auto-x: Can a WRX be competitive in SM?

[illini_wrx]

I did all my modding before getting in to auto-x, and I'm currently in SM, but I'm not competitive at all. So I have a huge dilemma as to what class I should run in: STU vs. ESP vs. SM. Here's my relevant mod list.

Catless TBE,
Catless Up-pipe,
44mm Tial External Wastegate, 
APS TMIC
GM Boost Solenoid
stock td04 - AccessPort tuned to 20psi peak boost
H6 rear brake upgrade (bigger rotors)
17x9 wheels, 245 tires (>140 tread rating)
STi lateral links + box-style endlinks

What would it take to be competitive in SM? Or should I ditch the EWG and go back to ESP?

Thanks for all your help!

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[Boxologist]

nationally u have no chance. Locally it depends on your skill and ur competetion. get better and go to a starter set of Rcomps(ie NT01,RA1,R888) and see if STU or ESP is better for u. u may be a td05/1 year of experience/Rcomps away from being a good car for your region.

[Davidss]

I would take some parts off and go to stx.

[illini_wrx]

Originally Posted by Davidss

I would take some parts off and go to stx.

my wheels and tires keep me out of STX, and they were too expensive (and too pretty ) to sell.

Originally Posted by Boxologist

nationally u have no chance.

well what would it take to have a chance? that's what i'm trying to get at here.

are we talking full on time-attack car, completely gutted, with a 2.5L race engine swap, trans swap with shorter gears, and massive wheels/tires? or are you saying that even a ridiculously modded WRX can't compete in SM nationally?

[mofugga]

Originally Posted by illini_wrx

my wheels and tires keep me out of STX, and they were too expensive (and too pretty ) to sell.

well what would it take to have a chance? that's what i'm trying to get at here.

are we talking full on time-attack car, completely gutted, with a 2.5L race engine swap, trans swap with shorter gears, and massive wheels/tires? or are you saying that even a ridiculously modded WRX can't compete in SM nationally?

boatloads of money and talent and you got a shot.

[bl_easy]

SM = money pit class

Having said that, a 2002 WRX made 10th place in the 2006 Topeka National event

[808-wrx]

why did you get a 44mm ewg for a stock turbo??? Their is no point.

[illini_wrx]

so after flipping through the scca rule book, it looks like a 2.5L swap isn't even legal in SM... can someone verify this? it says that engines have to be "factory options" and the 257 obviously wasn't. does that also mean no 207 swap either?

Originally Posted by 808-wrx

why did you get a 44mm ewg for a stock turbo??? Their is no point.

at the time i was planning on going 16/18G, plus i wouldn't have saved any money downgrading the kit to a 38

[S1MPSONS]

You can put any Subaru motor in a Subaru for SM.

[digitalseance]

iLLini_wrx,

The Champaign County Sports Car Club has a LOT of tough drivers. I just relocated away from Bloomington about 6 months ago and I'm the former webmaster and wrote the online registration application that you most likely used to register for the Rantoul events.

Craig (red evo) is dominating in SM and you'll never catch him. When Andy comes (black STi from TN) he's really quick too but he's catchable since he doesn't run R-comps. ESP's main competition is Dennis (grey camaro) and he's easily beaten. Barney (blue camaro) will occasionaly come down from Joliet to run and he's really quick. After 2 years of racing, I finally started beating him but it took hoosiers and very stiff springs.

My advice would be to undo the EWG and get some v710s and stick to ESP. ESP in CCSCC/CIR events is a lot of fun and you'll be competing for year end points right off the bat if you decide to run a lot of events. If you go to Chicago region, then you're on your own. You'll be up against some VERY fast drivers and fully prepped pony cars that would smoke me on a regular basis.

-Philip

From Rantoul:

[Turn in Concepts]

We are prepping an 04 wrx for nationals in SM this year. It will be making about 430whp with big slicks and way too much into the suspension. We don't think we even have a chance with that setup....if that tells you anything.

[Chiketkd]

Originally Posted by bl_easy

SM = money pit class

Having said that, a 2002 WRX made 10th place in the 2006 Topeka National event

That was my buddy Jose (pacobeagle) who finished 10th that year.

To the OP, SM is a money pit. To have a competitive car you need diffs, weight reduction (to get to minimum weight), wide wheels & big r-comps, coilover suspension, engine/turbo upgrades....and that's just the basics.

These are two pics of a nationally competitive STi that Navid campaigned last season:





People typically put at least 20-30K into a car to make it reasonably competitive. Others like Vic Sias (E36 BMW M3), have much, much more into their cars.

[ratt_finkel]

Originally Posted by Chiketkd

People typically put at least 20-30K into a car to make it reasonably competitive. Others like Vic Sias (E36 BMW M3), have much, much more into their cars.

That sounds about right for SP. SM would be even more

[Ralliart4]

HOLY CRAP!! And many of us rally guys thought the transition from g.n to gp.a was a huge gap. F'in hell because I have a FMIC now im in SM from STX and trust me its a whole different world worth of pain....

On another note if it takes 400whp to be competitive then i might as well go for it all or sell my car lol. Paco where are you man i need your jedi force.

[Mechie3]

^^ Mm...not so much.

I've only put about $11K into my car (including a new engine, not including cost of the car) and am very competitive in ESP. Regionally the car can (and often does) beat all of the SM cars in raw time. Part of it is I buy almost all of my parts used when possible.

Nationally I didn't do so well (it's only my second year of AX) but my co driver coned away both FTD's for the class at SEAD (it was his first time driving my car btw). Still, with bigger tires and stiffer springs (both of which wouldn't have cost that much more if I got them the first time around) we both could easily have done much better. Most people were on 275's or larger for SEAD, we were on 245's with street coils and keeping up.

OP, Not sure if the lateral links are a legal upgrade. Also, you can do the 2.5 swap in ESP as part of the update backdate rule.

Chiket, any specs on that STI in terms of tires, the bodykit, etc? That looks mean.

[scobaru]

if your still some what new to autocrossing I'd try to slim down to STX And get rides with people who are going faster to you and pick up some pointers. Lateral links are allowed in the ST classes

[Chiketkd]

Originally Posted by Mechie3

Chiket, any specs on that STI in terms of tires, the bodykit, etc? That looks mean.

Not sure - Navid Kahangi never really discussed his set-up much on here. Some west coast folks might be able to fill in some blanks though. He did well with the car at El Toro Pro solo in '07 (beat Sias for the win) and trophied at the Pro Finale, but then had engine issues and couldn't run in SM @ Nats. Ended up running in XP on a rebuilt motor and trophied in XP iirc...

I think he goes by the screen name Navid on here. Last I heard, he was taking a break from solo.

[digitalseance]

Having run in the same region as the OP, there isn't anyone to ride with in STX, STU. The one, and virtually only one, to ride with is Russ Bedford in his SS C5 Z06. Chris isn't running a powerful car next year (switched to GS) so although he'd be a great person to ride with, he's not going to be in a car powerful enough to get a decent idea. Virtually everyone else, with only a few exceptions, isn't even divisionally competitive.

To the OP:
Russ will be out there this weekend. Go and ride with him on every run. He is really good about taking passengers unless his daughter is codriving.

[smurfwrx]

man.... this blows! I'm participating in my first-ever auto-x this Saturday in my stage2-ish bugeye in SM (PPG's did me in). I know I'll be slaughtered with it being my first time out but I thought for sure with some more practice and R-comps I could be a contender in SM next time! Guess not.

Ah well, auto-x isn't my "bag" anyway. I'll be building my car around time-attack and track days in mind and not auto-x but I'll definitely take advantage of auto-x events just to "play," but from what I'm hearing, that class takes big money to perform well in.

[Boxologist]

Originally Posted by illini_wrx

my wheels and tires keep me out of STX, and they were too expensive (and too pretty ) to sell.

well what would it take to have a chance? that's what i'm trying to get at here.

are we talking full on time-attack car, completely gutted, with a 2.5L race engine swap, trans swap with shorter gears, and massive wheels/tires? or are you saying that even a ridiculously modded WRX can't compete in SM nationally?

ur still a novice so just drive anyway in that class. have an experienced drver take the car for an event once in a while to see what teh car's potentila is so u know how far off ur skills are. by the time u learn how to drive competetively, u will have figured what u want out of your autoX car and can purchase and modify accordinly.

Originally Posted by Chiketkd

...
People typically put at least 20-30K into a car to make it reasonably competitive. Others like Vic Sias (E36 BMW M3), have much, much more into their cars.

and Daddio just plugs into the matrix.

[Chiketkd]

Originally Posted by Boxologist

and Daddio just plugs into the matrix.

Very true!

[bcblues]

It helps to have a fat wallet or a "sugar daddy", and "alien blood".

I am currently running SM, and I am competitive in our small region. I would be slaughtered at the National level, partly due to my under-prepped car, but mostly due to my lack of alien blood.

[Chiketkd]

Originally Posted by bcblues

I would be slaughtered at the National level, partly due to my under-prepped car, but mostly due to my lack of alien blood.

You can use "crazy" to substitute for the "Alien blood". I have no alien blood, but I'm working on crazy...among other things.

[illini_wrx]

Originally Posted by Mechie3

Also, you can do the 2.5 swap in ESP as part of the update backdate rule.

with that rule for ESP, could I swap my td04 for the 2009 wrx's vf52? or would I also have to swap the motor? that vf52 is apparently a monster, putting down 260whp+ with just a tune and a catback

[Mechie3]

^^ That's still up for debate. Find another thread about the 09 being competitive in ESP and you'll see people are trying to get it bumped. Also, you'd technically have to swap the motor to be legit.