Open track day Advice
- Thread starter leadf00t
- Start date
pressure around 38-41, dsc off.
Walk the course as many times as you can so you get to know it. some people draw it out to make sure they have it down. Dont worry about anyone elses time. The best person to compete with is yourself. Smooth is fast.
Walk the course as many times as you can so you get to know it. some people draw it out to make sure they have it down. Dont worry about anyone elses time. The best person to compete with is yourself. Smooth is fast.
To add to GoFast, slow in, fast out. The most important thing you can work on at the moment is your own skill. Run it stock and try to find the best line. Fine tuning things may just hide otherwise glaring flaws in your own skill.
If you're understeering, you're asking too much of the car, so back off the throttle or get on the brakes sooner so that you're not carrying too much speed into the corner.
I would also look up some different types of obstacles (e.g. carousel, decreasing/increasing radius, chicane, chicago box, slalom, etc.) and read about how to tackle them. Knowing what to do with certain turns really helps when you're walking the course (which you should do as much as possible).
Just have fun and try to find "the line"! I have my 3rd autocross this Saturday and I'm hoping to fix a few things, including my lead foot.
If you're understeering, you're asking too much of the car, so back off the throttle or get on the brakes sooner so that you're not carrying too much speed into the corner.
I would also look up some different types of obstacles (e.g. carousel, decreasing/increasing radius, chicane, chicago box, slalom, etc.) and read about how to tackle them. Knowing what to do with certain turns really helps when you're walking the course (which you should do as much as possible).
Just have fun and try to find "the line"! I have my 3rd autocross this Saturday and I'm hoping to fix a few things, including my lead foot.
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- 06 LS MS6
07 BM GT (shell has been struck from the roll)
Yeah 38 front 34-36 back mebbe less
smooth is fast oh, so true
turn less, finish the turn
find the line slow and add speed each time
when you screw up, do not fight to "save " the run. let it go, its only a run. there will be many others
get the car back, get the car in the right position, and resume
GET A RIDE ALONG
nothing will help you more. nothing
find the "novice' helpers in that club, and have one with you on every run
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- 06 LS MS6
07 BM GT (shell has been struck from the roll)
eager beaver
Ross bentley has a nice book on why eager is slow
and I play bach whie approaching the line
marginal help, but help
I'm actually looking to get a couple of the Speed Secrets books soon, so it's interesting that you mention him. I am reading Going Faster! from the Skip Barber school right now.
BillTheCat
Member
- :
- 2009 Mazdaspeed3 Sport
That is absolutely step #1. Most organized autocross events will either have experienced drivers who will volunteer to ride along with you, or in some cases, they'll have a time set aside for "novice school." Don't let the act of attending "novice school" deflate your ego. You can earn a ton from a ride-along. If it isn't obvious how to arrange a ride-alomng, just ask anyone at the registration table.
Keep an eye out for autocross schools in your area, too. You'll usually get in way more runs than at a competitive event, and you'll have plenty of ride-along laps.
Best of luck, have fun, be safe, and most of all- don't obsess over your times or freak when you kill a cone or slide off-track. We've all done it. It's part of the hobby.
Pressures: I normally run 36-37 in the front with 38-40 in the rear. The MS3 naturally wants to push through the corner, so you'll have to be patient before getting in the gas on corner exit.
DSC Off: When you start your car up before you run, hold in the DSC button to turn off both traction and stability control. At my first AutoX I ran the first lap with DSC on just to see how much of a difference it will make off.
I'm fairly new myself to the AutoX world, and I just like to work on one thing at a time. First race I worried about rolling through the corner correctly, next race I worked on looking ahead, and so on and so on...
Have fun, the MS3 is a handful with the turbo and torque steer but it makes for a fun car to drive on course. Just try to make as many straight lines through the course as you can since this is where our car gains the upper hand.
DSC Off: When you start your car up before you run, hold in the DSC button to turn off both traction and stability control. At my first AutoX I ran the first lap with DSC on just to see how much of a difference it will make off.
I'm fairly new myself to the AutoX world, and I just like to work on one thing at a time. First race I worried about rolling through the corner correctly, next race I worked on looking ahead, and so on and so on...
Have fun, the MS3 is a handful with the turbo and torque steer but it makes for a fun car to drive on course. Just try to make as many straight lines through the course as you can since this is where our car gains the upper hand.
mr_mazda329
Member
- :
- 97 Mazda Miata; 09 CWP Mazdaspeed 3
Ahh this car is fun to AutoX. The car also like to oversteer when you unload rear end(off-throttle Highspeed). I cant wait for another event on the big track here.
tiagotiago
Member
- :
- 2008.5 Mazdaspeed 3
Just to add a bit to what is a lot of great advice so far, also try working on using your eyesight accordingly; Don't look at a few feet in front of the car, look as far as you can till the next reference point you have, when you're on a straight try to find your next braking point, when you're on your braking, look for the entry of the corner and as soon as you enter look for the apex, as you're hitting the apex, look for the exit, and after that's done, look down to the next braking point point. You should ideally be focusing on what's coming up next; knowing the track, you'll start to find more subtle clues and you can use those to shave some time off.
I'll also add a quote I remember from one of Bentley's books:
"Delete your expectations, focus on your possibilities". Don't build castles in the sky, take it easy, set realistic goals and then start working from there on, like others have said, aim for a nice, smooth lap, and then start finding places where you can improve on your time.
Most importantly, have fun!!!
I'll also add a quote I remember from one of Bentley's books:
"Delete your expectations, focus on your possibilities". Don't build castles in the sky, take it easy, set realistic goals and then start working from there on, like others have said, aim for a nice, smooth lap, and then start finding places where you can improve on your time.
Most importantly, have fun!!!
Nliiitend1
Member
Another quick point to add (I'm on the way out the door):
Keep BOTH hands on the wheel except for the moment that you're shifting.
Keep BOTH hands on the wheel except for the moment that you're shifting.
chief_wiggum
Member
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- 2008.5 Mazdaspeed3-2010 Mazda5 GT
How do you guys find out about local Auto X events?
I use myautoevents.com. Do an Advanced search per your area and filter for autocross.
One other thing for the OP, you may have heard this before but stick with second gear. Launch in first of course, and maybe hold it through the first turn if that's appropriate. But then shift to second and leave it for the rest of the course. The time wasted downshifting is likely to be greater than the time gained by using first gear in a tight corner, esp in a car with as much torque as ours have.
Have fun! I much prefer autocrossing the speed3 to driving it on the street here in Michigan.
One other thing for the OP, you may have heard this before but stick with second gear. Launch in first of course, and maybe hold it through the first turn if that's appropriate. But then shift to second and leave it for the rest of the course. The time wasted downshifting is likely to be greater than the time gained by using first gear in a tight corner, esp in a car with as much torque as ours have.
Have fun! I much prefer autocrossing the speed3 to driving it on the street here in Michigan.
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Check out your local SCCA Region's website and see what type of events they have coming up. You can find regions that are close to you through the SCCA website...
http://www.scca.com/divisions.aspx
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- 06 LS MS6
07 BM GT (shell has been struck from the roll)
YES, I missed that, look deep look high etc
you will tend to look at the next cone, and drive at it. then correct.
over nad over and over and over
until your back brain learns
drive the path described by the cones. not cone to cone
chief_wiggum
Member
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- 2008.5 Mazdaspeed3-2010 Mazda5 GT
sorry for the thread jack. thanks for the info...looks like several events in my area -- think I found my new hobby.
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- 06 LS MS6
07 BM GT (shell has been struck from the roll)
OH. you need to leave deesss moynsss
to have any chance at meaningful life
rockford is your best hope
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- 06 LS MS6
07 BM GT (shell has been struck from the roll)
Blessed Be
Too funny !!
