auto x
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,389
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From: Midwest
Brain surgery.
Seriously, there is no way you will be capable of hitting the car's current handling limit until you have trained yourself for a few seasons.
Pump up the tires to their max pressure limit, breath and meditate to keep your heart rate down and don't be surprised when you have trouble reading the course.
Have fun. I have done it with the Protégé a few times. I always had the weakest car, but I never was the slowest. To me old geezer it is all about challenging the brain and thus keeping it flexible and sharp.
Also, it is a social event the pals in your region will be happy to advice you on mods.
Seriously, there is no way you will be capable of hitting the car's current handling limit until you have trained yourself for a few seasons.
Pump up the tires to their max pressure limit, breath and meditate to keep your heart rate down and don't be surprised when you have trouble reading the course.
Have fun. I have done it with the Protégé a few times. I always had the weakest car, but I never was the slowest. To me old geezer it is all about challenging the brain and thus keeping it flexible and sharp.
Also, it is a social event the pals in your region will be happy to advice you on mods.
Last edited by tanprotege; Sep 27, 2013 at 09:01 PM.
Thread Starter
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Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 12
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Brain surgery.
Seriously, there is no way you will be capable of hitting the car's current handling limit until you have trained yourself for a few seasons.
Pump up the tires to their max pressure limit, breath and meditate to keep your heart rate down and don't be surprised when you have trouble reading the course.
Have fun. I have done it with the Protégé a few times. I always had the weakest car, but I never was the slowest. To me old geezer it is all about challenging the brain and thus keeping it flexible and sharp.
Also, it is a social event the pals in your region will be happy to advice you on mods.
Seriously, there is no way you will be capable of hitting the car's current handling limit until you have trained yourself for a few seasons.
Pump up the tires to their max pressure limit, breath and meditate to keep your heart rate down and don't be surprised when you have trouble reading the course.
Have fun. I have done it with the Protégé a few times. I always had the weakest car, but I never was the slowest. To me old geezer it is all about challenging the brain and thus keeping it flexible and sharp.
Also, it is a social event the pals in your region will be happy to advice you on mods.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,389
Likes: 0
From: Midwest
In my Region you can ride shotgun if a driver agrees to it. Get a late starting number so you have time to ride along with an early starter.
Also, an experienced auto crosser may be willing to ride with you and coach you along. That really helped me with reading the cones.
Also, an experienced auto crosser may be willing to ride with you and coach you along. That really helped me with reading the cones.
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Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 12
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In my Region you can ride shotgun if a driver agrees to it. Get a late starting number so you have time to ride along with an early starter.
Also, an experienced auto crosser may be willing to ride with you and coach you along. That really helped me with reading the cones.
Also, an experienced auto crosser may be willing to ride with you and coach you along. That really helped me with reading the cones.
There are 7 or 8 clubs that run up here at the decommissioned Ft. Devens Army airfield in Ayer Ma. I'm getting ready to go watch the SCCA club this morning.
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Manor, TX (Outside of Austin)
Not that I don't agree w/tanprotege's suggestions, in fact I do, but to answer your question much more directly and add my vote, tires. You won't make any better headway in handling than the best set of tires you can find. Make sure the alignment is at least within specs. Keep in mind that Mazda's idea of "in spec" is broad. a shop that will take the time to 'dial it in' for you.
After tires, a rear anti-sway bar followed by a front anti-sway bar. To me, anything else is a waste of time.
Springs will lower the center of gravity, but the car really doesn't need that, and they will make it ride like crap. I know. I have springs and have considered going back to stock.
Shocks and struts... replace as needed only.
Thread Starter
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Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 12
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Not that I don't agree w/tanprotege's suggestions, in fact I do, but to answer your question much more directly and add my vote, tires. You won't make any better headway in handling than the best set of tires you can find. Make sure the alignment is at least within specs. Keep in mind that Mazda's idea of "in spec" is broad. a shop that will take the time to 'dial it in' for you.
After tires, a rear anti-sway bar followed by a front anti-sway bar. To me, anything else is a waste of time.
Springs will lower the center of gravity, but the car really doesn't need that, and they will make it ride like crap. I know. I have springs and have considered going back to stock.
Shocks and struts... replace as needed only.
Thread Starter
|
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Not that I don't agree w/tanprotege's suggestions, in fact I do, but to answer your question much more directly and add my vote, tires. You won't make any better headway in handling than the best set of tires you can find. Make sure the alignment is at least within specs. Keep in mind that Mazda's idea of "in spec" is broad. a shop that will take the time to 'dial it in' for you.
After tires, a rear anti-sway bar followed by a front anti-sway bar. To me, anything else is a waste of time.
Springs will lower the center of gravity, but the car really doesn't need that, and they will make it ride like crap. I know. I have springs and have considered going back to stock.
Shocks and struts... replace as needed only.
Banned
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,633
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From: Canada
I love my 1" drop progressive springs in the front. My car handles extremely well.
Put a bigger sway bar in the back to closely match the size in the front. Yes i have pretty good tires as well.
Want really good tires!
THESE: Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels
The Mickey Thompson Street Comp tire is built for ultra high performance applications. The Street Comp provides incredible traction, crisp handling, and high speed cornering ability with the outstanding appearance you'd expect from Mickey Thompson. Compounded for both dry and wet traction and a with a 300 AA A UTQG rating, (treadwear is the first number in the rating. In theory, a 300 rated tire should last twice as long as 150 rated tire).
This is a street tire that was designed for performance street cars in daily driving situations, with a design that is intended to maximize both dry and wet traction. The Street Comp UHP also features several elements intended to maximize wear. The asymmetric design of the tread means that on standard fitments the tires can be cross rotated, or changed side to side; which increases tread life, while reducing irregular wear patterns.
The outside tread features large shoulders which help maximize the tire’s cornering ability. The shoulder elements are tied together in pairs to improve traction, and stiffness. The wide circumferential grooves near the center of the tire improves wet traction, and avoid hydroplaning. At the same time the wide center rib improves steering responsiveness.
All of this translates into a tire that will last longer, and handle as well as, if not better than many similar tires on the market. During their testing Mickey Thompson claims that the Street Comp UHP actually beat competitors in lap times. These tests were performed for both wet and dry conditions.
Fitments are available for rims from 17"-20" in diameter, and 7.5"-10" in width.
Mickey Thompson is a premium hi-performance tire company that also supplies off-road tires as well as Drag Strip tires
Put a bigger sway bar in the back to closely match the size in the front. Yes i have pretty good tires as well.
Want really good tires!
THESE: Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels
The Mickey Thompson Street Comp tire is built for ultra high performance applications. The Street Comp provides incredible traction, crisp handling, and high speed cornering ability with the outstanding appearance you'd expect from Mickey Thompson. Compounded for both dry and wet traction and a with a 300 AA A UTQG rating, (treadwear is the first number in the rating. In theory, a 300 rated tire should last twice as long as 150 rated tire).
This is a street tire that was designed for performance street cars in daily driving situations, with a design that is intended to maximize both dry and wet traction. The Street Comp UHP also features several elements intended to maximize wear. The asymmetric design of the tread means that on standard fitments the tires can be cross rotated, or changed side to side; which increases tread life, while reducing irregular wear patterns.
The outside tread features large shoulders which help maximize the tire’s cornering ability. The shoulder elements are tied together in pairs to improve traction, and stiffness. The wide circumferential grooves near the center of the tire improves wet traction, and avoid hydroplaning. At the same time the wide center rib improves steering responsiveness.
All of this translates into a tire that will last longer, and handle as well as, if not better than many similar tires on the market. During their testing Mickey Thompson claims that the Street Comp UHP actually beat competitors in lap times. These tests were performed for both wet and dry conditions.
Fitments are available for rims from 17"-20" in diameter, and 7.5"-10" in width.
Mickey Thompson is a premium hi-performance tire company that also supplies off-road tires as well as Drag Strip tires
Last edited by UseYourNoggin; Oct 4, 2013 at 11:52 AM.
Thread Starter
|
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
I love my 1" drop progressive springs in the front. My car handles extremely well.
Put a bigger sway bar in the back to closely match the size in the front. Yes i have pretty good tires as well.
Want really good tires!
THESE: Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels
The Mickey Thompson Street Comp tire is built for ultra high performance applications. The Street Comp provides incredible traction, crisp handling, and high speed cornering ability with the outstanding appearance you'd expect from Mickey Thompson. Compounded for both dry and wet traction and a with a 300 AA A UTQG rating, (treadwear is the first number in the rating. In theory, a 300 rated tire should last twice as long as 150 rated tire).
This is a street tire that was designed for performance street cars in daily driving situations, with a design that is intended to maximize both dry and wet traction. The Street Comp UHP also features several elements intended to maximize wear. The asymmetric design of the tread means that on standard fitments the tires can be cross rotated, or changed side to side; which increases tread life, while reducing irregular wear patterns.
The outside tread features large shoulders which help maximize the tire’s cornering ability. The shoulder elements are tied together in pairs to improve traction, and stiffness. The wide circumferential grooves near the center of the tire improves wet traction, and avoid hydroplaning. At the same time the wide center rib improves steering responsiveness.
All of this translates into a tire that will last longer, and handle as well as, if not better than many similar tires on the market. During their testing Mickey Thompson claims that the Street Comp UHP actually beat competitors in lap times. These tests were performed for both wet and dry conditions.
Fitments are available for rims from 17"-20" in diameter, and 7.5"-10" in width.
Mickey Thompson is a premium hi-performance tire company that also supplies off-road tires as well as Drag Strip tires
Street Comp Ride & Drive - YouTube
Put a bigger sway bar in the back to closely match the size in the front. Yes i have pretty good tires as well.
Want really good tires!
THESE: Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels
The Mickey Thompson Street Comp tire is built for ultra high performance applications. The Street Comp provides incredible traction, crisp handling, and high speed cornering ability with the outstanding appearance you'd expect from Mickey Thompson. Compounded for both dry and wet traction and a with a 300 AA A UTQG rating, (treadwear is the first number in the rating. In theory, a 300 rated tire should last twice as long as 150 rated tire).
This is a street tire that was designed for performance street cars in daily driving situations, with a design that is intended to maximize both dry and wet traction. The Street Comp UHP also features several elements intended to maximize wear. The asymmetric design of the tread means that on standard fitments the tires can be cross rotated, or changed side to side; which increases tread life, while reducing irregular wear patterns.
The outside tread features large shoulders which help maximize the tire’s cornering ability. The shoulder elements are tied together in pairs to improve traction, and stiffness. The wide circumferential grooves near the center of the tire improves wet traction, and avoid hydroplaning. At the same time the wide center rib improves steering responsiveness.
All of this translates into a tire that will last longer, and handle as well as, if not better than many similar tires on the market. During their testing Mickey Thompson claims that the Street Comp UHP actually beat competitors in lap times. These tests were performed for both wet and dry conditions.
Fitments are available for rims from 17"-20" in diameter, and 7.5"-10" in width.
Mickey Thompson is a premium hi-performance tire company that also supplies off-road tires as well as Drag Strip tires
Street Comp Ride & Drive - YouTube
