fstrnyou

i've been autocrossing for 3 years now. i try to make to an event every month. the first 2 years i drove an f-body with a eibach springs, kyb agx shocks, and tubular suspension pieces here and there. I did pretty well. all that abuse caused my steering box to rip from my frame. rather than fix it i went looking for another car..and as luck would have it, i came across an 88 TII. I love it. sure, it's low on power(comparatively)but it's just as fast if not faster than my modded camaro.
i can see that a lot of new auto-x'ers get frustrated their first few times at the track, but they start to like it when they finally realize they were driving it all wrong and their times start dropping.
there's nothing wrong with the drag strip. the only reason i go is to see how fast i am when i do mods, not really to beat anyone. well, maybe that's cause i'm all stock right now. after i do a few things, it'll be pretty tempting to beat a f-body or mustang, but not now.
and as far as wheel to wheel, i do that too. i race scca club racing in a 79 rx7. it's awesome. been to daytona twice this year. raced solo I a month ago at a local road course(Roebling Road, Savannah GA). for my first time ever racing that track in the RX, out of twenty or thirty cars, i was 6th overall. and in my past racing experience, i raced go karts for 9 years and then Legends cars a year or two ago. other than off road racing, i think i've covered it all and i enjoy it all.

well, this has probably been the longest post i've made. sorry for rambling on and on.

Craig

Wankel7

I went to an autox with a first timer. Lowered Civic, the works. Well he races and does bad. Hell, it was his first time. It is like he had the impression his driving skills were amazing. And he comes there and is humbled.

He said it was no fun (because he did poorly). I am like then why did you do all that work? So it is faster on the street. Scary.

Driving fast at autox is much safer than the street. There are many turns in autox to keep speed down. If you have seen people hurt in autox that came from bad planning or disorganization at some levels. I have been autoxing for four years and never wittnessed an injury.

I am the opposite of you. I have never dragged. I am probally going to get flamed. I would think there would need to be more knowledge and experience to do well in autox than drag. Especially if you drag an automatic.

My two cents

James

V8s_are_slow

i dunno, but when i went to the auto-x, you could barely get over 40 mph cause there were nothing but turns. i'd just like my car to stretch it's legs and get it wide open. 1st time i rode in a fast car was a guy named john salmi who had a 1g dsm that hit 12.0's. it looked pretty stock but was nowhere near it. he hit the gas and i couldn't lift my head off the back of the seat. i had always loved drag racing but that got me hooked. to feel the g-force and to be pressed against the back of the seat so hard was SWEEEET!!! to be in a 4 cylinder that could outrun a viper......knowing that the 4 cylinder was gonna be underestimated (nice feeling). someone on the dsm board has in his sig. "displacement replacement" heck, and the rx motor is even smaller!!! that would be so true if i were to take an rx and race it doing drag. i guess i just love to be underestimated. kinda fun to shock the heck outta someone who's unsuspecting.

as far as people getting hurt doing street drags....that's usually when people are being stupid. doing it around lots of people or whatever. but it's understandable if some idiot gets behind the wheel of a car with lots of horsepower and no clue of it's capabilities that something bad is gonna happen.

but the thing that gets me is that you guys keep saying there's no skill in drag racing. try telling that to a top fuel dragster!!! although i will admit there's more driving skill needed in auto-x but can't tell me that there's no skill in drag racing. heck, even when my dsm was up and running, i'd run a buddy of mine who had more mods than me and i'd smoke him all the time. sure, doing auto-x helps you in real world situations etc. but i'm all about competition and running head to head. being the "king" :-) and as for honda owners that think they are the king of the road, when i see one i just think,"slow piece of crap!" i don't sit there and think to myself,"i bet my car will handle better than that honda."

on the dsm board, no one talks about auto-x. it's all drag. go to the Z board, and it was the same there. come here.....only board i've been on that's all about auto-x. i dunno, but the way i'm looking at it, not many people out there care about auto-x (no offense). go to any cruising spot and ask someone if they wanna go and do some auto-x. yeah, i'd like to see that expression. i dunno, i guess i'm just so amazed that i switch from one board to another and the opinions are soooooo different.

Wankel7

Maybe it is because we feel Autox is more well rounded. Drag tests your cars ability to go fast in a straight line.

Where autox requires your car too go fast, handle, and brake. It is also a thinking game. I walk the course at least four times. I draw the course. I think what can i do here. How does he do it there. Why is he so friggn fast and look slow.

Maybe that is the attraction to it. More variables. The RX-7 is a well rounded car stock. It handles, brakes, and goes. Of course you can beef up each one to exceed each other.

James

maxcooper

My guess is that there are more autox locations (parking lots that people run autox's at) than tracks (road race), and more tracks than drag strips. Do some internet surfing and find what is available in your area.

One day at the drag strip might get you 1 minute of racing. One day of autox might give you 3-8 minutes of racing. One day at the track will get you at least an hour on the track, perhaps as much as 2.5 or 3 hours.

RX-7s work pretty well for all three activities. I have done all three with my car, but I've done a lot more track stuff than the other two because I find those type of events to be the most fun.

-Max

Silkworm

1. Autocrosses are usually held at least once a month during the race season (or even now in Florida), and going to www.scca.org, you can find local auto-x's near you. I have no idea where in Florida you are, but you have several actual race TRACKS near you as well that you could take your car to for open track..

2. Nearest drag strip for me is 110 miles, nearest auto-x is ~40. Nearest race track is 70.

3. Unless you do test n tune night, the place is mobbed with 16 year old kids trying to be John Force in their 20 second Sentras and Civics.. 400 cars on Wednesday nights quite often. I'm paying 17 bucks plus another 20 in gas for 3 13 second runs, plus having to leave work early to get there? **** that.

4. Bragging rights. Ok, watch this video and figure out who has the bragging rights.

http://para.noid.org/~silkworm/spir-...-session3b.wmv

I took down a 300ZX, M3, 2 911s, a Z car and a CRX in that vid. All but the CRX would probably kill me in a drag race.

5. Torque at Autox is nice, but keep the rpms up and it's not nearly as much of an issue as trying to get a good launch at the strip.

6. Wan, we have a very active Auto-X forum on both CamaroZ28 and LS1.COM F-bodys are the king of F-stock.

7. HWO, sounds a lot like a guy claiming "it's not the meat, it's how you use it.." Look, if you can't get a good launc off the line with the torque you have, you don't have enough torque. and you can brag about how much torque/liter you have, it still don't matter when you can't get the car to move!

Anyway, I can go on and on, it doesn't matter.. I have a car suited for drag racing, I have a car suited for track days. Both can do the opposite, but neither are great at it. You want to drag, go for it.. Talk up drag racing, enjoy, I'm not going to tell you you're wrong for doing it.
You asked why we talk about auto-x, we've told you why.

PaulC

Mark'sMazda

I agree with everything that silkworm said, but could also add that if you are into drag racing your car is never fast enough. while when you roadrace, or autoX it's you the driver that are never fast enough. There are always things that you need ot work on. While in dragging you dump TONS of money into your car, each time you say, OK this is fast enough, but it never is. One day you will look at it, and say "I never dirve this thing anymore because it sucks to drive on the street, and I can't make it much faster unless I start to spend BIG$$$$$$$, so whats the point?

I understand why you like drag racing, I too love the feeling of being pressed into my seet, but I also like being thrown side to side. After you get used to a car getting squirly at 90+ MPH riding down the drag strip just doesnt do it for you anymore. I am into road racing more than I am autoX. There you do let your car stretch it's legs and see some real speeds.

Also if you are into braging and proving how cool you are, imagine like Silkworm said, how cool it is being able to take down a car that should be able to to whoop your ***. It feels ******* awesome, people get so pissed when they are doing everything they can to keep up and they are in a better car, but YOU, not YOUR CAR kick their ***.

I think that you might have the wrong idea about rx7 people, we(for the most part) are into draging and streaght line speed too, but most of us like our cars because they are well rounded. If all we cared about was handling we wouldn't mod our cars for more power.

7's can do good on the strip, PLUTO, RX7.COM, and SOUL ASSIAN, have proved that it's possible.

You keep talking about what other people will think about you if you say a certian thing, I just like what I like and I make no excuses for it.

RarestRX

Yo,


Silkworm, your car does 13 second 1/4 mile runs?! Bastard!! *grin*

You vote on my poll yet? *wink*

"I took down a 300ZX, M3, 2 911s, a Z car and a CRX in that vid. All but the CRX would probably kill me in a drag race"

Dude, I love that line. It's very true when I was at Thunderhill, I passed cars that would eat me on the street...but when you get the RX-7 in it's element...the corners...you just dominate other cars. There's really no other word for it. I love it. *grin*

Kevin
1989 GTUs "The R compound tires helped too..."

RarestRX

Yo,


Mark said:

Also if you are into braging and proving how cool you are, imagine like Silkworm said, how cool it is being able to take down a car that should be able to to whoop your ***. It feels ******* awesome, people get so pissed when they are doing everything they can to keep up and they are in a better car, but YOU, not YOUR CAR kick their ***."

Okay, that was the greatest line ever. "But YOU, not YOUR CAR kick their ***."

Exactly!

Kevin
1989 GTUs "If I had a sig, that'd be it. *grin*"

RarestRX

Yo,


HWO, go slap Bajaman, he's the one I was quoting. I still agree with him though, NA rotaries have no torque and are ill-suited to drag race.

PS: Did you get to see Lord of the Rings being filmed?!

Kevin
1989 GTUs "Can't wait for Two Towers!"

ZoomZoomH

autocross makes YOU a better DRIVER, I don't know if drag racing will make you a better and thus safer driver on the road......

plus you can take what you learned in autox and take it to your next car. Can you take what you learned about your current car in drag racing and take it to your next car?

I guess I'm more into DRIVER development than CAR development, since car you can replace, but YOU are stuck with the driver behind the wheel for the rest of your life (assuming you are behind the wheel )

oh, and I like to squeeze every little bit of performance out of cars I drive, that includes going foward, going sideways, and stopping quickly while going sideways

kristopher_d

Duh! That's the ******* point. Auto-X tests both handling and power, and requires a driver capable of controlling both. Don't like auto-X? learn how to drive. The better you can auto-x, the better you can drive on the street. When was the last time you pulled a corner marked for 20 mph at 70+. Can't do it in a drag car, that's for sure. When was the last time I I kept my foot on the floor, shifting as soon as rev's dictated, last weekend, when I pulled 20 mph turns at 70.

BTW, I was running at speeds around 65 at my last auto-x, just had to slow down too much 'cause I chose a bad line.

Silkworm

The Trans Am? Yeah, when the clutch holds That was before the 3.73s, I was hoping for a 13.0 with the latest mods but with a sick clutch no way to find out..

What poll?

PaulC

V8s_are_slow

okay, that's fine and dandy. but i like some speed. if you like auto-x, more power to ya. but maybe i should've started "another" poll or something, to see how many people are interested in drag cause i'm just noticing more people interested in auto-x. i mean, how many people on this board are even interested in drag? how many people on here could i talk to that mods their car for drag (2nd gen. cars)? it would be helpful in the event that i need some assistance on what mods to get, tuning, etc. from someone who's been there. not someone who "thinks" they know what they're talking about. cause if you don't mod it out, you're really not gonna know as much. guess i should just say i'm not really interested in auto-x like i am drag.

if i had the chance (and a race car to do it with, so i wouldn't beat up my car), i'd LOVE to do the roadracing like someone mentioned above. kinda like the gt racing i see on speedvision. you're still going around turns, still practicing, and applies to real world situations. BUT you'd have straight-a-ways, and you'd get some freakin speed out of it. none of this 40 mph crap. how many roads can you drive on that are NOTHING but turns anyway?!?!?!? not to say i wouldn't want a good handling car cause i would. if i didn't, i'd buy a mustang piece of crap or something. i want my car to be able to do it all. BUT, i just prefer to drag race for the simple fact that i don't have to drive to places around the state to find the events, i can do it pretty much anywhere, and well, all the other reasons i've already listed.

so anyway, how many people are interested in drag racing? i think i get the point now that pretty much just about everyone on this forum is into auto-x. is there anyone i can relate to with a 2nd gen that has some pretty good mods and running low et's in the 1/4? some people i can maybe relate to? don't wanna feel like i'm the only guy here who wants to drag race. otherwise, most of my topics i'd ever post are probably gonna just gonna go unanswered.......to be continued.......

Mark'sMazda

I understand whare you are coming from, I do like to go to the strip every once and a while, just to me after a while it gets boring. I didn't mean to sound anti-drag racing or anything like that. Because I like to drag, autoX, and road race.

here is a few names of the quick draggers that I know of.

Chrisspeed-I think he runs 8's
SoulAssian-ran 9's with his street car, than parted it out

If you go to www.teamfc3s.org in the fourms section there is
MikeL-low 12's street car
87gtr-high 11's street car
rexticy-mid 12's street car
rez-should be in the low 12's or high 11's when he is done tuning.
BDC-has 425 rwhp daily driver

it seems that more FD guys are into the drag thing than us FC guys. I can't even begin to list all the street driven FD's that run in the 11's and 12's.

RarestRX

Yo,


Paulie, I was talking about my NA Owners Poll: 1/4 mile times. I doubt you've taken the Yellow Bomber to the strip yet.

V8s_are_slow: check the polls I made, I did both a turbo and an NA one. It should give you an idea of what people are running.

Kevin
1989 GTUs "Gonna break into the 15's one day!"

jeremy

iTrader: (1)

drag racing is a measure of my cars ability to accelerate. autox is a measure of my ability as a driver. i think this has been said 300 times now. don't judge autox until you actually race it. there are many sports that look boring but are fun to do. also autox courses are always different. technically 50mph is the highest legal speed that is allowed in autox due to scca regulations (although this is broken quite often). getting slammed in the seat while accelerating out of a corner provides multiple g forces. think about the my g loving friend...........

christi

How about this... Next year for the Panhanlde Auto-x starts up in January. Go to www.gulfcoastregion.org . Check it out. before you talk smack about autoxing...learn what it is. There is one close to you, sure it's an hour away, but so what? It's at Bronson Field in Pcola. Just like FC Drifter had said.... it is fun.

If you're telling me you dont get above 40mrh...then well.. I dont know. You shouldnt really b e looking at your speed, moreso the course..how you are going to take the line, and exit out of it. I've gotten my 7 up to about 80 on one course. But...the speed doesnt really say much of anything.

If you want to go fast ...then a drag strip is for you. The rotaries were not really made for dragging. Of course I do both, just to see what I am making..whenever I do some changes on my car. Then again, there is only a 1/8th mile track here...

If you want to learn how to drive your car better, learn how to take corners better, learn how to get yourself out of trouble when your car goes out on you, then autoxing is it. Try it in the rain Sometime. H ave you ever sriven your car in the ran and your back end goes in th e other direction? Well..do it at the autox track when it rains...and you can learn a hell of alot better how to control it..instead of being stupid on the street and not knowing what you are doing.

I've only seen two accidents when a car got out of hand at the autox here in pcola. I've been autoxing for two years, not many accidents have happened. I dont know here you are getting your infomation. But like I said, how about you go to the first event for next year and try it out. Though.... if you do decide to go, I'd suggest take your negative attitude out the window. With that attitude, you will not get anywhere far if you ask me. (This is in general.)

Anyway...my $.02

Black Knight RX7 FC3S

iTrader: (7)

Yep I agree AutoX is a thinkin game, and it test your ability to react, thinking ahead, to concentrate, and it teaches you the ability to become a better driver.

When my friends and other ppl tells me that I sux at drag, I haul their ASSES to a Course(in Philly its a Warehouse district where there are lots of twists and turns with nobody around) and beat the **** outa them with the things I learn in the AutoX. So I get the last laugh. They respect me for my talents I respect them for theirs, even though we bash on each other constantly.

V8s_are_slow

I'VE BEEN TO AN AUTO-X AND I'VE DRIVEN IN ONE!!!! but anyway, some of ya'll seem to think i have a negative attitude i guess. well, okeedokee. i don't have a negative attitude about it. i just "prefer" drag over auto-x. not that i wouldn't do it. it's just that i get a bigger thrill out of drag. but it's just that it seems not many people on the forum are into drag and that kinda sucks cause it's nice to chill with people who have my same interest ya know?!?!?!? i understand ya'lls view points on it now as to why ya'll like auto-x. but i just didn't know why ya'll seemed to like it over drag....hense the reason i asked the question to begin with. the only real racing i just totally HATE with a passion is nascar!!! i can't stand it. it's the only one i just totally hate... just driving around in circles. whoop de do!!! not saying i HATE auto-x. heck i drive go-karts here in town (the regular slow one's) and i have fun on those. those are even slower than going auto-x. but my biggest thrill is drag.

sure, i'd check it out....although i leave for school next month for 6 months and won't be back until july. by that time i should have an rx and have it pretty dang fixed up by then. so if it's still going on by then, yeah sure, i'll drive out there. but i just wish there were more people into drag. as for panama city (where i'm located) we only have 1/8 mile tracks (which i hate cause it seems like a waste to me as well cause you can't even get up to speed or make ANY mistakes otherwise you may lose easily) here too. have to drive to montgomery to get to the nearest 1/4 mile track. but there's a lotta people here in town that street race out in the country just about every weekend at least.

but anyway, just wanted ya'll to know that i DON'T despise it (although i'd prefer higher speeds). i just don't favor it as much as drag.

rotarygod

iTrader: (1)

Some people should really try driving schools at big tracks on road courses. Some of those cars get over 150 mph in the front straights and still have the fun of turning left and right (unlike Nascar!). Apex a turn at speed and then drag race the guy next to you through the straights. It is car and driver here. Most importantly have fun.

I have done auto-x's before. They are fun and a great way to make you a better driver. Drag racing doesn't do much for learning how to drive aggressively. What do drag racers practice most...reaction time. Drag racing is fun...for a few seconds. The tracks don't even let you apex the exits of the turn quickly on the way out. I have a steering wheel and really want to use it for purposes other than correcting torque steer and traction loss. I don't care if a Viper or 911 or Z-28 can beat me in sheer acceleration for a few seconds. Yea. Anyone see the video of the 10 second Dodge Caravan? Anyone can go fast in a straight line in any car if they try. Not anyone can learn how to drive skillfully or build a car that handles properly. If someone likes drag racing then fine stick to it. If you like auto-x cool, go do it. If you like both then great. What kind of a friggin dumb question was this in the first place? The best and most logical answer is because they like that form of racing better.

kristopher_d

I'm not entirely fond of it either, but I will quote my grandfather (former professional racer [midgets in SF]) after my little brother claimed racing wasn't a sport: "I'd like to see you drive an oval." Every thing you do which requires effort and tests your ability is a real sport, and is exciting to those who enjoy it. Even working the pits requires a great deal of talent, skill, and strength. I certainly couldn't do it. As for roads with nothing but turns, you'll have to leave FL and go somewhere with obstacles. Sorry, but when the high point on your states topographic map is a freeway over-pass, you're not going to find many curvy roads.

j200pruf

iTrader: (4)

Have you ever tried taking your 7 to a roadracing track day? The local track near me has a drag strip/ run off as the front straight, you also test the hadnlind and braking. I guess I shouldn't comment on that cause I have never drove my 7 on any kind of tack, just my bike, by the way those are faster and more fun in stock condition, buy one you might like it.

V8s_are_slow

well i don't have a 7 "yet". but going to go and look at one tomorrow that i'm hoping to buy. when i drove on an auto-x track i had my dsm which handled pretty dang good. all-wheel drive, 2 inch drop, etc. could drive it pretty quick around the turns compared to most guys that were out there.

as for a bike, i had one but someone pulled out in front of me and i totalled my bike. had to have fluid drained from my knees, went thru physical therapy twice, and the most pain i've ever experienced in my life. and although i still like bikes, dunno that i could ever get one again cause that was sure a lotta pain to go thru. took me 3 months just to bend my right leg. 2 months for my left. ouch!!! if i ever did get another i'd probably ONLY drive it on a track. i use to live near norad and going up the mountain, the turns are 20 mph. talk about fun going up that at about 70-80 mph. woohoo!!! get up to the gate guards, turn around and haul butt back down the mountain side!!! stopped doing that when i found out they camera's all the way up the mountain side. figured i'd be hunted down sooner or later but anyway, i'll shut up now since i'm getting off topic now....

DEZERTE

Lol i know this is kinda old, but ur was mass funny