This is an interesting topic for me because when I bought my 968 is was already somewhat modified with racing seats, m030 sway bars, big red brakes, etc. I still think that these components add value to the car but the main consideration before any kind of autocross/track racing is which class the modifications will bump you up to. If you only plan to race for fun then you can bring any upgrades you want [unless there are no other participants in your class which someone else mentioned could be no fun...] On the other hand, if you wish to be competitive then you need to look very carefully at the rules before ending up in a class where you cannot keep up. Determining whether or not you'll be competitive is a whole other story which requires research, but apparently 968's can be extremely competitive in autocross whether its SCCA B stock or PCA. This is not to say that 968's aren't competitive on higher levels, but it's harder to find data that shows more modified 968's competing well in higher classes. But if you have $ to spend then go for it..!
I'd recommend always being honest when disclosing your modifications. Sure, most people won't know the difference between sway bars but the rules are there for a reason. For example, what if standard suspension w/ LSD and m030 sway bars ends up being the trick 968 ax setup? Don't laugh - some folks have actually said this! Then technically you will be cheating because you're driving a car with distinct advantage in a stock class. If you're worried about achieving a simple yet competitive autocross setup then stock class is the way to go. This means stock brakes, stock springs, sway bars, and LSD! AFAIK converting to m030 costs about $4000 in parts [$1000 spindles/hubs, $1000 front struts/springs, $500 rear shocks/springs, $500 sway bars, $1000 front brakes] but won't necessarily be faster than standard suspension with LSD. Many people buy m030 sway bars because they like the different street feel though there's no measurable performance difference.
This year, I'm only competing in PCA autocross because my hodgepodge of modifications [well, after some minor part changes] puts me in a very competitive class. There's also flexibility in the rules to make other changes more toward stock or m030 as the season progresses while remaining in the same class. By the end of this season, my goal is to achieve a totally stock or totally m030 car, then run SCCA B stock next year. The other consideration between PCA competition and SCCA is that tires are pretty much open to any DOT approved model for SCCA, even in stock class!! This almost certainly means you'll need a spare set of lightweight/expensive wheels and a sticky tire budget in order to compete. Considering these things, I've decided to wait and save my $ for one season before diving into SCCA..! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/cool.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
