Autocross advice?

"DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully" (danceswithrotors)
09/18/2014 at 16:53 • Filed to: Autocross!

I'm getting more and more excited by the moment for my first autocross, this weekend. Well, that and I've never had a better excuse to listen to Glen Campbell...

Any advice for me, since I'm driving down to (hopefully) set some good times in Wichita?

Fiat Spider Autocross, for reading.

DISCUSSION (20)

Tareim - V8 powered > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
09/18/2014 at 16:57

slow in, fast out is always a great rule.

one thing I always remember Jackie Stewart saying is never get on the throttle unless you know you wont have to lift again (when cornering)

Trunk Impaired 318 > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
09/18/2014 at 16:58

Take your first run or two at about 75% so you can better learn the course and understand how your car handles all of its aspects.

midengineer > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
09/18/2014 at 16:58

Please don't beat me, I'll never hear the end of it.

Also, hit the cones. That's bonus points.

Also this can be helpful: http://www.wichitascca.org/SoloII.html#Ti…

As Du Volant > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
09/18/2014 at 16:59

Focus on smoothness before quickness. Smoking tires, sliding around, drifting, etc look awesome but aren't so good for your times. If you focus instead on nice, fluid motions getting yourself around the track the quickness will follow. Sudden jerky movements are bad for keeping it under control.

Did this my first (and only, sadly) time autoXing and was the third fastest guy around the track by the end of the session.

LappingLuke > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
09/18/2014 at 17:00

Get an instructor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ditch any pride you may have and admit you suck (I assume since this is your first autox that it's your first motorsports event) and have an experienced driver ride with you. You will learn soooooooooo much more so much faster and you'll both have more fun. Go slow, learn to read the cones, LOOK AHEAD, no really look FARTHER AHEAD! Look wayyyyy ahead! Why are you still looking down look up!! and absolutely most importantly, have a buttload of fun. :D

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > LappingLuke
09/18/2014 at 17:01

Not my first motorsports event... I did kart racing for a few years, so... I know about cornering?

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > midengineer
09/18/2014 at 17:02

What do you drive? That'll tell you if I'm even capable of beating you, or if it's feasible...

LappingLuke > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
09/18/2014 at 17:05

That's probably given you useful skills. The hardest part other than the actual car control aspects is reading the cones. It doesn't usually come naturally so you usually end up watching cones as you approach them so you can get as close as possible and then you aren't ready for the next element because you weren't looking ahead. Also watching cones come in is a recipe to hit them. Ride along as much as you can with someone else before you drive and try to read the cones before the car gets there.

midengineer > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
09/18/2014 at 17:05

'91 MR2 turbo

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > midengineer
09/18/2014 at 17:07

You've got me beat. You have a horsepower advantage, a weight advantage and you're RWD, while I'm FWD. I'm good.

nermal > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
09/18/2014 at 17:10

1) Get all of the crap out of your car. Junk in the trunk, change in the cupholder, etc.

2) Make sure you have a good tire pressure gauge, and a tire pump. Find out what the correct pressure is for your tires, and check them after each run. Some chalk may help with this to check tire roll-over as well.

3) Pay attention during the track walk.

4) The place I ran with required everybody to work the track, usually with 2 or three people sitting at a station. Try to get paired up with a talkative old guy that looks like he's been doing this for a while. He'll probably be driving a Miata or a Corvette, and he'll be the guy doing a track walk alone with a notebook. Pay attention to his comments while watching others doing their runs.

5) Don't forget water, food, and sunblock.

6) Go to bed early the night before. No alcohol. Wake up early and well rested, and get to the track early.

Good luck!

mcseanerson > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
09/18/2014 at 17:14

What car are you driving?

Brian Silvestro > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
09/18/2014 at 17:19

Excuse to post my own AutoX videos. The First one can help with what you should be doing while driving (read: looking ahead)

Lekker > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
09/18/2014 at 17:20

I'd say:

-Don't forget you're there to have fun, some people are too competitive and spoil the fun
-You mentioned you've done karting, so remember to keep your eyes in the next element. If you're looking at the cone 6ft ahead of you, you're looking too close. 10-15ft is where your eyes should be
-Check your tire pressures, and bring chalk with you. You want to make sure you're not getting too much tire roll by keeping an eye on how chewed up your tire wall gets.
-Remember what matters most is to keep a smooth throttle through a turn. Roll on the power on the way out, and brake aggressively before the turn
-Sunblock: You'll likely have a post to work during your work heat. Make sure you haave sun protection and water/snacks. Most of the time they provide stuff, but no one wants to seem like they are greedy.
-Ask for a ride. If you see someone on a FWD car making good runs, ask if you can sit with them the next heat. I've never met anyone that said no. And when your race heat comes around, ask them to sit in yours while you hoon your wheels off. They always have good advice.
-Don't go on a full tank of fuel. This can save you a lot of weight/time. A lot of ppl bring extra gas in canisters to fill up after the event.
-Clean up your car before the event, if you have anything that shouldn't be there, like papers, backapack, or whatever, it will need to be removed in order to pass Tech inspection.
-Bring a fold-out chair, there's going to be some waiting around
-The most important one of all: HAVE A HOOT!!!!!

midengineer > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
09/18/2014 at 17:22

My tires are pretty crappy plus you may very well be a better driver than me so we'll see!

The Transporter > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
09/18/2014 at 17:53

Don't knock over any cones.

Local Miata Bro > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
09/18/2014 at 19:14

Sign up for the second heat so you can ride along in the first to get a better perspective of the track. Also make sure your tires are inflated, I run a FWD Hyundai with 42 in the front 36 in the rear. I ran around 32 all around my first time and destroyed my tires. If you get into it id also recommend getting another set of wheels and tires. In all seriousness just make sure you have fun, and don't be hard on your self for being slow.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > mcseanerson
09/19/2014 at 00:31

My faithful 2013 Mazda 3, lowered two inches on Potenza RE760 Sports and a stiffer rear sway bar.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > Lekker
09/19/2014 at 00:33

I'm planning on running with a half tank, since it'll take that much to get there.

mcseanerson > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
09/19/2014 at 07:04

I had a feeling you were gonna say that. I took my 2004 Mazda 3 (2.0 5 speed manual no abs) to my first autocross and won my class.