Figured I would make a thread for those of us who AutoCross race our RAs. To discuss tactics, show off videos, ponder on modifications, yada yada.

So if you race post up about your car, what class you run, and any other details you'd like to share. And lets get some info flowing!

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I race my 2004 Automatic RA in Road Tire Unlimited (RTU). Every event Ive been in this year I have slowly started climbing the results board. At this last event I did I placed in the upper half of the score board compared to everyone else. RTU is a VERY broad class so its hard to compare myself there.

I feel like my car is pretty solid in just about everything except for 180*+ turns, and long turns that continue to tighten. I always encounter a lot of understeer. Im not sure if I need to change something in my setup or my technique. I know its the bane of a FWD car but I see some of these tiny CRXs just completely tearing up the course.

Ive tried using the throttle to pull myself through the turn. But Ive found that I over push the tires and just continue to understeer usually. Ive been trying to practice left foot braking to see if that helps but Ive not had much opportunity to try it out in a race yet.

I almost feel like if my brakes had more bite i'd be able to make the turn in better but the exit of the corner is where I end up fighting with understeer more often so im not sure that will help my issue. I'd also like to get an LSD to see if that helps me have more grip when getting back on the gas.

 

you need an LSD buddy...what is your alignment? and what pressure do you run front and rear?

 

Yea I do... That'll probably be my next purchase honestly...

Alignment is -1* Camber front. And 0* rear. Havent played with Toe in/out at all. Might need to try that a bit.
PSI is 35# front and rear. I usually chalk the tires to see how much of the tread Im using or not using.

Also need to get my fenders rolled. I was rubbing the hell out of my tires at the last event.

 

Automatics are seldom competitive for their class, and you'll need more camber than that. What tires?

 

The understeer you are experiencing is probably due to tire slip. While the tires are gripping you can go into a corner seemingly too hot, then lifting foot totally off the throttle will cause the front end to turn in sharply as the back end swings around - if that is not happening you are exceeding grip then too. Although I have sticky tires now they still slip as I accelerate out of corners that I went through at max speed. I now have an LSD to install to fix that. So what you are experiencing is the limits of an open diff car.

 

Yea Im hoping to start racing my 5speed soon. But against 40 other people in my class (RTU) I placed 17th in my first season. So the auto didnt do that bad I dont think.

As for camber I thought about adding another degree. And I use BFG kdw t/a g-force 2's. They scream all the way around the course... lol My brother is supposed to be sending me a video. You'll see what I mean LOL.


See this was another thing I had thought of as well. I'll be looking into an LSD soon as well.

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But enough about me anyone else autoX their RA? How did you do? What do you have done to your car?

 

With an open diff there are just some low speed turns where the car just cannot do any better.
First time at Shannonville I rode in a Civic Si with an LSD (the same guy who during his ride with me thought the RA was RWD, LOL) and in the left hander before the pit entrance I just had to concede to slow down, this guy he was flooring it through the same turn and the car was tearing around the corner like a bat out of hell. That was the only place he was faster than me.
You can try playing with tyre pressures to shift the balance, i.e. reduce the rear grip. Up the rear pressure by 8-10 psi and see what happens, then adjust to suit. You can also disconnect the front anti roll bar (check the rules, N.B. disconnect not remove).

As far as technique, try staying on the gas during turn in, turning in as late as you can and before you do flick the car the opposite direction first then quickly turn into the corner while backing off the gas some and loading up the front outside corner as much as you can. There is also well timed application of the hand brake, not necessarily to snap the back around, but to help it break free.

Sounds alot like with seat time you are adjusting and doing quite well though, so keep it up.

 

Thanks for the tips! I'll have to try some of that stuff next season. Every race I went to I would try something slightly different, try getting closer to the cones, try being a bit quicker on the gas, a bit harder on the brakes, left foot braking, smoothing out my inputs, yada yada. Seemed like I was slowly getting faster. I just wish I had more laps lol. Because every event the course is different and I have to waste a lap or two trying to get back into the groove. Then Ive only got 2 maybe 3 laps to work on improving. Its too bad there isnt somewhere I can go to practice outside of race days! HAHA

 

Those tires are not what you need for AutoX either. Any of these will do, depending on climate/conditions, and you'll pick up some time:

-Hankook RS3
-BFGoodrich Rival
-Dunlop Direzza Z2
-Bridgestone Potenza RE11a

Seat time is still the #1 improvement, always.

 

Check if you can still stay in the same class if you get the LSD.

 

Yea I was thinking about looking into the BFG Rivals. I noticed a lot of guys running that tire this year.

And I could put in an LSD and turbo my car and stay in the same class. LOL Unlimited. HAHA