Hey everyone, glad to find this site. Seems like everything has gone to Facebook groups and it just isn’t the same as the forums. I was active for a long time on Corral and even CC but the Mustang content and activity just hasn’t been the same.
I had a 2001 Mustang that I autocrossed a lot and was nicely setup but I let it go when my kids were small. I haven’t been active with autocross or anything car related in a long time. About 2 years ago my mom wanted me to come pick up her old Mustang that she bought new back at the end of 98. It was a 99 Mustang GT. It was her daily driver for many years, but over the last 10 years it hadn't moved very much. She finally decided to part ways with it and wanted me to have it. It needed a little TLC and being familiar with the platform it was a pretty easy "restoration." I didn't really have a use for it but I thought maybe I could turn it into a track toy (if I could ever find the time). Fast forward and I now have a driving age son in the house who has taken an interest. Recently he had been looking into some Formula SAE stuff and came across autocross. He found a local event and asked if we could go, so I figured why not!
Now the car isn't exactly setup for autocross but I figured it was better to get out there now rather than waiting for the perfect time. The car is pretty much stock with the exception of some Vogtland lowering springs (I just couldn't do the 4x4 look) and Koni SAs all around. The front struts were leftovers from my 01 GT. On top of being stock, it is also an auto. The day before the event I was able to get some 255/40/17 Azenis 615K+ installed. They probably aren't the fastest 200 tw tire, but I figured they would be good enough to take a beating from myself and a brand new driver, especially considering I don't even have the alignment dialed in yet (no cc plates).
Needless to say the first event was a blast. It had been over 10 years since my last autocross and he had never even done a ride along. We ran the car in 2nd the whole time, even though we could have probably done most of the track in 1st. My sons main goal was to not finish dead last and mine was just to get some good laps in and not be at the bottom. Given the car setup, those might have been a little lofty goals. At the end of the day he was able to finish ahead of several people and I finished in the bottom of mid pack (60 out of 90+).
We really had a good time and got to make some good memories. Also found a good use for the car that we weren't really using much. Now my son is counting the days to the next event and ready to work on the car to make it handle better. I don't have any huge plans at the moment. I'd like to not get to crazy with the car because there is a chance this might become his DD. Plus I would like to spend more time in the seat and less time wrenching. Right now we are on a stock suspension, nearly 25 year old control arms and all, with the exception of the Konis and Vogtlands. Hoping to add a front sway and maybe some CC plates before the next event. My last car had MM TA/PHB and coil overs all around. I'm hoping not to go that far again just yet.
Right now we are running around 1.25-1.5 negative camber and I am hoping that after CC plates we can get that to at least -2.5. That's really the majority of the suspension mods I have planned for the moment, maybe some MM rear lower control arms. My goal is to hit at least 3-4 more events this year and have fun with it. Depending on how that goes, in a year we may have to decide if we are going to get something else more suitable for AX or go hog wild on this one. Right now, I'm trying to keep it simple and "run what you brung." Probably a different "build" than some of the impressive ones that are on here but right now the idea is to keep it simple and get some seat time and make memories.
I had a 2001 Mustang that I autocrossed a lot and was nicely setup but I let it go when my kids were small. I haven’t been active with autocross or anything car related in a long time. About 2 years ago my mom wanted me to come pick up her old Mustang that she bought new back at the end of 98. It was a 99 Mustang GT. It was her daily driver for many years, but over the last 10 years it hadn't moved very much. She finally decided to part ways with it and wanted me to have it. It needed a little TLC and being familiar with the platform it was a pretty easy "restoration." I didn't really have a use for it but I thought maybe I could turn it into a track toy (if I could ever find the time). Fast forward and I now have a driving age son in the house who has taken an interest. Recently he had been looking into some Formula SAE stuff and came across autocross. He found a local event and asked if we could go, so I figured why not!
Now the car isn't exactly setup for autocross but I figured it was better to get out there now rather than waiting for the perfect time. The car is pretty much stock with the exception of some Vogtland lowering springs (I just couldn't do the 4x4 look) and Koni SAs all around. The front struts were leftovers from my 01 GT. On top of being stock, it is also an auto. The day before the event I was able to get some 255/40/17 Azenis 615K+ installed. They probably aren't the fastest 200 tw tire, but I figured they would be good enough to take a beating from myself and a brand new driver, especially considering I don't even have the alignment dialed in yet (no cc plates).
Needless to say the first event was a blast. It had been over 10 years since my last autocross and he had never even done a ride along. We ran the car in 2nd the whole time, even though we could have probably done most of the track in 1st. My sons main goal was to not finish dead last and mine was just to get some good laps in and not be at the bottom. Given the car setup, those might have been a little lofty goals. At the end of the day he was able to finish ahead of several people and I finished in the bottom of mid pack (60 out of 90+).
We really had a good time and got to make some good memories. Also found a good use for the car that we weren't really using much. Now my son is counting the days to the next event and ready to work on the car to make it handle better. I don't have any huge plans at the moment. I'd like to not get to crazy with the car because there is a chance this might become his DD. Plus I would like to spend more time in the seat and less time wrenching. Right now we are on a stock suspension, nearly 25 year old control arms and all, with the exception of the Konis and Vogtlands. Hoping to add a front sway and maybe some CC plates before the next event. My last car had MM TA/PHB and coil overs all around. I'm hoping not to go that far again just yet.
Right now we are running around 1.25-1.5 negative camber and I am hoping that after CC plates we can get that to at least -2.5. That's really the majority of the suspension mods I have planned for the moment, maybe some MM rear lower control arms. My goal is to hit at least 3-4 more events this year and have fun with it. Depending on how that goes, in a year we may have to decide if we are going to get something else more suitable for AX or go hog wild on this one. Right now, I'm trying to keep it simple and "run what you brung." Probably a different "build" than some of the impressive ones that are on here but right now the idea is to keep it simple and get some seat time and make memories.