Name: Jim Berkey (alias Jimbob)
Home town: Richland WA, via Santa Cruz CA and Cleveland OH
Occupation: Welding Engineer
Personal: Married 21 years, 2 girls (13 and 10)
Autocrossing experience: This is my 5th full season; racing
~ 10 races a year.
Primary autocross vehicle and class: 1975 Porsche 914, Class C2 (SCCA
Class SM2)
Major modifications: Upgraded engine from a 1.8 liter ~ 90 Hp (stock was 76 Hp) to a 2.4 liter ~ 175 Hp. New engine has a 104mm bore and 71mm stroke with 3mm intake and 4 mm exhaust valves. Compression is now 8.45:1 and the cam has 40deg more duration and .060 more lift. Other engine mods include: double valve springs, ported and polished heads, matchported and polished intake manifolds, and 40mm Weber carbs (32mm venturis) with polished throats. Suspension mods include: 19mm front antisway bar with homemade chassis stiffeners and bar stiffeners, 180 lb/in rear springs (stock is 90 lb/in), KYB Gas-A-Just shocks, and R-compound tires (either 205/50x15 Kuhmo Victoracers 700 or 225/50x15 Hoosier AS3). Have also removed ~200 lbs from the total car bringing the total weight down to 2080 lbs.
Modifications that made the biggest difference: The engine mods by far made the biggest
difference. Don't really need as much power as I have, but
it sure is fun to drive. The power overwhelms the open differential.
The people that say this is not a horsepower sport are basically
correct. But I can guarantee that they are not racing with
76Hp. There is a point where a car can have too much power
(I'm getting close), but there is also a point where a car
needs more power and mine was that very originally.
Modifications that made the least difference: A rear antisway bar was installed but
later taken off because it was unweighting the inside tire
on hard corners. Removed the rear bar and replaced the already
stiff rear spring (145 lb/in) with a stiffer spring (180
lb/in). The car does not corner as flat with this configuration
but definitely accelerates better out of the corners.
Future modifications to help make your vehicle more competitive: Limited
slip differential and put the rear antiswaybar back on. Want
to rebuild the front suspension and add a set of stiffer
front torsion bars.
Other current or past autocross vehicles: Occasionally I bring out my 1993
Ford Ranger. It's a lousy autocross vehicle stock, but have
added front and rear antisway bars, rear springs, wider wheels,
KYB Gas-A-Just shocks and Yokohama AVS intermediate tires.
It actually handles quite well for a pickup with 160,000
miles. The only reason that I bring it out is to race a friend
(Stan Crow) or just to show that anything can be raced. It
does not have to be a racecar to be autocrossed.
Best thing about autocrossing: For me the most fun that I have had
was making my car and working out all of the bugs (or should
I say most)
Worst thing about autocrossing: I was taking it to serious and spent
too much time and money. But the trip was fun.
Best driving tips: 20 years ago when I roadraced motorcycles a friend told me
(after I crashed) to go slow in the slow corners and fast
in the fast ones not slow in the fast corners and fast in
the slow corners. I had the going slow in the fast corners
nailed, it was the going fast in the slow corners that I
just was not very good at. I wish he had told me that earlier
I might have saved a little leather and personal hide.
Best advice for a beginner: Go out and have fun. Don't worry
about being competitive. That will come with time.
My ideal car: My car with AWD
Opinion of your current car for autocross use: It is very fun to drive, but is a
horrible street car, too loud, too stiff, too twitchy etc.
Awards/Wins/Accomplishments: Have finished the season with 1 second
and 3 firsts for my class in the past four season championships.
