Which rubber?

[GodLovesUgly]

i say start with the not so grippy/close to dead tires first while it's still cool, and save the grippier ones for when the points are on the line.

a built SVT for STF sounds like sex.

[mellephants]

That's a good plan, GLU - I hadn't taken the changing weather into account

Car details other than being a wheel and tire whore:
H&R race
Koni yellows
OE SVT swaybars with poly/upgraded hardware/heim adjusters up front
All suspension bushings and motor mounts are polyurethane
2.5" Thunderbolt HFC welded into an ORP
2.5" mandrel bent exhaust
SRI for that sound
wideband, pyrometer
custom tune using SCT PRP
cheap racing seats, custom brackets
custom dents, scratches, cracks, zipties

If I had more free time I'd make a whole thread for it.

[tukaniSVT]

^^ nice ... sounds like my SVT.

Minus the fact, I have the AGXs Adjustables as oppose to the Koni's and my tune is still pretty standard ... definitely need to get a new one.

And yes, I have to say the SVT is a great STF competitor.

Lots of win, now that the Civics are out of the class.

-Ray-

[2000blackzx3]

I have been auto-x'ing my SVT Focus for my first complete year in summer 2011. I was in ST class, with the basic mods to bring the car to a really competitive level. Mainly coilovers, some camber, sway bars, a tune, and good rubber (which i did not really have). I was really surprised at the car's potential, clinching the rookie of the year title by one little point at the very last event, and 6th overall in Street Touring class, behind 2 MRS and some JCW's/Coopers S's. I had bought a very used set, nearly bald, of 225/50/16 Star Specs for the last 2 events (16x7 wheels), I was previously running the same tires, with more thread, in 205/50/16, mounted on not-so-wide oem Ford 16s.... In the last event, which was a fast course, I was running head to head with modded Cooper S's and even some JCW's, depending on drivers who didn't manage clean runs...

That new STF class is a real gift to us SVT owners. If I apply this slow index to my 2011 times, it brings them to class-winning territory for all of the events, and fastest PAX of the day is within reach.

In my opinion, any well-prepared SVTF will be a contender. It is probably the car to beat in STF, along with Mini's, but having battled with S's all year long, I don't believe a base Mini is a real threat to SVTs. Maybe on slower courses.

With 225 RS3's and new Koni inserts in front for 2012, I am full of hope...

Only downside is... I had a Torsen LSD on a shelf ready to install, planning to move to STX, sadly it will stay there :)

[mellephants]

Originally Posted by 2000blackzx3

I have been auto-x'ing my SVT Focus for my first complete year in summer 2011. I was in ST class, with the basic mods to bring the car to a really competitive level. Mainly coilovers, some camber, sway bars, a tune, and good rubber (which i did not really have). I was really surprised at the car's potential, clinching the rookie of the year title by one little point at the very last event, and 6th overall in Street Touring class, behind 2 MRS and some JCW's/Coopers S's. I had bought a very used set, nearly bald, of 225/50/16 Star Specs for the last 2 events (16x7 wheels), I was previously running the same tires, with more thread, in 205/50/16, mounted on not-so-wide oem Ford 16s.... In the last event, which was a fast course, I was running head to head with modded Cooper S's and even some JCW's, depending on drivers who didn't manage clean runs...

That new STF class is a real gift to us SVT owners. If I apply this slow index to my 2011 times, it brings them to class-winning territory for all of the events, and fastest PAX of the day is within reach.

In my opinion, any well-prepared SVTF will be a contender. It is probably the car to beat in STF, along with Mini's, but having battled with S's all year long, I don't believe a base Mini is a real threat to SVTs. Maybe on slower courses.

With 225 RS3's and new Koni inserts in front for 2012, I am full of hope...

Only downside is... I had a Torsen LSD on a shelf ready to install, planning to move to STX, sadly it will stay there :)

Interesting. I agree with you about the SVTF in STF. I think that it will be extremely competitive without too much work at all. However, I already bought 8 half-used hoosier a6's in 205/45/16 to run on wimpy 16x6's, so I'll be in FSP for a bit. Probably all of 2012.

Wanna sell me that Torsen? ;)

[2000blackzx3]

Originally Posted by mellephants

Interesting. I agree with you about the SVTF in STF. I think that it will be extremely competitive without too much work at all. However, I already bought 8 half-used hoosier a6's in 205/45/16 to run on wimpy 16x6's, so I'll be in FSP for a bit. Probably all of 2012.

Wanna sell me that Torsen? ;)

Haha, no I will be keeping the Torsen for next year.... at least I wish to bring home some honors in STF before switching class. Hope you do well in FSP, any major mods moving you from HS to SP?

[eliaslincoln]

Originally Posted by 2000blackzx3

I have been auto-x'ing my SVT Focus for my first complete year in summer 2011. I was in ST class, with the basic mods to bring the car to a really competitive level. Mainly coilovers, some camber, sway bars, a tune, and good rubber (which i did not really have). I was really surprised at the car's potential, clinching the rookie of the year title by one little point at the very last event, and 6th overall in Street Touring class, behind 2 MRS and some JCW's/Coopers S's. I had bought a very used set, nearly bald, of 225/50/16 Star Specs for the last 2 events (16x7 wheels), I was previously running the same tires, with more thread, in 205/50/16, mounted on not-so-wide oem Ford 16s.... In the last event, which was a fast course, I was running head to head with modded Cooper S's and even some JCW's, depending on drivers who didn't manage clean runs...

That new STF class is a real gift to us SVT owners. If I apply this slow index to my 2011 times, it brings them to class-winning territory for all of the events, and fastest PAX of the day is within reach.

In my opinion, any well-prepared SVTF will be a contender. It is probably the car to beat in STF, along with Mini's, but having battled with S's all year long, I don't believe a base Mini is a real threat to SVTs. Maybe on slower courses.

With 225 RS3's and new Koni inserts in front for 2012, I am full of hope...

Only downside is... I had a Torsen LSD on a shelf ready to install, planning to move to STX, sadly it will stay there :)

i think the svtf is going to be strong in stf but i think the car to beat (sadly) is the mazda 2.

i know sounds laughable but a fully prep'ed one is going to barley weight 2030lbs.

i know your thinking "who would run one of these?" and there is a fully prep'd one running in stf already on the national level.

i have the luck of racng against him at the end of may at the ProSolo in Lincoln. I'll let you know who it goes.

ill be modding some things in the next month to try and drop some weight out of my focus (battery, seats, ect.) and see how i will compete with him.

hopefully my race coilovers will show up in time too.

[GodLovesUgly]

I agree the Mazda 2 will be at the top of the list, but i still think someone should explore fully prepped STF SVT. If i hadn't sold all my stocker parts i would have given it a go.

[2000blackzx3]

Originally Posted by eliaslincoln

i think the svtf is going to be strong in stf but i think the car to beat (sadly) is the mazda 2.

i know sounds laughable but a fully prep'ed one is going to barley weight 2030lbs.

i know your thinking "who would run one of these?" and there is a fully prep'd one running in stf already on the national level.

i have the luck of racng against him at the end of may at the ProSolo in Lincoln. I'll let you know who it goes.

ill be modding some things in the next month to try and drop some weight out of my focus (battery, seats, ect.) and see how i will compete with him.

hopefully my race coilovers will show up in time too.

I must admit I'm quite surprised to see a lot of people getting ready with Mazda 2's right now. But how do you shave 200 lbs from the 2250 lbs on one of these while staying within STF's regulations??

I guess I should drive one to understand how it could become better than a base Mini. With a slightly longer wheelbase, similar track width and probably higher CG, but tipping the scales 250 lbs under the Cooper, I see both cars at the same level.

I guess they will be the cars to beat on tight courses. But on some of our faster configurations that we get here for half the events, where the SVT can stay in top of 2nd for a great portion of the run, I see those 2 sub-compacts lacking power to come out on top.

[eliaslincoln]

Originally Posted by 2000blackzx3

I must admit I'm quite surprised to see a lot of people getting ready with Mazda 2's right now. But how do you shave 200 lbs from the 2250 lbs on one of these while staying within STF's regulations??

I guess I should drive one to understand how it could become better than a base Mini. With a slightly longer wheelbase, similar track width and probably higher CG, but tipping the scales 250 lbs under the Cooper, I see both cars at the same level.

I guess they will be the cars to beat on tight courses. But on some of our faster configurations that we get here for half the events, where the SVT can stay in top of 2nd for a great portion of the run, I see those 2 sub-compacts lacking power to come out on top.

they are finding the 200lbs in the wheels, seats, battery, and stock exhaust, ect.

thats about 150lbs right there.