2011 MD/NOVA Auto-X Thread
#411
My $.02
When it comes to being competitive, the class for the s2k is BS. I don't see why anyone would want to prep a S for STR, except for those that are more street tuners than autocrossers (not that there is anything wrong with that). Some have spent thousands of dollars to make their cars theoretically and physically slower. While the PAX is similar (slightly favors STR) the national level STR cars were 2-2.5 secs behind the BS s2ks.
With that said, someone who wants to mod a car and has no desire to change tires (even though some STR guys do swap tires), will feel at home in STR. If the BS guys in the area you run most are on R comps than I recommend you run STR so you could better gauge your performance/progress.
When it comes to being competitive, the class for the s2k is BS. I don't see why anyone would want to prep a S for STR, except for those that are more street tuners than autocrossers (not that there is anything wrong with that). Some have spent thousands of dollars to make their cars theoretically and physically slower. While the PAX is similar (slightly favors STR) the national level STR cars were 2-2.5 secs behind the BS s2ks.
With that said, someone who wants to mod a car and has no desire to change tires (even though some STR guys do swap tires), will feel at home in STR. If the BS guys in the area you run most are on R comps than I recommend you run STR so you could better gauge your performance/progress.
Yes, BS is faster, particularly compared to PAX since the STR pax is one of the ones that is not based on numbers right now, it's solely based on how fast someone thinks the class might theoretically be. And it will get faster - last year was STR's first year, and it's not even a real class yet.
I ran in stock for a long time, I'm much happier in STR. Your experience may vary.
#412
Thanks for the info guys. I mentioned this in the other autocross thread for SOVA/Richmond and my car is a daily driver/street car first and then a autocross car second. On my last s2000 I had coilovers and non-staggered with 255s and that's exactly what I plan on doing with this one.
I think for me STR is the way to go. I don't have the money nor want to spend the money on a second set of wheels and hoosiers. I'm very content running on street tires. Considering half the parts I'll buy are already geared towards a STR car that ought to be what I try to run.
I didn't know how PAX compared from STR to B-stock so I figured if there was a large enough difference it might change me from finishing 40th in PAX to 30th. It seems like it won't really matter though as they are so close. That and the car will only be stock for another month or so.
I think for me STR is the way to go. I don't have the money nor want to spend the money on a second set of wheels and hoosiers. I'm very content running on street tires. Considering half the parts I'll buy are already geared towards a STR car that ought to be what I try to run.
I didn't know how PAX compared from STR to B-stock so I figured if there was a large enough difference it might change me from finishing 40th in PAX to 30th. It seems like it won't really matter though as they are so close. That and the car will only be stock for another month or so.
#413
Spending money on STR stuff doesn't make the car slower (well, unless you're doing it wrong). Yes, spending $1200-1300 on a set of Hoosiers makes your car faster for the money than spending it on STR parts, however after 50 runs you have to spend that $1200-1300 again on a new set. So BS people spend the thousands of dollars on expendables, whereas STR spends the money on tuning the car, with a much much smaller tire budget.
Yes, BS is faster, particularly compared to PAX since the STR pax is one of the ones that is not based on numbers right now, it's solely based on how fast someone thinks the class might theoretically be. And it will get faster - last year was STR's first year, and it's not even a real class yet.
I ran in stock for a long time, I'm much happier in STR. Your experience may vary.
Yes, BS is faster, particularly compared to PAX since the STR pax is one of the ones that is not based on numbers right now, it's solely based on how fast someone thinks the class might theoretically be. And it will get faster - last year was STR's first year, and it's not even a real class yet.
I ran in stock for a long time, I'm much happier in STR. Your experience may vary.
If I was only concerned with being competetive locally I'd probably have done a few things to my car already, I certainly think it could use a little "low".
I have run my cars in HS, STS, DSP, AS/BS and SM since I've started autocrossing. I have been very successful in each class but stock class has led to more gratification. In SM I was very fast, but I was expected to be; and my competition was only limited by the size of my competitons wallet. I had well over $50k into my SM car, so it better be fast. Stock class rules really level the playing field, and I know when I go to events I'm going driver for driver.
Alright, I think I've gotten off topic. Steve, you're better off in STR.
#414
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,373
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Agreed, the cost of BSP is . Starting with an inferior platform doesn't help, though. Street prepared is easier on hoo's than stock categories, but aside from that it is very expensive. In my opinion, it is cheaper to run a national B-stock car than STR. It's probably close. You cannot discount the awesome hoo contingency if you are at winning level (car prep and driver).
#415
That's a LOT of money for autocross.
It's fun and all, but damn.
It's fun and all, but damn.
#416
$$$ is why I F125 it up for the srs bsns events and leave the s2k stock (lowercase) as a rainy/lazy day car. I certainly don't feel like prepping it for STR (and I wouldn't bother even looking at PAX for a car that's not fully prepped or close) until someone else with more money, time, and skills figures out how to beat the NCs...if ever (more weight, same tire, not hopeful). That said, I ran STR at the last couple events with nothing but a k&n filter and stock-sized starspecs, and the car is capable of running mid pack locally. For me, that's plenty good enough to have fun.
#417
Originally Posted by IntegraR0064' timestamp='1303761736' post='20505765
Spending money on STR stuff doesn't make the car slower (well, unless you're doing it wrong). Yes, spending $1200-1300 on a set of Hoosiers makes your car faster for the money than spending it on STR parts, however after 50 runs you have to spend that $1200-1300 again on a new set. So BS people spend the thousands of dollars on expendables, whereas STR spends the money on tuning the car, with a much much smaller tire budget.
Yes, BS is faster, particularly compared to PAX since the STR pax is one of the ones that is not based on numbers right now, it's solely based on how fast someone thinks the class might theoretically be. And it will get faster - last year was STR's first year, and it's not even a real class yet.
I ran in stock for a long time, I'm much happier in STR. Your experience may vary.
Yes, BS is faster, particularly compared to PAX since the STR pax is one of the ones that is not based on numbers right now, it's solely based on how fast someone thinks the class might theoretically be. And it will get faster - last year was STR's first year, and it's not even a real class yet.
I ran in stock for a long time, I'm much happier in STR. Your experience may vary.
If I was only concerned with being competetive locally I'd probably have done a few things to my car already, I certainly think it could use a little "low".
I have run my cars in HS, STS, DSP, AS/BS and SM since I've started autocrossing. I have been very successful in each class but stock class has led to more gratification. In SM I was very fast, but I was expected to be; and my competition was only limited by the size of my competitons wallet. I had well over $50k into my SM car, so it better be fast. Stock class rules really level the playing field, and I know when I go to events I'm going driver for driver.
Alright, I think I've gotten off topic. Steve, you're better off in STR.
Are you really only using one set of hoosiers a year? For me (not in an s2k) it was more like 2 sets a year, and I feel I could have been much more competitive if I bought them more often. That adds up fast.
Also, I don't think the 2-2.5 seconds is entirely fair. Firstly that gap will narrow as STR gets their setups figured out. Secondly, you're talking about some absolutely amazing drivers in BS, as evidenced by how they raw time far higher PAX classes on a regular basis.
Overall I think that both BS and STR are great classes, and both have good reasons to run in them. Anyway I agree enough off topic.
#418
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,733
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Results are up from Saturday! I placed 25th overall. Very happy with that.
https://spreadsheets.google.com/spre...&f=true&gid=19
https://spreadsheets.google.com/spre...&f=true&gid=19
As for BS vs. STR, I'm thinking of building a STX 328i slowly. Just a dream right now though.