1st Auto X with 06 Coupe.. what do I need?

[2002_Viper_GTS_ACR]

Hey Folks,

I am going to be wastin "wastin time" on the Auto X in about a week, and I want to know what I need to do to be top shape for whoopin up on him.

He is a pre-madona and has others prep his car, but I do my own work.

I am thinking about changing brake fluid and clutch fluid to SRF? What is the best place to buy SRF fluid?

Also any changes/upgrades I should make to the rest of the car's fluids? RED Line for power steering ?? (best place to order??)

What about Brake pads for best bite, yet streetable? Should I do some performance pads?

My car has 13k miles on it, so if there is other routine maintenance I should do now, while im at it, please remind me. (I do oil changes all the time, 2k-3k) but what else should I get ?

Jon

 

[wastntim]

I am going to be wastin "wastin time" on the Auto X in about a week, and I want to know what I need to do to be top shape for whoopin up on him.

He is a pre-madona and has others prep his car, but I do my own work.

Jon

It's "wastntim". Try to keep it straight.

As for a responding to this post, I wouldn't bother. The only reason he's starting to work on his car again is so that it ONCE AGAIN is "mechanically unable to perform" on the day of the event, which is a phrase that often describes him according to the wife-to-be. By this point in time it's like

 

[2002_Viper_GTS_ACR]

lol. Your Icons are too funny. Why that guy gotta be beating the dead horse in the nutz? Weird.

Anyways, You cant blame me for having a social life outside of Viper Club, or that a questionable install/item on my Super Charger install wasnt done as well as it should have been. But I believe I'll be all set for waxin your wastin-my-time self.

Jon

PS. CAn someone please respond that actually has value to add to this. (That precludes wastintim).

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

An atuocross run is rarely more than 60 seconds, so brake fluid won't be an issue. If you're braking that much, you aren't going enough.

Check the coolant level to see it won't overheat between runs. Probably the biggest thing is power steering fluid caps - make sure it's there and stays there.

Brake pads - it's too late. If you get something more or less grippy, you won't be used to it. The OEM pads are fine for AX.

Do yourself a favor and empty out the car before you go. Anything extra is added weight and will fly around.

Find your tire pressure gauge. Mark the corner of the tire tread with a crayon or shoe polish. After your first run, check how far down the sidewall it wore off. Best pressure is when the little Bibendo on the side of the tread block gets worn. This is a little further over than you might normally think.

Get into second gear and stay there. You have 5X the power of a Miata or Civic and they might still beat you. Don't beat yourself with the gas pedal.

Have fun.

 

[Bill Pemberton Woodhouse]

Tom has you spot on.

If you had time an alignment with a bit of negative camber would help, try around 29 lbs in the rear and 34-35 in the front ,as the little 275s will plow. Stock pads, fluids, etc. are great, but as Tom mentioned get to 2nd fairly quick and stay there , unless it is a little bitty course where 1st is all you can use - not likely to occur, but can at times.

 

[2002_Viper_GTS_ACR]

good info Tom. Do you have a photo of a tire that you can point to the area you are talking about on the tire? I'd like to know for sure where your talking about because right now its a little fuzzy for me.

Thanks,

Jon

 

[rcl4668]

I think what he means is put some white shoe polish or chalk (a circular dab about an inch or two in diameter should so) where the tread meets the sidewall on each tire. Ideally, after your run you should see the white dot worn away right up to the edge of the tread. If you see too much or too little of the dot worn away, adjust tire pressures accordingly.

I think, but am not sure, when he refers to the "Bibendo" that is just the nickname of the little Michelin tire guy image you see on the sidewall of the Michelin ZP tires. (For anyone who cares his name is Bibendum; I know, weird.)

/Rich

 

[MikeR]

I took my basically stock, just exhaust mods, Viper out and ran some good times. Like others said, air pressure is probably the biggest thing to worry about. You want a little more air in the front then normal,so you dont roll the tire going thru the turns. As explained above, some put chalk on front tires sidewall to see how much you wear off, you would be suprised at how much the front tire can fold over when pushing that front end.

And the biggest tip I got, was slow in, fast out..... vs. fast in, backwards out. So just be smoothe, you might think your just running clean lines and not really hanging it out there, then you come check your times and you might be impressed. I so badly wanted to be burning up the tires,putting on a show with all that torque, but if your smoothe, you will go fast. Be either on the brakes or on the gas,but smoothe.

This was me and buddy at a autcross a few months back. You got one practice run,followed by two back to back runs for a combined total, other events you may get 5 runs, but you only get one lap at a time. Have fun!!

http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c1...=autocross.flv