Mazdagirl

Hi all,
I'm a proud new owner of a 2005 RX8 =) Autocrossed my Miata all last year and have raced the RX8 five times this year. Couple of questions...
Looking to put other shocks on... any ideas what would be best for autocross?
What brand tires and size do you all use?
Any other hints would be welcomed as I'm still getting used to racing her!
Thanks,
Beth
1 BS

Imp

Shocks: Koni yellows have been doing great for most weekend 8 auto-xers.

Tires; Kumho V710s for R-comps in 245/35-18. The jury is still out on 285/35-18 Hoosiers.

Disable TC and DSC by holding down the DSC button for 8 seconds.

Update your location in your profile so we know whereabouts you'll be participating.

--kC

Mazdagirl

I'm from Ohio. Race locally with the Akron Sports Car Club, Northern Ohio Racing Assoc.
and do Pro Solo and National Events. Just got back from Cen-Div in Peru Indiana.
The RX8 is a Grand Touring, been racing on street tires.. Need to sell the race tires from the Miata and wheels before I get new for the RX8!

GeorgeH

iTrader: (2)

Welcome to the RX-8 world. I'm another Miata transplant.

For shocks, Tokico D-Specs work very well, and they have the advantage of allowing rear adjustments whithout disassembling the rear suspension, while Konis do not. I'm running D-Specs on my '04 sport, and did pretty well at the Packwood NT. Bringing 'em to Nats as well.

There has been some debate here in the past about the relative performance of the D-Specs vs. Koni Yellows, but evidence is mounting that if there is a performance difference, it is very small.

Downside to the D-Specs is that they are not rebuildable. So, if you eventually intend to go with a set of double adjustables, then Konis are the natural choice. But, if not, the D-Specs give excellent transitional response while autocrossing while allowing you to keep the nice street ride.

Mazdagirl

Thanks for the replies, it will help in the off season to get her set up for next year!

dknv

Mazdagirl,
Welcome and congrats on the RX8. Another hint for you, if you search on race, tires, shocks, alignment, in the Competition forum, you'll have enough reading to last all winter.


Here are some for starters:
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=85552

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=75741

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=91641

John V

iTrader: (1)

Didn't know Akron Sports Car Club still existed. I competed with them when I was in Ohio still, 1999-2002 timeframe.

Koni yellows, a good alignment and an extra set of stock wheels with 245/35/18 V710s will get you 98% of the way there in terms of setup. Have fun...

JV

dsmdriver

iTrader: (3)

I got my start in AutoX with ASCC back in 1996-1999 when I was in college. Good to see they are still active.

Mazdagirl

Yep ASCC is still going strong and the Pres of it has his own Autocross Club as well =)
We have about 3-4 National Champs from our club. Alot of the members have been in for yrs and yrs. I myself joined last June and have been addicted ever since =) Thanks for the reading info...... it will last the winter like you say =) I have already seen lots of helpful hints in my reading already! I found out I'm not the only one going thru quarts of oil........

Beth
1BS

John V

iTrader: (1)

I guess ASCC doesn't use that little Goodyear lot anymore... remember that? I remember watching Alex Schipkov driving there when his E30 was basically stock. Could tell even then that he was going to be something special.

dsmdriver, you didn't happen to go to CWRU, did ya?

John V

dsmdriver

iTrader: (3)

Yeah, I went to CWRU (do we have to say Case now?) for EE.

I ran at Goodyear and Firestone quite a bit. Where do they run now?

Mazdagirl

We run at the Eastlake Captians Club lot for NORA and Lordstown HS for ASCC.
We lost Euclid Square Mall last year but do still get to use it for our July 4th Invitational.
The lots arent real big but we have a blast and its better than none at all =) But to be honest I like the smaller lots =)

Beth
1 BS

John V

iTrader: (1)

Cool. I was an undergrad from '96-'00 in EE. Small world. Had a black RX-7 turbo back then.

kwescott

Mazdagirl, are you intending to remain in B-stock....if not you could always step up to the 285 V710. I just upgraded my wheels and just got the 285's mounted. First event with them will be second Saturday in September.

I have my 245 V710 set still mounted on OEM's if your interested.