OK, I'm doing my first autoX not this weekend, but the next, Pretty fast course, never get into third obvioulsy. But I notice how they have clubs and stuff, and certain rules, I've only watched an autoX, Never participated in one.

My driving Experience is moderate, I was an X-DSMer And have numorus amounts of 12 second timeslips, and I've done a couple Track days with both cars @ pacific raceways, So Higher speed driving is what I'm used to, My roomate is a very frequent autoX'er and has his civic set up for short tight turns, and witch his car destroys me on when we go "driving"

I'm entering this AutoX http://www.wwscc.org/evinfo/next.html

Anything I should know

 

My advice. Don't bother with throttle modulation, heel toe and all that bs. That's for road courses. Just mash on the gas to go and slam on the brake, nothing in between. Lift off only after mashing the break before the turn. (Slam on the brakes but release just before it's about to come to a complete stop so you can make it around the turn. Once you're a bit more than half way around the turn, mash on the gas. Left foot braking is best and never leave 2nd after shifting from first.

 

Yeah thats defintely what I'm looking for, I'm going to have fun, Not neccesarily to kill everyone there. My car is set up stock besides for S-03's right now, and I should do fairly well, Anything else I should know, like doing crew work, or cones or what the hell ever??? I don't know, but thanks alot for the advice.

 

Walk the course and memorize it so it becomes like driving through your neighborhood.

I recommend not doing what s4awd suggests. Keep the car right on the edge, use all of the tire at all times, but be smooth about it. Late braking will put you off line more times than not. Just lift a little early (don't coast though).

Also, sense you know how to drag race use that launch skill off the line. My car seems to like 3500 - 4000 RPM off the line. 3K or less doesn't give the results I'm after.

Finally: go read: http://www.wmc-bmwcca.org/library/58

 

look ahead
memorize the course
look ahead
be smooth
look ahead
drive at 70% (you will be surprised how what you think is 70% on an autocross course will actually be 101%)
Did I mention looking ahead?

Jon K
www.seat-time.com

 

Air up tires before arrival - it's easier to take it out than to put it in. Compared to track sessions, instead of setting a "cold" pressure that will build to your intended hot pressure, set the tires at your intended hot pressure at the beginning, and bleed them down between runs.

I don't recommend attempting to left foot brake at your first autocross, even if you are accustomed to it. Things happen too fast (turns will be coming at you about 4 times as frequently as on a track!).

Walk the course as many times as possible. The goal is to ignore as many cones as possible, while identifying the six key cones that you need to navigate the course. You won't be able to retain more than six in your head, so simplify down to that number.

When on course, LOOK AHEAD. That leads to the most important element, which is BRAKE, TURN, GAS. I know you know track events, I'm not being oversimplistic. The most common error I see new autocrossers make is to get surprised by a turn and coast into it without braking (almost never an issue on tracks). Your car WILL NOT TURN unless you get on the brakes and get some weight on the front end. So for each turn, talk yourself through "brake, turn, gas".

Take an instructor with you if at all possible - they'll see things you miss. More importantly - RIDE with an instructor ASAP. It will get you calibrated to the extreme inputs associated with autocross, which are well beyond typical track inputs. A lot of track guys just drive around at autox events, being very smooth but very slow. Yes, smooth is critical, but autox smooth and track smooth are two different things.

KeS

 

General stuff to bring:
Drinking Water
Sun screen
hat
Towel
Tire Gauge

Washington's weather is quite different from Texas. Right now, working course means standing around for an hour or two in close to 100 degree heat with the sun beating down on you. Unless you think heat stroke is cool you have to drink water and try to keep some of the sun off of you. I'm sure it is possible to get a sunburn in Washington if you try real hard (worked for MSFT for 5 years so I've been in the area).

The main thing is that you are going to have a great time. I've never met anybody I didn't like at an autocross. Lots of cool cars and interesting characters.

BTW: If your region allows ride alongs take advantage of it. There are always good drivers who are willing to have a passenger. Just ask.

 

Thanks alot, And Bookmarked

 

I just had my first autox and I can tell you I started way to conservative. With the evo its almost like you can give it everything it has and it just drives itself around the course with very little effort. I could have really used left foot braking.. but havent been able to master that technique yet. I would just take your time the first two runs. I found it was hard to see the course sometimes and I kept taking the turns short. Also tire pressure will be very important to you. You should read up on tire pressure at autox. You might want to mix some toulene in with your gas to prevent any kind of detonation since you may be bouncing off the rev limiter (maybe not on your first autox though)


I definately second the advice above.. dont coast into turns. I was just letting off the throttle and trying to position myself for turns.. but they were so sharp that I could not get the car around them without losing major time. on my 6th run i finally figured out i should be holding the throttle till the last minute.. slamming on the brakes and giving it throttle to create oversteer and bring the end around.

 

Just concentrate on driving as smooth as possible. Remember to use them brembo's!!

remember, when aproaching a corner, in slow out fast.

 

Jon, Kevin, Tweak, Thank you very much for the inputs, All graciously noted, I'm giong to try to get one of my freinds that have autox'd many times to ride with me, I do have 2 harnesses, so those will come in handy.

Tweek: IT has been hot up here on weekends lately, But you know how the rain is up here, Yesterday morning it was raining, then it turned out to be 80+ degrees.

Oh, and Harnesses do not take me out of stock class right???

 

Final thought: I started about this time last year and am now throughly addicted. I have scheduled at least 2 autocrosses a month for 05. I would have attended more but my wife started complaining.

For me this has been the biggest adraline rush. Sort of a legal crack. I hope you enjoy the addiction as much as I do.

 

harnesses are fine.

 

I know what you mean, I have an addiction to Track days right now, But they are just so rediculously expensive, I'm a photographer as a part time job, so I get to see ton's of track days and AutoX events, and take millions of pictures, but I've never been the right time for the autoX's hoping to get into it more, and stop spending so much money on track days.

 

guys above gave good advice, although i didnt read all of them

my advice (may be some verbatim but that's ok, right?):

1. Get there early, walk the course AT LEAST 2 times. I like to walk it 3 or more so I can really go back and imagine myself going through the corners.
2. Since this is your first autox ever, take the first run conservatively. It's better to figure out where you are supposed to go sooner than later. You can go all out on your later runs.
3. Look ahead. I know someone said this, and this is very good advice. if you are just looking at the cone right in fornt of you, you won't know how to set up for the next cone coming at you. Always anticipate.
4. Drive SMOOTH. This is key in autocrossing. A lot of times, runs that feel slow are actually the fastest runs you take. It's weird like that.
5. Use your brakes to the max. Why waste time slowing down? Take as little time slowing down as you do speeding up. Makes sense right? Also, make sure you slow down enough so you can actually make that turn.
6. Figure out how your car likes to react in different situations. This is just all about seat time. Get to know your car over many, many autox events.
7. HAVE FUN and be optimistic. Who cares if some 30+ year veteran is beating you by a poopload. Other people will definitely be faster than you. Just know that But that doesnt mean that they are your enemies. If you have any questions about ANYTHING, just talk to someone. People at autocrosses are the best bunch of car phanatics i've ever met.

those are my advices for now..good luck at your first autox and make sure to have fun!!!