And now the conclusion to how well a Caprice Wagon will autocross!

It. was. awesome. This was with the Misery Bay SCCA chapter; their first race of the season. They bizarrely classed me in F Stock (SCCA rules are pretty ambiguous with old American cars), which is where cars such as Mustang GTs, 94-96 Impala SS', and new BMW 5series hang out. I was hopelessly out-classed, but I still had a blast! Body roll was excessive, and in the dry runs the tires were wildly squealing, but I was super consistent; I was within four seconds of an '03 Mustang GT and a BMW 5 series; two seconds of a pair of Imprezas which were of the non-WRX (09 &05 RS) variety. Not too shabby for a 4,300lbs car with 140hp!

As a bonus, the car was a HUGE hit with people, which kind of shocked me. Most thought I was crazy and/or the coolest person there. Wagons rock. It's that simple.

Anyway, here's some pictures. and a youtubes link. They put a camera on my car, but they haven't finished editing it yet. Hopefully soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As2L8IgDZn4&feature=relmfu

My run is on at 3:17. It's worth it!

I saw a late 1970's full size Catalina show up with the right suspension/sway bars in Chicago once and the guy smoked it. I was impressed with the driver and car.

now get some Impala SS/cop car goodies under that thing and make it more better...

I think it is probably classed in F-stock because nobody has asked to have it classed; by NOC definition it is put there. I know you aren't looking to be competitive, but hey, you might want to write and see if you can get it reclassed to H-stock.

Probably not worth the effort though.

if you measure body roll as a percentage of overall length, it's not too bad.

If you've ever wanted to have the most fun at an Autocross, bring something other than a civic, miata, bmw, mustang, z-car, subaru. You'll be an instant hit, and hilarity will ensue...

and wagons do rock...

(edit) woah I just noticed they let you run with the wire hub caps, man I remember those on my old Pontiac wagon!!!

Looks so fun. I've been wanting to put my rb20 into a small wagon.

WHEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

I ran a stock VW cabby once. It was slow as all get out and the body roll was utterly crazy, but it was still fun. It was not such a big hit. Most of the people wanted to know where the mini was (engine out for clutch replacement) and then why I didn't bring the miata.

The mini was always a hit though.

I used to say that autocross is just a formalized version of what we used to do on the streets in high school. In your case, it is also done with the type of cars we used in high school; mom's wagon.

I see in the video that you ran with the wire hubcaps in place!

Thanks guys! Yeah, I ran with the hubcaps on as they have the security lock; those bad boys aren't going anywhere!

I thought about writing to get it changed to H stock, but like you said, it is really not worth it. Either way I am outclassed, but I am OK with that. Our next event is at a speedway and I have a feeling I will be MUCH slower.

In reply to Hoop:

Taxi drivers around here have security locks on their hub caps too. I usually refer to them as zip-ties.

Hoop, you rule. Whenever i'm workin' cones and see a guy like you roll through, you get my applause, I don't care how many cones you mow over for me to pick up.

Sperlo: On these older cars, there's actually a mounting bracket that is held on by the lugs.

mndsm: I actually hit no cones all day!

In reply to Hoop:

My 98 escort has them. Its the only reason the caps are still there.

In reply to N Sperlo: Well, in the old days this was whizzbang technology!

I drove the "Family Truckster" once at an autocross. It was surprisingly agile and fun when you consider it's size. It was awesome.

In reply to Hoop:

And apparently were moving in the wrong direction.

Rockin'!

In reply to Hoop:

Even better! I'd plow cones all day if I was driving my MINI. I can't imagine something I can park the MINI in.

Hoop wrote: Sperlo: On these older cars, there's actually a mounting bracket that is held on by the lugs. mndsm: I actually hit no cones all day!

those stock hubcap retainers are nice right up until you have a flat tire in the middle of nowhere and realize that you don't have the key to take them off in the car..

There's a guy who runs with the local club, he's got a '94 Caprice Classic wagon with a T-56 swapped into it and the carpeting taken out and uses it as a tow rig for his K20 swapped EG hatch... on the practice autocross days he'll occasionally get it on course, hilarity ensues, it feels more like a baja prerunner than a car! if there were any pics of it, I'd hotlink, but anyone who has autocrossed with VMSC in Richmond, VA has probably seen it, either on course or sitting around

When my friend first started, he autox'ed his Intrepid sedan. I called it "Autocross on Novicane" you would turn the wheel, and the car would respond with 3 to 5 seconds. It was a first class cone killer, but a hoot to watch.

Yikes, a first gear postage stamp course in the wet in a giant wagon. Good job hustling that beast, Hoop. Just goes to prove it ain't what you drive, its how you drive it.

just too cool. I wonder what hasn't be autoxed?