autocrossing a q45? why not?

[psychoboyaw]

still getting all the pertinent details, but it looks like we managed to squeeze a third place out of the barge. not bad for its first weekend outing.

eventually i'll have my pics uploaded, and the other driver (deatsch werks) will have both of our videos uploaded.


the car:
seriously nothing special. stripped q45 on used avon slicks. slightly customized stock everything on the suspension; front coils trimmed 1 3/4 wraps from bottom, rear coils trimmed 2 1/2 wraps from top.

the competition:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51337372@N04/


thanks to neil for the great-as-always camera work


nb4 the 'omg you can't cut springs, you'll kill us all' diatribes

[Q45tech]

" stock everything on the suspension. front coils trimmed 1 3/4 wraps from bottom, rear coils trimmed 2 1/2 wraps from top."

How is this a stock suspension?.................roughly like a set of Eibach's in stiffness increase.

[jtmroczk]

haha nice, probably the best thing you could have done for that car. the hail damage looks pretty bad.

[AZhitman]

Cool project.

Before anyone rolls through here with derision, disdain or condescension, let me remind everone that making do with what you have is the hot rodder's way.

I'm eager to see how it performed. I know the G50 is quite capable, given the proper suspension modifications... I've driven Wes's 5-speed Q on an autocross course, and it's very predictable and well-behaved (probably the best-sorted "big car" I've ever driven).

Let's see some more pics and video!

[qship96]

I always think about entering mine into a demolition derby when it becomes near its last breath of life.

[AZhitman]

If you could protect the radiator, I think she'd perform admirably. Not much protection in the upper nose area.

EDIT: How weird is it that I'm sitting here thinking of places to weld reinforcements and crash protection?

[qship96]

I was thinking to just drive it in reverse the majority of the time smashing all the little cars to smitherines......with the Q well placed fuel tank, and sheer weight, it could do some serious damage in a demolition derby!!!!

[elwesso]

I really did not like the Q on an auto-X track especially after the Omaha meet where I got to be on the "real mans track".. The Q is TOUGH to drive on those real tight corners, its a lot of weight to sling around... Im sure the slicks helped out a lot!

If the Q could drop about 1000 lbs, it would be a pretty good factory racecar.. Its so much better built than most other nissans, you would be pretty hard pressed to break anything suspension related...

[DeatschWerks]

I have the video footage downloaded from the camera onto the computer, but I haven't had time to edit it. I'll try to get it put together Sunday evening and get them hosted for Monday.

My thoughts on the car, I was very impressed! The car was extremely stable (a lot more stable than the Miata I drove in the fun runs) and had the power there to take advantage of our faster-style autoX courses. ...and the brakes stood up well, too! I don't know what celbii (or his sister) put on there...but they didn't fade on me. ...and I've been known to cook a set of pads or two.

[AZhitman]

Good to see you popping in, David!!!

[Repo Man]

Looks like a helluva good time!

[Q45tech]

Few people ever had a chance or remember the oem 1990 tires or brake pads which both had a life of less than 16,000 miles.
All it really takes to bring back the spirit of Q, unfortunately few make 160 treadwear tires and super dust pads.

Today oem pads [u91 and u85] wear 2-3 times as long.

[DeatschWerks]

My 2001 Prelude Type-SH had 160 treadwear tires (Bridgestone RE92) from Honda and those tires were the suck!

I believe those tires came stock on the '02+ WRX for a few years, as well, but they seemed to like them. Maybe it was the AWD?

[DeatschWerks]

Good to see you popping in, David!!!

I just noticed this. I'm Chris. David is just down the hall from me. I'll tell him you said hi.

[psychoboyaw]

so, a few months later, and it's still holding its own. three events in and i tend to stay in the upper mid-pack.


since the first outing, the driver's seat has been swapped for a cobra fixed (retained the motorized base for entry/exit and belt tightening ease), and more of the extra weight has been removed.

i'm still not done with the diet, but i can't get too silly until the season is over, and we are now going to have a november event against the porsche club.

as of last night:

[subtle_driver]

Awesome work man, I'm glad there are others out there tearing up the Autocross track with their Q45.

I love the way the car handles, I used an old set of street tires and got a few seconds away from a gutted miata and beat most of my class with this car. It handles the tight corners great and the lanes are barely wider than the car, but It doesn't matter!

I took my Q to Gymkhana a few weeks back. The course was 2 inches wider than the car at some points. We also had a parallel parking box that I "required an e-brake, But I figured out a way to do it without one. (Enter at full throttle, turn hard then brake hard nearly immediately, to transfer the weight forward, Heel-toe and drop the clutch to kick out the rear end, you must time this perfectly to initiate at exactly the right moment to initiate a opposing weight transfer and swing the back end out 90*, and hit the brakes and clutch with counter-steer, if needed, into the box to a complete stop.) I'll post a thread about it when i have a free moment to upload all the videos. I'm autocrossing my Q45 this Sunday at Qualcomm 10am till 3pm. Free rides to anyone who wants to go! free helmet rentals, and admission! Look for the San Diego Club Racing Banner! WE are Running with the SCCA.

[BadQ45t]

My brother used to race out in that parking lot back in the early 80's in his VW Scirrocco and would get it up on 3 wheels all the time. Wish I lived closer (left Diego in 88' now in Bay Area) I would have taken you up on the joy ride!

[DeatschWerks]

The Q is almost as short as my CRX is. Which is pictured next to the Q.

...and you can see the top of my Civic RT4WD wagon project sitting next to that. ...just barely.

This Q is a lot of fun to drive. Incredibly stable at high speeds. The last time I drove it, we had an extended slalom that I just kept my foot planted through. Not bad for an auto-magic.

[willmoodom]

haha nice, probably the best thing you could have done for that car. the hail damage looks pretty bad.

saw your videos and subscribed you. again your q is sweet in action!

[psychoboyaw]

need a bigger front sway, and some stiffer springs. i guess cutting the springs didn't result in the uber high spring rates the honda-tech crowd always cries about.


some of the rest of the competition from sunday...as photographed by the talented jacque.