NSRA Autocross 2026 Let’s Make It Handle
By Kevin Webb NSRA Autocross Director autocross@nsra-usa.com
C ontinuing our series of articles discussing steps to your enjoying the NSRA Autocross experi- ence, this month we’ll discuss suspension and handling. By now you may have noticed a definite difference in the handling of different vehicles out on the track. For those attacking the course fast and smooth, a lot of time, effort and usually money has been invested to get to that level. The other thing common amongst the fast vehicles is their ride height. As you have likely seen on real race cars, ride height is usually very low. By lowering the vehicle’s “center of gravity” the car can maneuver turns at higher-than-normal speeds. If you’ve ever taken an exit ramp too fast in a taller vehicle, like an SUV, you can see how a lower center of gravity is important. When you watch various vehicles run the course you also notice a thing called “sway,” or lack of it. The sway bar is designed to reduce vehicle lean as it goes around a corner. So, all I have to do is put big- ger sway bars on my vehicle and it will handle bet- ter? No, too big a bar can make handling worse and reduce suspension travel. Like every component you put on your vehicle, a balance of ride quality and operation must be kept. Many vehicles only have one sway bar in the front, so adding that second sway bar in the rear will greatly improve your han- dling capabilities. Springs, shocks and coilovers, which is the best fit for my vehicle? Think about how much better han- dling you really want, because if it handles like a race car, it probably rides like one too if not properly setup. In many cases just upgrading the original shocks and springs can make a huge difference and not compromise the ride quality. When you are con- sidering a suspension upgrade, or building your first autocross ride, be very aware of weight balance. Race car builders are very aware of what weight does to the handling of their vehicles. Have your car weighed in its stock configuration, or if you are in the build stage look at Ridetech’s website. Their tech pages include hundreds of vehicles they have run across their scales at different events. Coilovers are a spring and shock absorber in one unit to allow maximum adjustment possibilities. The shocks include compression and rebound adjust- ments, and the springs are designed to support the vehicle weight correctly. Having a vehicle weighed on all four corners can be useful to correct a vehicle
that rides too harsh. Tubular control arms are designed to replace worn OEM components and offer significantly increased strength, reduced weight (up to 15 lbs per side), improved geometry for better handling and caster angles, and increased clearance for lowered vehicles or aftermarket tire and brake upgrades. So, do I have to change everything in the suspen- sion just to enjoy autocross? Nope, but improving the handling of your vehicle goes right back to the safety part NSRA emphasizes in their autocross pro- gram. If it handles better on the track, it’s safer on the highway. See you at the track!
16 MARCH 2026
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