I'm doing a thing!

"Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow" (chriskf)
08/12/2014 at 17:17 • Filed to: None

First autocross, and in my case racing event of any kind other than go-karting, this weekend!

Clearly I've got the helmet thing covered.

Any other advice/tips for preparing, driving, etc would be appreciated!

DISCUSSION (16)

Brian Silvestro > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
08/12/2014 at 17:19

Bring a box to keep all of your stuff in. You're gonna have to take EVERY loose item out. And the driver's side floormat. And bring water. And sunglasses. And take pictures.

Lekker > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
08/12/2014 at 17:19

Tire pressure gauge, chalk (to mark tire roll), compressed air (if you need to fill up your tires), chair, TONS of water, sunscreen, and lots LOTS of enthusiasm. Seriously. It is a blast

mcseanerson > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
08/12/2014 at 17:21

Bring a tire gauge.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Lekker
08/12/2014 at 17:22

I've got two tire pressure gauges in the car already lol. I'll grab some chalk. Don't have a compressor unfortunately. Chair in the trunk already. Definitely grabbing water and sunscreen. I got super burnt at Road America this weekend. lol

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Brian Silvestro
08/12/2014 at 17:22

A stop at Wal-Mart it is! haha

mcseanerson > Brian Silvestro
08/12/2014 at 17:24

And sunscreen, especially if you're on a light colored surface.

Brian Silvestro > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
08/12/2014 at 17:24

Oh, and one last thing. Walk the course like, at least four times. One day I didn't walk it more than once, and it made a huge difference. It helps so much.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > mcseanerson
08/12/2014 at 17:24

Got that one covered! :)

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Brian Silvestro
08/12/2014 at 17:25

Yeah, I was planning on that. Also figure I will be asking for a more seasoned driver to ride along for nearly all my runs.

mcseanerson > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
08/12/2014 at 17:25

Oh yeah, and painters tape or magnetic numbers.

Lekker > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
08/12/2014 at 17:26

I was trying to look for a container to basically store compressed air and you can just fill it up at a gas station. That is what I saw a lot of ppl do. And sounds like you're ready to me then!

Brian Silvestro > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
08/12/2014 at 17:27

Just tell them you're a novice and they'll have an instructor talk you through the course. When I first started out, it was the most important aspect of learning how to AutoX correctly.

mcseanerson > Brian Silvestro
08/12/2014 at 17:41

Oh, and one last thing. Walk the course like, at least four times. One day I didn't walk it more than once, and it made a huge difference. It helps so much.

Can't stress enough how this is more important than almost anything as far as going fast is concerned. Also see if you can find someone with the same car with a lot of experience. I walked with a guy with an NB Miata and I have an NA and he had a lot of experience and when we were looking at a couple slaloms me and his son were discussing which path to take and he said not to even worry about them because of their spacing we wouldn't even really have to turn. He was right and we were way faster than everyone because our cars were so much smaller.

burglar can't heart click anything > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
08/12/2014 at 18:02

Here's part 1 of my three part series.

http://strcarrera.blogspot.com/2013/12/autocr…

daender > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
08/12/2014 at 18:21

Kill cones on slaloms. Seriously. Go as fast as you can through them and as close to them as you can. If you hit them, then back on little by little until you stop hitting them. Oh, and turn between slalom cones, not at the cones. (although start thinking about turning right as you pass that cone due to thought-to-action delay) You don't want the steering wheel to be straight at any time while slaloming, just smooth turning transitions.

Brian Silvestro > mcseanerson
08/12/2014 at 18:26

This happened to me too! A guy in a Fiesta ST showed up and helped me so much.