going autox this saturday...
- Thread starter jflo
- Start date
What I would do is put your seat belt on and pull it all the way out until the catch 'catches'(not exactly sure how to explain it)... then let the belt go back and put it as tight as you can get it... that should keep you real snug... thats what I do to my kids car seats... keeps them nice and snug..
Orthonormal
Member
- :
- 1999 Miata sport
Advice:
Brake early. Slow down more than you think you have to. It's easier to accelerate and regain the speed you lost than it is to get back on line when you've skidded to the outside of a turn.
On the other hand, don't be a chicken about flooring the accelerator where the course is wide open.
Don't try to brake while turning or turn while braking. If you realize that you're going too fast into a turn, finish your braking and then turn. Turning the wheel before you're done braking will just increase your braking distance and turn your tires into hexagons
The most important thing is:
Always look at the next turn/feature so you're ready for it. Don't let yourself fixate on the cones right in front of or next to your car; it's too late to worry about them.
Brake early. Slow down more than you think you have to. It's easier to accelerate and regain the speed you lost than it is to get back on line when you've skidded to the outside of a turn.
On the other hand, don't be a chicken about flooring the accelerator where the course is wide open.
Don't try to brake while turning or turn while braking. If you realize that you're going too fast into a turn, finish your braking and then turn. Turning the wheel before you're done braking will just increase your braking distance and turn your tires into hexagons
The most important thing is:
Always look at the next turn/feature so you're ready for it. Don't let yourself fixate on the cones right in front of or next to your car; it's too late to worry about them.
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pull the seat belt across your lap so you can just get it buckled (but don't buckle it yet), twist the belt 3-4 times and then buckle in. This will keep the lap belt from untensioning and hold you in somewhat better. You can also try to engage the shoulder belt by jerking it sharply, but I could never get the trick to work very well.
Baring that if you are not using your left foot to brake plant in on the dead pedal and push yourself back into the seat.
For your first event, don't worry about doing too much, just try to get your brain up to speed. It will feel VERY fast at first. Concentrate on looking ahead and don't stare at any cones or you will hit them. Try to pick one or two things to work on per run (braking, looking ahead, etc.), if you have a region with a novice program take full advantage. Ask all the nice people at the event for advice and rides, they will generally be happy to help (the words "I'm new at this" or "This is my first Autocross" or "I'm a novice" will get you more advice than you will know what to do with).
Baring that if you are not using your left foot to brake plant in on the dead pedal and push yourself back into the seat.
For your first event, don't worry about doing too much, just try to get your brain up to speed. It will feel VERY fast at first. Concentrate on looking ahead and don't stare at any cones or you will hit them. Try to pick one or two things to work on per run (braking, looking ahead, etc.), if you have a region with a novice program take full advantage. Ask all the nice people at the event for advice and rides, they will generally be happy to help (the words "I'm new at this" or "This is my first Autocross" or "I'm a novice" will get you more advice than you will know what to do with).
Are you running the MSP on the OEM Bridgestones? Use front 38 / rear 35 tire pressures. Move your driver's seat up as close as you can stand it, yet still have room to run the pedals properly. Keep the seatback upright. The idea is to get your arms very close to the wheel, which helps your control. It also improves your vision forward. Turn the headrest around backwards if it interferes with your helmet.
Walk the course with an experienced autocrosser and ask questions about where your car should be placed at the critical cones. Walk the course again and again until you can close your eyes and "drive" it. You'll be surprised how hard that is to do, and how fast the course goes past when you're driving it. But at least you won't get lost!
Relax, have fun, and learn from your mistakes. You'll get better with every run you make.
Walk the course with an experienced autocrosser and ask questions about where your car should be placed at the critical cones. Walk the course again and again until you can close your eyes and "drive" it. You'll be surprised how hard that is to do, and how fast the course goes past when you're driving it. But at least you won't get lost!
Relax, have fun, and learn from your mistakes. You'll get better with every run you make.
Vanimaniac
Member
Walk the track over and over and over til it is burnt into your memory.
Don't look at the cone right in front of you. Look well ahead.
Get as close to the cone as you can (without hitting it of course!)
Clean your windshield inside and out.
Try not to grab underneath the steering wheel when turning it.
Try to do your braking while you're going straight.
If you're not in the first heat, grab your helmet and go ask for rides with others. Remember what kind of lines they took. Ask a more seasoned driver to ride with you and give you feedback on your run.
Oh, and have fun!
As far as the seatbelt. Try reclining your seat way back then pull your seatbelt out with your right hand and pop it with your left to make it lock and keep holding it tight. Then twist the end a couple or three times and hook it in. All the while holding it tight with your left hand. Then pull your seat back up until that seatbelt is firm against your chest. And voila! You may need to try it a few times to get it right.
Don't look at the cone right in front of you. Look well ahead.
Get as close to the cone as you can (without hitting it of course!)
Clean your windshield inside and out.
Try not to grab underneath the steering wheel when turning it.
Try to do your braking while you're going straight.
If you're not in the first heat, grab your helmet and go ask for rides with others. Remember what kind of lines they took. Ask a more seasoned driver to ride with you and give you feedback on your run.
Oh, and have fun!
As far as the seatbelt. Try reclining your seat way back then pull your seatbelt out with your right hand and pop it with your left to make it lock and keep holding it tight. Then twist the end a couple or three times and hook it in. All the while holding it tight with your left hand. Then pull your seat back up until that seatbelt is firm against your chest. And voila! You may need to try it a few times to get it right.
hehe, thanks again for all the good advice guys !
this autocross event is supposed to be an all day type thing, so i'm not sure if i will be able to ride with other more seasoned drivers, but if i do find out there are more experienced people there, i will definitely ask.
heh, i kinda figured not to brake in/during a turn after my driving instructor while i was getting my license explained that the car could roll over or skid, so now i'm very conscious of not braking during turns.
and i'll try to figure out the seatbelt techniques hehehe
i can't wait now
this autocross event is supposed to be an all day type thing, so i'm not sure if i will be able to ride with other more seasoned drivers, but if i do find out there are more experienced people there, i will definitely ask.
heh, i kinda figured not to brake in/during a turn after my driving instructor while i was getting my license explained that the car could roll over or skid, so now i'm very conscious of not braking during turns.
and i'll try to figure out the seatbelt techniques hehehe
i can't wait now
jflo,
If you do a search for autocross or autoX, you will find a ton of stuff on here. Sometime ago we had actually started an Autocross FAQ but it sort of died out. Here is the link to it.
http://www2.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4235&highlight=autocross
The most important things you can do at your first event are:
- to walk the course many times,
- try to find someone that will mentor you,
- don't be afraid to ask questions,
- watch the drivers as they go through the course,
- have fun.
If you were over here I would help you but I think you are a little far away.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
If you do a search for autocross or autoX, you will find a ton of stuff on here. Sometime ago we had actually started an Autocross FAQ but it sort of died out. Here is the link to it.
http://www2.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4235&highlight=autocross
The most important things you can do at your first event are:
- to walk the course many times,
- try to find someone that will mentor you,
- don't be afraid to ask questions,
- watch the drivers as they go through the course,
- have fun.
If you were over here I would help you but I think you are a little far away.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
most autoXes are all-day things. you'll spend 8 hours to get 4-6 mnutes of driving. most of us think it's well worth it. believe me, you'll have plenty of time to ride along.jflo said:
and make sure you work!!...people who skip out on their work assignmnets = the debbil in autoX.
you will have a lot of fun...i remember how awesome my first run of my first autoX was.
i was hooked after the first corner.Crack Monkey
Member
Vanimaniac said:
This is technically illegal by SCCA rules. No competitor is allowed to pre-run the course (only walking - no bikes, mopeds/ATVs, or ride-alongs).
Of course, since this is your first time, go ahead and do as many ride-alongs as you can. Do them before or after your own runs - just to get a feel for how other drivers do it. But, once you've been out a few times, limit ride-alongs to after you have completed your own runs.
Finally, please do not skip your work assignment. Autocrosses are staffed by the competitors. If you skip out, there might not be anybody to man a flag/corner of the course.
Also, on a safety not - if something is out of place on the course (cones already knocked over, random pedestrians, whatever) - stop your car. Don't worry about your time - you will get a re-run if this happens. Accidents rarely happen - and most are avoidable using common sesne.
Vanimaniac
Member
Out here NOVICES are not only allowed to ride with whomever, whenever but encouraged. I didn't realize it wasn't the same elsewhere or that we were stretching the rules.Crack Monkey said:
You shouldn't have to worry about flipping your car. Your stock tires aren't gonna be sticky enough to flip you and hopefully your course won't be designed where it would be easy to flip. Not until you throw on Hoosiers and leave the suspension stock (or if you're this guy http://e30.us/video/2wheels-wmv.wmv) would I be worried. You should probably be more concerned about hitting some immobile object on or around the course.
Van
Crack Monkey
Member
Leigh said:
Regions are free to make or change rules to their hearts' content. And this is one case where it does make sense - no noobies are going to be in the running for a trophy, so having them do ride alongs before their own runs makes sense (and in regions that do not explicity allow pre-rides, nobody is likely to care). I made the comment in my post not to discourage ride-alongs, but to let people know it is disallowed by the SCCA national rules.
Orthonormal
Member
- :
- 1999 Miata sport
According to the SCCA National event rules, no passengers are allowed at any time, whether they have already run or not.
Most regions have their own rules about ride alongs, ranging from complete freedom to "only after your official runs" to "novices only" to "designated instructors only...
Most regions have their own rules about ride alongs, ranging from complete freedom to "only after your official runs" to "novices only" to "designated instructors only...
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