Auto-x review

[bentiac]

I did my 2nd auto-x with the Alero (20th time overall) and here is my report:

1st event

Condition: wet but dried soon
Setup: Stock with not so useful mods (short shifter, WAI)
Tires:Goodyear all season in front BFGoodrich mud tires in the back
Tire pressures: 34psi front 32psi back
Class: ST
Results: 51/57



2nd event

Condition: Raining heavily about 10cm deep at points (almost snowing at points)
Setup: Added front strut tower brace (had the rear one in my trunk but no time to put it on) New OEM front rotors and performance brake pads.
Tires:Goodyear all season in front BFGoodrich mud tires in the back
Tire pressures: 40psi front 35psi back
Class: ST
Results: 41/65



Overall experience

I was very disappointed with my first run. (I have autocrossed with a third gen MX-5 finishing consistently in top 15 and with a 98 grandprix GTP finishing in top 30)
Awful understeer, no way to get the rear loose... before adding the front strut brace, the steering was very inconsistent. Huge body rolls... around the slalom I felt like I'm going .5 m up and down.

The second event went much better in comparison. The more rigid body (strut brace) helped with pointing the car in the right direction but it also increase vertical body roll a little. Gave me a good advantage over the rwd as they dnf-ed half of the time and the Alero was more consistent. I tried left foot braking in this event and I was able to neutralize the understeer at times but the body roll and the big alero seat made it hard to keep full control over the brakes.

Future mods:
-Connect the rear strut brace.
-Struts and springs.
-Kumho tires in the summer and shorter tire walls if I have the money for new wheels.
-I will decide if I need thicker sway bars once everything else in put in place.
-I seriously need to restrict my body from being thrown around so I can use my left foot for braking. Any suggestions??? I don't want to get racing seats but maybe have some sort of thick padding on my door to keep me on the right side of the seat lol.

[[ion] C2]

Awesome! You need to enter that second picture in the "Best Action Shot" monthly contest.

[wrestlingandrunning]

I was just wondering if anyone auto-x there alero, glad to see someone is I may try it next year in my alero a couple times if the z aint' ready yet.

[colonel6632]

i would like to try that out... but there is nothing around me

[TheEdgeofSanity]

lol, considering these cars were never developed for anything like autocross, I find it pretty remarkable that it does as well as it does with stock suspension. Keep us updated in your mods and how they improve the car!

[cherrington17]

don't we have another popular auto-x'er on the board? mfuller maybe? i don't remember.


a rear sway bar helps alot too. look into that.
keep up the good work, and keep up posted!

[misslindseysue]

http://www.cg-lock.com/index.html

[bentiac]

Originally Posted by TheEdgeofSanity

lol, considering these cars were never developed for anything like autocross, I find it pretty remarkable that it does as well as it does with stock suspension. Keep us updated in your mods and how they improve the car!

That's true but I was expecting the Alero to be as good as my GTP at least. Anyways this is the list of cars that were after me in the second event, in case anyone's wondering:

42. FS 88 FORD MUSTANG 2 52.477
43. GS 86 FORD MUSTANGSVO 2 52.549
44. SSM 85 TOYOTA MR2 3 TOYO 52.801
45. DSP 97 BMW 328IS 3 TOYO 52.844
46. DSP 00 VW GTI 4 53.227
47. SMF 98 HONDA CIVIC 4 53.393
48. BSP 97 BMW M3 4 HOOSIER 53.547
49. SM 78 DATSUN 280Z 4 B STONE 53.639
50. HS 06 ACURA CSX 2 MICHELIN 53.696
51. SM 06 SUBARU STI 2 53.727
52. STU 06 SUBARU STI 2 53.763
53. SMF 90 HONDA CRX SI 2 KUMHO ASX 54.528
54. SM 97 VW PASSAT 2 KUMHO 54.551
55. ESP 00 DODGE DAKOTA R/T 4 GOODYEAR 54.756
56. SM 89 NISSAN 240SX 2 55.050
57. SM 92 NISSAN SKYLINE 2 55.262
58. SMF 89 HONDA CIVIC 2 55.369
59. STU 08 BMW 135I 2 KUMHO 55.491
60. HS 08 TOYOTA YARIS 2 56.482
61. SMF 98 HONDA CIVIC 2 56.557
62. SM 89 NISSAN 240SX 4 56.749
63. HS 08 TOYOTA YARIS 2 57.175
64. STX 92 NISSAN 240SX 2 58.117
65. SM NISSAN SKYLINE 4 MICHELIN 62.172

Originally Posted by misslindseysue

http://www.cg-lock.com/index.html

Nice find I got to try this.

[Fenderxcore]

I definitely gotta find out if they have Auto-x around me...Looks pretty fun

[bentiac]

Originally Posted by Fenderxcore

I definitely gotta find out if they have Auto-x around me...Looks pretty fun

Most auto-x clubs run under SCCA regulations and you should be able to find your regional club here:

http://www.scca.com/home.aspx

[KenshinZero]

Why were you ruining lower tire pressure in the back tires, and higher in the front? Wouldn't that create more drag and less grip for cornering?

I always thought it was better to have lower psi in the front, and higher in the back.

[TheEdgeofSanity]

i would assume the grand prix would have a better suspension because it is developed as more of a sport car with a sport suspension. is your alero an FE2 or FE3 suspension? the grand prix has a lower center of gravity, thicker sway bars, and stiffer bushings than the alero.

Obviously you'll be better off if you have the FE3 suspension, but once you go changing springs, dampers, swaybars and the like you get bumped up to a higher class where you're running against much faster cars.
Best mod for autocrossing an Alero is a good driver (and good tires).

[colonel6632]

man i want to do this. and just so you know, i'm stealing your second picture for my facebook profile image if thats cool

[Cliff8928]

Originally Posted by mfuller

Obviously you'll be better off if you have the FE3 suspension, but once you go changing springs, dampers, swaybars and the like you get bumped up to a higher class where you're running against much faster cars.
Best mod for autocrossing an Alero is a good driver (and good tires).

You can change the dampers but not the springs to still stay stock. But the car in the OP was already in ST. The braces will do that right there.

The bars make a significant difference! I can feel the rear just start to come around on mine sometimes. Though, keep in mind I have the lightest weight powertrain which may have an effect on that too..

[bentiac]

Originally Posted by KenshinZero

Why were you ruining lower tire pressure in the back tires, and higher in the front? Wouldn't that create more drag and less grip for cornering?

I always thought it was better to have lower psi in the front, and higher in the back.

I'm not 100% clear on this myself but I researched it a while ago and looking at PSI vs. grip graphs there is definitely an optimum pressure and grip falls on both ends. As long as your front tire are at the optimum pressure going either way with the rear tires would give you less grip.

Originally Posted by colonel6632

man i want to do this. and just so you know, i'm stealing your second picture for my facebook profile image if thats cool

Sure go ahead!

Originally Posted by Cliff8928

You can change the dampers but not the springs to still stay stock. But the car in the OP was already in ST. The braces will do that right there.

The bars make a significant difference! I can feel the rear just start to come around on mine sometimes. Though, keep in mind I have the lightest weight powertrain which may have an effect on that too..

I definitely have to connect the rear strut bars once it stops showering...

As for moving up a class, I can still run in ST as long as I don't have adjustable damping but changing the damping won't bump me up. Either way I'm gonna do it as I care more about the fun than winning.

[Cliff8928]

Really? Here they don't care about what dampers you run, just springs.

I don't do all that well, I kinda get lost in the sea of pylons. It is fun, but a road course is WAY easier for me.