Recommended mods to be competitive?

[ilarson007]

So, what are generally recommended mods to be competitive in auto-x? I was thinking like, the S/R Tokicos, lowering springs (if allowed), exhaust, intake, swaybars, or strutbars, or .... ok, I don't know much about suspensions, lol... Thoughts?

[iceracer]

Decide what class you want to run. Stock means just that, except for tires. STS alows supension mods and a little other stuff, must run street type tires. Then there is DSP,allows quite a few mods.
Get a rule book. SCCA can be downloaded.
You don't want to make a bunch of mods and find out you can't run.

[zxtwou2]

stock class allows race rubber in stock size...and cat back exhaust.

STS is a really competative class, and i'm doing really well in it so far.

[STS-ZX2SR]

Stock allows any dampers, FSB change, cat-back, and brake pads...runs on any size "R" comp tires that fit on on stock-sized wheels w/ +/- .25" offset allowance. Most regions have a street-tire stock class as well.

STS allows 225 wide "street" tires (140 tread wear or more) on 7.5" wheels, any diameter/offset. Swaybars, non-metal bushings, strut bars, and any spring/damper/coilover that attaches at OE points are allowed, including bolt-in camber plates. Catback w/ highflow cat in OE location--header OK if OE cat location is retained, intake (not TB) and chip OK. UDP is OK. Seats that are 25+ pounds are OK. Body kits (no CF) are OK. Fender rolling OK.

DSP...any header, no cat, any wheel/tire (R-comp), LSD, cam-gears, A/C removal etc.


Rules can be downloaded as .pdf at scca.org.

[trekkor]

A seat with five point harness is worth a second.


KT

[krux]

How about energy suspsion. I don't hear much people doing it much anymore? Worth it or not?

[cone-cerned]

The best mods are to the driver. Dennis Grant says in Autocross to Win (http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets.html) that it is ...

"75% driver, 20% tire, 5% setup - for cars similarily classed.

Bottom line here: learn to drive before you start spending money and turning wrenches; it's the best investment you can make."