Which class? ESP or STX?

I've recently got my suspension setup to where i want it to be, so i want to start doing some autocrossing. I know that for the first two events you have to run in the novice class but my question is which class does my car belong to? I think it's either esp or stx but which one is better to start with?
My mods are: helix dna coilovers, whiteline swaybars front and rear, brake pads, perf. fluid and stainless lines, txs catted turboback, up-pipe, modified intake, engine management, short shifter. The wheels are 18x8.5 with 225 tires.
I'm sorry about starting another "which class" thread but i'm registering for the super regional tonight and i'm not to sure about these classes.

 

i'm running a cobb accessport with an off-the-shelf map that runs 16psi. Does that count as an adjustment to boost?

 

Yes, any adjustment to boost, I believe will put you into ESP. Also, you don't have to run Novice your first 2 times, but you can, and it is definitely worth it to do so, but if you wanted to run in class from the start, you could do that also.

 

Thanks a lot for the help guys. Looks like i'll be running in esp then. The regional doesn't have the novice class, that's why i have to choose a class. Anybody else going to the regional this weekend?

 

I might come to watch, but not going to run again until the Subaru Challenge.

 

Well unfortunately i can't make it to the super regional anymore. But i'll definately be in the next points event in the novice class, so i'll see y'all there.

 

If you go to an STX legal map (the STX off the shelf map) you can run STU.

why STU? Your rims are 8.5" wide. Max width in STX is 8.0". STU has no rim width limit...but the widest tires are still 245 for AWD cars.

 

cool, thanks for the info will. So the width of the rim does matter.

 

For STX, yes. STU, no.

 

Definitely ESP. Some regions have a street tire class that allows you to run against competitors from every class, but your score is based on the PAX. It helps for those running in a R comp. class with street tires, like ESP. Good luck, there is some pretty good competition in ESP in the Atlanta Region. I will probably see you 8/12 for the race at Turner Field.

 

Cool, i just want to do it for fun and to get a better understanding of my car's handling, so the competition doesn't really interest me. I guess the best drivers get prizes at the end of the year based on their points, right?

 

Doesn't his exhaust throw him out of the STX as well? Just curious/trying to learn.

 

For stx I believe the exhaust can be changed out, however I think there is a rule about the cats in the non oem exhaust.

Typically money is only awarded in the form of contingency from various manufactures ie Kumho, Hooiser, honda, mini.... This usually only happens at national level events like tours and prosolos. At prosolo there is usually a pay from Scca as well since it's a "pro" solo I guess. There was no novice class for this weekend due it being a psuedo divisional event; do to low entries we are trying to boost numbers with novices. The format for this week allows you to sign up for either day as well as the whole weekend so you always just attend one day or the other. FYI both clemson and I have been bitten by the contingency bug

Also I wouldn't go around saying autox isn't real racing as you might offend some people.

 

My co-driver and I won $1000 in cash and prizes at the last event. You make it as "real" as you want. It is good to learn how to control your car in lots of situations.

 

^exactly....

People spend thousands on car prep as well... people always joke but some of the sp cars have tens of thousands of dollars invested in them. Others rent their own lot and buy their own equipment for private practice.

 

No. He has the TXS turbo back with the 3 inch cat in it.

 

I'm not trying to offend anyone, i know many people invest a lot of money/time in autoxing. I just think that some people take this sport a little too seriously. But i guess they do that just because they invest time/money.

Cool, so there are some events which have prizes.

 

But what's the motivation behind spending big $? Is it mostly for fun, big prizes, or maybe possibilities to advance to other forms of automotive racing if you do well in pro autox-ing? I'm just curious since i don't have too much knowledge on the subject.

 

A lot of different reasons.

I dont spend big $...but I do spend a lot of MY time and energy into prepping car.

It used to be I'd just autox for the fun of it.

Now...I'm just not going to go out there for 'fun'...as my definition of 'fun' has changed. Fun now is WIN (my class, and shoot for FTD or FTPAX) while enjoying the fact that I am driving a car to my best abilities, and maxing out what the car can do. Sometimes, even if I win the class, I'm not having fun due to a handling/tire/etc issue...or if I feel *I* am not driving properly. I can deal with not winning if I know I am doing my best and the car is doing its best.

To each their own.