Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Autocross and Open Track How we stack up in stock next year based on recent results

A few days ago I studied a few autocross results throughout the country. The first was a CenDiv event in Peru, Indiana. The second, a Detroit event.

The CenDiv divisional event was well-attended by national contenders. Below note how the D Stock and E stock winners compared to the winning G Stock Integra Type R.

97 Integra Type R 121.449 G Stock
85 CRX............119.542 E Stock
95 Neon ACR.......122.031 D Stock
01 Sube Impreza...124.319 STS 2nd(Jack Burns)
89 Civic Si.......123.530 STS 1st

Note that all these cars except the Type R move to G Stock next year with us. The 2 STS cars certainly had suspension mods but no race tires like the stock cars, yet they were still competitive.

For perspective on how fast a Corvette Z06 is, the first and second place cars had times of 113.697 and 113.783 respectively!!! The winning Honda S2000 did 114.347 in A Stock!

At the Detroit event, more Contours ran than I have ever seen at any other autocross. Times:

1st (non-Contour) 36.408 (WRX I think)
5th Contour 38.43
7th Contour 38.645
15thContour 41.076
18thContour 41.929
19thContour 42.223
25thContour 44.874 (time includes 4 secs for cones)
27 cars in G Stock!!!

Now by comparison, the winning drivers in other classes did:

E Stock 95 Celica ST 36.614
E Stock 200SX SE-R...36.707
D Stock 98 Neon ACR..36.58
STS 01 Sube Impreza (Jack Burns)35.797
F Stock Bullitt Mustang 34.905

Again, the the two E Stock cars, and the D Stock Neons move to G Stock next year and the Impreza remains there...just not the WRX.
The Bullitt winner, finished 2nd at last year's nationals in a Cobra but has not faired as well this year in the slower Bullitt. Still a lot faster than us!!!!!

I guess, the point is that driver skill will still be essential to be competitive in G Stock nest year...but at least the light at the end of the tunnel won't be obscured by a Type R or WRX or Eclipse...

I have only done a couple SCCA autocrosses, none in the SVT. The last time I drove a 91 Cav Z24 automatic with Yok Intermediates. Took second place to a Probe, although I was always able to drive my Grand Am quicker.

Anyway, it looks like the best times for the other classes are similar, depending on the track. I assume the long one favored high powered cars a lot. I just think there are a lot of good drivers of Neons and Hondas that will make driver skill more important.

The reason I asked about Jack Burns is that my RX-7 has a Jack Burns Race Wheels sticker on the hatch. I know that a former owner used to autocross it, but I don't know much else about the car or her (former owner) history.

Hi, I've never used a Contour for an autocross and was wondering how it is in the events. Recently my Mazda MX6 blew it's engine after an autocross so it was cheaper to get a Contour.

Brian

Go back to the MX-6

j/k, what I'm finding out is that the Contour is a very hard car to drive to it's performance limit. It's not very forgiving of mistakes, they end up costing you a lot of time. Other cars are much easier to drive and sorta lead you in the right direction on how to drive it. The SVT in particular seems to encourage the wrong things to do. (Ohhh that sound.. gotta hear the engine scream... )

The MX-6 to my understanding is a very easy car to get close to it's performance potential. No surprises and just a secure feeling. The SVT on the other hand is highly sensitive to input and the slightest mistake can bite you in your e.t. It's a hard car to drive but I also think it's a very rewarding car to drive.

Thanks for the information. The MX6 was A LOT of fun to drive and was definitely easy to get to it's performance potential. I was so sad when the engine blew. Hopefully what I learned driving that car will help me with the Contour. I guess people won't expect a Contour to do well at an event so it would make it more rewarding to beat everyone with it to suprise them! Peace.

I beg to differ Daveandrews see here. I love my car and think it is easy for a front driver.

Everyone is allowed to disagree.

I've driven a few other FWD cars and quite a few RWD cars. The SVT is not forgiving for little mistakes. The small mistakes don't add up to tenths of a second, rather they add up to seconds. If you look at the first post you will see

5th Contour 38.43
7th Contour 38.645
15thContour 41.076
18thContour 41.929
19thContour 42.223


The first two being very close. The rest being 3 seconds behind in a close group. The driving skill by the first two drivers is very good and then there is a LARGE gap between them and the next few contours. I've let other people drive my car also and they have concurred. They can feel the potential of the car but think it is difficult to take the car to the extreme.

iirc, The MX-6 took a GStock championship one year...97, I think. Was the year before the TypeRs came on the scene.

I agree that the contour can be a bit pesky at the limit, but that is also one of its points of endearment for me. I enjoy the learning and the struggle because the fulfillment at the end of it all seems more substantial. In the end, I hope I come out of it as a better driver. Heck, maybe one day I will jump into a TypeR or WRX and just smoke the competition. Dunno. I just love driving my 'tour, whether I am quick or dog slow. I'm getting faster, so I feel I am driving better, which gives me a little more pride in myself, and in my car.

Next year, maybe we'll be more competitive than this (assuming the vote passes). Hopefully I will have the necessary experience under my belt to take advantage of the lack of the Xs and Rs, but I am not going to delude myself into thinking it'll be an easy win. The Celicas are dern qwik, and the Neon can be brought to a 'stock' level that I can only dream about.

It'll be more 'driver' oriented in GStock, imho. I think I will be up for the challenge.

:rolleyes:

We'll see.

You know what I really like is seing the F-bodies and the Mustangs four and five seconds ahead of other cars that are supposed to be handeling machines.

I love that argument put up by the ignorant "ya there fast but they cant handel"
Amazing what a little driver skill can do!

Do those of you who autocross a Contour in GS have any exhaust modifications done or shocks or anything? I'm used to driving a car with a lot of pick up off of the turns as a result of an exhaust and I have a feeling the Contour will definitely be no where near what I'm used to. If you do have the modifications, how much difference does it make? Peace.