Weekend Prep / Going to my first Autox

"Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2" (pompei426)
08/31/2016 at 11:07 • Filed to: None

I know I’ll suck, not because of the car’s ability, but most likely mine. At least I’ll look good when I run over all those cones. Regardless, I’ve done everything I can to be as prepared as possible. Anyone have any tips? I know about walking the course and I have a tank of air to play with pressures.

DISCUSSION (15)

jjhats > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
08/31/2016 at 11:12

walk the course 2-3 times and after every time attempt to sketch the general path on a piece of paper. ask lots of questions and request an instructor ride with you the first time. general rule of thumb for a corner, brake first, coast or light throttle through it and power out. don’t brake through a corner and don’t shift out of second. otherwise have fun and accept that you will lose very badly

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
08/31/2016 at 11:14

I’d focus on learning how to read the track. Do as many walkthroughs as you can, make notes on the map if you can think of things, etc. You won’t be fast your first time anyway, but being able to think three turns ahead will make you faster in the long run. Running the 2002? Normal street tires? If normal street tires, you’re probably going to want to be way higher than your normal pressure. When I was first getting started, I found the sweet spot for shit tires to be in the mid-40s. Bring more water and sunscreen than you think you’ll need. There probably won’t be shade and you’ll be spending alot of time standing on the tarmac.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
08/31/2016 at 11:22

Ride with experienced drivers every chance you get. Most folks are happy to have a passenger so long as it is not their last run of the day, and you can learn tons from ridding with the fast guys. It will open your eyes to what they’re doing and how their doing it.

Brian Silvestro > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
08/31/2016 at 11:24

make sure you pass tech

battery is secured, wheels don’t move around when shaken, brake pedal has adequate pressure, etc.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
08/31/2016 at 11:25

Be prepared to be very lost on course, even if you stay on course. This is by far the hardest part about autocross is just knowing the course. I know my very first time, I had done 3 course walks plus the novice course walk and I still had no idea where to go once I was driving. DEFINITELY take an instructor if available or even just someone more experienced to ride along with you. I only stayed on course my first run because the instructor was my navigator and yelled LEFT! RIGHT! LEFT! whenever a cone was coming up. It eventually becomes second nature but those first couple of runs are a blur where you are surprised at the end that you were on course somehow.

Also, be careful when working the course. I had thought going into it my first time that driving would be dangerous and I would need to be cautious so I wouldn’t wreck my car or something. But honestly working the course is the most dangerous part of Autox. Just always keep your eyes on course, don’t risk your safety to reset cones, and be prepared to move quickly should parts come flying off a car or it spins out and continues towards you.

I always bring way too much shit with me so pack light is my suggestion. Everything in the car has to come out so leave your spare tire, floormats, and other crap you don’t need at home. My junk pile is so large for coming out of a Miata!

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
08/31/2016 at 11:30

Look ahead. Once you get to entry of a turn you should already be looking 1-2 to 3 turns ahead. If it feels hectic and you are not keeping up, then you aren’t looking far enough ahead. That was when I knew it clicked, when I could be a couple turns ahead and then everything slowed down and I didn’t feel like I was behind the whole time. It may take some time, but hopefully you can get to that point sooner rather than later. A slower first run is okay too, that way you get the lay of the course at speed, don’t overcook the corners and have fun. It's a blast.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Brian Silvestro
08/31/2016 at 12:32

Indeed. A loose battery was by far the most common reason new folks failed tech.

OCD-CO > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
08/31/2016 at 12:57

Nice play on the name with the whole avatar thingy -

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2

Any way, all I can recommend is to have fun. My first track day I was a nervous wreck because I made myself that way. Yes, you want to be Fernando Alonso right out of the gate but you will be at best Ricky Bobby on a dirt track. You will be mad at many things, you will lose, but you need to have fun!!!

Get a GoPro and a mount and make that a focus. Film the runs at different angles and have that to watch later. Makes you feel slow but it shows you some habits or lack thereof.

Also, brake first into corners. This cannot be said enough. Plowing through a tight corner while locked up or with ABS a blazing is not smooth and you will do it. Scrubbing all of that speed kills your times.

Learn what you are doing wrong. How can you improve on the next run? Did you put those changes in to play or did you just make another run?

Feel what isn’t working, or what you think isn’t working, on your car. If you are running that 2002 don’t expect a P1 no matter what mods you have done. So, learn what the car lacks and what can be improved upon.

Lastly - HAVE FUN!!!

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > OCD-CO
08/31/2016 at 13:30

I might be lucky if the 2002 has 110hp at the crank. I’m just going out for fun. Nothing more and nothing less. My goal is to not be the slowest of the day.

Luckily I drive me car 7/10th every time I’m in it. It’s an easy car to place and maneuver. I think the toughest part will be picturing the turns and keeping up mentally with the track. I’m a little nervous because it all seems like a random assortment of cones.

If I suck, which is pretty much a guarantee, at least I can say I did it smiling the whole way round.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
08/31/2016 at 13:34

Even in my second year after 20 or so events, I still feel like im looking at a random assortment of cones during the first run of the day. It gets better with every event but it's definitely the hardest part. This is why I enjoy events with more runs!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Brian Silvestro
08/31/2016 at 13:50

Usually its not a big concern to fail though as long as you can fix the item quickly and get it checked again. Depending on your region, tech may also be quite relaxed and they just take a quick look real quick and give you a sticker. Ive had my car pass tech while it only had three wheels on it since I was still changing off my street wheels.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
08/31/2016 at 13:53

Also, instructor runs are REALLY helpful to me. I have done an autox school where the instructors are being paid to be there so they really go in depth to help. A couple of runs, the instructor drove my car and that really showed me where I could go much faster, where I should be braking, and how to be much smoother. I easily shaved a full second off a run right after seeing the instructor drive once.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
08/31/2016 at 14:08

I did an autox at Daytona in the new Miata, and it was a load of fun, but it wasn’t difficult because they painted lines connecting all the cones on both sides.

Brian Silvestro > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
08/31/2016 at 14:55

This has also been true for me at a couple of track days where “self-tech” was implemented, not the best decision

OCD-CO > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
08/31/2016 at 15:58

My first lap ever at my first track day I am not sure how I made it around the course?! I was so discombobulated it wasn’t funny.

You will do fine. You won’t even realize it til you do it but you will be 3 gates ahead as you run the course. Just don’t target fixate, lol.