Autocross vs.Road Course

[Andrew2KRT10]

I need to ask opinions. Which is the near-stock Viper best set up for? I get the feeling that except for destroying brakes & rotors, the Road Courses are less punishment on the cars and that the cars are better set up from stock for Road Courses.
However, it seems to me that the autocross, with the quicker turns, quicker and more frequent braking & steering, would beat the hell out of the car much quicker. Not to mention that the Viper is a bigger car than some of the ones I see doing the autocrosses. Just to get through some of the autocross courses seems tight.

I like both, and I have an extended warranty, but from all those out there who are probably better drivers than me, which type of event punishes the car more? AND LETS CONSIDER A FAIRLY STOCK CAR!! I KNOW THAT A CAR CAN BE SET UP FOR EITHER EVENT BETTER THAN IF IT WERE STOCK.

Thanks.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

I would say road course is much harder on the car because of the higher speeds and longer time periods on the track. Most AutoX last about a minute. Typical road course sessions are 1/2 hour.

 

[Andrew2KRT10]

Yeah, but what about all the quick turns and quick braking in an autocross and the punishment on the suspension. And even though it lasts about a minute, it goes on minute after mihute after minute?

 

[HogWhisperer]

Road Course is definitely harder on the car than autoX. Motor gets hot, brakes get hot, differential gets hot, P/S gets hot, and tires have ware much faster.

AutoX is done at MUCH lower speeds and for a MUCH shorter time period.

 

[kverges]

AutoX is way easier on the car, although it might be close in terms of total wear & tear per minute of track time. But it would take you about 4 years of A-X to equal 1 weekend of road course driving.

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

A road course is much more expensive, I'll say, rather than tougher.

Autocross can be done with stock pads and stock brake fluid; each run is from 40 to 60 seconds (and you get from 4 to 6 runs per event) so "go-fast" time is short; it is usually on a parking lot or airport runway where you cannot get into second gear that often; turns aren't long enough (or enough g's) to cause oil pan problems; race tires help, but runs aren't long enough (tires don't warm up much) that not having them hurts much; don't run long enough to wear the tires (or at least the tread you do wear is on the edges, so tire life isn't appreciably hurt); you don't have to worry about brake cooling; don't have to bring any spare parts.... so there's no road race equipment that would give you an advantage in AX events. It's fun and teaches you some things that help with road racing.

The only AX issue I heard on this board might be power steering fluid overheating or the fluid sloshing out of the cap. My car has underdrive pulleys, so the pump runs at a lower speed. I use a cold-climate power steering fluid (part synthetic base oil) so I have never had a fluid frying problem. Others have added an oil cooler (or they come on Gen II cars?) which seems like an easy, cheap fix.

Any finally, AX has classes, so you compete against other cars like Vipers. (oh-oh, should I say that?) This year, Vipers have been moved from ASP to SS, so it runs against Corvettes, RX-7s, 911's, and M-Coupes. SCCA Solo II Classes I think the car is good enough to beat them, it's the driver (and especially use of the right foot) that has to come up to the car's level. Much different than road course where right foot down is more frequent or for a greater time.

The NY/CT chapter is having a "free" AX again this year on August 18th at the Nassau Coliseum. It's run with a local BMW club and the Vipers are all run together as a class. Last year, I was 2nd overall (on street tires) out of the 74 cars (FTD by driver school instructor.) Results I am not flaming any other Viper owner that attended, they were really a great bunch of guys, but the second Viper was only mid-pack. So obviously AX is a "car race event" of sorts that we can all be good at, but need to practice.

So yes, AX is far less wear and tear. Yes, it's fun. Yes, it's a little harder than it looks. Yes, the car is better than the driver, even me. Yes, Vipers can run very well at AX events. Yes, you can compete with Corvettes, Bimmers, and even little cars.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

You have a point about the quick turns. The steering pump and suspension definitly get a workout, but they still don't have time to heat up like at a road course. And heat is our enemy.

Any car that is properly maintained can come off the streets and run an autoX without hurting anything. Some prep should be done for a weekend at a road course.

 

[GTS Dean]

I would say that a near-stock Viper would be better suited to road course work than Auto-X. You'll also have LOTS more fun on a big track as long as you can stand the tire, fuel, brake pad and entry costs.

 

[Andrew2KRT10]

Well, shows how much I know. From what you all are telling me, I had it backwards. You learn something everyday. One thing I do know. That AX tears up your tires....depending on the place it's held, so I'll definately be using my Hoosiers.

Thanks

 

[Bill Pemberton Woodhouse]

Autocrossing is definitely alot easier on the car, and it is virtually a quick shift to second ( on most courses ) and away you go. The majority of autocross courses are just run in 2nd gear in a Viper, and the workout is more on tires than some of the other components. Hoosiers are legal in the Super Stock class, and everyone ( including alot of fellow Viper owners ) live under the perception that the Viper is too big. It definitely is no bigger than many cars that compete very effectively. Check out a C Prepared Mustang, Camaro, etc., and they often have tires that equal or exceed the massive meats on the back of the Snake. Folks stopped running Vipers after they won their class early in the 90's, and then got bumped into the ASP class against tricked out Lotus's ,etc. Not only did an RT-10 win a National Championship right out of the box, LiNay White ( Washington state ) won the Ladies Class in ASP a few years ago. With the Viper back in Super Stock, especially an ABS car, there is a real threat of another Championship if a serious driver gets motivated. You will have fun doing either type of recreational racing, and I would recommend doing both. I think autocrossing helps you focus for the track events and helps you work on the proper line, etc., though the thrill of 2 hours of track time ( at a Viper Days event for example ) is simply hard to replicate. Get out and do as much as you can ( autocross or road course ), and enjoy !!

 

[Alan Patterson]

FYI, GTSR and ACR vipers still have to compete in ASP SCCA autocross, while all others compete in SS. Guess my GTSR's decals and neutral wing give it too much of a speed advantage to compete against other GTS/RT-10 vipers!