how much is too much

[Erv]

I understand the philosphy of balance is the key, but on the auto x course how much is too much, obviously this wouldn't be the same for road racing or even hill climbs.

I am trying to get some of you old folks(farts) opinions on power to weight ratios, I know some of you guy have 200whp but then you have guys like mahaffey or cavanaugh who are pushing that, so that in mind what is the perfect number in your eyes?

[TouringBubble]

I wonder where this came from .... ?

Power is great if the course/tires can hold it. It's hard to keep power down at BRC because of the rough pavement. AWD does help, but put any power in a FWD there and it's spin city. You can learn to control it, but that's just more to do ... we've all got enough to think about with all those cones we don't need to worry about pedaling the entire course.

I'm fine with my power situation ... I'm around 330-340 at the wheels and I've learned to manage it. I do still overcook late in some corners, but for the most part I've got it under control. With better tires it would be much better though ...

[engled]

If your not fast with 100hp you wont be fast with 1000hp.

[TouringBubble]

I agree 100% Darryl. I wish I could have learned on a slower car.

[EWaugh]

^freakin' car is fast!^

at the last NDCCC he was trying to convince us how much his ABS sucks, and I was was calling bs. He asked me if I wanted to drive it...

[waflet]

hideeho
speaking for those w/ to much horsepower, it's a blast @ the start & finish, but overkill everywhere else. after having driven a 100hp ff & a 260hp fr, the 260hp is much more fun to drive. it's not necesarily faster, but it sure is fun! bhp or power to weight ratio is less important than what your driven tires can put to the ground. that is less important than what your right foot can control. for the perfect example, just look @ what john weight does w/ 120whp as opposed to what i do w/ 260whp in a similar car.
that said, everything else being equal, the more hp you have the more POTENTIAL you to go fast. it is just so much more difficult to use it. if i had it to do over again i would go w/ my original plan to buy a stock miata & race it in stock class for 1-2 years then move up to csp for 1-2 years, then supercharge it & move to sm2. i would probably be where i am now, or i would be about to move to sm2 next season, but, i believe, i would be a better driver for it.

to summerize, it's not the size of the stick, it's how you use it (just ask jeff speakman).

l8rcu
waflet

[Erv]

If your not fast with 100hp you wont be fast with 1000hp.

to open this up a lil bit, and debate you, I found that after tossing around the GTO, the MR2 was alot easier to drive and alot easier to drive fast.

rebuttal

[engled]

to open this up a lil bit, and debate you, I found that after tossing around the GTO, the MR2 was alot easier to drive and alot easier to drive fast.

rebuttal

LOL, of course it was. The GTO is a joke at autocross (and pretty much anything else short of getting groceries) YOU need an STS2 Civic, you would rule all.

[Erv]

i agree, I have highly considered a STS Skrivic still am...

and the GTO was hella balls to the wall fun to chuck around an auto x course, slow, but fun.

[BoostedFD]

I'll take lightweight with little power over heavy with lots anyday!!! And if you can't put the power on the ground whats the point of having it?? Just about anything with 400+hp in 1st or 2nd gear is going to be useless on an AutoX course, unless it's AWD.

[Erv]

Chris, I was wondering, how many FD's are unboosted

[TouringBubble]

Weren't all FD's 13B11-TT's?

[staticpat]

I was thinking the same thing until I looked at Chris' username :<

[TouringBubble]

Huh ... never noticed that. Interesting topic.

Pat, what do you think about Power vs Control?

[Erv]

pat doesn't have to worry about power v control. he doesnt use everything he has. even in race sims.