[SVXRide]

Originally Posted by benebob

The best way to improve your times Tom as I'm sure you already know is seat time especially with an instructor. It is also far cheaper. The SVX overall isn't a very good autox car at all. Even when modified (as Bills is and he still lags 5 seconds behind the G stock Minis!) Ours definately is a limited shell but Dave and I really don't care as we can be somewhat competative locally, definately not nationally though as we don't have the money or aftermarket support. We sure do generate some interest though. As for the rear bar, you'll need to decide is it is worth the consequences as with any suspension change for every good there is an equal bad but really, I don't think you're quite qualified to make a judgement on that yet (don't get offended) but until you're running consistant times against consistant drivers any changes are really a shot in the dark as you're not able to tell if you're dropping times because of the change or if you're just learning the course. Just as Jesse said he was trying to take the slolom as straight as possible illustrates in many cases you'll be faster by not always taking the shortest line. Granted I didn't see the course but most slaloms unless they are at a start are about maintaining speed by using the cars motion as a pendulum so you do tend to go out a little futher. Each course is different as camber, road surface, decreasing radius turns and about 500 other variables come into play.

Personally, first thing I would do is pick up a rule book (you can download it from the scca) and after figuring out what class your in (I'd guess Street Mod) then start thinking of getting a set of used stickies and mounting them on those spare rims you have and also get a harness as you'll be amazed how much time you pick up from that (my guess is more than what you'd get from changing your bar). Then in 15 or so autoxs start looking at other stuff.

Like I said Tom don't get offended just giving suggestions by experience. I'll be the first to tell ya that our racer was probably 2 years ahead of both Dave and I as far as our abilities driving, just as your car right now is ahead of your abilities. This is why you see small light good handling low horsepower cars posting good times. It isn't that horsepower is bad, it is just a lot harder to handle most of the time on a course. One of our local SCCA board members (excellent driver) is looking for a car for the Subie challenge. He can't use ours as you're only allowed 2 drivers per car but if you want to let him drive yours I'll promise you that he will be 3 seconds fastert than you would on a 40 second course, in your car taking it easy so as not to break anything. This past Sunday was the first time I think I've acutally beaten his actual time in his 95hp Honda and I chalk that up to his 102 degree temperature and the dayquil.

Tom,
I'll just add to Ben's well thought out comments...
The SVX basically has too much going against it to be really competitive at a National level, yet it can be competitive on a Regional level. As Ben noted, I've done just about everything you can do to the SVX, handling wise, only to find myself 4-5 seconds (a lifetime in autoX) behind '05 Mini Ss. While a certain amount of this is due to driver skill (or lack thereof ), the bottom line is that the SVX is a big car for autoX'ing. This doesn't mean that you can't have a ton of fun driving it (which is why I keep doing it! )
I'm just about at the point where there is nothing left to do to the car (at least from an autoX standpoint )and my focus will be entirely on getting more driving time. Having watched the National-level drivers at FedEx long enough now, there are seconds to be found by driving the right line!
-Bill