2002 Tacoma for Autocross

Plus 2 for putting these on. You're gonna be in a wayyyyyy higher class than you'll be competitive in, fair warning. Adding a sway bar and adding a thicker one bumps you into a different class if I remember correctly. Been awhile since I had to class a modded vehicle that wasn't already in the "accepted vehicles" list.

Definitely make sure you remember the sun protection. I made that mistake my first time out, and I'm Casper White. I earned the term "redneck" that day.

 

Believe it or not I paid close to half for my Cayman S compared to my ‘14 Tacoma. I bought the taco new and the car was 12 years old

 

Another good thing to do is make sure you're ready for tech inspection. No leaking fluids, battery tie down, absolutely no unsecured items in the vehicle. Cups, soda can, anything that can become a projectile or go under your feet. Or otherwise distract you during racing. That's their rules, not just me preaching safety.

Just my experience here, when roommate and I go we put everything we're taking in a plastic storage tote. Small compressor, water, snacks, everything. That way when we get to the event and ready for tech inspection, we can just take the tote out of the otherwise empty vehicle and be good to go.

 

Do they require water wetter for coolant or is regular coolant fine. I know motorcycle track days, at least around here, require water wetter.

 

I don't think there's anything in SCCA rules about it. May vary depending on where the event is held though. I doubt a mall parking lot would stipulate that, but a road course facility might. They'd probably have a note about it or announcement from the club if that was the case

 

The duffel bag is another great idea I will be needing. I did see the notes about securing items, and I like to keep my truck free of clutter and leaks most the time anyhow so I should be good there.

Just curious, is stuff in the glove box ok?

If so I will definitely bring along my "Passport to Performance" for some extra horsepower..


Toyota had a feeling about the old 2002 Tacoma it seems!

 

Yes the glovebox should be fine. I don't know where your spare tire kit is, Jack and whatnot. If it's mounted behind the seat like it is in my RC I'm not sure if they'll want you to take it out or not. Roommate and I bring a floor jack and stands since he brings a second set of wheels and tires when he goes so all my spare tire stuff comes out for the trip because less weight means faster. I've seen guys taking out their rear seats in the paddock area before. Just for that litttttle bit of advantage on the last couple runs.

Edit: I almost forgot. You're gonna see some cool cars and people there. Bring a phone/camera with a charged battery for taking pictures (in the paddock not on course) of all the cool cars and stuff. Made that mistake once... missed out on gtr photos! They're rare as shit up here so I was kicking myself pretty well. Just a heads up when you're working the course, (they'll go over this in the safety meeting too) no phones are allowed while working cone stations. They're usually pretty anal about making sure you're not distracted with a 60+mph car on the edge of traction coming at you.

 

‘94 GT was my first car, have a soft spot for that body style.

 

Nice on the glove box and the passport!

I do have the jack and tools in the stock location and they are what I would consider secured with the oem wing nuts and slight jack pressure:


I actually put sand bags in my spare wheel a while back, I found the weight gave the truck a little more traction and balance but now I am wondering if this is ok?

 

Probably won’t find it. If you get pulled over and searched though the local PD will think they hit jackpot

 

Gawd damn that's clean!!! I could eat off the bottom of your truck.... definitely not something I can say about any vehicle up here.

I think your spare tire tools should be fine with that mounting. But obviously if they say no...

I honestly don't know if they'd have an issue with the extra weight or not. If you don't say anything about it I doubt they'll even know it's there. Unless it comes out as you crank into a 180 turn at breakneck pace. Probably best to contact somebody in the club and ask if you can. Safety coordinator would probably be the one to ask I'd imagine.

 

Thanks, old Trudy was in decent shape when I picked her up and I have spent quite a bit of time getting everything cleaned up. Guess you see no leaks under there either!

Rule or no rule I have always wondered a bit after adding the weight to the tire.. how much weight can that steel cable hold safely, any one know by chance??

Any stories of those breaking on the forums?

 

I imagine it can support several times the weight of the tire itself. Might be cool to build a box that goes in the bed across or just behind the rear axle just for sand bags.

 

they'll break if theyre rusty.. not sure how much they can handle.. but i bet 50 lbs of sand wont hurt anything..

 

It happens up here in New England from time to time with all the salt and rust we get. Usually it's the retaining but or whatever connects the cable to the tire.

 

Just judging from the underside picture of his truck I’m saying it won’t give

 

Thanks for all the reassurances guys! I have seen the instances of rust being issues and even cause for a recall on these old first gen's, but never heard of any components failing due overloading. My truck has no sign of rust so that is let me rest a bit easier too, but I still wonder where the limit may be.

Not sure the exact construction and thickness of the steel cable that is holding the weight, but even the smallest cable at Home Depot 1/16" is rated for 96 pounds. The next size up is just 1/8" and the load rating jumps up to 340 pounds.

Again not sure if this has anything to do with the type of cable in the Tacoma, but giving me a slightly more relaxed sensation that this cable is going to hold under the immense g's the little old Tacoma is going to be generating!

 

Maybe heres a little inspiration from EngineeredToSlide. Lol its a custom tube chassis drift hilux tho in NZ.

 

Oh yeah.. you know I have come across this one once or twice in my hunting!!

Talk about going through tires....

 

Thanks again to all for the info here, I am going through my checklist and got my stuff ready to go for tomorrow!

I didnt get a chance to install the sway bar which is alright for my first time I figure. I spent today with a GoPro I picked up, set it up and figured out how to use and mount it etc so hopefully I get some good clips as well as taking pics along the way.

Tried looking further to figure out what class my truck is and got confused reading about mods etc, but see the old Tacoma listed in Street Touring Extreme - STX class in the SCCA appendix. Does this mean I am in this class against these other machines regardless of mods or how does this work?


Guess they will set me straight at the event tomorrow, I am still curious how these classes work with my truck as is and then with sway bars and the supercharger I also would like to install.