this sunday will be my first autocross. Im very excited, that aside i need a good idea of the do's and dont's during the day. I've heard that you need to brake hard and late, instead of gradually getting on the brake, quick sharp turnins, limited wheel spin on the launch.
what should i expect. im not going to say that im new to driving, ive been doing it for about five and a half years now(i just turned 18) but then again im also very aware that im not the best. So i dont plan on using the heal toe in the corners, or double clutching either. I just plan on getting a feel for it and making it through the turns and the corse.
Any advice or tricks of the trade would be greatlly appreiciated

by the way i shall be particapating in an 944 N/A

 

Sounds like the addiction is sinking in even before the first start! You are doing well, young grasshopper!
Not necessarily. Sometimes, in some turns and conditions, it is better to brake light and early to get the car settled prior to the turn in.
Not necessarily. Turning in too harshly, and you can upset the balance of the car.
That is all you need - a humble attitude, a willingness to learn, and oh, leave your ego at the door!
Don't need to - 99% of the AX courses are shift from first to second gear, and leave it there till the finish line. Heel and toe is a good technique to learn, but it is not a skill that is used often at AX.
There is no need to tip-toe through a course if you are familiar with it. Many folks feel it is good to drive the first run at 6/10ths. My take -if you know the course, go all out - that first run may very well be your fastest!
Good choice! The 944 is a well balanced car, and with some tweaking can be made to do things that practically defy the laws of physics!

Some more advice:
1. Don't be afraid to ask for help - usually, instructors are available to run with you - their input can be invaluable.
2. Don't be afraid to ask what your competitors are doing - how they are taking their turns, what tire pressures they are running...etc. Any secret they give you may be that 1/10th you need.
3. Set your tire pressures to around 36/38 PSI at all four corners (for a 944). If the car feels good, then once the pressures are set, forget about them. The less you worry about tire pressures, sway bar settings, suspension tweaks, and the more you worry about learning how to drive, the better your times will be.
4. Bring food, drink, sunscreen, an umbrella.
5. Remember not to over-drive the car - sliding the car around, thrashing it from turn to turn may look great on the highlight reel, but it doesn't equate to a fast run. Smooth and steady wins the race.
6. While at times the competition can get fierce, don't forget to have fun!

Be sure to post back your results here!
-Z-man.

 

Find the book "Secrets of Solo Racing" by Henry Watts for some additional info. It has a lot of useful info. I bought a used one at Amazon for $5 + couple dollars shipping.

You'll need to figure out something for numbers. Are you already registered? Here we have to preregistor with established class and numbers. We make numbers out of magnetic paper from the hobby store or hardware store (look for magnetic material to cover furnace vents).

Is it an SCCA event?

If you haven't already, see if you can find out if they have someone in charge of novice racers. You might be able to email them and get some info specific to your auto-x and class. It's also nice if somebody already knows your name.

Be prepared to remove everything loose from the car. I take out the rugs, pop bottles, empty the glove compartment,... the night before I go.

When you get to the course, there should be a paddock area where you can leave the stuff you didn't remove the night before. Before your heat they will tech your car, probably on the grid where you will be assigned a number.

Get there early and find out what heat you are running.

Make sure your battery is secured, no noticeable play in the front wheel bearings, helment?, fill up your fluids, lot's of guys put an extra 1/2 or so qt of oil in to help keep the oil pickup covered in hard cornering. Firm brake peddle. Throttle cam should move easily without hanging up.

Ask around about getting a ride with a more experienced driver. This is a super way to learn the course and techniques.

If you don't understand any of this be sure to ask.

Have fun, it's a hoot!!!

Hank

 

I am also 18 and just started autox last year. My advice to you is to get there early and take it slow. Don't try and go fast, because it will only make you slide around and go slower. Also don't worry about who your up against, because you wont be competitive on your first day. Just stick with it listen to the instructors and remember to look ahead.

 

The first thing you will need to do is learn to find the course. If you can take an instructor out with you. Initally it will come at you fast and all cones look alike.

Bring water.
A hat.
Sun screen.
Be prepared for the weather. Your out side exposed all day.
A rubbermaid box is nice to hold all the things you pull out of your car that you don't want to blow around or maybe get wet.
Confortable shoes and cloths, you will be running after cones when your are not driving.

Listen, ask and have fun.

Good luck.

 

Here's a good thread for new autocrossers, ignore the fact that it's on a corvette forum. The information is good: Click HERE

And have fun!

 

You can't go fast till you know where you're going.

Walk the course twice....minimum. Take your time and concentrate....it's not a social hour.
Don't worry about the ideal lines at this point.......too much info for a novice.
Hunker down to a drivers eye view in spots that look like a sea of cones & figure it out.

Use an instructor.......stage towards the end of your rungroup....so the instructor has had a few passes already....he's(she's) human also and will know the course better then.
"Look ahead" is easy to say, but tough to learn. Your instructor will do it for you......this time. Try to be smooth....rapid inputs distrub the car.....and your instructor....all that will come with more butt time and when you're by yourself in the car.

Watch the other folks run as much as possible, but make sure you're back to your car in plenty of time to keep the lines moving.

The most depressing thing for a novice (or about any of us) is a string of missed gates or DNFs due to lack of course knowledge.

Remember, this is supposed to be fun. It can become the search for the holy grail later.

 

my friends and family (suprisingly enough) want me to participate in autox events. My problem is despite the fact that my car is good at what it is, It's a targa, and I don't see it holding up well. It's alright, I don't drive the car hard enough anyways.

But my friends went around stealing err...picking up road cones laying around places, and found me an empty parking lot and setting up what they thought was a good course. It was fun. At the end of the day I ended up with a cone that fell in through the open roof! HAHA! That was a great day!

In the end I think it isn't just the racing that is fun, but the friends you are with. Still haven't gone to an autox yet, but have been having fun killing cones on Sundays. Also I get a lot of experience from it...and we all get to take turns! Learn your car first...but don't learn it like I did for my BMW when I was 16...that was a hard learning curve...(tickets, towing, blowing things up, court dates, revocation of license, "red" license etc...)