I've just signed up for my local Autocross, happening next weekend. I've never done anything like it before, and to be honest, never really tried any aggressive driving before. But I'm keen to learn some skills and learn how my 'new' (2006) Ralliart handles.

I assume my car is all stock (although I bought it used, can't say for sure). Before doing anything to the car, I thought I'd try a couple of events first. It has 205/55R16 ContiProContact tires on it. From what I can gather, that puts me in HS class (there is no mention of 06 Ralliart in the latest class documents, just non-turbo Lancers as HS, so I assume that means me).

Any tips for a seriously green newbie? I have no idea of any of the techniques - so any tips or pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Is there any way you guys practice these techniques? As a beginner, I'd love to be able to spend a few hours driving cones in a controlled area, rather than just get 3 or 4 one minute runs without having any idea of what I am doing.

Cheers.

 

How are your brakes, tires, is your maintenance up to date?

 

I have done it for years and best advice I can give is be smooth, know your lines and carry as much speed as you can in the corners but be smooth.

 

stay above 3,500rpm...sometimes i go into a corner at high rpm and use left foot braking...the only way to practice is to do it...

 

* make sure to bring an air pump to pump up the tires. You don't want to run your street pressures. You will want to raise the pressures to around ~40psi for a stock suspension. Bring some chalk or white shoe polish to mark the edge of the tire. You do not want to let the tire "roll over" the edge, you use the polish to keep track of the wear. Increase the tire pressures to keep the tire from rolling over.

*Bring plenty of water, a hat, sunscreen, etc.. it gets hot out there when working the course.

* ask a lot of questions, everyone will be willing to help.

* get there early so you can walk the course. walking the course is the most important part of the day. Walking the course is your chance to develop the line you want to run, check out the condition of the surface, and get a good idea of where you corner apex's are. Since your a newb, see if they have a rookie course walk. They will cover everything you need to know.

* car prep - remove all the loose crap out of your car before the event CDs sub woofers, anything that is not physically attached must be removed!!! At the event, remove other items like the jack, spare tire, cargo covers. Make sure your lug nuts are tight, no excessive wheel play is allowed (ball joints, tie rod ends, etc) make sure everything in the engine bay is tight, battery must be tied down properly.


* when you are working the course, pay attention to where the cars are on track. You are standing in the middle of traffic going 10-60 mph around you. Stay alert, and watch for those downed cones, but don't take risks. It's better to give a red flag to chase a cone in front of an approaching car.

I would not worry about any driving technique. Concentrate on being smooth with the throttle and brakes. Try to improve your time each run, right now you are looking for consistency. Don't worry about hitting cones, the marks come off really easy.

Have fun with your new addiction...

 

Looking at the latest manual, I wonder if I should have entered 'STU' for class instead of 'HS'. Does anyone know what class a totally stock Ralliart is in?

Thanks.

 

you will be fine in HS. STU will be the class to go to when you have coil overs and other minor mods.

 

I think this is the location I will be going next week:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne8Ag...hannel&list=UL

It looks like the guy drove the whole thing in 2nd gear??? Am I seeing that correctly? If so, is that pretty common? So it's all about line, smoothness and speed control with the brake and throttle? (It appears he's in a Cobalt SS)

 

^^^^^^^

Yes

Yes

Yes

And yes

 

+1 On being smooth. Start slow the first lap. I am not saying drive like a grandma but not out of control. Better to start slow and and learn the course than to go ***** out and take out half a dozen cones.

 

http://www.motoiq.com/magazine_artic...autocross.aspx

this is a nice read