Yes, I know I could post this in WTB or "Wheels & Suspension", but its a little more general than "I'm looking for parts".

Do you guys/gals go through a lot of stuff? Is any of it worth while for local competiton and newbies? What I'm wondering is what all the serious competitors here do with stuff when they upgrade. For example I just bought a set of used Kumhos from TeamRX8.

I'd love to get a set of competition wheels for autoX, but lets face it, if I'm buying used rubber, how big could my budget be?

I guess I just expect more used race equipment to show up in the for sale forum here. I'm getting tired of seeing RB exhausts and curb rashed stock rims.

 

The main reason that you haven't seen much yet is that people autocrossing RX-8s that are at least semi-serious about it are still using any parts they've bought/made. No one has really moved on from the RX-8 yet. By this time next year, that will probably change. Some people that got started with the car this year will have two year leases that are coming to termination, some that own the cars will be ready to move on to something different, etc.

For you, at this point on your learning curve, "curb rashed stock rims" are probably the best choice for "competition wheels". A used set of stock wheels, especially if curb rashed, probably won't set you back more than $400 (closer to $300 if you're patient or willing to sell the OE tires that will probably come on them) vs $1800 for a new set of SSR Comps (maybe $1000-$1200 used if you can even find a used set). Take the money you save ($700-$1500) and spend it on schools and you should pick up a lot more time than you might get through the reduced unsprung weight of the expensive wheels.

 

I have to agree with what clyde said. It was pretty cool seeing his home-brewed-single-sided exhaust in person when I met him at the Evo Challenge school while participating in Phase I in August. My only autox-worthy mods are just aftermarket front sway bar and DE-type R-compounds, besides the autocross school. I DID score a set of like-new OE wheel/tire combo just like clyde said at a great price, thanks to TooBIG on the board, which I'm now using for autox only.

In hindsight, I could have probably just gotten sticky summer street tires with the likes of Hankook RS2 Z212 or Falken RT-615, since I'm still learning. I just got frustrated running all-season and always being placed within reach of top guys running full-fledged setups. It would be interesting to see how much time difference there really is between the bottom-of-the-barrel Dunlop SP SSR and those STX-champs-street-tires next year if relocation to west coast pans out.

Seat time is probably the biggest contributor for anyone with less 2-3 seasons of autoxing, IMHO.

 

Hey! I said I have no budget, not that I was a total newbie!

I am the Philadelphia Region B Stock champ this year (okay, so most thanks go to SCCA for moving S2000 and Boxsters up to A Stock). Although by the end of this season I'm within a few seconds of the top A Stock guys who are running compounds.

I feel at this point although more seat time will help, it isn't the only limiting factor anymore. But I'm glad I got used tires, last thing I want to do is flat spot new Kumhos before I get used to compounds.

 

Not to take away your accomplishment about beating 350Z and a number of wins, I presumed that you are in your 1st year of "serious" autocrossing. Remembered you asked questions about r-compound in the tire/wheel/brake section, https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-wheels-tires-brakes-suspension-55/compound-tire-questions-70627/.

Are you planning on making 10/30 event at Ripken?