I was wondering what the best way to get into autocross is. I have been doing tons of reading on the sport; but now I think it would be best to watch a few events and then give it a try. I am in SoCal, so what is the best way to find events? How often do they have events? And when there are no events, how can i practice? Are canyons good practice since they are windy and not too fast? Also, are there any mods i should do before i start autoXing? Right now ive got stock 4WS, a front strut bar and an AEM CAI... And stock 15" rims w/ 205s.

Thanks, Jordan

 

Run! Run for the hills! Do not start autoxing, do not pass GO, do not collect $200... Game Over, man... Run, do not walk to the nearest exit! Autox is the gateway drug... Your wallet, your free time, your current/future significant others will thank you later.

Ok, seriously, let's see if we can answer your questions.

Screw that. Do it the first time you go to one... I have talked a number of friends into competing their first time out... They have ALWAYS thanked me later.

Ugh, http://www.autocross.com/autoc/callist.htm will get you started. As well as http://www.scca.org/amateur/solo2/index.html. There will be probably a few locals (to you) that might pipe up.

Um... sit in your living room, hands out in front, close your eyes, make engine noises with your mouth, and frantically spin your hands around a point...

**sounds of crickets**

What? You guys ...don't... do that? Ummm... never mind, Jordan.

Seriously, be careful with the canyon runs. The quickest way to end your car racing career is to cross the limit of your car before you knew it was there. And the extremes you push the car in autox should never be done on ANY public street. You'll learn through autox how far your car can be pushed and what happens when it stops responding to your wishes. And then you'll have a MUCH better appreciation for the dangers of your favorite twisty road. Just be cautious.


Nope! In fact, it's better that you don't right away.

The most common misguided attitude amongst novice drivers (and several experienced ones, too... btw) is to think the car isn't fast enough. I beat an Audi S4 by 8 seconds on a 60 second course in a stock 120,000 mile Sentra on Sunday... so a man's car is only as fast as it's driver. And there a LOT of faster drivers than me.

Have a GREAT time and welcome... to the dark side. **evil cackle**

Andy

Edit:brain faster than fingers....


[Modified by maxQ, 7:45 PM 10/31/2001]

 

hey, is tarzana in socal? (i think it sort of is)

anyway, the local autox site is at http://www.solo2.com

 

**sound of hand slapping a chess clock**

Wow, 2 minutes! Thanks, yoshi!

Andy - who likes yoshi's island very much...

 

Tarzana is in the san fernando valley. Near woodland hills, encino, etc. Its about 10 minutes north of the 101-405 interchange at sepulveda. And the exit is Reseda blvd.... That should be enough info place the vacinity...

 

But seriously is there any good, safe way to practice?

[QUOTE}Also, are there any mods i should do before i start autoXing?

Nope! In fact, it's better that you don't right away. [/QUOTE]

Is it worth taking off my front strut brace and AEM Cai so I can compete in the Stock class? Also, when do i know i should upgrade... Cuase i dont wanna kill my stock tires, brakes, etc; just for the sake of not upgrading.

Also, will there be a big advantage to using 16lb 15" wheels over 22lb 15s? Because I can get 94-96 wheels (16lbs) for like 100 bucks. Also, is it worth getting a set of 225s; or will my 205s hold up ok? And how fast will my 205/50/15s wear?

Anyway... I think I will sit out the first event. I am 16 and need to tell my parents I have seen it done before I try it in order to get them to sign the waiver (they hate racing, and dont understand it can be made safe).

Thanks for all the help, - jordan

PS do you have any advice on convincing my parents that not all racing is dangerous and evil

 

Try doing a search on "autocross" or "autox" or "auto x" within this competition board. There were some GREAT responses to this very same question maybe a month or few months ago. Well worth doing a search to look for answers.

Good luck !!

P.S.=> I just introduced a friend of mine to autocross. He is now very addicted !!! It is such a fun, competitive and safe sport.

As for your parents, bring them out to the autocross and have them compete with you ! They will not only see how safe the sport is, but will see how fun it is. My 75yr old mother wants to autocross !! Thank God she hasn't, she may beat me !


[Modified by davidnyc, 4:46 PM 10/31/2001]


[Modified by davidnyc, 4:49 PM 10/31/2001]

 

Uh, none that I've really found... GT3 on Playstation, sorta. Just do a lot of autoxs... A number of us go through withdrawal in the winter months when nobody runs... consider yourself lucky.

Nope, you'll be MORE competitive in STS with the AEM CAI...

When you know that you are faster than your car, it's time to upgrade.


Won't matter. Don't strain out gnats while swallowing camels.


Invite them. Keep them involved. The more they understand about it and the more they see how much it means to you, the more lenient they'll be.

Andy

 

Indoor Karting. Or outdoor if you got 'em. It's great off-season excersise and it fills the "void" nicely.

 

Well, there is a PC "sim" called Sports Car GT which is excellent for this...
download the FortWorth Nationals course then hold on for dear life. Sports Car GT (SCGT) has to be the BEST racing sim ever to come out for Sports Cars. Forget GT3 - it doesn't quite have the level of realistic driving that SCGT has.

Here's some links to SCGT screenshots (keep in mind that all these images are with addons - addon tracks, cars, dashes....)...enjoy....

porsche GT3 dash

Lister Storm

Lemans Bently

Subaru Impreza

911 Porsche

360 Modena


[Modified by Vracer111, 11:39 PM 10/31/2001]

 

You can practice double clutching, heel/toe and left foot braking on the street. None of these techniques are necessary for autocross, but after a year or so, you might want start finding times they'll be useful. Don't bother with them now.. just concentrate on driving the course smoothly, and often times slower than you think you should be going. (many times slower is faster).

Well for one thing, racing _is_ dangerous. You can't drive to the limit of control without going over the limit occasionally. When you are out of control, it is a dangerous situation. If you think autocross holds no potential for danger, you are wrong. I have seen a Jetta roll, and the driver nearly had his hand crushed because he flung it out the window instinctively.

That said, if you acknowledge the danger, you can take steps to mitigate it. And you can realize that Autocrosses are (when done right) very nearly the safest way to really learn car control. If you pitch it to your parents that yes, it's dangerous, but they take many precautions, just like you will take your own precautions, they may be more receptive. Add in that you will better be able to handle your car in emergency situations, and you might score a few more points. Drive responsibly, don't street race or show off what you learned in the neighborhood, and they may even become very supportive of your hobby.

Hold the approach of learning car control _NOT_ going fast, and it will be much more rewarding. If you lose control, spin, etc. don't try to save it. Let it go ("In a spin, both feet in"). All the accidents I have seen in autocross have come from someone continuing to try to save a car that was already too far gone.

ok I'm rambling now.. if you do autocross, prepare for addiction..

 

Good way to practice is to go to a go-kart track. I always impress myself by starting out in the back and making my way through traffic

Check out my help section on autocross: http://home.dejazzd.com/mlouie/autocross.html

The best way to get better is to attend as many autocrosses as you can, and try to do fun runs when the time allows. I may do 12 runs in a day if I compete in the first heat, and do fun runs in the 2nd and 3rd heats. I could autocross every weekend if I could, but then our lawn would grow into a jungle

 

Hey man, glad to get another. This is my novice year in autocrossing, so i can try and give you a few tips.

First of all mods: don't even worry about them. I agree with the guy that said don't mod your car until you know you are faster than the car.

Wheel tire combo- the only reason you might want to go to a 16 in wheel is for a stiffer sidewall, but if the 15 are lighter then i would do events on both and see what you like.

Parents: Take them to an event, show them how saftey is regulated, introduce them to members that are their age and have them talk about it. In my autocross club there are guys older than my parents racing, they are the best people to talk with.

Practice- your first event, get one of the experienced guys to walk the course with you, and give pointers, also, get one of them to ride along with you. Or ride along with somone else, these two things will really help you in the long run. You will find fellow autocrossers to be some of the most helpful people around, find the even master and have him point out the people to talk with. I only watched my first event and now i know i should have run, be ready to go. the scca website also has some good tips on what to bring to your first autocross: portable pump for tires if you have one, get the liquid chalk (not shoe polish) for numbers on your car (it wipes right off), bring a chair if you can, take out your spare tire and stereo stuff before you get to the event, work a corner so you can see how different people deal with the course. I you have any other questions feel free to e-mail me and i will do my best to help: from one novice to another (btw, sometimes there is a novice class, and you certainly want to go for that) inigo9910@hotmail.com

 

I just had a thought on the dangerousness of racing issue. Put it this way, the drive you take to the Autocross event is more dangerous than actually competing in autocross. You are much safer in a low risk, controlled environment (Auto-X) than a high risk, uncontrolled environment (public streets and highways). The most dangerous part of autocross is not the driving, it's the marshalling and watching. But even with marshalling and spectating, there are many safety precautions, and accidents are rare. Deaths are even more rare - like I have only heard of 1, ever.

I bet parents don't realize that many things they let their kids do are way more dangerous than autocrossing would ever be. A few examples I can think of are: mountain Biking, skiing (snow and water), surfing, rollerblading, skateboarding, hiking, hunting, and playing contact sports (football, soccer, hockey, etc.... If they don't believe that they are kidding themselves. The worst most anyone does usually is recieve dings in the fenders from rocks or maybe break a car part (usually drivetrain or suspension). Very rarley will someone wreck their car - I have only seen it once, and it was a Ford Contour which fell off a critical section of Grand Sport Speedway (the area where the ground drops down about 6" off the inside shoulder of the track).

You are put in more danger driving to work, school, the store, or driving on vacation than you are competing in autocross. PERIOD.

 

Ahhhhhhhh Yesssssss Another soon to be addicted youngin, Heh Heh Heh,,,

I Be'ith the friend of which you speak, hah hah hah.....

Thanks Dave, for introducing me to this, The all time greatest weekend pastime for ANY motorsports enthusiast! I feel the need NOW and I know that the street Does Not hold the answer to my desire. I seriously Can't wait till next Sunday the 11th, so I can again run the HECK out of my car, figure out more if it's limits and my driving ability, and Smile ALL FRIGGIN DAY!!!

AUTOCROSS!!! or as it may be more properly known Solo racing... Is my Only Drug of choice. Of course Soon after I delve deeper into this new part of my Automobile Fetish, I may have to buy an older CRX and set it up for track ONLY!

A nice lapping day or PDA event are certainly in my future.

But seriously, the BEST way to practice is NOT on the open road where there are serious hazards like Other cars and stuff, But On The Track where it is controlled and you can feel free to really have at it. Going sideways on an open road is Not a good idea, and thats exactly the kind of driving you will experience and learn to master at the local Auto-X.

I just did my first event, As Dave says, I Am Addicted! and He is right. Ask anyone here or at an event and the answer is unanimous. We all are addicted. It is truely alot of fun. The people are extremely friendly and helpful.

Just find a local club online as per Daves listing. Read their site and follow their suggestions as to what to bring. Of course bring the money to pay the race fee. And just show up with a smile and be ready for a whole day of FUN!

You will learn more about yourself and your car than you will ever learn in Drivers Education classes at the local Highschool. You will also become more confident and actually develope better and safer driving instincts and techniques.

Do yourself a favor and bring your Parent or Parents to show them what its all about. I think that after they talk to the event organizer and read the rules that they will be more willing to let you learn than just hearing you say: "I wanna go out and race!"

Good Luck, and Above all HAVE FUN!!!

Anton

 

What young Anton said.

This is a dangerous, and at times, expensive hole you're about to fall into. Welcome

 

Read the autocross course design booklet linked off Autocross.com. Grab some old coke cans, beer cans whatever it is you'd like to use... and set up a course in the nearest hallway. Then, grab your aluminum scooter and proceed to bust your butt trying to get through the course as fast as possible. Repeat as needed. This is highly effective for gaining bruises in a hurry. Don't ask how I know this. Apart from that, I don't think there's much way to practice for autox outside of just getting in more autoxes.

 

http://solo.wdcr-scca.org/novice.htm