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

Yea, this reminds me of something I thought I forgot!
At SpringZing Autocross, I was standing/sitting next to a guy who was driving a VW GTI (I think). He was talking to his son about the cars, and the pros/cons of them. He saw a SVT get out there, and said something like: "Son, those Contours out there don't go too fast in straight lines, but they really move through the auto cross courses. They are extreamly good handling cars, and love to take turns and just cruise right through em'!"
Nice guy, and very informed I might add too!

Gotta concur with Dave on the SVT being tricky depending on tire pressure and throttle lift at inopportune times. I've autocrossed all the cars listed in my history since 79, and the SVT is by far the trickiest...yes even Mister 2 was docile by comparison. But when it's right and you get just the right throttle lift to kick the tail out, it's a thing of beauty.

Keep seeing your name placing high in Detroit and Western Michigan Mark B. Assume you are on race tires? I noted a July Detroit event that had G Stock and then G Stock with stock tires as separate classes.

Torque is more important than horsepower at autocross events. That is one reason the pony cars do so well and why a 8 valve 00 Celica GT can run about equal with a 16 valve Cleica GT-S. Same thing used to be said of 8V GTI vs, 16V GTI.

The MX-3 and Probe GT were essentially the same car and the Probe was also quite successful in G Stock a few years back. I drove one at a Ford event I helped out at in Auburn, AL on a small Auto-X course and it handled better than any car I have ever driven...except a 93 RX-7 Twin Turbo someone let me drive back in the day.

Dave, have you figured out how much time you shaved off by going to race tires?

SCCAcontour - I have done a few mods with GS in mind. I don't have the exhaust, but it'll be on the 'to-do' list before next year rolls around. As to the power off the corners, it has been my experience that the SVT has plenty off the corners. The problem I have is that the lack of a limited slip differential doen't allow me to make full use of it. Unless the fronts are planted solid on the tarmac, the inside front wheel goes up in smoke when you stand on the throttle. An exhaust would help a tad once you get going, though.

*muses* ...if I only had a Quaife...

SVTCole - Yes, I switched to Kuhmo V700s on '99 SVT rims when I started racing in the WMR region (there is no GST class here). It was taking a physical toll on me to drive from Grand Rapids to Detroit and back on Sundays. I dehydrated at one event and got dizzy and disoriented (didn't get a good breakfast/not enough fluids). My times sucked, and I hit cones. There was also the milage factor on the car...She has 89,000 on her clock, now, so I was trying to keep them down. Fun factor went up when I switched to race tires, too The car lost its tendancy to understeer, and drop-throttle oversteer became tricky, but possible.

SVTCole - I also have driven a Probe in autocross, a 1989 GT Turbo and it handled quite well I thought but the power off the turns was the most beneficial aspect of it. I thought it had more power than an MX6 but I still think an MX6 handled better in the autocross.

About 1.5 Seconds. I thought it might amount to more but those KDW's are a damn good tire. Ride is harsh as hell though, I don't recommend them for the street.