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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653
I have no life
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I have no life
Joined: May 2002
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Originally posted by ZeroHour:
I would love to run my car in somekind of auto cross, or just take it out on a track sometime. My biggest problem is the ATX. lol
I actually ran on a course once that the atx was beneficial. Of course the take-off was slow, but once going, I stayed in first the whole time, almost always in my power band. All the other cars had to shift or be out of the power band at times. I was able to run a great time that day. Obviously not every course is like that.
98.5 SVT
91 Escort GT (almost sold)
96 ATX Zetec (i brake to watch you swerve)
FS: SVT rear sway bar
WTB: Very cheap beater
CEG Dragon Run - October 13-15
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,517
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,517 |
Originally posted by ZeroHour:
Where are there tracks in PA? I'm pretty sure they are some out there! Maybe this summer I'll have a little fun. I would love to have a track with turns that it would be safe to lose my car in.
BeaveRun is a GREAT track just west of Pittsburgh. I try to get there at least 2-3 times a year. Then another 2 hours or so west of that is Mid-Ohio which is another EXCELLENT track.
Check Track Schedule for updates on who is renting what tracks when.
Good luck! Email me or post with any questions you may have.
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 72
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 72 |
Depending on where you are in Eastern PA, you have a choice of SCCA chapters and others. In the Harrisburg area, we run at Park City Mall in Lancaster, Hershey Park and the Farm Show Parking lot in Harrisburg. Check www.scca-susq.com for more info. John
John Alessi
Torredor Red #1915 of 2150
Born 27Jan2000
G/S No serious mods allowed
1986 SVO Mustang
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,978
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Let me know when you are at park city. I will be there to watch. I live about 3 miles from there.
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6 |
Originally posted by Hdbngr8:
My guess is that the vast majority of people are interested in dyno queens and/or drag racing. There are a few of us that drive on road courses and/or auto-cross. Check out the SVTOA - they have many events throughout the country and are a lot of fun. May also want to check into local car clubs and see whats available.
Yeah, no matter what kind of car it is, you'll tend to find many more of them at the drag strip than at the autocross, and even less in a sanctioned road course race. It's simply because it's easier to drag race... there's less to learn as a driver, it's easier to do well, low entry cost, possible winnings, and it's easier and more convenient to participate. It's something that just anybody off the street can do, and with a small amount of advice and practice, they'll do as well as their car will let them.
Autocross is fun and all, but it's quite intimidating to a novice, and many are hesistant to try it. Novices are also sometimes a bit discouraged after their first event because they don't do well, and it takes participation in many events for them to start to become competitive drivers. Many just blame their lack of performance on their car not being prepared enough, and we don't see them out there again. Obviously, we all know that the car only performs as well as the driver, but novices usually wont believe that until they figure it out for themselves, and plenty quit before that. So, if their whole goal is to go out there and show everyone what a great driver they are and what a badass car they have, looking for bragging rights, they wont exactly be having a lot of fun, then they'll make excuses, bad mouth autocrossing, and never return. You also have to invest your entire day out there and do a work assignment, but the drag strip gives you freedom. So, autocross is really only enjoyable for people who have fun just doing it, even when they don't do well, and are willing to invest time and energy into improving themself as a driver, rather than modifying the car more.
And that's just autocross, which is pretty entry-level and not even officially called "racing". There's are much higher commitments and prerequisites to enter an event under a Club Racing sanction. Of course, once you get into it on that level, there's a lot more freedom, seat time, and fun than autocross or drag... it's just really damn expensive and you've already invested a lot of time and money to even be qualified for such events. Some people will go to an open track day where anyone with a helmet can go out on the road course, but that's not racing, and the novice thing kicks in again when they are constantly being passed by "lesser" cars that happen to have experienced drivers. Some will be humble enough to have fun and decide to actually get into the sport and greatly improve their driving, but most will make excuses and stay away from anything involving turns, because they don't want to get their doors blown off again.
In any case, I'll probably take my daily driven '98 LX out to an autocross one of these days, just to see what I can do with a Contour... I already took it out to the road course once, back when it was open for free to me and I had already gone through all of the race car's brakes. I was a bit pleasantly surprised at how it handled. Being a 100% stock 2.0L Zetec at 5000+ ft elevation, it sure didn't have any acceleration, but I was pleased with how it handled and braked. It certainly responded well for it's super-soft stock suspension, didn't have as much understeer as I was expecting, it was stable, and the stock brakes really held up well, even with drums in the rear. My only beef is that I don't have a tach and the engine is too quiet to hear, so my shift points were less than optimal. I believe it has decent potential, and it would make an awesome sleeper.
I love being the underdog, so I'm somewhat tempted to make a few modifications to this car and surprise the hell out of a bunch of people. My designated race car is to well known to be able to do that much anymore. I'm not sure if I really want another money pit, but I do see a lot of easily unlocked potential in it...
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 72
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 72 |
WestonP22:
You really have that right!!
I'm older than most of the people on this forum and did my first auto-x a week after I got the Tour. In four runs I learned that after 30 years of driving on the street, I still didn't know how to drive. I'm getting better but I think I lost most of my fearlessness so I'm haveing a hard time improving but I'm having GOBS and GOBS of fun!!!
I hope to do a track day at Summit Point W.VA this year.
John
John Alessi
Torredor Red #1915 of 2150
Born 27Jan2000
G/S No serious mods allowed
1986 SVO Mustang
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653
I have no life
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I have no life
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653 |
It wouldn't cost too much to make your contour handle very well and maybe have a bit more acceleration (o yeah, swap in a cluster with tach). Shouldn't really be a money pit unless you're doing something crazy with it.
98.5 SVT
91 Escort GT (almost sold)
96 ATX Zetec (i brake to watch you swerve)
FS: SVT rear sway bar
WTB: Very cheap beater
CEG Dragon Run - October 13-15
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 710
Veteran CEG\'er
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Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 710 |
Yup... because of autocrossing, I was able to avoid a significant accident in my Cougar. A lady made a u-turn from the right lane (I was in the left) and I almost t-boned her at about 40mph. My initial reaction was to hit the brakes as she was still going forward.... then she stopped.. right in my path. My non-anti-lock brakes locked up and started sliding towards her. At the last second (literally) I let off, and slolommed her. I think that if I didn't have decent autocross tires (Azenis RT-215's) and had been autocrossing for a couple seasons... I would have smacked right into her. I was amazed that I didn't even hit her front bumper. When my wifes car needed new tires, I was sure to put more sticky rubber on. When my daughters are of driving age, I'll make sure they spend at least one season autocrossing, just for the experience. I'm sure they'll get hooked though (oooh, that might get expensive). 
morbid
2000 Contour SVT (black)
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 45
New CEG\'er
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New CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 45 |
Originally posted by morbid:
heheh you mean long focus's 
Actually... I'm sure the HS Contours do pretty well in HS. I know Focus's are pretty competitive. SVT Focus's (GS) don't seem to do as well.
One of the guys that goes to nationals has a stock Focus and an SVT Focus. He autocrosses his non-SVT.
I race SCCA Solo II (H Stock) with an Zetec Auto and actually won my class in one race. Went up against 2 Civics and an older Mercades Benz Diesel. Yes, H Stock seems like a good class for the 2.0L Contour.
My car lacks the esteem, respect and styling of an SVT... I have a fever and the only perscription is more SVT-ness.
Need:
SVT E0 or E1 wheels
SE Side skirts
98-00 Contour SVT, minus current owner.
http://www.myspace.com/35700273
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 326
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 326 |
Originally posted by ZeroHour:
Where are there tracks in PA? I'm pretty sure they are some out there!
Check www.autox4u.com
Philly SCCA runs at Nazareth Speedway, as well as a few sites
in and around philly.
99 Cougar V6 Tourmaline Green: MTX, KKM, Borla Dual...
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