Yet Another Autocrossing Thread: I've been humbled also anyone who says Cav Z24 can't handle need to be slapped.

[mAdD INDIAN]

Anyone who says Cavaliers Z24 are crap (performance wise) deserves to be slapped. Today at the autocross, there was a stock Z24 (newer model, but not the latest one) on R-compounds who pretty much OWNED everyone (including Type-Rs, GTIs, WRX, etc..). He came top in his class. His FTD (fastest run of the day) was 52s, and the fastest run by a street car was a 49s done by a S2000. Clearly this shows that the Z24 is capable of doing well. Of course it helps that the driver is FREAKING awesome and is a performance driving instructor as well.

Other surprises: I saw an S10 racing..yes, an S10. He did pretty well as well. Same goes for a Solara V6 on performance tires. Dunno if he had mods or not. Finally, there was a PT Cruiser on regular tires; he did extremely well. I guess since it is based on the Neon chassis, its to its advantage.

Saw an STi there...wow..that car simply OWNS. The way it turned, the way it accelerated, the way it braked. And I thought the interior was pretty nice to boot. The owner really pushed it..and it stuck like glue.

Also had a ride-along in a stock Miata on regualr summer-performance tires. Anyone who says Miatas are girly, need to have a ride in one at an auto-x!! I was stunned. I knew they handled well, but I didn't know THAT well! And it was damn quick as well. I didn't know it could accelerate as that. Wow. I definately want a Miata now.

Summary, all you guys who talk crap about cars definately need to see them in action. I take back watever crap I said about Cavaliers and PT Cruisers and wat not. There were other domestics (older Mustangs, F-bodies, SHO) who did very well also. That SHO was pure sex. Perfect and clean body (no rust).

As for me? Well lets just say the complex course, the newbieness in me, and the lack of decent tires all led to my horrible performance. I had 3 DNFs cause I consistently missed the gates on the track cause it was so freakin complex (compared to the previous one I went to..which was overly simple). However I did beat Type-R, but that's cause hte driver was new as well..hehe.

Oh well, next event I'll have new perfromance tires..and will try again!

 

[Rogue]

Since no one else who runs off at the mouth has balls enough to reply, I'll give my standard answer. Software is what makes things run well, hardware is hardware. It does not surprise me at all that domestics can beat imports flat out, especially when you have a commited driver. Far too often, people side with imports because they're "in" right now and it's easy to bash on American made. I guarantee you put some of those import drivers behind the wheel of a domestic and they'll run flat out too. Too many fanboys running around right now. I own a domestic by the way. Don't race, but don't care too either.

 

[Phuz]

I guarantee you put some of those import drivers behind the wheel of a domestic and they'll run flat out too.

How do you figure? It was the driver, not the car. I'm not knocking the z24, but it beat a number of cars it shouldn't be able to touch... because of the driver.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: Rogue
Since no one else who runs off at the mouth has balls enough to reply, I'll give my standard answer. Software is what makes things run well, hardware is hardware. It does not surprise me at all that domestics can beat imports flat out, especially when you have a commited driver. Far too often, people side with imports because they're "in" right now and it's easy to bash on American made. I guarantee you put some of those import drivers behind the wheel of a domestic and they'll run flat out too. Too many fanboys running around right now. I own a domestic by the way. Don't race, but don't care too either.

That's my point. And I've re-iterated it quite a few times. Any car is fun to drive, its up to the driver to extract the performance out of it. That's what seperates a good driver from a bad one.

Note: this thread wasn't about imports vs domestics. It was merely about getting rid of the myths that certain cars can't handle or suck or yadda yadda. It honestly blew my mind when I saw that Z24 ripping it up on the track.

But one of the biggest factors are tires. By simply having an R-compound or even high-performance street tires, you automatically become "good". Having R-compounds makes you competitive.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: Phuz

I guarantee you put some of those import drivers behind the wheel of a domestic and they'll run flat out too.

How do you figure? It was the driver, not the car. I'm not knocking the z24, but it beat a number of cars it shouldn't be able to touch... because of the driver.

He means the good drivers. Not just any driver. The fact that I beat a Type-R shows how bad the driver in the Type R was (and trust me..I did BAD).

 

[Rogue]

Dude, that's what I'm saying, a good driver behind the wheel of any comparable car, domestic or import, is gonna kick ass. What I'm doing is trying to dispel the myth that imports are better cars than domestics. If I don't know how to race, I could drive the best damn import money could buy and lose every time. Just too many people automatically assume that an import is far superior to a domestic and that's simply not true either.

 

It's the driver that makes the car, not the car that makes the driver.

 

Its the double post that makes the nef.

 

[Rogue]

Originally posted by: SammySon
Its the double post that makes the nef.

Funniest DP post I've seen yet. 😀

 

[Phuz]

Originally posted by: Rogue
Dude, that's what I'm saying, a good driver behind the wheel of any comparable car, domestic or import, is gonna kick ass. What I'm doing is trying to dispel the myth that imports are better cars than domestics. If I don't know how to race, I could drive the best damn import money could buy and lose every time. Just too many people automatically assume that an import is far superior to a domestic and that's simply not true either.

Good. 😉

 

[boyRacer]

I think people read too many of those import magazines and just expect the car to somehow do the same things the editor wrote. I love it when 'crappy' cars kick the isht out of more expensive cars and have their drivers looking like idiots. Last time i was at Laguna Seca... this miata was spanking these pretty boys in their porsches... 😛

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: boyRacer
I think people read too many of those import magazines and just expect the car to somehow do the same things the editor wrote. I love it when 'crappy' cars kick the isht out of more expensive cars and have their drivers looking like idiots. Last time i was at Laguna Seca... this miata was spanking these pretty boys in their porsches... 😛

Miatas spank everyone. EVERYONE!...well except hte MINIs. They are dead even with hte MINIs (from my experience)

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN

Originally posted by: boyRacer
I think people read too many of those import magazines and just expect the car to somehow do the same things the editor wrote. I love it when 'crappy' cars kick the isht out of more expensive cars and have their drivers looking like idiots. Last time i was at Laguna Seca... this miata was spanking these pretty boys in their porsches... 😛

Miatas spank everyone. EVERYONE!...well except hte MINIs. They are dead even with hte MINIs (from my experience)

Speaking of Minis, I've been playing the hell out of this mod for the GTR 2002 mod of F1 2002:

http://www.racesimcentral.com/articles/reviews/pc/minimod/index.shtml

VERY fun stuff 😀

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN

Originally posted by: boyRacer
I think people read too many of those import magazines and just expect the car to somehow do the same things the editor wrote. I love it when 'crappy' cars kick the isht out of more expensive cars and have their drivers looking like idiots. Last time i was at Laguna Seca... this miata was spanking these pretty boys in their porsches... 😛

Miatas spank everyone. EVERYONE!...well except hte MINIs. They are dead even with hte MINIs (from my experience)

Speaking of Minis, I've been playing the hell out of this mod for the GTR 2002 mod of F1 2002:

http://www.racesimcentral.com/articles/reviews/pc/minimod/index.shtml

VERY fun stuff 😀

Hmm..seems like an interesting game this F1 2002. Is it realistic? I'd get into it if it would run on my machine.

Anyway back to topic.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

bump!

 

[jlee]

I need to make it to an autox...need new tires, though -- my all-seasons rated for 65,000 miles don't exactly grab. 😉

With springs/struts/intake/exhaust, I take it I couldn't run in a stock class?

 

[Imported]

There's a night autox down in SoCal on August 2nd, and one August 3rd at Qualcomm in San Diego for any people down in those areas who may be interested. The one on the 2nd is limited to members only though.. not sure on the one in San Diego.