lee101315

Ive recently been having a blast running my 3.4l boxster at local autoX events

I was running with the PCA last sunday at the meadowlands stadium in northern nj, and I saw a few 944s turning in some decent times. Granted, it was a regular NA 944, a 944S and a 944 S2, but I was wondering if the 951 would be ok.

I also saw a quick spooling FD RX7 and lexus IS300 turbo pull some respectable times as well, so why cant a 951 do the same?

Im not expecting to win the divisionals, but I notice everyone bashes the 951 when it comes to autoX. Maybe with a quick spooling turbo, that long 2nd gear will become an asset?

DDP

I've never autocrossed but would assume the problems to be simply that it's turbocharged and therefore isn't instantly responsive and also the gearing. Although, even with those disadvantages, I would hope it could beat out a few cars.

reno808

....

V2Rocket

throw an NA transmission in there for the AX and burn rubber on corners

toddk911

It will do just fine if you brake boost in/out of the corners.

lart951

get those guys in a real race track and their bashing will turn into crying. If you understand the engineering behind the 951 you'll see what Iam talking about, of course there is 25 years apart between a 951 and a new gayman or a gayxster but a well sorted 951 with a good driver would put both to shame.

ramius665

It's driver-related. I've put a spanking on cars that people regard as much better for autox than a 951. It comes down to knowing how to drive a 1980's turbo engine as already stated above.

JohnKoaWood

And yet there is still that elusive Miata....

User 52121

I AX my 951 regularly with the Chicago Region PCA. FTD is usually set by either a guy in a 986S on Hoosiers, or another guy in an original '72 911S-T, also on Hoosiers. They usually have FTD by about a second over the rest of the group (basically those of us on street tires) - and I'm generally right in the mix for the fastest time out of that street tire group (140 or higher treadwear... I run Yokohama AD-08s). Sometimes I have it, sometimes I don't - usually depends on how tight the course is. Super tight courses, I usually don't stand a chance and can be off by as much as a half second over my non-turbo competitors (regular competition for me is usually a 993S, a 996 Carrera, a 996 GT3, a Cayman S, and a couple 986 Boxsters).

I drove a Boxster Spyder on a short AX course at Parade in 2010 and can tell you that the 951 is nowhere near as easy to lay down a fast lap as that. The steering ratio in the 951 is a lot slower. You have a lot of turbo lag... and off boost, you're basically driving a 8:1 compression 4-cylinder with really tall gearing.

It's doable. It's just a bit of work to get there I've also been accused of cheating several times, as it seems most folks buy into the myth that a 951 simply can't be a good autocross car.

For reference... my car, as of last year:
Stock 26/6
Rogue Tuning A-Tune, stock airbox and snorkel
MBC set to ~14psi in 4th (so generally only see 12-13 in 2nd.)
TiAL 38 WG
Guard torque-biasing diff
Bilstein "Escort Cup" suspension, w/350lb springs (IIRC... I don't recall the exact spring rates but 350# rings a bell)
Weltmeister sway bars
18x8 and 18x10 CCW wheels w/Yoko AD-08s
Good alignment

This year, I swapped out the A-Tune for the M-Tune. Mid range improved a good amount over the A-Tune so fingers crossed it's a little bit quicker this year. A previous competitor of mine recently stepped into a Cayman R (from an early non-S 986) so I'll have my hands full this year.

s14kev

"Brake boost" seems to be some peoples answer for all the lag related deficiencies of the 951. In reality brake boost is best for wearing out components and showing off to friends. I don't know anyone good enough to "brake boost" and steer well in any situation. Autocross is all about threshold braking and throttle steering. Anyone that can modulate braking force and at the same time control throttle while using both to maintain boost is probably the greatest driver in the world. I am only a mediocre driver but know that I would never be able to achieve this.

lart951

I wouldn't use a 951 for x-crossing, maybe a early 944 NA with a S2 or 968 motor

Reimu

Buy an old n/a for a $1500 and spend another $1000 on the suspension

toddk911

Many of the well experienced AutoXx drivers brake boost in the corners and I have seen and met them first hand. Yes, they are VERY accomplised Auto X but still amature driver's and only do it on the weekends, etc.

Brake boosting wears out nothing.

When you go into the corner you brake and heel/toe the throttle at the same time to maintain boost. Then more toe on the throttle and less heel on the brake as you exit. With some practice it isn't really that hard.

User 52121

I don't "brake boost" specifically but have started working on doing some gentle left-foot braking. Though my purpose hasn't had anything to do with "boost" and more to do with just reducing the amount of back-and-forth my right foot has to do. It also seems to help tip the nose in on faster sections.

lee101315

That is not a bad idea, As long as I dont slam it into 2nd, everything should stay in place for the event

Youre right, speculation of turbo lag mostly stays on the internet. Everyone else with turbo cars generally turn in respectable times.

Yea, theres no beating those cars or mini coopers

Good stuff! Im still a new driver when it comes to racing... I hope i can get as much out of my car as you can

I have 3 cars and a motorcycle...im out of room for projects