I just got back from my first event and i can't reccomend this sport enough. It's the funnest i've had with my car ever. I'm addicted now, lol. Now that i see what all the fuss was about with autoX, there's no way drag racing can hold a candle to this.

 

Welcome to the world of cones

 

Or rather, avoiding cones My wife thinks I'm insane now, because everytime I see cones- construction zone, parking control, anything- I see red and say with clenched teeth "cones.... cones!" Sometimes I shake my fist in the air for effect

What's your race setup? Springs, tires, etc.

 

I can't wait to go to my first autoX. I just missed the most local of the local events, though, so I'll probably have to wait a while. I've got an EVOC class scheduled in a few weeks, though, so hopefully that'll keep me satisfied for a while!!

 

If you look around, you'll find there are LOTS of AX groups out there, not just SCCA. The guys I race with have a very simple class structure (as opposed to the SCCAs rather baffling setup) and we always race at the same place- no missed points because I didn't want to drive 3 hours to get to an event with a 7:30AM registration. Who knows, you might still be able to get in a half dozen events, with different groups, before the season's over.

 

Just attended my first autocross this weekend. I'm so totally hooked now it is not even funny.

I was the only EVO there. There were tons of STi's there. Everybody was really cool though.

I can't recommend this enough. The most fun you can have with clothes on.

 

haha, totally. My setup is my tires/rims and a high flow intake and that's it. the suspension is bone stock, soon to chage though, heh. What's the other guys in here running for autoX and what classes are you in?

 

I ran in N-STU.
My car is bone stock at this point. I'm probably going to spend money on some classes first. Then I'll probably spend some money on a second set of wheels and tires. After that We will just have to see.

 

We aren't bound by SCCA regs for classes; but we do have 6 regional champs and 2 multi year national champs in my club (I've seen the jackets, pretty impressive! ). I can do pretty much anything I want and stay in the mid-size sedan class (sedan chassis, under 3000cc displacement) except add turbo or supercharger, then I go immediately to race prepped.... Oh, R compunds or an engine swap to a different manufacturer will do that, too.

So, I have custom SRI with ducting, headers, lightweight rims, Azenis sports, front and rear strut tower braces, rear tie bar, eManage, splitter.... and that's about it. It's just my OZ and a ralliart from m car club that represent Mitsu and we're staying about midway in the Novice group.... my club-mate's roommate runs SCCA in his STi and has been keeping an eye on us. We've only been to two events, and he's been doing this for sixe years. He thinks we'll do pretty good once we get into our class (midsize sedan).... once he heard we're both on Azenis' he figured that'll take several seconds off of our times (compared to the FZ4's I was on and the GoodYears my buddy was running)...... should be good times.

 

Right now I'm trying to figure out how to shave another second off my time. My first run was 52.???, the second was 50.??? and the third was 50.018. the ftd was 38.??? performed by an open wheel race car. The AS guys were turning in time in the mid 40s. There were plenty of novices slower than me. Unfortunately there were 3 quite a bit faster than me.

The big thing I noticed is that I get big time tunnel vision and the aderline rush is big enough to knock an elephant on its ***.

 

Sweet; thanks for the advice!

Last night was the first time I serously looked over autocrossing web sites.. and, out of nowhere, a coworker (who knew I had bought a Lancer, and who races out at Infineon Racway) stops by my office and drops off a pair of Sports Car magazines and asks if I ever considered autocross!

Funny how things work out.

 

seat time seat time seat time- you got roads where you live? they ever get quiet and no one on them? Great. Now, don't brealk too many laws, but start to learn the limits of your car- slowly. don't brake so soon going into that corner, and don't dive for the inside.... hang out a second or so more before turning, don't stomp the gas, keep it steady or give it just a little more, go from the outside line, touch the top of the turn (white line on the inside of the turn), go back to the outside line..... use the Advans to thier fullest.....
now, as you get more comfortable with those roads and turns, take it up a little, go a little faster.... can you take that empty right hand 90* turn without braking? sure you can! at 35, 40, 45....? remember, you don't have to take full advantage of the car all at once....

Be careful! but get familiar with your car.... if it's REALLY quiet, I'll slalom the road dots- aim for every other one If you get that adrenaline up a little when you drive normally it'll be less of an impact on the track.....

just my $0.02... and it may make for bad change, so take it for what it's worth.

 

Not when you work for the local police department.

 

glad this drug got to more people and by drug i mean sport..

This is my second year autocrossing, the first year was more of a feeler I guess. I was no where near competitive with those stock tires. I remember the days of insane wheel hop and udnersteer and last place finishes but that didn't get me discouraged, I got a nice set of tires and i took place in the SCCA: The Learning Curve. This was a 2day event where there were instructors for every 2 drivers and basically, they taught you how to drive. They gave me tips, told me what to watch for, and even drove my car. This event got me to know my car VERY well and I ended up finishing 3rd out of 100 student drivers during that

2 weekends ago was my autox weekend. I went to an event both saturday and sunday and nothing but fun there. My car is bone stock except for the tires, which are stills treet legal, so I am in HS. I had a strut bar on but seeing that it didnt make enough benefit for me to compete in STS, I took it off and sold it. Now i'm comfortable in HS There is a nice street tire class in the local SCCA and TSSCC (a differnt, but very similar club) so there are usually around 30-50 cars in that competing for top finishes. It was nice to receive a plaque that day placing 10th out of 31st!! my first trophy..it was a great day

anyways, I always write too much. but i guess some tips to get "better"...

I can't agree enough with engineerboy. SEAT TIME is the biggest thing. Even being a passenger during someone's run is a great way to see the course from a different perspective. Not only do u notice his/her mistakes, you can see alternative lines to run the course. And when u are at an event, make sure to walk the track at least twice. That's my rule of thumb. First time around is a walk through for me, just walk and get the BASIC idea. The 2nd time around, think about slaloms, how wide you want to enter a turn, etc. Pick you driving line. 3rd time around, try to remember and set in stone (well kinda, doesnt have to be in stone) the line you are going to run. If there are any tricky turns, stop and think about them before you go ahead. Any more times you walk the course is an added bonus..although im usually sick of it after the 3rd time around

god i write too much. Ill let you reply before i write more! hehe

 

One of the things I really liked was how helpful everybody was. I rode along with two drivers, both were very experienced and pointed out things to watch for on the course.

To me the trohpies aren't even the icing on the cake. more like the cherry, basically a nice little incidental thing to make the day even better. Just getting to blast through the cones is reward enough.

The worst thing that happenned was a WRX in the SM (?) class lost it right at the end of the course and took out about a dozen cones. Nobody hurt, no damage (other than ego), but quite spectacutlar. I swear a few cones shot up about 12 feet. I think he had a passenger with him. That would have been a pretty wild ride. It was his third run and he was delivering great times.