I know the M6 would be better, but it's not in the budget now, and besides, I've seen some hellish fast auto x ers with A4 so:

I'm wondering if anyone has used LT1 Edit to modify manual shift points to get more predictable performance at auto x events.

I am just not comfortable not knowing with certainty when the up or down shift is going to happen. I know I could be much quicker, if for instance, I knew that I could stand on the gas while going through a sweeper.

Has anyone ever considered doing it?

Would anyone care to share what they have learned?

 

On the M6 we leave the car in 2nd almost all the time. Where I do most autocrossing there's no need for anything else after you're in second. Depending on your gearing you may be able to do something similar. I sure wouldn't want the car changing gears unless I meant for it too. I'd think it could be dangerous to your car. Been 2 totaled cars recently, one Porsche and another was a Ford Focus, both driver error. I could see how that could happen if the worst combination of things came together when your tranny shifted when you didn't want it too. These cars have a real nice torque curve so it pulls well enough all the time. You'll find technique is most important, there are plenty of cars with less power that have better times. You should ask the guys at your autocross events who use autos. I'd be careful with a high powered car changing gears on an autocross course when I didn't know exactly when it was going to happen.

 

Thanks Warner.

The track I have run at most recently was local half mile oval. We run on the infield, but we also complete almost half a lap on the banked oval. In these circumstances, it seems almost necessary to get out of second.

I have had the car shift out of first on me once, when I had the selector set in first. It just plain ran up against its absolute limits. This happened just as I was coming up to a final 90 degree turn before the the stop box. Needless to say, that was ugly. There was a lamp post near by, and there I was almost completely sideways with the engine wailing and the tires screeching.

Not pretty, and quite imtimidating.

I guess I need to find better tracks to run at.

 

Sounds like maybe they just need to set up the course so it is more safe. The one I go to in Portland a guy totaled his wifes car last year and another guy almost killed me going off in the same exact spot where the other car was totalled (I jumped the concrete wall). I think it's a common problem for autocross courses as we really do need plenty of room. In Bremerton I know a guy totaled his Porsche a few weeks ago. Actually having half a half mile oval in the course sounds like fun. Maybe someone with a stick will let you use their car if you help pay for tires or something. In a Neon I wouldn't be worried about it but in your car you have too much power to not have control of the tranny. Here in Portland I'm not aware of any high powered cars running with autos.

 

It would probably be a lot more fun if they weren't lined with 3 foot high concrete walls.

 

Yeah that is a stinker,Wouldnt like much I even when at Sears point I take it real conservative b/c the walls are so close in all the wrong spots(not 3' though).IMO as a beginner to total yer car over a simple mistake is not a risk I take.And I like to push it,but wont when I stand to lose my investment but others do I've watched that track gobble up the cars its sad,for just little errors.Last one a really nice porsche totaled.

As far as the auto thing I put in the transgo kit HD Competition 2.I can shift when "I" want,up or down any rpm.And drove the auto like a Mnaual. You should learn when the car will do the up on you a just stay at the limit,I just know when cause I know the car well.I would hold 2nd(higher rpms and weight transfer benifit) in these cases till the tire were set firm before Manually going to 3rdBut boo boos will happen,and the car in description dont have the ***** yours does but will still give ya a ride.Certainly you wouldnt want to stand on it in any trans type b/c all have the chance at loseing it,just to the point it will brake.Smooth acceleration and momentum is the key I've been taught and found to be. I got to be very competitive in the six w/ auto,wowed lots of dudes.Btw I'm not trying to come off as a know it all just sharing my experience,I've had some pretty good OFFS from lack of experience but gettin better.Now I get to learn to drive the M6,and is proving to be somewhat of a challenge for me
T.

 

I think probably the safest is to put m6 in the car. I 'll have to wait until I can afford that. In the meantime, I guess I'll just have to take it easy.

 

If you are worried about tearing the car up at an autox then the course is a rather POOR design.

Almost definately NOT an SCCA region event.

With that said my car is an auto. It is a 94. I always start in 2nd and then let the car shift itself from 1st to 2nd. I have never needed 3rd. Once in awhile you may need 1st and in that case I pull the car down into first as I am still in the corner but passing my late apex point. I then shift it into second before it needs to. This lets it shift itself back into 2nd. As far as I know it will stay in 2nd or 1st until you move the shift lever.

I have found that the auto launches better. It has more gear coming out of very tight corners that require a 2nd to 1st downshift. However at National and Div events at larger lots/courses I find myself wanting more gear alot. 2nd is geared to high and 1st too low. Also FWIW the car has a 3.42 gear.

My plans for next winter iclude a swap to the M6. I have already purchased one just need a few other things.

At that time I am going to go with an aluminum flywheels a Star kevlar clutch and one of the MacLoed slave cylinders.
I may also try a 2.73 gear and keep the car in 1st gear. Possibly design a easily duplicated course for a test session. Run the 2.73. Swap back to the 3.42 and run the duplicate course.


In any event autos do fine. The FS national champ the last two years was an automatic.