Absolutely. One of the classic newbie mistakes is to start adjusting the car between runs (other than tire pressure). Until you have experience, you really won't be able to tell if the new settings are better or worse; there's just too much variability coming from other sources. In fact, even thinking about the setting is a mistake. I refuse to discuss the car with students until the day is done (and often refuse then, too). That's not what you're supposed to be thinking about. Drive the bloody car the way it is. Think about looking so far ahead that you "know" you'll hit cones closer to the car and/or getting in behind that first slalom cone, etc, etc. Forget the damned car. It's already better than 99% of the other street driven cars anyway.

edit: oh, and stay for fun runs at the end of the day (if they have them) and have an experienced driver drive your car with you in the passenger seat. This can save you thousands of dollars. What? you say. How can that save me money; he or she will put wear on my tires. It will save you money because when Gary Milligan or Sam Strano or whoever shows you that your car - exactly as it is - can do a lap in three to five seconds less than your best lap, you'll know what part of the package needs the most work: you.

 

Great info here, thanks alot. I will not touch the car other than the tire pressures and AYC settings.

I really need some one that is local and experienced in autox ride with me couple times. I am pretty sure that will help me more than tinkering with the suspension settings as you said.

Again, thanks for the great info!

 

Look at the previous results from your region to see who the "hot-shoes" are. (This is often best done via the PAX results.) My experience last year is that it is quite easy to get people to drive your car during fun runs if you have an Evo X. In general, autocrossers are great people. Someone will help you.

 

Little update:

In novice school, Saturday, I started with 51 seconds and I was able to bring my time all the way down to 36.7 at the end of the day which placed me in 12th place out of 36 drivers. Fastest time was 34.7 seconds.

On sunday, main auto x event, they placed me in novice class since this was going to be my first offical event.

I was able to get the first place out of 26 drivers Started the day with 26.4 seconds and was able to brought it down to 24.7 but I snagged a cone
At the end of the day my cleanest, second best lab was 25.5

Thanks everybody here posted on my thread and my instructor Michael Vaughan

 

Look for a Evolution Driving School near you and attend that. You will learn more than you ever thought possible.

Junior Johnson and Sam Strano are teaching one this weekend (March 3 & 4) in Richmond, Va.

 

tee hee I'm trying to picture how uncomfortable Strano would be in a the OE seats in an Evo X.