First time auto crossing - Advice?

"707Miata" (chandonpierre1) 04/18/2014 at 20:35 • Filed to: None

0

6

Mainly, I am a little bit apprehensive about a seemingly trivial aspect of it.

Maintaining and avoiding understeer? Pretty sure I can handle it. Controlling oversteer? Shouldn't be a problem. Smooth throttle, steering, and brake input? Well I'll get the hang of it. No, my main concern about autocrossing... The cones .

I am most nervous about finding my way around the cones and not getting lost in the process. I take a *while* to learn a track (video games, not real life), and I don't think the walk through in the morning will be enough. Did anyone else have trouble finding their way through a course laid out by cones?

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > 707Miata 04/18/2014 at 20:38

0

I'd say, don't stare at the cones.

XJDano > 707Miata 04/18/2014 at 20:41

0

Have fun

Look ahead

Slow is fast

Talk to people

Have fun

2nd gear

Hit some cones if you have to

HavE fun

Full tank or half full

Don't have a water bottle roll under the pedals

HaVfun

48 Spoons > 707Miata 04/18/2014 at 20:47

0

I'd say start of slowish and work your way up to your limit. And try to look a few cones ahead, helps more then staring at just the next set. And most of all, have fun!

vorspringing > 707Miata 04/18/2014 at 20:58

0

My advice, as an autocross noob:

Definitely go on the novice walkthrough - it's done by an instructor and they'll give you tips on how to remember the course as you're walking through.

You also have the option to have someone ride along with you - pretty much any group is going to have experienced people available for ridealongs, ask for help and they'll be happy to provide it. Even if you only have someone in the car for your first run, that'll help you know what to look for.

Everyone goes a little slower on their first run because they don't know exactly where everything is - and some people go really, really slow. That's totally okay.

Another thing that will help is working the course before you drive it, if that's an option - if you watch 20 cars go through a sector of the course, you're going to know how it drives by the time your turn comes around.

"Don't stare at the cones" is good advice, but I'd say more "look past the cones." You don't normally drive looking at the lines passing by next to your car - that's essentially what the cones are. Aim the car toward/past the cones, but don't focus on them.

Good luck - and don't stress about learning the courses. I was worried about it too, and I was surprised how easy it is.

707Miata > XJDano 04/19/2014 at 06:43

0

haha that sounds like it's from personal experience!

707Miata > vorspringing 04/19/2014 at 06:44

0

Thanks, I think that's really going to help