q's and Z's

[Burl Vibert]

Larry C Leung wrote:
> 
> In autocross (particularly in stock classes) the best driver usually
> wins, even over a "superior" car. When my GTi was together (finally doing
> something to bring it back, it's just been WAY too busy to even think
> about it) the competition in my class at the regional level was not that
> competitive. So the typical thing I did in order to keep my skills honed
> for Divisionals (where I don't fare nearly as well) was compare myself to
> other classes of cars with competive drivers, both in raw times and PAX
> index. In so doing, I frequently beat the times of supposedly "faster"
> cars, such as stock Neon ACR's (awfully good autocrosser BTW), CRX Si's
> (ditto), Street Prepped Rabbits and 'Roccos (really pretty neat when they
> have a Quaife), Miatas, RX7s and RX7 Turbo 2's, stock 911s and Ferraris,
> Mustangs, Camaros etc. It wasn't the cars (I've taken a few out in an
> Regional instructor status, generally I could easily beat my times with
> them, matching PAX or nearly so), though for some reason (yeah, right!),
> most Street Prep and higher class cars seem to be better able to perform
> up to their standards than most of the stock class cars. 


Autocross times depend mostly upon experience and skill,   The car is
indeed secondary and also dependant. However, you do see most of the
better drivers gravitating towards faster cars, well, because;-)


>Some cars (like
> my 200Q, which must run in if I use the 16's) are seriously out classed
> in class, I had to run with SP CRX Si's and Civics, always formidable in
> class, even in stock form, with a good driver that is) just are never
> going to be capable in class if you wish to keep them streetable, but
> that's an owner/driver's choice. 


We run different rules up here in Canada depending upon venue and
sanctioning bodies. Our problem is attendance, too many classes and
not enough cars.  When I did have to run my 5k and Coupe because my
regular AX car was busted I did manage to beat some "faster" cars in
higher classes, but I didn't really like the way they understeered and
leaned WAY over. 
http://ca.photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/stlac/vwp?.dir=/&.src=gr&.dnm=whoa.jpg




> My point is, I'm not surpized at your
> friend's successes in his 240Z, but if he's the type of driver he's
> likely to be, he'd probably be amazingly fast in a Trabant, too.

Yup, he gets the most out of whatever he's driving, with a bit of
practice of course. There were also some "fast" cars in the series, 
Tony McGrath in a Camaro SS is never slow. (multi-time Canadian Solo 1
and 2 champion)


> Just out
> of curiosity, do you get many open wheel Solo racers up your way?
> Invariably, down here, FTD will always go to an open wheeler.
>

Not really many open wheelers.  Most of the racecars are wheel to
wheel racing and the autocross cars tend to be street cars.  Our rules
are more open than SCCA and some of the mods we allow mean you don't
have to go to Mod and run slicks, making the car unstreetable, so you
can run your regular street car with street tires. Of course my street
tires are V700s.

Burl Vibert
1987 5kcstq
Kingston, Ontario