great mag for autocrossing and tracking, just want to learn more and get involved a bit
 
I want to add - Ive read Grassroots Motorsports for years, didnt appreciate it as much when I was younger. I was more interested in the car LOOKING good etc, not so much suspension things. But now I see, and feel, more of the importance of a decent suspension.

Now it's 11:30 and Im watching videos by them

 
My dad used to "campaign" a Corvair powered Formula Vee when I was a kid.

I've toyed with the idea of getting a SV650 or SV1000 for a track bike since we're so close to VIR. I miss getting under the paint & strafing apexes, but I don't do that mess on the streets anymore.
 
Look into Triad Sports Car Club. They have a great autocross program once the covid crap is over. Tarheel Sports Car Club does autocross and track events. Both have novice programs to help you get started. Central Carolina region of SCCA does a lot of events at Z Max which is a great lot. This is one of the best areas in the country for lots of quality autocross.

I ran with Triad for a long time and had a lot of fun. When VIR reopened I spent and average of four days a month up there for five years. Between driving my own cars and instructing I was on track for six hours a day. Keep in mind they are closed three months of the year:)

What kind of car do you plan to use?
 
Coltdefender1911 said:
Drag strip. Does that count as track?:D
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Brother I spent a LOT of time traveling the east coast drag racing with a Harley organization. Freaking loved it.
Have raced several motorcycles and a previous car at the strip, but it's been a bit now.

But now Im looking for some curves ;)
 
VIR and CMP here too. Was just talking with my son about getting back into track days when this crap is over......
Driving a car at speed is one of the most fun things I’ve ever done!
 
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HMP said:
1991 Toyota MR2 Turbo
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Sorry I forgot that while typing. Make sure to check the rules before doing any type of modifications. Staying in the stock class will be cheaper and you can still do some things like shocks. If you get into some of the more prepared classes it can open up a can of worms to be competitive.

You can also get more info on this forum: https://www.roadraceautox.com/forum.php Good group of folks. You might want to stay out of the politics section though.....
 
I dont really care about being competitive, just want to get more experienced with the car, get to know it better, and have fun.
They car came with an aftermarket exhaust and intake, IM not taking that stuff off, I just want to have some fun on a course

Oh, I will say that I have been on a road course ONCE before - 6 laps on the Nurburgring in a rental BMW lol
 
There's a fairly straight course that leads into a helluva road course near Charlotte

I try it every once in a while in my f250
 
Do you plan on joyriding around in the MR2? In my experience I have autox'd 3 STI's. I found that after putting a lot into the suspension mods it was a beast on the autox course but it wasn't pleasant ride on the street. I had full suspension work done though.
 
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I did autox for a few seasons, ran a total stock Civic Del Sol vTec (should tell you how long ago that was) and was competitive against the other civic boyz. Dabbled a little with a miata but found that the miata crowd was way too serious about it and it wasn't fun hanging out and racing against those guys. Did some track days in both cars, and a few bikes. Those were fun times (Laguna Seca, Sears Point and Thunder Hill).

You can try autox with whatever you drive, no mods required. It's super cheap to try. Sorta like shooting matches, you can learn on anything before you start to try to mod your way into skill. :)

Laguna had a strict sound level limit, they would boot cars and bikes with loud pipes. Had a sound meter on the course, it wasn't part of tech inspections.
 
amnesia said:
Do you plan on joyriding around in the MR2? In my experience I have autox'd 3 STI's. I found that after putting a lot into the suspension mods it was a beast on the autox course but it wasn't pleasant ride on the street. I had full suspension work done though.
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Well Im looking at refreshing a 30 year old suspension
Again, probably some KYB strut inserts and a good set of springs, replace all bushings and bearings.
Nothing too wild, nothing too LOW either, It'll be about 1 inch lower, thats it
 
HMP said:
Well Im looking at refreshing a 30 year old suspension
Again, probably some KYB strut inserts and a good set of springs, replace all bushings and bearings.
Nothing too wild, nothing too LOW either, It'll be about 1 inch lower, thats it
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I would replace the front/rear sway bar and endlinks while you're at it. These are very cheap (relative) mods that make a world of difference
 
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Shout out to you guys who have spent time at VIR. When were you doing track days there? I worked that place almost full time from when it opened until 2012. Might have seen some of you there.
 
I was there from 2001 through 2006. Drove a red Datsun Z Car #99 and a Subaru WRX silver with blue factory rally decals. I also drove an Acura Type R yellow with a JDM front nose on it. Good times.
 
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After I quit road racing motorcycles, I use to do track days with my 2000 Mustang GT. Mostly just at CMP. It was not set up for track, as I drag raced/grudge raced the car more than anything. I would take off the big and littles and put on some Cobra R's or some Saleen wheels and hit the track. Car was way too heavy to do with regularity, 3240 with me in it. Thing ate tires like candy. It did have a 5 speed manual and 4.10 gears though too, so that helped, lol. Oh, and brakes. Ate those like candy also. Changing to stainless lines, and EBC pads and rotors helped, but pricey just for fun. Damn I miss road racing.......

Sent from my LM-Q710.FG using Tapatalk
 
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DrSideways said:
I was there from 2001 through 2006. Drove a red Datsun Z Car #99 and a Subaru WRX silver with blue factory rally decals. I also drove an Acura Type R yellow with a JDM front nose on it. Good times.
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Had to have seen you. I worked control/pit road seems like every event for most of that time. I ran autocross in the late 60s/early 70s with thc first Corvette club in Raleigh. We put on a time trial from start finish to pre-Oak Tree aroune 1970. The track manager wouldn't trust us on the back straight. LOL. I think we had to limit the entrys but it was "get in line to practice all you want" on Friday and Saturday and 2 timed runs on Sunday.
 
I ran a white Datsun 240Z for several years, then a gray 930 slant for several more, then an orange 240Z. Usually I was there with PCA or THSCC.
 
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lasttombstone said:
Had to have seen you. I worked control/pit road seems like every event for most of that time. I ran autocross in the late 60s/early 70s with thc first Corvette club in Raleigh. We put on a time trial from start finish to pre-Oak Tree aroune 1970. The track manager wouldn't trust us on the back straight. LOL. I think we had to limit the entrys but it was "get in line to practice all you want" on Friday and Saturday and 2 timed runs on Sunday.
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I'm sure we crossed paths. The Corvette times sound like the Ray Thompson era. Cool old guy.
 
DrSideways said:
I was thinking about you yesterday. Still have the 930?
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Yeah. The guy I bought the white car from kept bugging me to buy it back. He had the original motor and wanted to return it to stock, so I sold it back to him as a bare tub. Still got the 930 and the orange car I bought from Mark. Blew the motor in the orange car and haven't got it ready to go.
 
What I am driving these days would cause a roar of laughter if I showed up on a track. Getting old!
 
Cool. I sold mine some time ago. Got a real low mileage 2001 S2000 to cruise around in. I still talk with Mark some. Haven't seen Roddy in a while. Both still have their cars.

I do like not being on someone else's schedule and just turning the key to go.
 
Yeah, the track only cars are high maintenance for sure, and it seems to be getting worse as the years add up!
 
It would be a full time job to run mine now as much as I did then. It still took a ton of time back then. Amazing the amount of hours prep compared to time on track. That was one nice thing about the WRX. Add fuel and go, rain or shine. A couple sets of tires a year and it was happy. Still nothing like wringing the Z Car out though.
 
amnesia said:
I would replace the front/rear sway bar and endlinks while you're at it. These are very cheap (relative) mods that make a world of difference
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Ok, I'll look into it, thank you
 
If you get a chance.... take an Evolution school. Will buy more seconds than any parts. Any of the schools from the NC clubs will also pay off.
 
Crazy Carl said:
My dad used to "campaign" a Corvair powered Formula Vee when I was a kid.

I've toyed with the idea of getting a SV650 or SV1000 for a track bike since we're so close to VIR. I miss getting under the paint & strafing apexes, but I don't do that mess on the streets anymore.
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I think that is very cool. Got any pics?

.
 
Gator said:
I think that is very cool. Got any pics?

.
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I wish. Car's 45 years gone & my hateful mother stole or destroyed every single photo in the house during the divorce.

He also built a Corvair powered trike with a 20" over springer front end. Wicked fast, but spooky.
 
Crazy Carl said:
My dad used to "campaign" a Corvair powered Formula Vee when I was a kid.

I've toyed with the idea of getting a SV650 or SV1000 for a track bike since we're so close to VIR. I miss getting under the paint & strafing apexes, but I don't do that mess on the streets anymore.
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Someone will have photos of that for sure.You might try Nick England or Phil Allen. Gordon Jolley may also go back that far. Never hurts to ask about a special car like that.
 
DrSideways said:
Someone will have photos of that for sure.You might try Nick England or Phil Allen. Gordon Jolley may also go back that far. Never hurts to ask about a special car like that.
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Eh, I dunno. This was in KS in the '70's & most of that Corvair club crew are dirt napping these days.
 
Crazy Carl said:
Eh, I dunno. This was in KS in the '70's & most of that Corvair club crew are dirt napping these days.
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That's too bad. Surely someone from that local club has some shots. We are very fortunate in this area to have a pretty extensive amount of documentation of events and the cars. The actual participants end up in photos every once in a while....
 
@HMP, I found a thumb drive with a bunch of pics of the events me and Doc used to frequent. If you want, I'll post some, if no I won't clutter up your thread.
 
John said:
@HMP, I found a thumb drive with a bunch of pics of the events me and Doc used to frequent. If you want, I'll post some, if no I won't clutter up your thread.
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Post it here!
 
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