First try at AutoX - any tips?

[caverman]

This weekend I'm going to try my hand at AutoX for the first time. I've done drag racing but not AutoX.

For those that have done this before do you have any tips on things like tire psi? Any suggestions about anything? .....other than try not to hit the cones

[jasycz28]

I would assume the tire psi would be the same for road racing and for that I was told 40 psi after the tires are warmed up.

[1977and2010]

Most important thing is to look ahead. Get someone to ride with you that has done it before for specific tips. Ride with someone yourself before your runs to get a feel for the course. Check tire pressure after each run or every other. They go up quick. And have fun. I've been running 39 psi front and 38 rear,but you'll have to experiment.

[2quick]

the type of tire will play greatly in the psi you run. Also tire psi for auto x and road racing are not the same. In auto x you have less time to warm them up. You go out for a run then the car may sit for some time depending on how many are in your group. Usually by the time you go back out the psi has gone down again. I bring a little tank of compressed air to inflate as needed. There are tricks you can do to find the right psi. It comes down to not rolling the tire edge and still getting as much patch as possible. Alignment is also another factor. Make sure nothing is in the car that can rattle around. This way you can hear when the tires are talking to you.
Biggest this is have fun!

Here is a Little video of one of our drivers in our car.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140415

[PfadtRacing]

Take a deep breath, and remember to have fun! That's the best suggestion I can give you. If your not having fun then someone is doing something wrong.

Don't get wrapped up in trying to go fast out of the box, unless you've done some kind of road course work or drivers education in the past you're GOING to be slow. Just take your time, learn how to read the course, and really take the time to meet as many people as you possibly can.

Relax, it's just Autox! Your number one priority is having fun!

[caverman]

Well....I did it! Got through my first AutoX without tearing up the car. I was nervous as hell the first couple laps but by the end settled down and improved my times. Fist run was a 63.248....last run was a 54.086 and only hit one cone in all the 8 laps. All I can say is it seems much faster in the car than it looks on video. I can also see spots where I can make improvements next time.

Took my 74 yr old dad who has never done this before either. He rode shotgun the last 4 laps. He's done decades of drag racing but no AutoX. I offered to let him drive next time and I think he is going to take me up on it.

As I figured it's now time to get serious about shopping for some sway bars.

I also played around with my new pocket camcorder. This is my first attempt and making a semi-movie using 2 of my best runs. Would've loved to hear the car more but all you could hear was the wind. Bare with my first movie attempt. I need to spend more time with my movie software.

[jagan323]

Sweet video. Yesterday went to my first autoX event as well. Though I didn't race my car... I got to sit in a couple of my friends cars. And wow... I can tell how fast you are going in your video. It's intense lol. I can't wait to race mine next time =D

[caverman]

I saw a friend of mine today who's use to AutoX a bunch in his Z06 and Turbo Supra. I explained to him how I was feeling some understeer especially in one of the corners and even though I was giving it some gas to try to pull it out I felt like I was loosing power. Couldn't understand what was going on at the track but he reminded me I have to take off the nanny controls or the car will do that. It's desinged that way. So make sure to turn off both the Stabiltrack and TC when you go racing.

Looking back I'm sure that was the problem and I could've probably got some better times without it on. Of course the downside is you'll take a chance on spinning out with the controls off.

[1977and2010]

Now your hooked. I forgot about turning the TC and SC off. I usually turn them both off. The car can definitely get loose on you but if it doesn't, your not pushing it hard enough. And on most autocrosses there isn't much you're going to hurt on your car if you do spin. The only place I put painters tape on my car now is on the rocker panels. Don't forget to look ahead and another thing I found that has helped me is one of the CG locks that hooks to you seat belt and locks you into your seat better so your not sliding all over the place. Glad you had a good time.

[PfadtRacing]

I explained to him how I was feeling some understeer especially in one of the corners and even though I was giving it some gas to try to pull it out I felt like I was loosing power.

The electronic controls really do need to be deactivated before you get going... but a quick driving tip, if you're understeering at autox don't continue to give it throttle. If you keep applying gas while understeering your generally just going to make matters worse, with understeer the front tires can't supply the grip you're requesting via steering wheel at that speed, and adding more speed or more steering angle is just going to keep the car plowing.

It's counterintuitive, but at autox if you're understeering your overdriving your tires. Unwind the wheel a bit, back off the throttle just a hair, and you'll be back in line.

This is when adjustable suspension bits can be a lifesaver... as well as the tires with the most grip that your class allows!

[boltvette]

Unless you have a racing seat installed, get a set of Angel Pads (www.angelwingstech.com). They'll give you the lateral support that the stock seats really lack at a fraction of the cost. You will be amazed by the g-forces pushing you around when you're cornering hard.

[caverman]

Originally Posted by boltvette

Unless you have a racing seat installed, get a set of Angel Pads (www.angelwingstech.com). They'll give you the lateral support that the stock seats really lack at a fraction of the cost. You will be amazed by the g-forces pushing you around when you're cornering hard.

Nice! That looks pretty cool. I was definately moving around and one of the first things that happend was my seat belt popped out of the stupid holder.

[toilets]

Caverman, How many shifts did you need to perform? Or were you able to keep it in say 2nd or 3rd the entire time? I ask cause June 18th will be my very first time as well and would like to know if you are constantly changing gears throughout the course

[caverman]

On the one that I did it was going from 1st to 2nd at the first cone and then stayed in 2nd the rest of the time. Keep you left foot on dead pedal...the first couple runs I instinctively left my foot on top of the clutch pedal.

Luckily I had and instructor ride with me for the first 3 laps and he would tell me things like "foot off the clutch"...."hands at 10 and 3"...."give it gas".

I recommend doing a ride along first so you can get a little bit of an idea of the course but I'll be honest I was definately neverous and after I came out of my ride along I was like "I'm going to get a DNF on every run". When you're looking ahead a beginner all you see is a sea of cones. There were tons of times that I would've turned one way but the guy driving (and know what he was doing" turned the other. Again, that's where the instructor can in handy. I told him I was going to get the DNF and he helped me with the turns on the the first run. By the 3rd run I had the course down where I didn't need him to tell me anymore.