Autocross season is here again!

"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44)
05/02/2019 at 11:03 • Filed to: Cletus-Vette

This will be my third year autocrossing the Corvette. What cars are you guys racing against cones? I usually finish mid-pack among the Miatas but the big engine means I compete in a pretty fast class. I’m not really a threat to anyone and really just race for fun.

You’d think the Corvette would drive like a truck but it actually handles pretty well out there. The biggest limitation is that the steering is slow and heavy. Lots of hand-over-hand is required. The balance of the small block cars like mine is 49/51 so they’re actually a smidge tail heavy. Because of this they rotate very well.

Another asset is that first gear goes up until about 55-mph so I really don’t have to shift it around the course. I just leave it in first and focus on driving. The suspension has a fair amount of roll for modern standards but really nothing obscene for an old car. Mine has a big-block suspension underneath it so it’s pretty stiff.

Anyways I can’t wait to get out there this season! First event is in two weeks.

DISCUSSION (38)

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/02/2019 at 11:15

Because of this they rotate very well.

Found that out the other week. I was a bit to heavy on the throttle turning on to another road, some ass clenching may have occurred .

I really should take mine to an autocross event at some point.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/02/2019 at 11:16

I’m waiting on rebuilding my front suspension on the Galaxie before I try conesing with it. I have considered big block springs and an upgrade sway bar - possibly even a rear sway - but for starters need to just do some bushings and things that are becoming alarming.

CaptDale - is secretly British > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/02/2019 at 11:16

I really need an autocross car

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
05/02/2019 at 11:17

Yup! Actually they toned down the geometry in the C3. The C2 was apparently even more tail-happy.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
05/02/2019 at 11:18

That would be cool to rip around a course! I think it’s a smart ove to just put the big block springs on a small block. That and the biggest front anti-roll bar you can find!

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > CaptDale - is secretly British
05/02/2019 at 11:29

Any car can be an autocross car

Snuze: Needs another Swede > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/02/2019 at 11:31

What kind of wheels/tires are you running? From the pic it looks like stock ralleyes with tall, skinny tires. I have no ideas what the rules are, but I imagine some bigger, wider wheels with lower profile, stickier rubber could help a lot.

CaptDale - is secretly British > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/02/2019 at 11:32

You aren’t wrong. But I am selling the GTO and the Avant could do the job.... just very very poorly.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/02/2019 at 11:33

My STS class Miata.

Kinja'd!!!

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/02/2019 at 11:56

The new lot you might need 2nd. I’ll using the Juke again. The CAA Centre was perfect for 2nd in my car. I’ll also be shooting photo s between runs & marshalling to pass the time. My likes to rotate lots too.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/02/2019 at 12:01

I’m also, longer term, keeping an eye out for 15" rims with a fat enough inner lip/mounting recess in Ford pattern that I can use my original wheel covers.

Mac’s lists one set of coil springs for midblock & smallblock if with A/C or convertible (!) and another set for midblock from ‘63-’66 (for $105). Those are probably most correct for increased rate. The aftermarket, meanwhile, is a madhouse.

Kinja'd!!!

Which of these are suitable for a midblock? Who knows? The AC Delco part fits also (among other things) a Pontiac Parisienne, so the rate could be nearly anything.

Meanwhile, a 1" swaybar is ~$160, and a rear swaybar can be had for not much more , though I can’t go too heavy or (it is rumored) I might bend the axle housing, due to how the old add-on style bars work.

bob and john > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/02/2019 at 12:03

i’m ALMOST tempted to take the lexus around an auto X course. almost.

BeaterGT > CaptDale - is secretly British
05/02/2019 at 12:04

Take the GTO autocrossing, maybe you’ll find a buyer there!

3point8isgreat > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/02/2019 at 12:06

Since I haven’t had the time or space to get my usual cone dodging Mustang repaired for it, I may just have to take the Magnum out a few times this year.

CaptDale - is secretly British > BeaterGT
05/02/2019 at 12:09

it is going on BAT

i86hotdogs > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/02/2019 at 12:12

I’d LOVE to get Jan Van on a track. I am brand new to this scene, so I have little idea as to how to get into it. I’m also torn whether I should try autocross or rallycross...or both!

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/02/2019 at 12:13

If you lowered your headlights, the loss of drag would undoubtedly pick you up LOADS of time.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
05/02/2019 at 12:27

Yeah I’d almost leave the rear bar alone for now and focus on the front. It is a Galaxie after all.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > i86hotdogs
05/02/2019 at 12:28

Probably going to be either Rally-Xing or Overlanding my Voyager at Flatfest this fall.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Snuze: Needs another Swede
05/02/2019 at 12:31

I am running plain old BFGs in the stock size of 225 width. I could for sure go wider or with bigger rims but I prefer the look of the steelies and I love how much it slides around on the 225s. If I wanted to go truly fast I would have bought a newer car!

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
05/02/2019 at 12:31

Cool! I will see you there! What’s your #? I’m 25.

t0ast > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/02/2019 at 12:45

For my local region: Exocet (‘94 donor, stock power) in D Modified. Boatloads of fun, but not competitive for its class in the slightest (no R-comps, ~450 lbs too heavy, underpowered by ~70 HP, no aero). It’s good for raw times in the top 10% but only mid-pack when it comes to PAX.

Soon-to-be Exocet rain substitute: WRX STI in D Street.

For traveling to multi-day events : ‘13 FR-S in D Street. Not prepped to the bleeding edge of the class (OEM shocks and exhaust) , but was still good enough to pick up a trophy at last year’s nationals. With this year’s expanded field of DS cars , it will likely be getting changed over to SSC soon.

i86hotdogs > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
05/02/2019 at 13:13

That sounds like an awesome time.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/02/2019 at 13:25

The plan in to autox the C5Z but it needs a diff rebuild before I can. So till then I’ll be running the Mini. It will be in SMF coz of a smaller SC pulley and will be quite uncompetitive. But much giggles will be had :)

CB > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/02/2019 at 14:32

I might take the FiST if I can get the timing right (as in, I have maybe six weekends off between now and September). I’ll probably have to do the two hour drive to Regina, too.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/02/2019 at 15:16

Oh yeah, I completely understand. Was just curious if you’d had any thoughts on upgrading or anything, but I think what you got sounds like a lot of fun!

My dad has some old stories about street racing back in the 60's when people were running 300-500HP muscle cars on freaking bias ply tires! That always blows my mind thinking about trying to hook up that kind of power on crap tires.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/02/2019 at 16:42

91 it my reserved number for the season. I’ll probably get some shots of you if you are that low a #. I normally stop shooting around #75 to get ready to run, t hen resume after the marshalling (#120ish). I have some tape too if you want stripes.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > CB
05/02/2019 at 18:19

That would be cool!

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Snuze: Needs another Swede
05/02/2019 at 18:20

I drove a 1969 Camaro SS 396 4-speed 600 miles on bias plies. When you started driving in the morning before the tires warmed up it was really squirrely!

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
05/02/2019 at 18:20

Thanks man that would help! I’ll see you on the course!

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/02/2019 at 18:35

Racing stripes always help.

MM54 > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/02/2019 at 20:08

I’m trying to make it to more than one (1) like last year, but my schedule is pretty well crazy so we’ll see.

DasWauto > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/02/2019 at 20:47

I’ll be running my newly acquired 128i this year. I probably won’t be competitive like I am in the WRX but it’ll be fun to run RWD and see how I get on. Are you sticking to PITL? I’ll likely be at TLMC events mostly but I’d like to take in a PITL event this year to try out the new lot.

way2blu does a rev update > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/02/2019 at 21:25

Been autocrossing my MR2 for a while and it’s got many of the same features as the Corvette. Tail-heavy (46/54-ish) and a manual steering rack that goes almost 4 turns lock-to-lock.

1st gear takes me to about 28 mph though, my 2nd gear takes me to 55.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > DasWauto
05/03/2019 at 09:14

Oh cool! Yeah I’ll be sticking to PITL. It;s just the lea gue where most of my friends are.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > way2blu does a rev update
05/03/2019 at 09:15

Wow I didn’t realize the 1st gear was so short in those! Must make for a fast start!

way2blu does a rev update > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/03/2019 at 10:44

The 130hp/144lb-ft NA engine needs as short of gearing as it can get.

If I could find a LTG engine (2.0T from various modern GM cars) I’d swap that in. 2x the output of the stock 2.2L, and lighter due to aluminum vs iron.

DasWauto > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/11/2019 at 20:22

Looks like I’ll be there tomorrow. TLMC got cancelled for tomorrow so I signed up for PITL. I look forward to seeing the Vette.