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Thread: SCCA Auto-X

  1. #1
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    SCCA Auto-X

    Well, since I will soon be single again, once I land on my feet I want to take of running. Being single this time around (as opposed to before being married), I actually have a good job with a good future with the company I am with. I will have a daughter to raise, too. Other than planning long term for my future (I do want to retire some day), my baby's future (saving for college and a wedding), I want to finally start doing some SCCA Solo II or similiar auto-x.

    I have always thought myself pretty decent behind the wheel of a car and understand what a car is doing. I like drag racing, but only to a point and only now and then. I plan on keeping the Marauder, of course, and making it faster, picking up a beater/daily driver (ex-cop car or something similiar), but I eventually want to pick up something to start doing some Auto-X in. Plus, I want my daughter to be raised around that and have that opportunity at a younger age.

    Anyway, does anyone else do this? If so, what car do you run? How about some input on various cars to use for this (and drive on the street now and then). I would be doing some local Auto-X with it and maybe a little road racing at MAM near Omaha, NE.

    Here are a couple of cars I have thought about:

    1) Fox body Mustang
    2) Porsche 944 or 944 Turbo (hard to beat the handling, braking, and all around performance)
    3) 3rd Gen F-Body
    4) Something smaller: Honda Civic, Ford Focus (SVT?), etc


    Those cars have a strong after market support, good handling and braking, and can be picked up relatively cheaply. I would drive the car on the street now and then, but look at stuff for racing: 4 or 5 point harness, roll bar, partial gut of interior, and other weight saving measures. I kind of think one of the 2 V8 cars or the Porsche would be a fun choice as they would be OK on the Auto-X and have more power for the road racing.

    What do you think? Input on the cars? Input on the racing itself, especially from those that have or do currently do it?
    Last edited by Eric91Z; 10-29-2006 at 10:47 AM.
    Eric

    2004 Silver Birch Marauder - Sold 04/17/09:
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  2. #2
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    A couple of other ideas:

    1) Mid-model C4 Corvette: L98 car with the 6-speed
    2) Mazda Miata
    Eric

    2004 Silver Birch Marauder - Sold 04/17/09:
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    - #852 of 987 Silver Birch Marauders
    - Born On Date: 04/23/04
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    2003 CVPI - Daily Driver
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  3. #3
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    Why not the Marauder?

    11.98 @ 115 mph
    "Comfort, Class and Hair on Fire Performance."

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by DEFYANT View Post
    Why not the Marauder?
    Road racing, maybe, but not Auto-X. I think the car is too big to really enjoy on the Auto-X. Plus, I have other setup plans for it.
    Eric

    2004 Silver Birch Marauder - Sold 04/17/09:
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    - #852 of 987 Silver Birch Marauders
    - Born On Date: 04/23/04
    - Warranty Start Date: 08/11/04
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    2003 CVPI - Daily Driver
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  5. #5
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    Look into 90's Volks GTI's, they are cheap, lots of after market, and fun to drive. And depending which class you end up in, competitive.
    If not a Miata is a good choice, but everyone has one.
    05 Crown Vic Sport, 86 Notch


  6. #6
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    The Subaru Impreza WRX is a great choice for auto X. The 944T is a fabulous road track platform. Almost anything is fun while you are at the race against yourself stage. Dennis
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  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Eric91Z View Post
    A couple of other ideas:

    1) Mid-model C4 Corvette: L98 car with the 6-speed
    2) Mazda Miata
    Ditto the Miata not much money for a used one very simple to work on so you'd have more to hop up the suspension and do some google searches you'll find get together with Miata guys that rent out tracks just to get into it without having to go all out compete right off the bat. I had a 99 miata before the MM and that thing cornered like there was no tomorrow and mine was stock.

  8. #8
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    I guess you have to ask yourself how much $$ you want to invest in the hobby. 944's I agree are awsome to drive from a handling perspective, and can be tweaked for good power, but are expensive to work on and hop up.

    If you are on a budget and are going to be doin alot of autocross vs. road racing then the Miata would be a great choice.

    If road racing is primary, a nice "built" 90-93 LX5.0 is hard to beat for pure fun and a reasonable investment (especially in brakes lol ). Just my .02

    Good luck and let us know what you decide!
    Last edited by GAMike; 10-29-2006 at 07:48 PM.
    GAMike
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  9. #9
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    Thanks for all the input so far. I agree the Porsche would be expesive from a maintenance, parts stand point. I am guessing that I will be doing more short track/Auto-X than road race.

    Then again, I could always pick up a Miata with a bad motor and drop a 5.0 in there. I remember when there were a number of those in the magazines.

    Yes, budget will be an issue. Looking for reasonable entry, maintenance, and modification cost. I am thinking the Miata could be a good one. I also remember watching some of those '90's Golf and GTi's running Auto-X years ago. Kind of watching them on 3 wheels only on some of the corners.
    Eric

    2004 Silver Birch Marauder - Sold 04/17/09:
    - #2703 of 3213 '04 Marauders
    - #852 of 987 Silver Birch Marauders
    - Born On Date: 04/23/04
    - Warranty Start Date: 08/11/04
    - MINE as of: 09/09/05

    2003 CVPI - Daily Driver
    - Purchased 05/29/07


  10. #10
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    I suggest Taurus SHO.
    You are a big guy, right Eric?
    Don't put your self into anything, too small!
    Buy the Buy, I do have one for sale. '92 MTX 144K
    Good luck on the Search!
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  11. #11
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    I would get a litely wrecked Miata. Go to CO-PART or IAA Insurance Auto Auctions websites as they have hundreds of auctions every week. You have to be a dealer and I can hook you up with a buyer whom is registered. Yep I would get a salvage tittle Miata so fast it would make your head spin. Plus they are uber easy to rebuild. There was one at the CO-PART in Detroit with a Jackson Racing blower hit on the Right 3/4 FT and it sold for $1600 and it was a nice car with decent miles had a hardtop too........

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by GAMike View Post
    I guess you have to ask yourself how much $$ you want to invest in the hobby. 944's I agree are awsome to drive from a handling perspective, and can be tweaked for good power, but are expensive to work on and hop up.

    If you are on a budget and are going to be doin alot of autocross vs. road racing then the Miata would be a great choice.

    If road racing is primary, a nice "built" 90-93 LX5.0 is hard to beat for pure fun and a reasonable investment (especailly in brakes lol ). Just my .02

    Good luck and let us know what you decide!
    Eric, I would agree with GAMike about deciding how much you want to spend on the hobby, initially and for the first year or two, and i would add that if you do want a dual purpose, street/auto-x car, decide whether you want the V8 sound, feel (torque), mileage (which can still be easily 21-23mpg highway even with a 400+rwhp 5.0), what size and type of car you want to drive on the street especially if occasionally it may serve duty as daily transportation.
    If you think you might get into it seriously, best advice i have is go ahead and join the SCCA, whereby you will get their magazine, with the info. on auto-x events, and see what kind of cars are winning in which classes. Along with that go to some events if you can. You probably could get some rides in different cars. Of course, it does depend somewhat on the driver and how the car is set up, if not stock. When i started doing Solo II (auto-x) in early 90's in my '90 5.0 there was one experienced guy where i joined the SCCA that was running his daily driver '89 LX. He clued me in that about that time a lot of people that went to national events were switching from Mustangs to Camaros because of the notion that the Camaros did better because of their wider track. He also pointed out there was still a couple of guys doing very well in their Fox body Mustangs in the prepared classes, because they had them very well prepared and were good drivers.
    For the money, short and long term, fun for the buck autocrossing, your best bet probably is the Miata. If you really want to be competitive, I wouldn't go with a heavier car unless it was a Corvette.
    Another car that, to my knowledge, actually might be a good choice, believe it or not, is a 944 Turbo, providing you find one that is mechanically sound to begin with. For what it's worth, i rode in a used one, about '94 or '95, that had just been aquired by a guy that is in the Porche service business, and who yrs earlier had raced Mustangs and Camaros. He told me that about the only thing that usually needed replacing on the 944T's were the water pumps and clutches. I don't think the guy was blowing smoke at me, but neither do i know that for a fact. The 944's do seem to be very solid cars though, and may not actually be all that expensive to maintain if you start with a good one. Plus, because they are lighter and are built to handle and brake from the factory, even in stock form they will out perform a stock or mildly warmed up, heavier and nose heavy 5.0 on a tight course.
    Also think about the tire cost and wear factor of each car. Good luck with it.
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  13. #13
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    Again, thanks for the input so far. It is greatly appreciated. Budget will be the limiting factor to start with and for the first couple of years. So to start with, I am looking for low initial investment and first year or 2 costs.

    Yes, I am a little larger: 6', 245lbs, and wear a size 50 jacket. I do plan on getting back in shape once the house is sold and I move as I will have more free time and cheap membership costs for a local club my mom works at. So that will finally change.
    Eric

    2004 Silver Birch Marauder - Sold 04/17/09:
    - #2703 of 3213 '04 Marauders
    - #852 of 987 Silver Birch Marauders
    - Born On Date: 04/23/04
    - Warranty Start Date: 08/11/04
    - MINE as of: 09/09/05

    2003 CVPI - Daily Driver
    - Purchased 05/29/07


  14. #14
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    My friend with a bimmer just bought a late 1990s Miata for play. The Miata is a bit more competitive and parts are very cheap. He bought brand new set of 15" wheels for $100 a piece. They only weight 13 lbs. each. If you want to spend $300 a piece, you can get 8 lbs. wheels.

    I went with a 1990 Mustang LX Hatchback. I believe it's the cheap domestic alternative to the Miata. There are tons of cheap upgrade parts for this car too.

    I saw this over at BradBarnett.net.

    http://www.steeda.com/news/steeda_ne...ca_runoffs.php
    Last edited by BK_GrandMarquis; 10-30-2006 at 12:02 AM.
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  15. #15
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    Agree with BK, Miata, or if you need some more room, the Fox bodied stang.

    Then again you could try a SHO Taurus, don't think many people autox or Road race them but it would be a good change for them. No idea on how routine stuff would go though.

    Miata or Fox body, (Maybe a Fairmount?)

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