Re: Autocrossing a 4000Q

[AUDIDUDI@delphi.com]

>   I too found the stock 4000Q to feel like a heavy, ponderous,
>   understeering pig on the autocross course. However, after much fiddling
>   about with different 4000Q models, dampers, tires, tire pressures and
>   differential-lock combinations, I've been able to dial-out that dreaded
>   understeering behaviour and generally turn the pig into a very pleasant,
>   fast, predictable, easy -to-toss-around, generally very forgiving and
>   very highly competetive (in SCCA H Stock) autocrosser. It did take two
>   4000Qs and several seasons to reach this high state of preparation and
>   tune, but, it can be done and the results (a very long string of
>   undefeated victories and the 1993 NER SCCA Championship) were very much
>   worth the effort. However, I certainly can see how one might very well
>   be discouraged with the 4000Q on the first go and/or without proper
>   development and preparation.

In my experience, much the same could be said about 4-cyl 4000s as well ...
however, given the significant weight penalty that must be paid for AWD --
my old HS '81 4000 (two-door, no sunroof) weighed 2154 pounds in SCCA-legal
trim w/4 gallons of gas and my '85 4000s (four-door, sunroof) weighs approx.
2280 -- I'm willing to bet a 4000q will be slower on most autox courses: 500
to 600 pounds (or more) is just too much weight to give up, especially when
you're stuck with 6x14 rims.  Of course, it never rains here in Arizona...

>   My present autocrosser, the '84 4000Q has no problem keeping up with
>   ur-Qs on the race track at Lime Rock in CT. The ur-Qs will pull away
>   quickly on the 1-mile straight, but by the time we all get back to the
>   start of the straight through the twisties, the ol' 4000Q-from-hell was
>   right back on their tails, big-as-life in ther rearviews! This is
>   totally due to the fantastic handling that is possible when the
>   4000Qs are properly setup. Of course, these ur-Qs were not really
>   prepared handling-wise or I'dah been dead meat.

There's nothing quite like giant-killing, is there?  I recall an open-track
day at Firebird Raceway many years ago where I was able to consistently lap
as quickly as several 944 turbos ... they'd pull out a 12-15 car lead on the
main straight but I'd be back on their bumper within 3 turns.  The local BMW
& Porsche club held a joint club challenge autocross series back in 1989 and
my friend Jim (who belonged to the Porsche club) and I (who belonged to the
BMW club) managed to beat ALL of the BMWs and ALL BUT TWO of the Porsches in
my H-stock legal '81 4000 w/140k+ miles on the engine ... later that year, I
also picked up a trophy at the Solo II Nationals.  (If only I had the money/
time to rebuild the motor before we went ... sigh.)

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