Mark,

If you decide not to run next year, would you be willing to share any car set-up tips with an aspiring autocrosser. I have been racing for only a year now, and I know I have a long way to go in driving skill, but I think I have made pretty good improvements over the last year. Many thanks go to National Champ Andy Lieber for helping me along, giving me tips, pointers and alot of insight.

I did win two regional points championships this year. SM class in SVR, and TSM class in DRSSCA, and I am going to give it my best shot at overcoming the BMWs next year at nationals. I know I'm going to need all the help I can get. I have the power (ran an 11.9 at 119) but I don't really know where to go with the rest of the car.

I know what you mean about racing a daily driver. I put about 36,000 miles on the EVO last year and drove to (and from!) all the races. It is alot of work and headaches.

Jarrod

 

Get more seat time, get some good r-compounds. Come to some national events. Rinse, later, repeat.

 

Working on the seat time. Winter kind of limits that, although I do practice my drifting in the winter!

As far as tires go, I'm running 285/30/18 A3S05's on 18x9.5 wheels. That should be sufficient. I have similar coilover setup as the Showcase Mitsubishi ESP car. Just looking for more ideas, proven or not, so that when I do make it to nationals my car is as good as it can be. That way I only have to worry about my driving.

EVOlutionary
(Jarrod)

 

Doing the Evolution Driving Schools are good as they are all autox.

http://www.autocross.com/evolution/

 

Sorry, I saw your sig and figured that was your complete and entire setup. Honestly though, as well as you can do locally. You really have to get out to atleast a divsional and preferably a National Tour to see how you, your driving and your car stack up.

In addition, I would suggest a switch to Kumho V710's and 10" wide wheels. That alone should make a significant difference. Also, I'm guessing you are in detroit. Have one of the national caliber drivers take your car for a spin and listen to what they say and take notes.

 

Thanks, I will definitely be doing that! I wanted to go this year but my schedule did not permit it. They don't have the 2006 calendar up yet, but I think they had one around Detroit last year. I'll be there.

Not a problem. I don't list all of my mods - need to keep a few things secret. The wheel/tire setup listed is my daily driver setup for the street. I had already planned on switching to the Kumhos mid-way through the year, as my current tires wear out. As far as the 18x10's in the rear, what is necessary to make this work?? I saw a car with 9.5s in the rear and there was NO room between the tire and the fender. And they even rubbed a little on the lower trailing arm/a arm thing.

I had Andy Lieber and John Tak ride with me a few times to give me pointers. Each time helped greatly. I have ridden in their car a few times also. Andy co-drove my car the first event this year because they were still building his race car. Basically, for 2006 my suspension and handling package will be set up just like their winning 2005 ESP car, except I am on the stock differentials of the '04 EVO VIII. No front LSD, no ACD. I am planning on adding a front LSD this winter and having the center rebuilt. I don't have the $$$ or the time to do all the testing and R&D they do throughout the year, or the knowledge of suspension mechanics, so I just try to pick up as much knowledge as I can from them.

When I go to a National Tour, Pro Solo, or Divisional, I want to roll in there knowing that my car is ready and capable of winning. What I am going for is to see how I stack up with other drivers. I might be blown away, I might be able to hang with them. That is what I want to find out.

Jarrod

 

Any car is capable of winning the class. Depends on the driver.

--kC

 

What's necessary? The fenders need to be moved. How you do this, how much you spend, and how professional it looks, are all up to you.

Take a look at this picture: http://www.brennen.net/images/evo_two.jpg

That right rear wheel/tire is an 18x10 CCW with a 285/30R18 Hoosier. In the picture, the RR suspension is about as compressed as you're going to get, and I'm pretty sure it's not rubbing anywhere. It's probably within about 1mm of rubbing, both on the fender and the trailing arm, but I can't find any evidence of actual touching.

The "body work" required on the rear fenders took me about 30 minutes per side using a hollow metal pipe and a dead-blow hammer. It looks good enough at a distance, and with some paint work, it would look reasonably decent up close.

 

I agree with KC, your car sounds pretty prepped as is. Don't let it stop you from attending a Tour or Pro, you'll pick up experience that'll raise your game and you get to run that cool Tirerack banner It's also said an SM, ST ,SP, etc., car is never done.

Within a couple of weeks of the Evo hitting the US I trophied at a national tour in DSP with just 2 old Kumhos on the front. Finished behind Derek Butts and Ben Martinez amid a flurry of protest - most fun I've had at a race.

 

I have already rolled my rear fender lips using the Eastman fender roller tool. Could the same thing you describe be done with this tool (push the fenders out) by applying enough force?

EVOlutionary

 

haha, that's awesome!

 

Yes, you can use the Eastman tool to flare the fenders out. I used it to flare my Evo rear fenders approximately 1.5" to clear 285/30s on 18x10. I have plenty of clearance. The only problem I ran into was when rolling the inner edge up flush in that it left a couple of creases along the wheelwell edge. After about 5 months of living with it, I brought it to a good body shop and had them fix it including the factory seam that runs along the wheelwell about 1" up. At local Evo club meets, other Evo owners can't tell that the fenders have been flared unless a stock Evo is parked next to it and a direct comparison is made. Here's a picture below. Sorry I don't have any closeups handy. I'll be returning home this weekend and can take a closeup if you're interested.

 

The rear fenders on Marks car look great. They honestly look factory.

 

OK, Time to bring this back from the dead to get 2006 going!!

How are everyone's cars feeling this year? Mine is in the shop getting the last few finishing touches done. I won't have it back until the last week of May. I'm running the Winged Warrior event rather than the ProSolo the first weekend in June.

Good luck to all this year!

EVOlutionary

 

Are you attending the Peru Tour next weekend? How about the Wisconsin Tour?

Dave