SCCAForums.com

I want to run a Prius in autocross and need some direction on the best classification. Were do you think this car fits best?

What mods does the car have?

---

89/189 STS/STX '89 Civic Si

The car has has none, but I am considering buiding it to a class.  Were do other Prius run?

 

juicedhybrid:

The car has has none, but I am considering buiding it to a class.  Were do other Prius run?

 

Google "FSP Prius" and you will see one.  I remember it from a while back, but not sure if it as official classification.

I saw pics of an FSP one a while back:

http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-main-forum/16285-prius-scca-solo-ii-fsp.html  

 

 

---

89/189 STS/STX '89 Civic Si

H Stock. 

---

Keith
'90 Miata with a really big roll bar
www.chaserace.com
www.tightntidyracing.com
www.vorschlag.com

You could build it into XP.

---

Ted

2004 Z16/Z06 SS

Ok. FSP, XP, or H stock? I am sure they are all really good classes. But I want to make some mods to the car. I would start with Chassis stffiening, front strut tower, and some other chassis/suspension products that are bolt on.

My other items I have to install are gounding kits for the battery/engine, and ECU managment systems. This proably gets me nulled in some of the stock classes. Modified?

Sounds like you need to read the rule book.  Read through the allowances and figure out which class you end up in based on your chosen mods.  Remember if it doesn't say you can, you can't.

 If your goal is to be competitive, be very careful when you chose your mods,  some simple things will move you up to a point you could never be competitive.

 If you goal is to make you car more fun to drive, and you want to have fun on the autox course, build your car the way you want it.  but don't expect to be competitive.

---

Keith
'90 Miata with a really big roll bar
www.chaserace.com
www.tightntidyracing.com
www.vorschlag.com

Good suggestion. I will check it out tonight. Thanks.  

 

good grief,  its a noncompetitive car in whatever class it runs.   you might as well run in XP,  that way you'll be legal no matter what you do to the car and you can run a real cool wing.

---

lamoureaux
BSP 2004 STi
Wichita, Ks

more thoughts on possible mods.  remove all of the batteries and replace with one battery that carries enough juice to last for two minutes at full power drain.  This would be an allowable mod under stock rules.  put on as much tire as the stock rims can manage,  a sway bar up front and go racing.  the prius is likely to do very well in H-stock in such a configuration.

---

lamoureaux
BSP 2004 STi
Wichita, Ks

thunderbird:

more thoughts on possible mods.  remove all of the batteries and replace with one battery that carries enough juice to last for two minutes at full power drain.  This would be an allowable mod under stock rules.  put on as much tire as the stock rims can manage,  a sway bar up front and go racing.  the prius is likely to do very well in H-stock in such a configuration.

Not legal in stock class (replacement batteries must be same size, weight as stock).  Might be legal in ST depending on if you count it as one battery or multiple ones.

---

STS2 - 1990 Mazda Miata
Borrowing BS - RX-8

I'm sorry. . .but is no one else struck by the irony of this?  The Prius is the antithesis of this sport.  It stands for everything we don't.

 Regardless of how funny I find it, coming from an underdog car (and now building another) I wish you luck.  As long as YOU are having fun, that's all that matters in this sport.  Remember, most us will never be rich from auto-x'ing!

---

"Drag racing is for fast cars, autocrossing is for fast drivers"

Bobzilla:

I'm sorry. . .but is no one else struck by the irony of this?  The Prius is the antithesis of this sport.  It stands for everything we don't.

 Regardless of how funny I find it, coming from an underdog car (and now building another) I wish you luck.  As long as YOU are having fun, that's all that matters in this sport.  Remember, most us will never be rich from auto-x'ing!

i take your point, but antithesis is such a strong word isn't it?

as a fellow luddite i've nonetheless had to learn a bit about electric vehicles - the prius may be a bad example, but i'm chuckling at the reference to battery substitution, as the rules may have to withstand some changes in the next few years...

i seem to recall one with 100 whp per wheel, which wouldn't embarass even Mr. Daddio would it?  max torque at 0 rpm?

ah yes... batteries...

---

Charlie Thompson
'04 JCW Cooper [STX]
NER Cannon Fodder

wouldn't that be in the "no class"?

 Just kidding;  it would go to the catch alls in HS and escalate from there.  Bring whatever you want to race, i always did, whether it was an old truck, oldsmobile, or whatever, and have fun.  Sometimes I had more fun in my old jalopy's than in competetive cars.

But if you really want to be competetively racing, remember that this is the SPORTS CAR club, there should be no expectation that cars designed to be the antithesis of a performance car should have a class it can win nationally in.

Paul:

Were do you think this car fits best?

probably in your garage.

seriously, though, unless you're REALLY tight on parking space,* you might consider just getting something cheap to autoX in, and not ruining the prius for its central purpose.  you can pick up any number of fun older cars for about what it would cost you to prep a prius, which will still not be as much fun in the end.

*i live in center city philly and park my autoX miata on the street.  so by "really tight," i mean less than that.

---

Mike - #44 STS2
'91 Miata - racer
'07 CX-7 - dog taxi
www.phillyscca.com
www.GreyhoundAngelsAdoption.com

cbramey:

it would go to the catch alls in HS and escalate from there. Toyota Prius is listed in H Stock, no catch-all needed.  There is no Street Prepared listing though.

I don't think that autocrossing a Prius is any weirder than autocrossing a Dodge Intrepid.  The only reason the Prius is weird at all is because it's such a boat suspension-wise.  I've seen Honda Insights and even a GM EV-1 autocrossed, and I personally thought that was cool.  A Tesla Roadster would be right at home on the autocross course, despite the fact that it burns no gasoline...

Where hybrids pose the biggest potential problem in terms of the current rules is in Street Mod.  Unrestricted drive train as long as it includes a production block from the original manufacturer...which might allow you to do anything you want with the electric side of things! 

---

John S.
S2000 #42as

While we're on the subject of Hybrids at autox it might be a good idea to remind everyone of the safety reminder that SCCA put out on the use of Hybrids at autoxs.  All Safety Stewards should familiarize themselves with the ignition switches of the hybrids to ensure they are turned off in a safety situation.  Since the engines aren't running at a standstill they represent a potential hazzard should an accident happen and they are not shut off and it isn't recognized that the car is still capable of moving under power while safety personnel and course workers are approaching the accident. 

Drivers of Hybrids should make it a point to show the safety stewards how to shut off power to the cars.

 FWIW

---

Ted

2004 Z16/Z06 SS

Paul:

Ok. FSP, XP, or H stock? I am sure they are all really good classes. But I want to make some mods to the car. I would start with Chassis stffiening, front strut tower, and some other chassis/suspension products that are bolt on.

My other items I have to install are gounding kits for the battery/engine, and ECU managment systems. This proably gets me nulled in some of the stock classes. Modified?

1) Save the $$ you were going to spend modifying the Prius.

2) Buy an early 90's Miata instead.

3) Watch your desire to stab yourself in the eye decrease.

 

I'm just sayin ;) 

---

John W: 2003 WRX: STX (and sometimes 1991 MR2: ES)
Washington, DC Region

Bobzilla:

I'm sorry. . .but is no one else struck by the irony of this?  The Prius is the antithesis of this sport.  It stands for everything we don't.

 Regardless of how funny I find it, coming from an underdog car (and now building another) I wish you luck.  As long as YOU are having fun, that's all that matters in this sport.  Remember, most us will never be rich from auto-x'ing!

Wait a minute. Wasn't the origin of motorsports competition to provide a place to test the new fangled horseless carriage? While I'd agree that the Prius, like many "alternative" cars looks like it was designed by people who don't like cars I'm love the exploration of new technology in competition. If we don't find ways to include new stuff we'll look more like NASCAR (the only place other than a lawnmower where you'll find a carbuator these days )

I agree with Ted that the safety issue is very important. For most of us taking care of a normal car in an emergency is second nature. I'm not so sure I know what real hazzards a Prius might have if not handled right.

If the owners point is to get involved in autocross then buying a Miata is probably a better investment in the sport. But if the point is playing with a Prius, this sport is a good place and you WILL get noticed.

---

Bryan S.
Autocross semi-sabbitical 2008
Thanks Jan for the 06, 07 Mini co-drive
'91 Miata (STS2 for 09?)
Course Chief
Novice Autocross School Chairman
Support my MS 150 Bike Ride: bikemos.nationalmssociety.org