Autocross at nola motorsports LA help!

[crc91]

So I just found out nola motorsports(Avondale Louisiana) is having a scca autox July 19th I think the date was. I really want to enter! So I'm in the process of joining the scca. I sent the organizer an email but he's out of the office and helping run events till the 12th , I'll try to get ahold of someone else. But I figured I'd get some info from my fellow enthusiasts as well. I have a completely stock 2014 1ls camaro. I'm not looking to be super competitive from the begin just hoping to increase my ability, learn my car and the sport. There is a totally stock class right? Would adding a 1le suspension kit from gm alter what class I'm in? Would one day of really eat up my brakes and tires? And if I got some better pads especially for autocross with a more aggressive tire alignment would that also change what class I was in? Looking forward to all the info guys!

Side note: I do need a helmet right? The hjc brand any good? From what I can tell they mainly started off in motorcycle but They have a auto line as well now and they have a snell rated 2010 helmet for $311 the black one, seems to be a good starting helmet. Opinions? http://hjc-motorsports.com/HJCmotors...lmets/ar-10ll/

[giant_g2]

I'm also interested in this. The Philly SCCA had some good resources for your class questions. Most places have loaner helmets (double check). I'm looking at an hjc cl-17 for under $150 (snell M2010). I do want to know if I should get better pads. I plan on running dot 4 fluid. Anybody know what the top speed for an ss is like on one of these? What about better pads?

[crc91]

I'd say it's probably about 70-75 depending on driver and how tight of a course it is. Good idea with the brake fluid

[z28lt1]

See my thoughts in-line, I haven't done SCAA Solo in a while, so my knowlege of the updated classes may be a bit fuzzy, but it should get you pretty close.

Originally Posted by crc91

So I just found out nola motorsports(Avondale Louisiana) is having a scca autox July 19th I think the date was. I really want to enter!
Great, you should have a blast!

So I'm in the process of joining the scca. I sent the organizer an email but he's out of the office and helping run events till the 12th , I'll try to get ahold of someone else. But I figured I'd get some info from my fellow enthusiasts as well. I have a completely stock 2014 1ls camaro. I'm not looking to be super competitive from the begin just hoping to increase my ability, learn my car and the sport. There is a totally stock class right?
Pretty Much. The S Class (which used to be stock, but now is Street) is basically stock. Some small modifications are allowed, such as cat-back exhausts, shock changes, etc.


Would adding a 1le suspension kit from gm alter what class I'm in?
I believe (this is where I would verify with the rules as my knowledge may be fuzzy or out of date) that in Street class you can change if you add ALL parts of the 1le and do a full conversion. In Street Prepared you can add selected components.

Would one day of really eat up my brakes and tires?
No. A lot of it depends upon the surface and course, etc... but I generally estimate that a day of autocross is roughly equivilant to 500 normal miles on brakes and tires.

And if I got some better pads especially for autocross with a more aggressive tire alignment would that also change what class I was in? Looking forward to all the info guys!
No, you can change pads and alignment. That said, I wouldn't worry about pads too much, particularly at the start.

Side note: I do need a helmet right? The hjc brand any good? From what I can tell they mainly started off in motorcycle but They have a auto line as well now and they have a snell rated 2010 helmet for $311 the black one, seems to be a good starting helmet. Opinions? http://hjc-motorsports.com/HJCmotors...lmets/ar-10ll/

Yes, you need a helmet although as mentioned some places have loaners. Helmets fit people diffrently and if you think you might do this more than once or twice I highly reccomend you try some on and find an SA2010 that is comfortable and provides the vision you like. Comfort is a little less important for autocross as you'll only wear it a a handful of mintues, but if you ever make the move to HPDEs...

[crc91]

Thanks Z I appreciate the info! I know race shoes aren't required but would proper shoes from sparco make a big difference as far as pedal feel goes? I'm looking forward to it and I'm wanting to learn all I can. What would your advice be to get the car ready for a beginner?

[z28lt1]

For autocross, I think shoes are a personal preference, and part of it depends upon what the alternatives are. You'll definitely have better pedal feel, how much that impacts your driving on an autocross course is an individual thing. I prefer to wear mine at HPDE events, but I'm probably too lazy to do it at an autocross.

For car prep to start, just worry about the basics. Make sure all fluids are in good condition and at the proper levels. Make sure wheels are torqued properly. Clean the windshield. You'll want to adjust your tire pressures, someone on here probably can give you a good starting point, I'm sure. As a guess, I would start with them around 34 PSI cold and go from there. Take all the junk and loose bits out of the car, tools, mats, etc. You can remove or leave in the spare tire or inflator. Make sure you have enough gas that you don't starve the pickup around turns. On my 4th gen Camaro, I liked to run it full, because I liked the weight in the back, but I don't think that is needed on the 5th gen. Turn off traction control each run.

The most important thing for someone to start is to not worry about the car or winning, but worry about the driver. Someone new will be so far away from maximizing the cars potential, that almost all the improvements to start will be driver related. The biggest thing you can do is to memorize the course and know ahead of time where you want to go. For however long they let you walk the course, do it, multiple times. Use the course map or sketch your own to memorize it and run through it in your head. It's a sea of cones out there and you won't be concentrating on proper technique if you are trying to figure out where the next turn is. Most autocross guys are friendly. Find someone who is experienced and ask if they'll walk the course with you helping you to understand the line. Particularly look for someone who has a similar type of car (doesn't need to be a Camaro, a big, RWD will do, the guys in the Miata's will drive it differently - but anyone friendly will do even the Miata guy if that's who you feel comfortable with). Often they'll be a group walking and you can join in.

Most importantly, have fun. You may do great for a beginner to start, or you may find out you hit some cones hurting your time and not doing as well as others. Either way work on learning the car, learning to improve, and it will be great.

[Colt]

Originally Posted by crc91

Thanks Z I appreciate the info! I know race shoes aren't required but would proper shoes from sparco make a big difference as far as pedal feel goes? I'm looking forward to it and I'm wanting to learn all I can. What would your advice be to get the car ready for a beginner?

I actually wear a pair of indoor soccer shoes, you can pick some up from Dick's for $50. It's generally recommended to have a thinner sole and it must be closed toe.

Tire wear will not be a problem using street tires.

Since you have the v6, you cannot do a switch to 1LE and stay in stock class, since the v6 was not available fromt he factory as a 1LE. This has been my general understanding.

Most importantly, enjoy your day there, but that won't be hard!

[crc91]

Awesome thanks guys this thread has been really really helpful so far. A lot of great info here. Separating the clutch fluid resivor from the brake fluid would probably be a good idea before an auto cross right?

[Green Machine]

Originally Posted by crc91

Awesome thanks guys this thread has been really really helpful so far. A lot of great info here. Separating the clutch fluid resivor from the brake fluid would probably be a good idea before an auto cross right?

Good idea period lol. I wanted to do mine before I went to the road course but that didn't happen. Maybe this weekend...

Sent from somewhere on the road.

[giant_g2]

I'm not separating the clutch yet, but I'm upgrading to dot 4 fluid. Maybe in the future.

[mp51998]

For your first time do as stated above and concetrate on learning the course. Just double check your brake fluid and maybe change your oil. Dont worry about spending money on parts or shoes or anything like that. You may want to skip on buyinng the helmet and just use a loaner if they have them. I say this because you may find that you don't enjoy it and then you've spent all this money for notheing. I doubt that will be the case but you never know. If you do continue then buy your helmet and mayber upgrade your pads and fluids. Really not neccessary in the calss you will be in. Once you have four or five events under your belt you will definately want to upgrade your pads, brake fluid, maybe get SS lines and start looking for tires. Thats about all you can do and stay in the stock class. Anything else will put you in a Street Prepared class. Thats not a bad thing just sitffer competition. We have a V6 driver here locally who is hell on wheels. He usually beats me or if he doesnt its super close. Dont think you need HP to run faster. It's all driver. Especially on the shorter courses. Just go and have fun. Try not to be too competitive. Enjoy pushing your car to the limits in a safe enviroment.

If you are still having problems joining the SCCA you can go directly to their website and join. Your local chapter may have a discount if you join there the day of the race. Also the entry fee may be less if you are a memeber. All you would need is your member number which will be provided when you register to prove membership. Your card could take a month to get to you.

[Norm Peterson]

Originally Posted by crc91

Awesome thanks guys this thread has been really really helpful so far. A lot of great info here. Separating the clutch fluid resivor from the brake fluid would probably be a good idea before an auto cross right?

Class-legality aside - and I'm not at all sure that this kind of mod would be - you just aren't going to be using the clutch very often at autocross nor should your clutch action be as harsh and brutal as it would be at the drag strip. Unless the event you're at features an extremely "open" course, or a course with a diabolically slow turn, you'll make your one upshift to 2nd and never touch the shift lever or clutch pedal again for the rest of that run. Especially on street tires. Over several years and four different cars, I've upshifted to 3rd exactly twice, and both of those times were at the same event.

If your last oil change was within a couple thousand miles or so, I wouldn't bother doing anything beyond making sure the oil level was at least up to the "Full" mark. A slight overfill - perhaps 1/8" or so in the case of most 60° V6's - is clearly preferable to an equal amount below full. The sustained higher than normal engine revs will keep more of the oil up in the cam covers, meaning there will be a less than normal amount in the sump to keep the pickup covered during your aggressive cornering. I never bothered draining any excess out afterward.

You may want to run a little more air pressure in your tires than you do for normal driving, and you may find that setting the front and rear tires to slightly different pressures helps (maybe 3 or 4 more psi up front, rears at door sticker pressure is a good place to start).

Get there in plenty of time so you won't feel rushed by an unfamiliar schedule, which includes getting registered or signed in, prepping your car and getting it tech'ed, being at the driver's meeting, walking the course, etc.

About course walks - if there is an instructed course walk where an experienced autocrosser leads a group through the course and offers commentary, take it. Likewise, take advantage of any instructed runs (an instructor sits in the passenger seat and offers specific help during and debriefing after the run).

Bring water or other fluids to stay hydrated (start your hydration the day before), sunscreen, something to sit on, rain gear, etc. Bring snacks and some sort of lunch unless you know for sure that such will be available at the event site (don't count on having enough free time to run off site to get anything).

If you plan on taking in-car video, your region may insist on your camera having a tether separate from its main mounting arrangement. This need not be anything fancy, just short enough and strong enough to keep the camera from coming completely loose and potentially finding its way under your feet or the pedals.


And the most important suggestion of all - go have fun.


Norm

[crc91]

Thanks for the info. I plan on registering with the scca today ! hopefully I'll be ordering my helmet on pay day. A rotofab intake shouldn't put me into a different class right? So for my first time just top off my fluids my car only has 1500 miles on it so just too off my oil or change it? I'll most likely be changing it after the event to get all the break in oil out and get a nice high performance synthetic in there. More than anything for my first event is to have fun hit NO cones and focus on being smooth as I can, do I want to win of course but I realize I'm a rookie so until I get a few more events under my belt I'll be focusing on clean runs.

[jksynergy]

As far as the HJC helmets, look for a CL-16 if you can. I have 3 of them, one for me, the wife and our son just bought an STS prepped Miata and so he has one too. They are SA2010 rated and shop around for them. Found the wife and son's on that ebay place for $54.95.
Like said above, just have FUN. We've done 2 events so far this year and I wish we could run every weekend. Though my tire bill would kill me, I'd still do it.