Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Autocross and Open Track Auto-x Competitiveness

Hey Wes, Roger and other autocrossers that might be running in Street Touring. How "built" is your car to the STS/STX rules and are you finding it competitive? Thru reading other lists and bbs, it looks like we're giving up ~1000 lbs to the hondas that seem to be leading most of the events. It also seems there are a ton of them entered so it may just be that there is such a large pool of them racing that the odds favor them being in, or near, the lead.

Still trying to figure just how interested I truly am in being competitive myself, as I need to keep creature comforts in the car and there are few people I could win a $pending war with if that becomes a big factor. I could have alot of fun duking it out on a local/regional level, however I don't know how much fun it would be just being class fodder.

How are ya'll doing?

Randy

I was STS with my SVT Contour and i was the second fastest SVT contour at the biggest Auto-X in KC 2 years ago... ready for my mods at the time.. K&N filter with a cut stock air box.. ya thats it.. open element filter will send you into STS...

Its ok that if I would have bought a stock filter housing and put it on that i would have taken the Title for GS that year.. I think i finished 6th in point in STS in 2002 in the KC area out of 24ish..


i haven't taken the SHO to a auto-x event missed last weekend Kinda curious what class there gonna put me in.

I'm not competitive, but it's nothing to do with my car. It's me.

Another guy in a stock SVT is very competitive locally in STS, and won the local points race last year.

The nationals winning Hondas are light. That is a big advantage. But they also took advantage of an update/backdate rule to put later, more powerful engines in the earlier, lighter bodies. I'm told that update backdate is gone for 2004, so that should help.

Otherwise, I'm learning to drive my car and finding it's not nearly the handicap I once thought. I just need more seat time.

Mods are very few, at present. Intake, exhaust...I run Mobil 1... Planning to do mild suspension work, and a few more simple things in the engine bay, and that's it.

To compete nationally, and win, whatever car you drive, takes money and time, but not for high-zoot parts. It's for setup, dyno time, track time for suspension tuning, running through sets of tires while you get just the right camber setting for this surface in these weather conditions, etc, etc. That's where all the money goes.

Well, to be honest, you can't compete nationally. We just don't have a nationally competitive car. To win in such autocrosses, you need either a prepped 1989-1991 Honda Civic Si (Not the Frankencivics either) or a Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS, again prepped. We have a local guy who competes nationally driving a rather stout 2002 Toyota Celica GT-S, who is a damn_fast driver, but it still isn't the right car for the job.

When you get to national events, it's as much (or more) the car than the driver.

That being said, that doesn't mean that you can't enjoy yourself out there.

To prep your car, it depends what your budget is. I've splurged with the suspension (see sig) and got a set of dedicated autocross wheels and tires.

The big thing, though, is what Roger said -- the biggest limitation in my car is between the steering wheel and the driver's seat. I've ridden along in my car with drivers that have several years experience, and I'm amazed at what the car can do. I just can't make the car do that yet, but I'm learning.

Here's a good example of how quick the Civic Si is:

http://vmsc.zerobandwidth.net/results/autox-20040404-april_fooln-final.htm

Now that's a royal behind whipping.

Yep...that's bringin' it!!!

I guess that it depends on what drivers show up. Here's some results from this past Sunday, in the rain. Some people should be embarrassed.

Name Car Class Raw Time
38 Rod McGeorge 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder - Yellow CSP 56.881
10 Matthew Ingraham 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi - Black ASÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã? 58.741
25 James Delfino 2003 Mitsu Evo8 ESP 61.775
16 Dan Donahue 1985 Mazda RX-7 - Silverstone Metallic SM2 62.061
53 Patrick Walsh 1999 BMW 328i DSP 62.201
62 Keath Marx 2002 Celica GT GS 62.300
32 Joe Beard 1985 BMW 325 iX - Red DS 63.115
65 Brian McDaniel 2003 Mazdaspeed Protege DS 63.249
69 Ryan Jenkins 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi AS 63.254
36 Donna Marx 2002 Toyota Celica GT - Red GS 63.911
13 Mike Wheeler 1985 BMW 325 iX DS 64.425
50 Jonathan Chapin 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX - Silver DS 65.186
29 Wes Eargle 2000 Ford Contour SVT - Red STS 65.347
67 Bernard Cooley 1993 Toyota MR2 - Red ES 65.394
18 John Willemin 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX - Blue STX 66.029
37 Brian Maeng 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX Sti AS 66.535
22 Don Riggs 1999 Mazda Miata - Blue CS 67.223
39 David Allen 1993 Toyota Supra - Bronze ESP 69.268
20 Jeff Chenery 1990 Honda Civic - Red HS 69.592
58 Owen Petersen 1985 Volvo 740 TI - White SMN 69.923
7 Matt Ronkartz 1991 Toyota MR2 Turbo SM 71.034
34 Michelle Delfino 1999 Honda Civic Si STS 71.299
31 Ennis Roulhac 1994 Honda Prelude - Silver FSP 71.367
15 Jayson West 1987 Honda Civic Si - Red GS 71.434
12 Max Fischer 2001 Toyota MR2 Spider - Black CSNÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã? 71.524
35 Audie Chenery 1990 Honda Civic - Red HSÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã? 71.805
2 Justin Antinarella 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX DS 72.040
63 Jessica Chapin 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX - Silver DS 72.705
14 Morgan Friday 1989 Suzuki Swift GTI - Red STSÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã? 73.672
56 Daniel A. Wade 1986 Toyota Celica - Black HS 73.813
11 Jake Mello 1987 Volvo 740 Turbo - Red HSN 74.978
1 Mike Schneider 1985 Toyota Corolla GTS FSP 83.156

Name Car Class Raw Time Factor PAX Time
38 Rod McGeorge 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder - Yellow CSP 56.881 0.837 47.609
10 Matthew Ingraham 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi - Black ASÃ?â??Ã? 58.741 0.828 48.638
62 Keath Marx 2002 Celica GT GS 62.300 0.781 48.656
36 Donna Marx 2002 Toyota Celica GT - Red GS 63.911 0.781 49.914
32 Joe Beard 1985 BMW 325 iX - Red DS 63.115 0.794 50.113
65 Brian McDaniel 2003 Mazdaspeed Protege DS 63.249 0.794 50.220
25 James Delfino 2003 Mitsu Evo8 ESP 61.775 0.824 50.903
53 Patrick Walsh 1999 BMW 328i DSP 62.201 0.819 50.943
13 Mike Wheeler 1985 BMW 325 iX DS 64.425 0.794 51.153
29 Wes Eargle 2000 Ford Contour SVT - Red STS 65.347 0.791 51.689
50 Jonathan Chapin 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX - Silver DS 65.186 0.794 51.758
69 Ryan Jenkins 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi AS 63.254 0.828 52.374
18 John Willemin 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX - Blue STX 66.029 0.795 52.493
67 Bernard Cooley 1993 Toyota MR2 - Red ES 65.394 0.804 52.577
16 Dan Donahue 1985 Mazda RX-7 - Silverstone Metallic SM2 62.061 0.849 52.690
20 Jeff Chenery 1990 Honda Civic - Red HS 69.592 0.776 54.003
22 Don Riggs 1999 Mazda Miata - Blue CS 67.223 0.811 54.518
37 Brian Maeng 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX Sti AS 66.535 0.828 55.091
35 Audie Chenery 1990 Honda Civic - Red HSÃ?â??Ã? 71.805 0.776 55.721
15 Jayson West 1987 Honda Civic Si - Red GS 71.434 0.781 55.790
34 Michelle Delfino 1999 Honda Civic Si STS 71.299 0.791 56.398
39 David Allen 1993 Toyota Supra - Bronze ESP 69.268 0.824 57.077
2 Justin Antinarella 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX DS 72.040 0.794 57.200
56 Daniel A. Wade 1986 Toyota Celica - Black HS 73.813 0.776 57.279
63 Jessica Chapin 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX - Silver DS 72.705 0.794 57.728
12 Max Fischer 2001 Toyota MR2 Spider - Black CSNÃ?â??Ã? 71.524 0.811 58.006
31 Ennis Roulhac 1994 Honda Prelude - Silver FSP 71.367 0.813 58.021
11 Jake Mello 1987 Volvo 740 Turbo - Red HSN 74.978 0.776 58.183
14 Morgan Friday 1989 Suzuki Swift GTI - Red STSÃ?â??Ã? 73.672 0.791 58.275
58 Owen Petersen 1985 Volvo 740 TI - White SMN 69.923 0.838 58.595
7 Matt Ronkartz 1991 Toyota MR2 Turbo SM 71.034 0.838 59.526
1 Mike Schneider 1985 Toyota Corolla GTS FSP 83.156 0.813 67.606

Name Car Class Raw Time

10 Matthew Ingraham 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi - Black ASÃ?â??Ã? 58.741
69 Ryan Jenkins 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi AS 63.254
37 Brian Maeng 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX Sti AS 66.535

22 Don Riggs 1999 Mazda Miata - Blue CS 67.223
12 Max Fischer 2001 Toyota MR2 Spider - Black CSNÃ?â??Ã? 71.524

38 Rod McGeorge 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder - Yellow CSP 56.881

32 Joe Beard 1985 BMW 325 iX - Red DS 63.115
65 Brian McDaniel 2003 Mazdaspeed Protege DS 63.249
13 Mike Wheeler 1985 BMW 325 iX DS 64.425
50 Jonathan Chapin 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX - Silver DS 65.186
2 Justin Antinarella 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX DS 72.040
63 Jessica Chapin 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX - Silver DS 72.705

53 Patrick Walsh 1999 BMW 328i DSP 62.201

67 Bernard Cooley 1993 Toyota MR2 - Red ES 65.394

25 James Delfino 2003 Mitsu Evo8 ESP 61.775
39 David Allen 1993 Toyota Supra - Bronze ESP 69.268

31 Ennis Roulhac 1994 Honda Prelude - Silver FSP 71.367
1 Mike Schneider 1985 Toyota Corolla GTS FSP 83.156

62 Keath Marx 2002 Celica GT GS 62.300
36 Donna Marx 2002 Toyota Celica GT - Red GS 63.911
15 Jayson West 1987 Honda Civic Si - Red GS 71.434

20 Jeff Chenery 1990 Honda Civic - Red HS 69.592
35 Audie Chenery 1990 Honda Civic - Red HSÃ?â??Ã? 71.805
56 Daniel A. Wade 1986 Toyota Celica - Black HS 73.813
11 Jake Mello 1987 Volvo 740 Turbo - Red HSN 74.978

16 Dan Donahue 1985 Mazda RX-7 - Silverstone Metallic SM2 62.061
58 Owen Petersen 1985 Volvo 740 TI - White SMN 69.923
7 Matt Ronkartz 1991 Toyota MR2 Turbo SM 71.034

29 Wes Eargle 2000 Ford Contour SVT - Red STS 65.347
34 Michelle Delfino 1999 Honda Civic Si STS 71.299
14 Morgan Friday 1989 Suzuki Swift GTI - Red STSÃ?â??Ã? 73.672

18 John Willemin 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX - Blue STX 66.029

Man, I'm glad I didn't go to that. You'd have seen some real embarrassing times! Though it would've been my first autox.

I'd say those guys in the Imprezas who finished 7 seconds behind the contour despite their cars' obvious advantage on wet pavement should be pretty embarrassed.