Getting Involved with Racing
 

Can anyone give me a brief scoop on what it would take to actually start racing my vehicle? I know I can start doing some autocross, but what's the next step from there? Also, for the classes above autox, are their requirements on motor setup? Can you run boost in your car for these races?

Also, I just got a 2nd job making some pretty hefty cash, and every penny of it is going into my vehicle. Probably going to be putting $500-$1000/mo towards it depending on how the job goes. So, I'm looking to get pretty much everything I can done to my car over the next 6 months or so.

2 Questions:

1) Is the protege a good platform to use, or should I just save the cash for 3-4months and put it down on a different vehicle.

2) My current mod list looks something like this, anyone have any suggestions?

Engine/Exhaust:
CAI (done)
OBX 4-1 Header
Magnaflow Cat-Back
Magnaflow high flow cat
J-Spec Intake Cam
Mazdaspeed Exhaust Cam
Underdrive Pulley
AEM EMS (or haltech F10X if AEM doesn't give any advantages)
W.O.M.P.
Forged Shortblock

Drivetrain/Suspension:
Adjustable Coilovers (Tein, B&G, JIC any reccomendations?)
Kartboy short throw shifter with shifter bushings
ACT Clutch
9lb Flywheel
Lightweight 17" Wheels
Brembo CDS Rotors

Exterior and interior mods are not that important to me as of yet.

Hoping to have it all done by next summer so I can get out when the track opens up.

i can't help you as far as racing goes as I only drag race but I'm more than happy to help you set up a build-plan for your car to make sure you waste nothing and have everything you need.

for instance:
I'd start with the forged block and Extrude hone P&P stage 2 gasket matching. This mod alone will give a big increase in power and require nothing else be done. The j-spec cams should be next done at the same time as the full exhaust. you already have the intake but it will be obsolete when you get the WOMP. Also, a UDP is not possible with the supercharger as you will reduce your boost. With forged internals, the WOMP and it's haltech should provide more than enough air to max out your stock fuel system. A set of 440cc injectors and a nice fuel pump (boost-a-pump) will fix this. Plan on making 300hp like this EASILY. the trasnmission and suspension mods are all correct. you've got the right idea just doing it in the right order will make everything safer.

auto cross--> road racing--> rally :stickpoke

there are a few regions that offer a SOLO1 program, look for that...

What type of racing are you looking for? Buildups are going to be a little different between drags/auto-x/road course/rally.

Definitely looking to go AutoX to start with....I'm into really driving, not just dragging. I'm sure with the build-ups I do I will likely make my drag times just fine, but am more into cornering and such. I'm just trying to get an idea of how I actually get involved, and if there are going to be certain requirements for the vehicle as I go along. (Don't want to do FI if it's not going to be permitted in road races).

Also, matty, what, where and how do I get the port and polish done to my car? If I order the short block from wagner, will they be able to do P&P for me too since the engine will be apart already? What kinda power are we talking for this mod, and is it something I'll have to repeat later? Since I'm going to have the head off to get the block replaced, should I just do the cams at the same time? I think what I hear is save up about $4k and get a good chunk done at once...

you will be better off staying stock and racing it....with all your mods the other cars in your class will totally over power you.

not true at all. Wagner built a protege LX for a guy named Jaje I think. He runs a 1.6L motor with a custom turbo kit by wagner. When I was there for the open house he rolled it in straight from his race where he outran porsche's, corvette's and bmw's. I'll try to contact him to get some info for you guys.

Brian, P&P should be done through Extrude Hone. I know Sunbelt Performance in ATL does this also but Extrude Hone's prices can't be beat. You should check out their website for all the info on how their process defers from other "crude" portings. I can't estimate power on a 2.0L protege but I do know exactly what it has done to the Ford Contour SVT. The only performance mod to the car (stock 2.5L v6) was the intake manifold was P&P'd by EH. If you go to EH's website you'll even see the C-SVT manifold pictures. This jumped power on the V6 from 170hp to 200hp. I'd say at least 22whp gain or so for just the intake manifold. It would be MUCH more beneficial to do the intake and head at the same time. They will gasket match to the head for an extra $80 I think...VERY worthwhile. This is what I plan on doing also.

Auto-x. The most fun you'll have with your Pants On. Seriously, the Protege is a fun forgiving car to autocross, and while you might not go to the nationals, it's a very rewarding ride that responds well to skilled driving. One of the few FWD cars that lets the back tires play too.

I'd rather go around this:

http://www.hallettracing.com/images/...hotoftrack.jpg

than go around cones...

I'd definitely like to get into some road races too, but need to start somewhere and autocross seems like the place to start. Is the performance of the protege enough that I could possibly win some autoX events? I just don't want to invest all the money if I need to get a different car to be competetive.

Karen...that course has WAY too much straight-a-way for a protege!! Maybe a vette would do nice on that track.

Matty, I think your talking about dave potter,and he has a LOT of serious work including having it tubbed out,alongs with BIG upgrades to suspension and brakes...look at HIS mods...he' get killed in he class he'd be put in...the only suspension mod is coilovers,and no brake work from what I see

Iv'e been talking with Brian (vielster) and he's buying my supercharger...He's not talking about getting into this without some work first. Even on a stock block with some low boost he'll do better than you'd think.

I agree though that he'll get waxxed for a long time until he gets his racing legs about him....but he needs to start learning how to drive a FWD car with some power. Otherwise it'll be a HUGE shock when he goes from 100whp to 250whp.

Ok, so I was looking into extrude hone, and the prices are good and everything, but the work was like 2-3 weeks at least. That means I'd be without a car for that period of time, which would be an eternity. Since my second job depends on me having reliable transportation, I don't know if that'd be an option. I talked with one of my buddies who has a mustang and he said that he ordered his ported polished intake and they shipped it to him, he installed it, and returned his unported one...is there anyone that does that for the protege's as well? That would definitely be a viable option for me, but I can't go without the vehicle for more than a few days.

If I can't do the order and swap deal, I think the P&P would be put on hold for a bit...probably do some other mods in the meantime. Definitely want to go to a forged shortblock though...

what I had planned on doing was hitting a local junkyard and just sourcing a whole 2.0L engine. This way I'd have a block for forging, head for P&P, intake for P&P, cams to have custom grinds made, spare parts etc...I've seen these sell in junkyards for $250 if you pull them out. The JY will even through it in your truck for you....or hatchback in my case!