cindy42

I just got a RX-8 and I am looking to prep it for B Stock. I've been a nationally competitive driver in a D stock Protege, but this is a bit different for me. I was going to pick some brains to get some ideas of where to take this car. I took it out to a local event on some mismatched all season tires and no alignment and I still thought it was great! Anyway, I hope to see some of you around on a tour or National someday, in the meantime, I'll start building.

What about changing the stock front bar? I noticed in some photos when I drove the car today it would pick up the rear inside wheel in a hard turn, would the bar help that? Any other suggestions? Tires? Hoosier vs Kumho? What about STU, what tires do you guys/gals run? I had to have leather, so I guess I better get my butt on the treadmill.

xsnipersgox

if u have GT i don't think u'll be competitive at national level unless u can loose 200 lbs+. now, i think they are running kumhos 710s max negative camber or something on front.. and.. well i am a noob so bleh. lightweight one tip exhaust out the right side.

mwood

So, you found your way over here, Cindy? Cool.

One suggestion: There is a ton of information on the topics which you've brought up on this board...but, it does require use of the search function

(I had to say it before TeamRX8 did...btw, like my avatar, Mark?)

HeavyMetal699

Even better than search is the stickies. They discuss the topics you are most interested in, like camber. The rest of the info is the normal forum debate stuff.

Basically everyone is running lightweight rims (theres a thread on it somewhere about the newest lightweight rims), V710's, and Koni yellows. Next on the list is lightweight exhaust, sway bar is debatable(everyone has their own opinion), air filter, then fluids vary as well.

The last thing you need is what I'm in short supply of, skill. Good luck and have fun!

P.S. Supposedly you can stuff 4 tires and a jack in the car so you don't even need a trailor. If you don't care about interior could save you some headache.

cindy42

I can take a GT and make it work. I know weight is something, but I'm used to being the heavyweight. Look up weight of Mazdaspeed Protege without any mods, stock wheels even, and compare that and the horsepower to the ITR, and I could hang. I could have won if it wasn't for my second day curse, and sharp left handed turn on down hill slope fuel starve. Lose a national title by 0.07 sometime and then drive 600 miles home in a car by yourself. It's a long drive saying that time over and over.

cindy42

Sorry if I brought up something everyone is tired of talking about, I just enjoy the interaction more than the research. And there are new ideas everyday. Sunday I saw a guy get 275 Hoosiers on the front of his 200sx

HeavyMetal699

Wow, you have a GTO and a RX-8. Thats like night and day. I wouldn't mind having both myself!

Edit: Don't worry, after your here for a bit everyone will stop saying search. It is the internet after all.

Also the competition forum is a tight knit group so you won't catch too much flak here. You probably met some of the people here already.

mwood

No worries, I was kind of half kidding...there's one person on this board who just loves to tell "noobs" to search...gotta love 'em

On the other hand, many of us who have run the RX8 with success at a regional and national level have been through this conversation many times. It really seems that there are, without doubt, a number of "hot" set ups. Fact is, the RX8 (my opinion, now) doesn't seem to be all that sensitive to what would be major set up changes on other cars...e.g. big Hoosiers (285 or 295) vs. smaller Kumhos (245)...both myself and my co-driver last year were able to run top times (unfortunately, one of us couldn't do it two days in a row) in class on both tires at pros, tours and nationals. Same with a big front bar, we ran the stock one for the Pro finale (which Matthew won) and the big Whiteline bar for nationals...and the car was fast, either way.

I'm not sure if that indicates the car isn't that effected by these variables or whether we were just so far from optimal that it didn't matter (which doesn't make sense), to be honest. I did drive a car, recently, which has a significantly different set up and it felt wonderful, better than my car ever did...but, I was dizzy and puking between runs that day(due to heat and food "issues"), so maybe I just imagined it was so good

cindy42

I never really did much with my last car, just tweaked the alignment and tried some different tires. Best set up ended up with Hoosier A6's on the front and Avon's on the back for rotation.

This time I thought I might actually "try" since I got two second place door stops with a showroom car. (It sure was fun beating the "GM Performance Division" in their big rigs with my four tires in the back seat driving from KY.)

I keep trying to adjust myself. It seems my brain is the biggest problem. Somedays it is there and somedays I take a run and come back and think "what just happened, did I run? Where am I? Did I lock the door at home? Did I let the dogs out? Did I feed the cat?" I think you get the picture. I'm a bit sarcastic and good humored, and I love cars, and this sport.


And, randomly, I diverge, the GTO is definitely different. That is more my husband's car, but I picked the color. We autocrossed it for fun the last few local events on Kumho ASX all seasons. I made a James Bond smoke screen. New tires are in the big brown van somewhere. I think that car has potential in local stages with some sticky tires. Give it some suspension tuning and it might turn in another way besides skinny pedal on right.

I'm going to take the suggestions I've got so far from the "sticky" and the very helpful mwood and get the alignment fixed and try another local event Sunday, of course still no good tires. I'll see how each little addition actually seems to change the vehicle.

Thanks for the invite and the welcome. I think I'll like it here.

PBlue

iTrader: (1)

Will koni yellows lower the car at all? (gotta keep stock springs for BS)

HeavyMetal699

Since I'm new to autocross I have yet to make the plunge. But, everyone who is winning are on Koni yellows. They work well with stock springs.

SilverSurfer

Cindy-

Looking forward to seeing you drive at the next local event! I think I'm going to be on Kumho SPTs myself due to the V710 crisis. STU, anyone?

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

....

Soloseven

I use the Mazdaspeed front bar which is only 10% apox stiffer than stock. A lot of the other B stock guys use the stock bar. Any other bar on the market other than the Mazdapeed bar is too stiff and makes the car plow. The Mazdaspeed bar is not cheap, buy the way.

mwood

There is plenty of empirical evidence that might make you reconsider that statement...but, YMMV

ULLLOSE

iTrader: (1)

I think he has the right bar.... I have seen plenty of data to confirm that.

Then what do I know, me with my skinny little V710s and jacked up alignment.

mwood

I'm not disagreeing that the MS bar is a good size/stiffness for the app, just the statement that all other bars cause "plow", which doesn't jibe with the experience of myself and others...

Besides, you and I have already agreed it is your MaD SkilZ (tm) that has led to your great succes...not set up

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

whether the bar you choose causes the car to plow is mostly setup dependent within a reasonable stiffness range, the MS bar is actually on the soft end of that range IMO

ULLLOSE

iTrader: (1)

I was just jerking your chain... You can make the car plow with a stock bar, and with a wacky enough setup a drift car with a Winnebago front bar.

I guess now that you are in a Mullet Mobile with a solid axle, you never have to worry about anything except power-on-oversteer and keeping your Busch beer cold.

docgatorx8er

iTrader: (10)

To confirm, the koni yellows are OK in BS??

Suggestions on where to buy?

ULLLOSE

iTrader: (1)

Yes, tirerack.com.

HeavyMetal699

Or CRH, you can PM him. Both sponsor the forum so choose the one with the best price! Sometimes you can grab a set on the super cheap when someone is parting out their RX-8.

mwood

Well...with the factory limited slip, which is more slip than limited, power-on-oversteer isn't quite as much of an option as I'd like...as far as Busch beer, I don't drink, so I ain't too worried about that one...

Back on topic, yes, the Koni yellows do result in a lower ride height, based on my experience and others...I'd say somewhere in the 1/2" range or so. I just put the oem struts back on and the car looks almost like a Bilstein equipped RX8...SUV'ish

Mazdagirl

Nice to see another woman RX8 autocrosser!!!!!!

Welcome to the fun

Beth

cindy42

At least my power-on-oversteer GTO has an independent rear.

I'm eating up the insight, BTW. Thanks so far! I've got an M3 to beat, so keep it coming.

Thanks for the welcome, Beth. Glad to see you as well. Maybe we'll cross paths being neighbor states (KY/ OH)

I noticed silver seems to be a hot color for autocrossing, does it weigh less than other paints. (Note: sarcasm is just the only service I offer.)

I think I'll start pricing sway bars, since there is a Kumho Krisis. I really liked the A6's on my Protege. Anyone using them?