Actaeon

I guess I'll start by saying this car will never be nationally competitive, however, I do feel it will be regionally competitive and fun to drive.

1.) The car is too heavy (Its a Grand Touring Model, sunroof and all), and there are sacrifices I'd rather not make for my daily driver to be a fully competitive car.

2.) The driver (me) is not nearly as good as the top dogs! I will practice and try harder though!


My last autocross event was 8 months ago, and the last time I was seriously running in my region was about 2 years ago. The RX-8 was never prepared for racing, as I had the Miata. Since I moved to California from Florida, I no longer have the Miata to use.

Lately I've been bored and I was convinced that I should go back racing. So, I looked up some stuff online and started buying. In addition to no longer having the Miata, I no longer have any of my resources or tools I had in Florida. I didn't even have a jack or a torque wrench! I was starting from scratch!

The car already has an aftermarket exhaust from the previous owner. While its not the nice and light single tipped exhausts that the nationally competitive guys like to run, it should be an improvement over stock. It is the Racing Beat Exhaust, which I happen to like. I am not factoring this into my cost.

So, heres what I got for 2k, some of the stuff is still in shipping and waiting to arrive, but this is a breakdown of everything that has bought and due to arrive sooner or later.

A set of OEM RX8 Wheels already wrapped with used V710 245/35/18s. Approximately 40-50 runs on the tires.
An additional set of used 245/35/18 V710s, approximately 80 runs on these sets. (Hey, they were only $50 for the set, local pickup, I couldn't say no)
Koni Yellow Sports Installed by a local RX8er (I think they'll be set to 80% stiff/2 full turns)

Dewalt Impact Wrench 1/2" drive - BEST TOOL EVER. Should help with tire changes
3000lb Jack
4 Jack Stands
Impact Metric Sockets
Torque Wrench
Air Compressor + Air Pressure Gauge
Breaker Bar

3 pairs of TireTotes
Mechanix Gloves
Renewed SCCA First Gear Membership
10" Set of Magnets for Number/Class
Ice Cooler for food at the events

All for roughly 2k! Give or take 50 bucks.

How'd I do? Did I miss anything?

I passed on a FSB because everyone seems to be running drilled stocks (i'll look into that later), and I already have an exhaust.

I already have a helmet, so no worries there.

Looking to start my first event this weekend (I won't have everything ready, so street tires and stock shocks for me). I hope to be locally competitive in the next several events.

Look forward to racing soon!

balefire

iTrader: (2)

Having just done many of those things last year after my own personal autox hiatus, in my hindsight, I would consider adding:

1) McGard lugs. The OEM lugs and the OEM wheel bolts are soft and chewy.
2) Anti seize for the wheel bolts. Same reason. Its not fun changing the rear wheel bolts.
3) Screws, washers, and bolts to better secure your cone catching undertray and replace the crappy plastic screws Mazda provides. The undertrays are suprisingly not cheap for such a flimsy piece of plastic.
4) Any other exhaust (jic ti, corksport, ms) or a cheapo turn down/straight pipe. The RB exhaust is heavier than stock. Ouch.
5) Make sure you have all the recalls/TSBs. You can get free brake pads, spark plugs, battery, etc, and the latest flash.
6) Consider RB screens to protect your oil and ac condenser depending on your year.
7) Pumping water spray jug. The summer heat can really cause some overheating tires
8) Shoe polish/chalk for your tire edge
9) Rain gear
10) Ibuprofen for the tire changing. OEM wheels and 18" tires aren't light.
11) A chair to sit on after tire changing


Also, if you're like me, you might have jacked up both the F and R of the miata at the same time. Don't do that with the rx-8. Chassis won't like it. Good luck.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

where in Kalifornication? Bay area?

gymdent

To solve that issue I have a long 2 x 4 with a slot cut down it's length that fits into the welding seam along the jacking points (I don't know the technical name of it). I then put the jack under the 2 x 4 at the front jacking point and jack away (Unfortunate wording!). I think that solves the chassis issue.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

the rear jacking point will get the car up faster, the rear suspension has more droop than the front and the chassis will lean slightly toward the opposite end as you jack it up

otherwise I disagree, we have always jacked up both wheels using one point, the RX-8 chassis is way more solid than the Miata

Actaeon

Yep, in Bay Area. I'm going to try to head to the Oakland event this weekend. I won't have the car completely ready, so it'll just be on streeties.

Good points about the jacking issue. I did do the single jacking point around the driver's door for the Miata. I thought the Miata chassis was always pretty flimsy, any particular reason why the RX8 doesnt like a single jacking point? I figure with it being much stiffer, I wouldn't have to worry about it.

I suppose the general consensus is to try with a piece of wood on the rear jacking points and see how that goes?

Excellent list Balefire. I had forgotten about the water sprayer and the chair. Great point on the Anti-Seize as well. I forgot how much hotter the wheel hubs, lugs, and bolts get after an autocross. Too bad about the exhaust, I thought I read on the website that it was lighter than stock... oh well!

Thanks again for the list and helpful suggestions. Any more points would be appreciated. If any of you are in the Bay Area, I will look forward to seeing you this and on many more Sundays.

shaunv74

I believe if you have the Racingbeat single tip race exhaust it is lighter than stock.

The dual tip street exhaust is heavier.

Derex'8

iTrader: (4)

+1000

Also it wouldn't hurt to bring along a bottle of glass cleaner, if your like me and ride around with the windshield washer tank empty. (Yeah I'm that **** about weight savings).

Actaeon

Thanks again everyone, went to the store and picked up some stuff! Too bad about the exhaust weight though, oh well. I'll deal with it!

I didn't worry about Rain Gear, I live in the Bay Area of California, it doesn't rain very often. For as much as I pay for rent out here, it better not rain! Heh, jokes aside, rainy season is around December to Feb/March, so no worries for right now, but I do have a big ol' golf umbrella.

Picked up a chair, some sunglasses, an umbrella, some suntan lotion and some bug spray. Also picked up some "spare" lugnuts and some wood blocks for the "racing" jack. I have some of those glass cleaning wipes, so I'll carry the canister of that with me to the race event. When my gift certificates for Amazon.com come in, I'll buy some comfortable "racing" shoes (I read some good stuff about the Puma Drift Cats).

One thing I've done that I haven't seen mentioned, though I am sure I am not the first, was to pick up some duffel bags. Basically, I throw all the equipment that'll fit in these bags like a "tool box" so its easily removed from the car when I get to the event, and when I am back at the house. The jack, chair and umbrella don't fit, but everything else (water sprayer, helmet, tape, torque wrench, impact gun, etc) fits in two bags. Should make preparing the car for a race a little bit less time consuming.

Thanks again everyone, as soon as the rest of my stuff comes in, I think I'll ready to race. I've heard many good things about the Bay Area racers, and that the driving skills are a very high caliber. Can't wait to get my *** handed to me and learn a thing or two.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

sorry not to oblige, I decided to stay home and figure out how much to pay the IRS instead

Actaeon

Maybe next time then!

I got my butt handed to me, but I was nearly stock, so I'm trying to convince myself not to feel too bad.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

I would have rather gone to the autox, having to write the IRS a $7600 check makes for a really sh-tty day

CosmosMpower

I reccomend just buying a medium size Rubbermaid plastic tote with a lid. That way you can throw all your stuff into 1 container instead of seperate bags and if it ever does rain your stuff is all dry in a waterproof container. Plus people are a lot less likely to run over a 2 foot tall plastic tub than a soft duffle bag in the paddock. When I had my RX-8 I just threw the jack, chairs, tools in the trunk nearest to the front of the car and then dropped the plastic tote in the well and stacked the extra wheels/R comps in the back seats.

You also might want to buy a good cordless drill or impact, it will make your life a LOT easier changing race wheels at events when you don't have your air tools.

The other critical thing I didn't see on the list is a good autocross alignment.