Hello street prepared, nice to meet you!

[autxr]

Well, I've gone and done it. I just spent $10 on my car and booted it into another class. I'm oficially street touring/street prepared now.

I installed the Kumosport aluminum shifter bushings last night.

http://www.newcelica.org/other/installs/directshift/

I have to be honest, the product description is spot on.

http://www.kumosport.com/krd-213-01.asp

These things really do make a difference, and I really do like them. It's not even very subtle. When you shift it just clicks into the next gear. The shifter is much notchier (I like this) with a solid thunk into the next gear, no wasted motion. I find a big difference on the GTS when going to reverse. That shift spring is pretty heavy, and it is much easier to get hte lever over there now.

The fun will last for a week, then I have to change it back for the Ft. Myers tour event.

In all, I would say that when autocrossing, it isn't going to make me any faster (it might, the shifts seem quicker now, probably working the synchros harder), on a road course it would be wonderful.

Scott

[afghan]

Welcome to the dark side Scott. About time!

[erok]

I'm curious to see how you do and what you think of the GTS with more mods. It's hard to stop once you start. :)

[autxr]

In my home club I only have one competitor and he's in a SE-R. Mighty fine car with lots of goodies on it already. I should be able to out horsepower him pretty easily, but e does have a LSD (crude as it is) and more low end torque. It shuould be a fun season if I choose to go this route. There's no reason teh GTS shouldn't be competitive. Up in VA (the other polce I go to race) there are a couple of regulars that are the TOP STS drivers in the nation. Richard West and Eric Kriemelmeyer (sp), both i Impreza 2.5 RS's. I typically can't even beat their raw times in the Celica with sticky tires...

Scott

[traitor]

way to go, post it on the internet where everyone knows about it. you could have just been quiet or said "my friend" just got these. I'm just teasing, I hate that the stock classes are so stock. like those bushings are really gonna make you faster, a short shifter I could see.

[scapamouche]

The days of STS in non stickies are ending, too.

I broke in my new Azenis yetserday at the local school- and all I can say is WOW!! They were absolutely wonderful. On the course set up for the afternoon runs, my best was a 51.5. The FTD was a 47 something by a full race Zcar, and lots of M3s (all 3 generations) in the 48-51 region. I was ecstatic!! The next fastest sts car was also on azenis and ran in the 53s.

We'll see what I can do today at the autox (in the rain)

[Gaps]

Autoxr, thanks for the tip, this will be one of the few mods I do to my GTS. It sounds just like what Im looking for, a more positive and mechanical feel to the shifter, something this car deserves. Thanks again for the information, Eric Dahlquist

[autxr]

Well, the dreaming was fun while it lasted. I've decided to stay stock for the time being.

I gave it a lot of thought, and while I'd have fun modding the car (and go broke), I can stay stock for less money AND start buying Hoosier tires so I'm not quite as slow.

Locally, it looks like we have a large DS crowd for this year (Aaron and myself, and several WRX drivers, and a Type R and an IS300). We would all rank as better drivers in the club (probably top 10 PAX - with the old PAX number), so most of the competition is in DS. In STS there is really only one driver who is good.

So, I've decided to spend more on tires and hang out with all the usual suspects.

The shifter bushings were fun while they lasted. I'm sure if I decide to sell them I can get my $10 back.

Scott