New Kid on the Block. My First post, and First Question

[UberSpeed]

ya it will take a lot of weight reduction and suspension work but mustangs do pretty well in autocross and roadracing and such. And while online you hate it, everyone has some love for going fast and straight at least once. And mustangs are great for dragging.

All the types of racing I can list (many will be missing, dont take it personally) are-
-Rally
-Drifting (not really racing but it involves autmotive performance
-Drag racing
-Roadracing
-NASCAR (dont know what its really called)
-Dirt Oval racing (also dont know its real name)
-Hill Climbs
-Pulls (like tractor pulls, only with Semi trucks and stuff like that)
-Car shows (also not real racing. also very BOO)
-and many, many more

[Shinrar]

Yeah, I guess, but I ment for a sport I'd like to get involved into, there is less skill involved in dragging than in most everything else. Sure, you have to shift perfectly, but it's a skill thats useful in everything else too, so its specailizing in one skill instead of many (and I like the many choice).

Hmm... I think I need to look into what sort of events I can do locally first though... Locally meaning withing 3 hours drive (the nearest motorsports park (moroso) is 70 miles away), heh. Sure, one day I wouldn't mind traveling to go to events, but for starters, best to start with something thats close enough to get lots of practice with...

Sadly... I don't think Moroso does drift... Are they any drifting tracks around Fort Lauderdale, FL? I mean, yeah, I could do it on a Moroso Track day, but I'd probably be endagering others (you know, sliding a car around a corner for the first time isn't the safest of things when the track is full of people), so I won't. Plus, they might even ban me for doing something 'stupid' =P.

[Parry]

Originally posted by Shinrar
Hmm... Just out of curiosity...

I'm not one to just stick to one thing without trying everything else. Would the mustang be a good car to try out all sorts of things, not just drift, in? Or would you recommend a diffrent car? I know it is a little off topic, considering this IS a drifting board, but hey, maybe one of you know.

And, I probably should make a new thread for this, but what ARE all the diffrent sorts of Automotive Sports Activities? Sides silly straight line drag racing. Yeah, it is fast and all... but where is the fun in going straight?

You'd be surprised...it's more fun than it looks.

Anyway...a mustang will be, though perhaps not the fastest, a fun rig for most types of motorsport you can reasonably hope to participate in.

I like the fox body. I don't think they are ugly.

[Shinrar]

Well, thanks for the advice. Now I've just got to get my hands on one...

After which, is there some sort of motorsports park directory, or something, or at least anyone who lives in florida that knows of any?

Cause having a car is great...

Tuning it sounds fun...

But I'll be *bleep*ed if I practice on the streets. To much traffic, and anywhere, you never trust cars around you that you aren't driving. People can do some pretty unpredictable stuff. And the malls have lots of security, so I might be able to get a grand total of 5 minutes in 4 malls of practice... 20 minutes of practice doesn't sound like it is worth the risk of getting ticketed for 'failure to keep vehicle under control' (and our mall police are REAL police occasionally, not just 'mall security', so they can (and have) ticket).

And thanks Parry, UberSpeed, BoyGenius, and anyone else who helped answer my silly questions.

[SidewaysGts]

Despite the crap people fling about the mustangs the newer mustangs actualy do pretty well despite their their weight.

The problem with recent-older mustangs, they have used the same damn chassis since the 70s.

Added: Once again my typos get the best of me..

But to what someone said before; i agree. There are TWO mustangs i like, the 1969 Mach 1. and of course the Foxbody, maybe its the name or the style, but they seem to hold their own at a track (dont know a lot about them, maybe theyre lighter?)

[Shinrar]

I've always liked stangs. I think the best thing they have going for them, despite weight, is the engine. A Good Power to Weight ratio will more than make up for a heavy body....

Won't it?

Plus, what about weight Distribution? Is it that important that it be even?

[Ripper]

Originally posted by Parry
I don't, this makes no sense. The inertia of the heavier front end means that it will decelerate more slowly, and not more quicly, than the lighter front end. Inertia, people...

From the sound of it there's nothing really complicated about what happened. You came barreling into the corner, probably nearing the edge of traction. For all I know you might have understeered through the puddle with the fronts, but either way they mostly maintain traction, but when the rears hit it they break loose, the rear end comes out on you, and you end up in a guardrail.

Nothing happened that you don't already know.



Everyone ever will suggest a 240sx . Really, your next car depends on three things...

1. what do you want to do with it (go fast? drift? get to work? move stuff?)
2. how much do you have to spend
3. your mechanical ability, and willingness to get your hands dirty. (Also, can you afford to have it in the driveway for a week while you figure out how to fix it?)

Answer those three questions and it will narrow down the coices quite a bit.

easy, now.

[SidewaysGts]

Mustangs didnt handle well because as mentioend their chassis is about 30 years old (well was; they got a new chassis finally). Weight distritbuion is important, stability predictability understeer/oversteer cand usually be easily seen/guessed by a cars weight distribution. Keep in mind also GENERALLY cars which are heavy cant corner as fast as lighter cars simply because of the weight, their momentum is a bit harder to work with. As i said this isnt always the case, but its a "General rule" to keep in mind when considering a car for "sports".

Theres a reason you see miatas really working the autocross/track events even though they have such little horsepower.

[Parry]

Like I said above, the Fox body really does handle better than most people give it credit for, and there is a LOT of suspension parts available to make it better.

He's right, it's an old chassis, but it's not the worst.

[Shinrar]

So generally...

Mustangs are alright, but if you want to do automotive sports, they're pretty far down on the 'suitable for such an event' list. Any other (older, thus, cheaper) domestics that are notable for being good at various autosports? Or should I really consider a non-american made car?

Though I may just get the mustang... Hey, it'll be a challenge, but challenges are fun =P. Plus, who knows, I might get really good with it... Might.... Maybe.....

Hopefully....

Ah well, I can dream, cant I?

[SidewaysGts]

Racing/Drifting in general is like, 9/10s driver skill and 3/10s car (yes; add that one up )

People usually like the lighter weight import cars because in MOST cases, a lighter car will simply corner better for that whole momentum reason. And typicaly theres much more after market support for em making them even more appealing.

[Shinrar]

Heh... Public Education at it's finest... Bah, who needs fractions when you have peddels and a steering wheel?

So I think thats pretty much made up my mind... Probably going to look for a stang. If it doesn't drift as well as I could hope, then I'll practice anyways, and get better with a handicap (the car). And then when I have enough money, I'll buy a new, better drifter. Or just mod the stang enough so it might be able to do well against imports. And if I don't win, who cares? I'm having fun anyways. I think. It looks fun, and I like driving, so it should be fun...

Welp, I'm going on a massive internet hunt now looking for tracks!

[UberSpeed]

Best of luck to ya. Be sure to try and get the 5.0. If you want more info on stangs PM me cuz I'd love to help ya.

[SidewaysGts]

<-- Would reccomend the V8 Fox Body

[Shinrar]

Hmm... Choices choices... Guess I'll have to do research on both really... Any comments on their respecitive realiability ratings?