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Well, I'm committing to C Street with the Spider

11K views 34 replies 12 participants last post by  Jaro360 
#1 ·
I'll start a thread here, since a few of you I know personally aren't on Facebook. My dedicated autoX car, a 2000 Ford Zx2 S/R in FSP that I've been building and racing since 2007, rolled off a trailer after I broke an axle at an autoX and required a tow. It went across an oncoming off-ramp, down a hill, and into a tree and it will take me a year or two to get the car back to its former glory. It just underwent a year-long engine rebuild and everything forward of the firewall that could possibly wear out was replaced with new parts. I autoXed the 124 Abarth all last summer and this spring until the Escort was back, and I did not plan on doing anything to it more than just some tires because the stock ones are so awful.

My son will be doing his rookie year in autoX next year on his learner's permit at the age of 15. I wanted to have him learn in the very sorted out, very predictable and consistent Zx2. But if I get this thing back up in time (which I probably could), I would not trust racing it without a truck and trailer of my own. That's not in the budget right now because of some major family stuff we're having to foot financially (mother in law in Alaska with severe Parkinsons and cannot get disability quite yet). So, the easy button is to spend a couple grand and let a 15 year old learn how to race on a car that I'm still making payments on....not ideal from my perspective, but it's the easiest option.

First up will be some lighter TR110 wheels, 17x7 and only 14ish lbs. These will be wrapped in Bridgestone RE71Rs in a 225 width. I'm going with a tall tire on 17s because I've been in 3rd gear at most of the events this year on 215s. The extra width will be great, and I'm unconvinced that pinching a 235 on a 7" wheel will be a good idea. I will also get some Koni Yellows to stiffen up the ride, allow the suspension to unload much more slowly to add predictability in fast transitions. And the final piece is a Karcepts front bar, the big one (0.120" wall) that requires a reinforcement to the chassis because it's so stiff, it literally tears the frame of the car. I just have to figure out a clearance issue with that bar and the intercooler piping. The goal is to mimic the MX5 setups from SCCA Solo Nationals, as I plan on going for my first time ever in 2020. I'll update this as I develop the car, and every few events. Even without the shocks, bar, and light wheels, the car (and I) am sitting in 9th place out of almost 200 drivers in the St Louis SCCA year long points championship. Awards go out to the top 20 every year, and I'm hoping to get into the top 10. I cannot wait to see how well the car will do next year with a full prep that should equate to a second or more off my times, putting me in the top few spots at each local event. I've also had quite a few top 10 finishes with another non-SCCA club that race on much grippier concrete at an old air force base.
 
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#33 ·
Glad you are enjoying getting back out on a course. Can't wait to get out there again!
 
#34 ·
I love reading this. I had a impreza and was autocrossing it. I ended up trading it in for my classica, and had so many questions. I still have some good 215/45/17 falken 615k+ tires I was thinking of getting a 17x7-8 4x100 but not sure what offset to get. to start out then go for sways. then down the road do the koni's. I still need to make the car daily driver streetable with comfort, as I have 2 degenative disc in the lower back,. I'm in the DFW tx area.
 
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