Question for autocross veterans?
 

Did my first autocross yesterday with my 2011 5.0, stock suspension, 19" wheels with Goodyear f1's (non-brembo car). The last of 6 runs for the day was my fastest at 68.8. The fastest overall was a mini cooper piloted by a very experiences driver at mid 50's. I got 2nd in the novice class behind a guy in an S200 who was in the 63-64 second range. Just trying to get a gauge on where I stand since I was the only s197 mustang there. It was a pretty tight course with a couple near 180 turns that the car was plowing the front end through. Definately fun!

Did you have fun? That's what matters, autox is a learned sport and it's not easy.

How you stand? Hang in there. :) It'll get better.... have a good time, and be open minded. The car is very competitive if you don't do something that will screw you rule wise.

You mean like putting a supercharger on it :)

I think that put me in the same class as a Ferrari 430 :(

I think it is good that I am going out there in stock form to begin with. Probably will drive it like that for the rest of the summer, but plan on some upgrades this winter. I've talked to you (Sam) on the phone before (I'm the veterinarian from Iowa). Plan on talking again to put a package together that will meet my needs. There is a lot more body roll than I was expecting! I think as the day went on and I learned the course better, I began to push the car harder and it showed in my times.

You're going to notice more body roll at least partly because you're driving it much harder and more abruptly than normal. Pulling at least 3 times the usual DD lateral g's is going to give you at least 3 times as much roll as what you're used to seeing.

After a while, you'll probably stop noticing it as much. Looking further ahead down the course probably helps this, too.


Norm

Regarding the understeer... in my 06 I thought I needed swaybars, etc. Turned out that I just needed to enter the turn at the right speed (much slower). I'm currently running stock bars and same size and pressure tires all around and I feel the car is pretty balanced.

Slow in, fast out!