[kwikt]

I would spring for the Koni shocks first. I believe they're still on sale. Then  a few drivers lessons. If you really want to get the car hooked up....spring for some Hoosier tires. They will probably eliminate any under steer or over steer compared to what you have now. In other words it never ends. Have fun!!!

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[Peter B]

Maybe I should get the Koni's or something similar.  Adjustable sounds good.  I'll get the report on my car Thursday - I really think it is fine and just a stock 968.  William, I may want to drive your car and see if it kills my spine.  

 

GSP = German Short hair pointer.  Who else rides with the dog in the back.  I'm planning on making all a PG-video of all the things you can do with in your 968 - note PG video.  

 

Driving lessons are a good idea.  The Evolution school sound good but not cheap.  Considering new tires (shocks, suspension,...), better driving skills is likely better for my lap-times and my wallet.  There's a BMW "car control clinic" that may be good.  Opinions on classes are welcome.  William's been helpful.  Regardless, my wife and I will ask a coach to ride with us for a few runs in the next autocross.  The Evolution class is at the same time as the next Autocross.  My wife is in the #1 points position - she's not missing it.   We have to do better against the boxsters though.  

 

Below is a picture of one of our main competitors.  Do you notice anything odd?  Look at the wheels.  He's moved the front wheels to the back and back to the front.  It's not an optical illusion.   This makes me wonder.  I have 2 sets of 17" rims.  The other has 245 wide Michelin Pilot super sports for the rear tires.  Can I use these in the front with the my RE11A's 255's in the back - seems crazy.  But look at this guy...

 

   

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[Peter B]

Where are Koni-shocks on sale?  Which are the ones to get? 

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[968workaholic]

It looks like that boxster is running a square wheel setup, rear wheels and tires all the way around. Its a common practice on them. On the koni shocks, you can do the inserts on the front but count on extra labor to convert them. Add adjustable spring perches into the mix and now you can run different springs and adjust the ride height. Its a slippery slope, just figure out where you want to end up as far as performance/ride comfort. Jay just had the inserts installed on the front using stock springs, I don't know if he has put enough miles on them yet to provide any feedback on how they feel

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[94SilverCab]

It looks like that boxster is running a square wheel setup, rear wheels and tires all the way around. Its a common practice on them. On the koni shocks, you can do the inserts on the front but count on extra labor to convert them. Add adjustable spring perches into the mix and now you can run different springs and adjust the ride height. Its a slippery slope, just figure out where you want to end up as far as performance/ride comfort. Jay just had the inserts installed on the front using stock springs, I don't know if he has put enough miles on them yet to provide any feedback on how they feel

 

Just the drive home, and I haven't pushed it at all yet. This weekend will be warm and dry, so I will wring the car out on Saturday and report back.

 

Jay

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[Rap]

Before you consider Hoosiers look to see if any one else is using them. Tires that will let you slide and throttle rotate might be a better bet. I run hoosiers at the track and love them. Autocross has some more acute turns where sliding may work better. I once had this Russian instructor who firmly told me until you learn to slide you will never be able to drive. He was right but in the overall sense of driving knowledge!

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[williamoss]

Maybe I should get the Koni's or something similar.  Adjustable sounds good.  I'll get the report on my car Thursday - I really think it is fine and just a stock 968.  William, I may want to drive your car and see if it kills my spine.  

 

GSP = German Short hair pointer.  Who else rides with the dog in the back.  I'm planning on making all a PG-video of all the things you can do with in your 968 - note PG video.  

 

Driving lessons are a good idea.  The Evolution school sound good but not cheap.  Considering new tires (shocks, suspension,...), better driving skills is likely better for my lap-times and my wallet.  There's a BMW "car control clinic" that may be good.  Opinions on classes are welcome.  William's been helpful.  Regardless, my wife and I will ask a coach to ride with us for a few runs in the next autocross.  The Evolution class is at the same time as the next Autocross.  My wife is in the #1 points position - she's not missing it.   We have to do better against the boxsters though.  

 

Below is a picture of one of our main competitors.  Do you notice anything odd?  Look at the wheels.  He's moved the front wheels to the back and back to the front.  It's not an optical illusion.   This makes me wonder.  I have 2 sets of 17" rims.  The other has 245 wide Michelin Pilot super sports for the rear tires.  Can I use these in the front with the my RE11A's 255's in the back - seems crazy.  But look at this guy...

 

PCA_AutocrossT4_0127-X3b boxster.jpg

you might have a protest against the owner of the car as doing so may put him into a modified car and not a stock car? Also the modifications to the air box in your car could do the same, but I would guess no one would see it at the car inspection of autocrossing.

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[kwikt]

Jason at Paragon Products for Konis or suspension mods. He seems to know his stuff!!!!

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[danderson]

I have autocrossed my 968 a number of times and the biggest single improvement was an alignment using the specs from this site. I had had it aligned at the dealer more than once but I finally got a shop to use the specs here and the car was transformed. Turn in is dramatically improved and the tire wear is greatly reduced.I have generally found the stock pressure settings to work pretty well.  

Dwight Anderson

94 coupe

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[az968]

Yeah, koni, M030 don't make the rig too stiff. Coil overs will, depending on the spring rate.

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[RS Barn]

We need to have a discussion about Konis if you go that route. I don't have anything to sell but have experience with:

Koni

Bilstein

Penskis

Motons

KW 

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[flash]

rule 1 of autocross - softer is almost always better, especially up front.  a bit of roll helps too.  it's nothing like setting up for track, or even hot street.  

 

rule 2 - don't use gas shocks or struts.  stay hydraulic.  gas induces jumps and jitters a lot more than hydraulic, and that is your worst enemy on a course where quick and nimble is the name of the game.

 

i have won a lot of bets with guys who set their autocross cars up like track cars, and thought they had it nailed.  i have bet them the cost of their setup, and a couple of times the pink slip to the car, that i could make the car faster by going the other way.  i haven't lost yet.

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[Peter B]

I got my 968 back from the Sunset Porsche.  They didn't find anything wrong with it!   I had them focus on a few things, including the roll.  They concluded that if I thought the car had too much roll, I should replace everything because it was old.  They'd be happy to help me for $4,156.04.   In 2006 my car had new Sachs struts, shocks, control arms, bushings (control arm, sway bars), motor mounts, and transmission mounts replaced at 72K miles.  The car is at 100K now.   So everything is 10 years old, but not 24 years old.   

 

I think my car just drive like a 968 - they roll a bit.  I think it will roll more than a newer Porsche, like a 2006 Cayman, 1999 Boxster and so on.  I think I'm going to stay away from the suspension mods for now.  Like everyone has said, this is a slippery slope and to me, extremely confusing.  If I do go this route, I will call RS Barn.  The $$$$ can soon pile up and I may not like my car as a street car any more.   I don't know how much the dealer poked and prodded.  I will check that everything is tightened down well enough.   There's a funny rubbing noise from under the car just as you get going (at slow speeds).  The dealer said it's corrosion on the brakes.  I think it's something else.  Sort of related, I looks like my wife and I will need to move to Japan for ~ 1 year, early in 2018.  Selling the 968 may be necessary/wise.  These cars need to be driven.  Another good reason to keep the car closer to stock.  

 

Thanks for all the suggestions.  Here's what I got out of it. 

 

1) How to better tune my tire pressures. 

2) Look seriously at a new alignment.  Dwight if you don't mind telling me which settings you used?  I think Flash published 3 or 4 flavors from Mild to Hot.  

3) Rolling a bit is likely OK at Autocross.  Flash if you've got more suggestions for a close to stock set-up on a 968, I'd like to hear them.    

4) If I'm going to get better I should really focus on being a better driver first.  

 

Remaining question:

 

1) Can I use a wider front tire?  Can take my extra rear 9" wide rim with a 245 Mich pilot super sport and put this in the front?  Will this re-arrange my front fender for me (don't want that).  

 

Great Forum.  Thanks.  Peter 

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[RS Barn]

Do you need to live under PCA or SCCA rules? Or is this just a fun event for you. That can make a difference in what you may want to consider. 

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[williamoss]

I did not know that Sunset would work on our 968's. When I bought my car in 2010 fro RS Barn, I took it over to Sunset  to get some sort of service. They turned me away saying that their techs had not been trained in the repair of the cars as they were only about 18 years old at the time.

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[Rap]

I was at the Glen last weekend and had a good 3 days. The car ran very well with the exception of a tremendous oil thirst. The wing was very noticeable in the balance of the car going through the esses, bus stop and coming  onto the front stretch. Changing aged muscle memory is a task in and of itself and trusting the car to hold grip where it might not have before. Leaps of faith and trust the grip are adjustments that will take time. 

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[Peter B]

I've been in Japan for 2 weeks (no time or access to post).  My autocross focus is fun.  I want to stay inside the PCA rules.  This being said, I don't know if a using my 9" back tire with the Mich Pilot super sport up front (245 wide) with the RE11A's in the back will (255 wide) is legal according to the rules or if this wider tire up front will damage the car, or going this way will just make things work.  I'm not brave enough to just try it, especially if I think it will damage the fenders.  

 

I bought the book  "Winning Autocross Solo II Competition" by Turner and Miles.  I think my driving is likely what needs the overhaul.  

 

Next race is Sunday.  BTW, going to San Jose Saturday to tour Tesla and check out the Model 3.   I'm really curious if they are coming out with a performance version of that car or if it will be an electric Toyota Camry.  

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[Rap]

I became a better driver when I took the sc out of my track car. While not spot on I think it's somewhat analogous because regardless of the car or set up, it's always the driver. Working on becoming a better driver will always result in better performance!

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[az968]

The best money spent on track preparation has always been the driver's skill, not the car prep. A good driver can drive a poorly prepared car better than a poor driver can drive a well-prepared car. Practice and learn, then work on the car improvements.

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[RS Barn]

I think people can waste time learning to drive a poorly setup car. In autocross you are lucky to 4-5 one minute runs. If you are fighting car, you are only learning to correct. 

You can also start to overdrive car because of its limits.

This doesn't mean you need a full race prepped car to get better. Just a good starting point and progression.

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