Moving up to Street Prepared worth it?

[Topless]

What tires are you currently running? Did you get a performance alignment? An M030 rear sway and wider front tire will allow you to rotate the car more easily. If you have the mod bug, do that.

Having the best possible tire for your class and making the most of it is very important in AX.

[truegearhead]

I'm running 255 Rivals in the back and Hancook RS3 225s in the front (Rivals don't have that size) but both tires are as competitive as you can get and are apparently very close in carateristics. As I mentioned below I really think I could stretch a wider tire in the front given the stiff nature of these kinds of tires.

They sell a 235/45/17 Hancook RS3. Think that would fit on the front?

[Topless]

Originally Posted by truegearhead

I'm running 255 Rivals in the back and Hancook RS3 225s in the front (Rivals don't have that size) but both tires are as competitive as you can get and are apparently very close in carateristics. As I mentioned below I really think I could stretch a wider tire in the front given the stiff nature of these kinds of tires.

They sell a 235/45/17 Hancook RS3. Think that would fit on the front?

My suggestion to max your AX class:

1. Run 235/255 in the exact same tire. It matters. 35 psi hot

2. Alignment specs: Max front camber (-.7?) with a touch of toe out.
Rear camber (-1.2) with a touch of toe in.

3. M030 rear sway to rotate the car more easily anytime you lift.

$. Pull any excess weight within the rules.

This will only cost a few hundred $$ and might be worth .5 sec.

[truegearhead]

Originally Posted by Topless

My suggestion to max your AX class:

1. Run 235/255 in the exact same tire. It matters. 35 psi hot

2. Alignment specs: Max front camber (-.7?) with a touch of toe out.
Rear camber (-1.2) with a touch of toe in.

3. M030 rear sway to rotate the car more easily anytime you lift.

$. Pull any excess weight within the rules.

This will only cost a few hundred $$ and might be worth .5 sec.

Excellent! I think this is some may be the route. So you think a 235 will work? It sounds like some people are stretching 325s on a 7" wheel on other cars (like Miatas) but I've never heard of it on a Boxster. Also you think the rear is sway is more benefitial than a M030 front? I've heard people on both sides of the fence.

[Topless]

Originally Posted by truegearhead

Excellent! I think this is some may be the route. So you think a 235 will work? It sounds like some people are stretching 325s on a 7" wheel on other cars (like Miatas) but I've never heard of it on a Boxster. Also you think the rear is sway is more benefitial than a M030 front? I've heard people on both sides of the fence.

235/255 is the Boxster Spec setup. It works.

Some guys like a heavier bar up front but when I did it in 2009, understeer got worse and my times went up instead of down. My brother added a rear M030 and proceeded to win 3 regional championships. I think it really depends on tires and setup. A car with PSS9s, lots of front rake running A6s 285 square will need a lot more front bar. For a stock car with stock struts, relieving understeer with a rear bar allows you to add gas sooner and this is a good thing. Choose wisely.

[Bigsmoothlee]

The instructors couldnt beat your time, and this is your first season? Either you are a prodigy who will soon be a pro racer, or the instructors in your area suck. In my area, most of the instructors are the fastest drivers.

I would try the M030 rear bar and maxing out the front camber, it'll definitely help with rotation. The alignment specs Topless mentioned are pretty much spot on and will make a day and night difference.

[truegearhead]

Originally Posted by Bigsmoothlee

The instructors couldnt beat your time, and this is your first season? Either you are a prodigy who will soon be a pro racer, or the instructors in your area suck. In my area, most of the instructors are the fastest drivers.

I would try the M030 rear bar and maxing out the front camber, it'll definitely help with rotation. The alignment specs Topless mentioned are pretty much spot on and will make a day and night difference.

My first "full season" I've been Autocrossing on and off for 10 years normally just doing 0-3 events per year

[thstone]

Originally Posted by truegearhead

So you think a 235 will work?

We run a 235 on the stock front wheels in Boxster Spec racing. They fit and work fine.

[j.fro]

FWIW, in 2010 Courtney Cormier was the SCCA ASP National Champion driving a fully prepped Vette. At least half of the others in that list are also quite accomplished. Chris Cann is having a breakout year.
You're doing great this year. Think about the cost to max out your car for your current class, then think about the cost to max it out for ASP. In ASP do you think it will be competitive with the cars that are winning?? Look at SCCA Nats...what cars are winning, and how are folks doing in base 986es??
By The way, moving to ASP is going to move you down the list in PAX. PAX is so the slow cars can feel good about themselves. Go for class wins and FTD.