I participated in an autocross at Dixie Classic Fairgrounds this Sunday. I came in 3rd of 4 in H Street, at my 3rd event.
The car is dead stock, with 104k, except for an upgraded rear sway bar. It still has the junk all-season tires from when I bought it a couple months ago.
It is not the ideal car for autocross:
- The height (and the large glass areas up high) give greater weight transfer and lean to the outer wheel
- The strut front suspension means the tires lean with the car, reducing traction and wearing the outside heavily
- The open differential means the unloaded inside tire spins very easily on acceleration
- The high revving nature of the engine, and the spread between first and second, mean you spend the majority of your time well out of the powerband
Just for giggles, I took one pass leaving it in first. Spent about 25% of my time bouncing off the rev limiter, and contributed lots of smoke to the atmosphere. It was my 2nd fastest time of the day,though
Photo courtesy Sam Dougherty: