Racing?? where do you get started?

Farce · 03-22-2009

I want to get into racing on a track w/ my stang.. but dont know where to start..

I have a 2005 auto w/ few bolt ons .. The one thing i have noticed i may really need is some new seats.. the leather stang seats suck they dont keep you in place at all!.. I like the slolom or drifting.. but have no idea on how to drive the car like i see on the tracks. Can a auto stang drift? Also w/ a auto stang can you "shift"?

I have soo many questions but really dont know where to start

oneFASTmustang · 03-22-2009

unfortunately you might have to start with buying manual car... then joining the SCCA and go see some events like auto cross and once you get the ins and outs from the side lines as well as rules/ regulations then try it out.

Farce · 03-22-2009

hehe maybe my bro will lend me his scion xb.. LOL its a manual and could be fun too learn in.. ive never drivin a manual.. no idea how.

MustDangRider · 03-22-2009

Forget what he said you dont need to buy a man. car your autos just fine and if theyre setup right theyre faster than man.trans...a cheap pair of bucket seats will run you about $500-600. Also getting your car tomeet the saftey specs of your local track should be your first priority. Also your suspension and braking system as well as tires should be upgraded because it dosent make sense to have a car with 450HP and no way to get it to the ground or control it.

oneFASTmustang · 03-22-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by MustDangRider

Forget what he said you dont need to buy a man. car your autos just fine and if theyre setup right theyre faster than man.trans..

Im sorry but this is not true. If you're serious and you want to race (and it sounds like you are) than in most racing applications a manual is the way to go with out a doubt. When you race going into a turn you will downshift and use the engines compression to assist you in stopping quicker. Further more when you get back on to you be in the correct torque range to have strong/ instant acceleration which in some cases is needed to most effectively complete a turn. The only application where an auto rules is probably in a drag race application or possible (and this is a stretch)in in a slalom coarse where you can just put in in one gear and only concentrate on not hitting cones.

O and manuals are not hard at all. It will take a few weeks to get used to it and maybe a few races to master but its definitely worth it. But hey this is just my opinion. Racing is mainly drivers skill anyway and is fun as hell in just about anything.

oneFASTmustang · 03-23-2009

o not to mention manuals are lighter and run a lot cooler and i bet if you tried it you'd like i a whole lot more Farce. But like I said just one guys opinion here.

BKid · 03-23-2009

Get some good tires and suspension. That is the key. I have an Auto and had no problems drifting. Not sure what the manual thing is about. I guess if your auto does not have power or you do not know how to drive that would be a problem.

Farce · 03-23-2009

the car has the power.. i have no idea on how too drive

Almost afraid i would loose control of the car and destroy it.. I saw the NASA sebring thing for next month but i will have to skip that one.. my car isnt ready for that.. and funds are tight. I didnt know there was a Auto vs Man. thing either.. hehe and since its unlikely i'll be buying a new car anytime soon.. i'll just have too make it work for me..still interested in driving a man. now though.

is there any good videos on racing.. or how too shift a auto?

oneFASTmustang · 03-23-2009

hmmmm im not sure about an auto video. im sure there is some on you tube or something. But i like watching this video filmed in a 2000 Cobra R. Listen close and you'll hear him down shift and use the motor comp like I was saying.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ch5Dx2ftTwg

And I know what you mean about using what you got and tight funds Im a student and the mod bug has bit me and my wallet pretty hard. haha

Like i said racing is more driver than anything Im sure you'll have a ton of fun. Just take it slow... dont try to set any lap records your first day just learn the track, the car, and your limits. I recommend starting in auto cross... usually no walls to hit just little cones to teach the driver.

limp1969 · 03-24-2009

Your car will work this is what you need to do to get it on the track. Change the brake fluid to mutol 600 or 5.1 3 bottles. Get some hawk brake pads dtc 70s in front and dtc 60s for the rear. I bought another set of rims on craigs list and put toyo 888r race tires on them. The brake and tires will need to be warmed up. The tires and brake pad will need to be changed out before and after the race. The tires will not last long on the street and the pads will eat your rotors until they are warmed up. The street pads operate at a low temp where the race only pads operate from 400 to 1600 degrees. The next step would be a coil over kit and CC plates. This will allow you to scale the car and adjust ride height. The CC plates will allow you to adjust caster and camber for track vs street. This is when your car will become alot faster on the track. As far as racing hdpe1 is where you would start. Check out the nasa site for more info. You will have an instructor that will help you improve your driving skills. AS for the seats you can buy a seat belt lock that will help with the stock seat. This is just a cheap way to hold you in the seat alittle better.

kechme · 03-24-2009

Check out www.scca.com, www.nasaproracing.com, and www.myautoevents.com. With these three web sites I'm sure you can find somewhere near you to get out on track. Just start with the safety, brakes, and suspension mods first. Horse power comes later.

Farce · 03-24-2009

Thnxs alot every one.. and the alot of really good info.. i caught the NASA event on another post .. for next month in sebring .. unfortunatly i will not be able to attend that.. but i will keep my eye out for more.. my dad had printed out a whole list of events.. in the florida area!!! mostly the auto cross type.. he used to do it as a kid in a punch buggy and gia..lol he also had a BOSS later on.. soo he is really scyked ..i think he wants too race my car more than me now!!

as for the brakes.. should i buy rotors too instead of wearing out the ones i have for street.. this car is my daily driver..hehe .. i do own a camaro.. but i keep it in the garage.. im a closet chevy owner

maybe i'll just take that too rip up until i feel comfortable