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Ford Explorer Community - Maintenance - Modifications - Performance Upgrades - Problem Solving - Off-Road - Street
Explorer Forum Covers the Explorer ST, Explorer Sport, Explorer Sport Trac, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Mountaineer, Mazda Navajo, Ford Ranger, Mazda Pickups, and the Ford Aerostar
I went autocrossing last week. I have to say it takes a lotta skill to take those corners. Not only is it a thrill but its fun, you get to see a lotta other worked up cars too! Suspension is everything w/ autocrossing..
your signature mentions alot of parts typically placed on modified imports, but doesn't mention the car or year. Just curious.... also because I'm fascinated by the sport of autocrossing.
sphaugh,
I think you're right. Here is what TurboTeg98 has listed in his profile: Interests: Modding my imports...racing and beating v8's.
I don't think he's using an Explorer for autocrossing.
a few solid hints were his mention of a 4-2-1 header & P205 tires. Regardless, I'm interested in anything with an internal combustion engine... we'll see if TurboT "fesses up" and finishes his story. I'm curious.
In his profile under interests he has: "Modding my imports...racing and beating v8's..."
I have been having a huge discussion with this kid in one of my classes at school, and this guy sounds exactly like the guy at school, thinking that those weedeateres can beat mustangs and stuff, which is a load of crap. Sorry, but I saw this thing in a car stereo mag that the kid had and there was some type of import that claimed to have 525 HP and did 14.6 secs @130 in the quarter, meanwhile a mustang with that much horsepower would kill that time. Not trying to start afight, just speaking my opinion, and some truth
Guys, don't get me wrong, I have nothing against autocrossing. Did a little of it in my time (about 35 years ago). On the other hand, maybe autocrossing today is something completely different then what we did. Regardless, I just don't think an Explorer is the vehicle for it.
Should we guess what TurboTeg98 is driving? I'll go with an Acura Integra.
Which ain't a bad car, Peter. But, its a different kind of vehicle altogether compared to an Explorer. I've never autocrossed, but I've driven a few different vehicles in my time. Anything that involves extreme cornering generally (with a few exceptions, I'm sure) does not involve Explorers.
525 HP and only 14.6??? And a 130 trap speed???? Rock, something sounds fishy with what that guy was telling the mag. A dude with that much HP must not have had the first 2 gears working to run up to 130 and only get 14.6 sec. At 130, I'd expect maybe low 12's at least, maybe 11 something. I'm not doubting that 525 HP cannot be made from a small mill, given what some of the dragsters pull out of their engines. But in this case, the numbers don't match up. My stock 225 HP Mustang would do high 14's at nowhere near 130 trap speed.
Honestly, I'd like to see what Teg has done with his Honda. It would be fun, to say the least, to unleash the potential of any car. If I had a 2 car garage, I'd have some kind of small Honda in the other slot, and I would be modifying it. It's always fun to squeeze what you can out of a car and surprise people.
Guys, time-out please!! Could pleeeeeaaaaaaase somebody explain me what "autocrossing" is? What do you cross? I mean, just if you don't mind telling me
Thanks sphaugh Now I know what you guys are talking about!! We call it auto-slalom on the old continent.
For joining the discussion: Screw the horsepower (well, not completely ) and take a light weight car. Somebody remebers the Alpine 110, a French sports car, back in the late sixties, early seventies? Only about 160 HP, but light as a feather and great handling. Was one of the best - umm - autocrossing car for a long time. Unluckily, they are almost extinct now
Michael,
the Alpine (Renault, isn't it) was, as far as I know, never sold in North America. I remember Alpines competing at LeMans.
Back in the sixties, just about the only imported sports cars were british. MG, Triumph, Jaguar, Austin Healey. As a matter of fact, my first sports car was a frog-eyed Austin Healey Sprite (4 cyl, 960 cc, about 40hp).
Porsche started to come on stronger as time went on. And you might see an occasional Alfa Spider.
The only american sports car back then was the Corvette. I know, people, you're gonna bring up the T-bird. But that was more of a GT (meaning grand touring, not like in 'hot' Mustang).
The closest thing to an Alpine ever sold here was the Lotus Europa in the 70's. It had a Renault engine.
Love to Autocross. I also Road Race which is just a faster version of autocrossing to me. I have a bone stock 98 T/A with 2:73 gears in back. I dyno'd at 308 HP and 320 TQ. My best 1/4 mile was 13.6 at 105 mph. I get 29 mpg when I keep my foot out of it.
In Road Racing the Vipers chew me up as well as any Turbo Porsche. I'm just barely faster than this really well set-up MR2 with a big Turbo. I have subframe connectors, bilstien shocks, and Kumo Racing tires. I love this stuff.
In Autocross, the Neons are hard to beat. Most courses don't favor the heavy ( 3700 lbs ) V8 Trans Am's and camaro's. Still it's a blast. The fastest car at our club members only event was a V6 Camaro. Nice suspension, good tires and an experienced driver. Still fun.
I have seen 1 Isuzu Vehicross race and he had DOT race tires,aftermarket suspension and a Turbo. He was a little tough to pass.
Originally posted by rock883 I have been having a huge discussion with this kid in one of my classes at school, and this guy sounds exactly like the guy at school, thinking that those weedeateres can beat mustangs and stuff, which is a load of crap.
I think if you look into the subject of imports Vs. domestics, you’ll find that there are plenty 6 cylinder cars that will make Mustangs, Corvettes and such look like fools. I, like you, was always a Detroit man. V8 or nothing. That is until I started hanging around my brother-in-law’s shop. He has a twin turbo straight 6 that runs sub 10-second quarter miles. His friend has a 12-second very streetable 80’s Supra. http://www.ericcameron.com/dps.htm
We all know the fastest cars in the world are V8 powered. And although I have seen plenty of Mustangs take the win, I have also seen many a V8 gets its but spanked by 6 and even 4 cylinder imports.
Never underestimate the power of the turbo, tuning and truck loads of cash.
It is funny that these kids do all that dumb stuff to their cars. My college is filled with them. At the end of class it sounds like a cross between a rap concert and 100 weed whippers. I used to race these kids but seeing how I beat them every time, I don't even care anymore.
Autocrossing is nothing more than driving around a parking lot. Real racing is done at road courses.
Hey turbo, lets see some time slips. And don't post the ones you pick out of the garbage with the 10 sec. Mustang on it.
Exactly, most of the cars around the college my girlfriend goes to that look like that, are all cosmetic. They have done nothing to the engine to make it faster, all they have is piped it so it sounds different. We hop in her ol' 91 honda civic, and keep up.
Alright, did you guys ever read TurboTeg's original post above? This guy was merely making a post concerning his experience with autocrossing. What do some of you guys do? Rip him a new asshole and begin to make fun of him and challenging his claim to fame... which, I might add, he never made.
He never claimed to have a fast car, never made a coment about our trucks, and never said anything nasty. Why the need to trash? If you would do your reading, you would learn as someone else mentioned that in today day and age, many 4's can eat a v-8 and spit it out. We are no longer in the 1980's where the v-8 comment holds truth. Just because you have an 8 or a Mustang are you guaranteed a win - its all about who invests enough in the long run to achieve higher performance.
Oh, and if the post above with "his" picture is true, take notice of the guy's exhaust or whoevers exhaust that is - plain and simple, its stock and doesn't make noise. I do understand that there are many Ricers out there and I do hate some of them, but don't just judge a person by the car they have or with other experiences.
The reason why I am posting this is b/c a month or so back this guy posted a thread regarding his intentions to possibly purchase a Ford Explorer... and what do we do? Drive him out of the site. Good one.
What mike91 said is true, now I'll say it. If you can't say anything nice then don't say anything. This an Explorer site, but we get many people from other sites who do not have Explorers. We expect for them not to flames us, so we should in turn, not flame others. This is one of the main reasons many people come here, is because we don't have flame wars here. We want to keep it that way.
Thank you for your understanding.
What is going on around here? Everybody get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? I've never seen this much dissent on our site.
There is one (count 'em, one) derogatory comment about autocrossing. The rest were all about how people liked it and that a small, light car (meaning probably an import since small, light high performance cars are normally not american) would be advantageous in an event like that. There was no flame war. There was an attempt at one, but no one picked up on it. As a matter of fact, the thread went dormant for 8 days. Probably because the people that had posted earlier didn't like the direction it was taking and decided to let sleeping dogs lie. Please, read more than the last one or two posts before making accusations.
Come on, everybody take a chill pill and settle down.
Geez, I let one night go by without checking forums and look what happens.
I believe there is nothing wrong with dissenting opinions and Peter does have somewhat of a point. However, I believe a dissenting opinion does not need to take on an attitude and get personal. The post could have -- and should have -- been worded differently and still made its point, and I think that is what Mike and Ray were trying to say.
People, we need to think before we post. Then if we disagree with something we can state our opinions without any flaming, accusations, or personal attacks. I am not immune either. I got a little personal and defensive a couple of nights ago on the "Vote Republican" thread when it went off on a tangent. I went back the next day to re-edit my posts and take the attitude out of them (and I also learned not to write any late-night posts after having a few beers ). I also Personal Mailed a couple of people involved in the discussion and apologized if I offended them.
It seems this entire site has gotten a lot of attitude lately. I happened to be online when the "LumiLogo" thread heated up and saw the posts made by a rapidly-forming lynch mob before Rick deleted them and closed the thread. We all need to settle down a little around here and remember what makes this site great.
