Hi everyone, I was talking to someone who autocrosses their lotus 7 and he really felt it was something I should try. Based on that conversation, I am thinking about organizing a private event since the local chapter of the SCCA will do mid week events. I've never done an autocross before, but I have been out to the local track -- not with my 348, but with a boxster a while back and that was a blast. I can't wait to do that in the 348, maybe in october. So I'll definitely take the 348 out on the track, but I'm not sure whether I should bother autocrossing it or not My understanding about auto crosses is that it is a lot of 2nd-3rd gear accelerate/decelerate tight curve type of driving which doesn't seem all that appealing with a 348 with its hard to shift into second gear issues and heavy steering at low speeds. Given that organizing getting my butt down to an autocross would be quite a bit of work and hassle, I wonder whether its worth it or not. Thoughts?
I have no plans to autox my 355, just not that kind of car. Depending on the course it could be mostly 1st-2nd gear and not even reach 3rd. And it just doesn't have the torque down low to exit low speed corners quick...
If you do it, read up on the setup. There was an Auto-x where someone went off track into a bunch of cars and it was a disaster. The 348 is probably not a great car for that type of driving, but it would be fun anyway! BT
I track the 348 and it is a good car for that. I have never autocrossed it, but I have autocrossed a Porsche 928 and a Fiat X1/9, and by far the Fiat was the better autocrosser. You never really get a chance to stretch the legs of the bigger cars, but you will learn about car control, shifting, braking, etc. The fact that speeds are not as high as at a full track, means that most of the time you will really have to go out of your way to do any real damage. As far as shifting goes, if you learn to double clutch downshift it will shift very smoothly. But like most proper Ferrari's, the 348 demands that you develop your skills to get things right.
Based on how much steering effort I need with mine at low speeds I'd think autocrossing wouldn't be that much fun. Track, fast sweepers etc, now that would be a hoot. Not gonna put a roll bar in my spider though... Kev
I tried it and not much fun. Not as much steering effort as you really never get going. I was doing it in 2nd without shifting. The instructor suggested to just leave it in 1st. Altough worked better and times were better, I was not much faster than a Maxda Miata. What fun is that? 348 is really a great car to get going on a bigger track.
thanks everyone!! That is what I figured. Have to get on the track soon -- if I ever get my car back from the shop
The biggest challenge for the 348 would be its width. A simple chicane where a Miata could wiggle through (and a Lotus 7 view as a straight) would be like Lombard St to a 348 (for those who don't know, Lombard St in SF is supposedly the world's crookedest st!). Compound that with non-power steering and you'll be looking a lap times long enough for the driver of the next car in-line to grab breakfast! Having said that, auto-x was where I first lost my "performance driving" cherry. After a few auto-x'es (laid out in an open parking lot with nothing to hit), I finally felt brave enough to venture on the track.
Salsero, if you like trivia,I am an SF native, and it is a little known fact that Lombard is not the crookedest street in America, not even in San Francisco. There is a street on Potrero Hill, more or less in the ghetto that has much sharper turns, only it is regular crappy city pavement, and is relatively unattractive. Lombard gets all the attention because it is brick and is in a fancy part of town. I'm still waiting for the right time to hit Lombard full speed, uphill in the 355, has to be in the dead of night. SF and Ferrari-chat rules!
Where on portrero hill is it? I used to live on 24th st and then carolina st. on portrero and never ran into it. I'm guessing it must be further south where the projects are?
This is exactly what I found on my 348 when i tried it several years ago. Also 348s are hard to shift in that type track event 1-2, 2-1. The courses tend to be short and tight great for 240Zs, Datson 510s, Miatas etc.
sorry to hijack, but if you drive south on Vermont St. from McKinley Park you'll run into it. Nothing special, just sharper turns than Lombard.
Allan Lambo auto-Xed his 355 spider with great success a couple years ago. But as I remember he sold it right after that. Make me wonder how well a Lambo would do?
If you can beat all the miatas at an autox event in a 348 you are doing very well. Its not that the miata is a great car or anything, but there are a ton of people running them and a lot of effort has gone into setting them up to be fast at autox.
I have autocrosse the 348 with a customer years ago; sticky race rubber and all, it was exactly as previously described: fun but not competitively quick with a stock suspension. Too softly damped, springs suited to highway and not racetrack, too heavy and a bit soggy on bottom end torque. Good for practicing patient driving, too easy to overdrive and go slow. Best, Rob
