Mazda 3 Solo II
 

anyone else out there autocrossing their Mazda 3s besides myself? how are you comparing to the rest of the cars in your grid?

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

i have not seen one at the autoX track...how have you done against other cars in your class?

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

im giving the other cars some good competition...this was my fifth autocross competing in the STS class, coming in in sixth place.

'Street Touring' - Total Entries: 12 Trophies: 5 Times Total Diff.
1T 109 Louie, Mike 91 Honda Civic Teal 46.708+1 44.943 45.183 44.863 44.863 -
2T 233 Matsumoto, Steven 96 Acura Integra 47.736 48.037 46.962 47.170 46.962 2.099
3T 411 Smucker, Don 83 VW GTI White 48.716 47.881 48.531 48.398 47.881 0.919
4T 216 Williams, Bob 04 Saturn ION Red Line 49.981+off 49.430 48.490 48.415+1 48.490 0.609
5T 320 Richards, Zach 02 Acura Rsx-S 49.617 49.465 49.551 53.884 49.465 0.975
6 420 Simonelli, Jeff 04 Mazda 3S Silver 50.580 49.658 50.016 49.494 49.494 0.029
7 115 Brownawell, Chad 01 Mazda Protege ES 50.878 51.618 51.328 51.369 50.878 -
8 332 Benson, Kenneth 03 Acura RSX type-S 58.743 55.452+off 52.788 58.042 52.788 1.910
9 317 Lindsey, Chris 04 Acura Rsx Type S 58.190 53.794 52.824 52.932 52.824 0.036
10 110 Hamilton Jr., Keith 03 Mazda Protege5 53.536 52.929 53.276 53.762 52.929 0.105
11 103 Young, Cy 92 Mazda MX3 Black 59.965+off 57.860 56.022 54.238 54.238 1.309
12 302 Cooper, Mindy 02 Acura Rsx-S 47.456+off 48.162+off 47.225+off 48.120+off off 54.238

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

nice work! what have you done to your car?

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

1. AEM Cold Air Intake.
2. Custom Catback Exhaust
3. I've purchased a TEIN Basic Coilover Supsension and a bunch of MAZDASPEED goodies as well (rear camber links, strut and sway bars). i am still waiting to install these parts until next spring so these parts dont experience unneccessary wear and tear throughout the winter... but, the 3s already handles like a dream, it'll be unstoppable once i finally beef up the suspension.

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

what kind of tires are you running for the autoXing? stockers??

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

i did not like the stockers but i am still using my everyday all-season performance tires. they are BFGoodrich Traction T/A 's 215 / 50 R 17 91 V (the stocks were 205). they handle great in dry, wet, or snowy conditions and they arent wearing too fast at all. soon, though, i hope to purchase some tires with which just to autocross...probably the Falken Azenis, which seem to be pretty popular in my autocross region (Susqehanna SCCA) or BFGoodrich g-Force T/A 's.

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

do you like your catback exhaust? how does it sound?

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

i could not be HAPPIER with my exhaust than i am...its a really low, deep tone that has a rough growl to it. and when the car is just about redlineing it sounds like a straight up F1 car, which sounds awesome being revved in covered bridges and parking garages . i get many compliments and head turns with it. the throttle response has drastically improved as well. oh, and its not too loud either...i can comfortably make long trips without it getting annoying. the four inch tip fits perfectly in the little cutout on the rear bumper...its sticking out a little bit, not too much though...just enough so that im not getting any sludge on the bumper.

i could get a sound and/or video clip on here if youd like...

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

hmmm... can we get a sound or vid clip? im kinda curious what it sounds like :P

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

I have a few short video clips of the car...how am I to upload the video from my computer onto here?

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

.

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

Am not sure how to upload video. had a hell of a time with pictures first time. Clicked on 'embed picture in post below post area and then clicked on 'click here to upload' . then gave me a choice of where to get pictures from from 'browse' menu which eventualy figured out with trial and error. Maybe can do the same with video clip. If does not work then will have to contact Patrick with details. Would love to see video clip of you car in action!!!!!

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

i haven't recall seeing on mazda 3 on track yet. it looks like it'll handle pretty good.

upload some pic please

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

these pictures were taken at an autocross on Sunday, September 25, 2005. I placed 37th out of 112 entries - beat every other mazda there including an Rx-8, three Rx-7's, and about six Miatas - finished .046 seconds behind an Audi S4.

If any of you want video clips of my car to see how much better a custom exhaust will sound compared to any manufactures exhaust, just private message me and i can get you the clips.

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

from your pictures one of the most important things you need to get is a good sway bar kit, you will an incredible improvement in turn in and rotation. Of all the improvements you can make the most noticable are great tires and sway bars, as far as tires go most are using Falken 615's or Kumho mx's. As far as sway bars go hollow is generaly better do to weight but solid is ussuallly cheaper.

JMBaggie
OnlineMazdaParts.com

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

yeah, the 3 does experience a rather large amount of body roll...i purchased an eibach hollow swaybar kit (front and rear) a few weeks ago to be installed with my suspension in spring of 2006. im just waiting on delivery...do you autocross with a mazda3 bagman?

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

No I autox a 91 Miata in STS2, but i work at a Mazda dealer and have autocrossed just about every drivetrain at one point or another and i'm just going buy what did the best for me on my Focus.

JMBaggie
ONLINEMAZDAPARTS.COM

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

autocrossing has got to be a blast in your miata! what region do you race in?

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

I autox in the SE region based out of charlotte NC.

JMBaggie

PS: yes autocrossing a Miata is a blast.

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

i don't feel much body roll in my mazda 3 probley because the last car I owned was a 1997 taurus gl haha

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

have you gotten the opportunity to autoX your 3 yet, silverracer? you cant really feel the roll to much, but ive seen pictures and video footage of my car on the track and on most of the turns im only on three wheels, though it still feels like its handling great. do you drive a four or five door?

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

Just bought a 92 MX3 from and insurance auction, gonna race it in the "Hornet" class at Sgagit Speedway next year. That is a high banked clay oval shared with Sprint Cars.Just picked it up yesterday, it used to have some kind of performance ignition system that had a knob mounted in the dash. It was removed, so I hooked up the factory ignitor, and it fired right up. It has a cold air system, and the battery has already been moved. Should be fun come April. Are there any larger 4cyl engines I can swap into this car. Has to be 4cyl normally aspirated.

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

look into the 2.3 liter i-4 engine with v-spec thats used in the mazda3s. its a great engine with which to work, though i dont know much about swapping engines, im sure itd have no problem fitting into the mx3.

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

Man i wish we had autoX around here

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

You just missed one in Aberdeen on Jan 28th.

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

dammit, hey can read my new post titled "The best night EVER" plz

RE: Mazda 3 Solo II
 

You know it looks like a lot of fun and a good opportunity to increase some skills. Anybody autox automatics? Can't imagine they'd be as competitive as a stick, but I'd love to try it. Where can you find local info in Balto, MD?