Autocross with Manual (Rack & Pinion ) steering.

[Tincup]

I was just wondering what everyone is using, and can you autocross with manual steering? I really don't have any room for power steering, (I'm looking into a Unisteer setup).

[rentedmule]

I race with a few guys who run a Locost (copy of a Lotus seven) with manual steering. Even in a car that light it's a huge amount of work to turn and can be a real hand full. They've moved to a larger steering wheel recently to help cut down on effort but it's cost them a bit on lap times. I've heard the same kind of complaints from guys running old Civic CRX's with manual steering as well. I suspect it would be a lot of work to run quickly on a tight course in a big car with sticky tires.

[Twentyover]

Possible solution:

Electrical power steering- no pumps or hoses, located completely underdash.

No association, just considering it for the ugly little British car

[Tincup]

I race with a few guys who run a Locost (copy of a Lotus seven) with manual steering. Even in a car that light it's a huge amount of work to turn and can be a real hand full. They've moved to a larger steering wheel recently to help cut down on effort but it's cost them a bit on lap times. I've heard the same kind of complaints from guys running old Civic CRX's with manual steering as well. I suspect it would be a lot of work to run quickly on a tight course in a big car with sticky tires.

Thanks, that's what I figured.

[Randy67]

I ran a 16:1 quick ratio manual steering box on the El Camino in autox (with 275/40/17 V710 tires). It wasn't too bad on the street, but was difficult to turn quickly enough in autox to keep up, especially in slaloms and offsets. After converting to power steering (12:1 box), it was quite an improvement over the manual box. I suspect your results with rack and pinion will be similar.

[UNGN]

I've autocrossed our 427 Cobra replica with a 4 turn manual steering rack and everything is great except tight slaloms, which absolutely suck and are nearly impossible to go through fast.

A fast ratio, 3 Turn rack is a must...and strong arms if the car weighs more than 2500 lbs.

[vette427-sbc]

Wouldnt recommend it for auto-x... but on the road course I love it!

[rustomatic]

I have a Unisteer manual rack in my '63 Falcon. I wouldn't dare do an autocross with it, as I'd probably dislocate both of my shoulders and break a finger or two, maybe even a wrist. Don't get me wrong; the effort is light, and the overall feel and lack of slop are great, and with a pretty light car, I have no issues in a parking lot with no speed. There are just too many turns to make. For a vision of doing a road course with a similar ratio in mind, watch some of the in-car videos of a guy who races a '63 Falcon; there's a white one and a black one. The hands move a lot...

One day, I may try a 1.5:1 quickener, but as of now, for the road-course of a street I live on, I don't feel that I need it.

[Bryce]

I have a 16:1 box with a 2:1 quickener so a effective 8:1 ratio. I autocrossed it once. I can turn it but I am adding power steering now....

[rjsjea]

Your running an AlterK right? If so, you can swap in a power rack and add the pump to your hemi.