First SCCA solo event ?s

Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives

What tips as far as regisrtation, does any one have?

What are the common Newbie mistake when I show up to the event?

What should I bring to the event?

What class should I be in?

2000 CSVT
Bone stock!!

BFG G-fore sport tires
225/50/16
I just don't want to look like an idiot.

Event:
oct 23rd
Chicago region
route 66 raceway.

Check out this link for the novice. It is tailored to the Wichita region, but much of the info still applies. Check with the Chi region for specifics.

As for class, you can run G Stock (GS) or STS--your pick. It doesn't really matter, especially on your first time out. Just try to meet people, get an idea of how events run in your area, and have fun.

Newbie mistake? Showing up with an unsafe vehicle and then doing a burnout in the street as you leave to show your frustration with the safety steward.

Thanks for the input, I'll try to contact someobe in the chicago region.

If they have online preregistration do it!

If they have a local forum join it and look around and ask about being new to the sport.

When you go to register the day of the event let them know it is your first event and see if they have a novice class.

If they have a novice walkthru take it.
If they have instructors take one on your first runs.

Basically don't be afraid to admit you know nothing about how this works but are willing to learn as quick as you can.

The people that look like a fool are the ones that refuse an instructor every run and go off course every time and then complain at the end that they did not go off course and get all mad about it.

Also I would try to figure out where you want to end up with your car and start off running in that class so you get to know the people that run in that class. If you want to keep it "Stock" then run GS. If you want to do things like springs or intakes or other things like that run STS.

I would run in novice GS, depending on what is in your class, you could win.

Put more air in rear tires so to induce oversteer. Put enough air in front tires so they don't roll over much. Mark the sidewalls if needed so between runs you can easily tell how much they rolled over. Don't put too much in to the point that it is never rolling over as you'll be losing straight line traction and traction on the least extreme turns.

Bring blue painters tape or if your region allows it just some window "paint" to put your number/class on.

Participate in the novice walk through. Walk through with some other people as well. Can't do it too much. Ask to be in the second run group so you can see others run first before you run.

Ask any/all questions you have. Most autoxers are very friendly.

Don't overdrive the car. If you hit a corner too fast and have to hit brakes halfway through to correct, you lose a lot of time. Excessively spinning tires when exiting a corner loses time as well.

Don't worry. Take the first run relatively slow but fast enough that you get a good feel for the course as well as learn it.

If you hit a cone or DNF, don't worry about it. It's all for fun.

Originally posted by moxnix:

The people that look like a fool are the ones that refuse an instructor every run and go off course every time and then complain at the end that they did not go off course and get all mad about it.

In my region we have no instructors. Usually everyone is running or working the course. But even with small regions like mine, you probably can find someone to ride with or ride with you at some point. And sometimes having someone in your car can actually work as ballast, not that you'll be worrying about that the first time out, but it's something to remember in the future if you decide to continue competing.

Definitely don't get mad about anything.

I actually run less air in the rear tires for oversteer in a FWD car.

I like the feel of the oversteer that less air in the rear gives you I think it is more controlable than the more air in the rear.

I agree with the tire pressures: too high is a sudden, skittery breakaway, while too soft lets them roll and flex, breaking slower. However, I would not even think about tire pressures now: 45 front, 35 rear, and unless you are rolling over badly up front, just leave it. Tuning is not an issue now. My friend just co-drove my car for his first auto-x this Sunday, and his advice is the same as mine: concentrate on "getting ahead" of the course. You will be smoother, faster, and easier on the car if you look as far ahead as possible. Follow the track with your eyes 3 or 4 gates ahead of where you are. If you're entering an "s", don't look at the first apex, look at the exit: your total line will be much smoother. Don't jerk the wheel, and don't slam on the gas or brakes, just let your inputs come naturally from what you see up ahead.

Anyway, don't let the driving tips overwhelm you: everyone has different styles, and everyone learns differently, so it's best to give it a shot and then see what happens. The guys pretty much covered what to do at the event: ask questions! Also, I agree with moxnix on the classing, for a large event. If it's small, like 30-50 people, and not super-serious, then run GS or STS, whichever works out better for you. If it's bigger, and you can't talk to everyone, run with the group you plan to run with long-term. Have fun, and tell us how it goes!

Originally posted by moxnix:
I actually run less air in the rear tires for oversteer in a FWD car.

I like the feel of the oversteer that less air in the rear gives you I think it is more controlable than the more air in the rear.

It depends. With my contour I run less air in the rear for a more neutral feel on roads, but in autox courses with tight somewhat low speed corners, I prefer oversteer. I like to be able to accelerate to correct the oversteer, it allows for faster times. But I mean less air to the point where the rear is at maximum grip. To get oversteer by using tire pressures, you have to put more air (than what would give neutral handling) in the rear. This causes a loss of traction allowing the rear end to come out. And of course too much oversteer would be bad. It is all driver prefrence though. If you're not comfortable with oversteer, than don't do it.

Originally posted by Kremithefrog:
If you're not comfortable with oversteer, than don't do it.

I drive a miata a good bit. I know oversteer. I am comfortable with it. Either lower or higher pressures in the rear can give you oversteer. I prefer the oversteer you get with lower pressures in the rear (running 44F/42R on RA1's on the Protege) I ran 40/39 on 15" Azenis on the forester and I run close to the on the proteges with the azenis (15X7 wheels with 205/50/15 Azenis)

You ran a Forester? We have a 2.5X (2002? - First year of the new look) and it's an awesome dirt road car, and just a blast in the snow. I've often thought about autocrossing it. It's soft and slow, but still FUN. Is yours auto or manual? How did it feel on those sticky tires?

Originally posted by moxnix:

Originally posted by Kremithefrog:
If you're not comfortable with oversteer, than don't do it.

I drive a miata a good bit. I know oversteer. I am comfortable with it. Either lower or higher pressures in the rear can give you oversteer. I prefer the oversteer you get with lower pressures in the rear (running 44F/42R on RA1's on the Protege) I ran 40/39 on 15" Azenis on the forester and I run close to the on the proteges with the azenis (15X7 wheels with 205/50/15 Azenis)

That was a blanket statement, didn't imply that you're not.
To get oversteer with lower tire pressure, wouldn't that cause a good bit of rollover on the tires? To get oversteer with a stock FWD (i.e. no big rear sway bar,etc.) you're going to have to cause the rear tires to lose some traction. That would be the point of pumping the rears up. To lose traction by lowering pressure, I would think you'd have to go lower than you are. But I reckon it depends on the car and tires.
In general, raising the rear pressure causes the oversteer that is desireable in autox.

We actually stole my GF's mom's 1999 forester for the subaru challenge

(don't worry we let her mom drive it there also)

I got 5th out of 11 in STS With it (wheels and short shifter put it there)
http://www.subaruchallenge.com/105.Final.htm

That day was the first and so far only time we ran it and it was a good bit of fun.

We have a set of wheels for the protege that are dual bolt pattern that fit the proteges (5x114.3) and the forester (5x100) so we tossed them on there since she was already in STS because of the short shifter.

It is suprisingly netural to drive and with my setup had a little bit of oversteer at just the right points.

Kremithefrog - I disagree with you in what oversteer is desireable in autox.

The rear tires can lose grip without as much rollover as you think because they are not taking of much force as the front tires are. The front tires need pressure to prevent them from rolling over on the sidewalls when you turn but the rears are not under as much turning force so do not need as much to stop from rolling over.

Yes most FWD cars need a little more difference in the pressures than I run. Like Auto-X-Fil posted try 45F/35R and see how it goes.

Kremit I think you should do a little research on the SCCA forums about rear tire pressures and oversteer. Yes both lower and higher work for AutoX but they have different breakaway characteristics and differnt people/cars find different ones work better for their driving style and car.

Wow, SM was huge at that event! Lots of turbo cars with boost control, probably, huh? Especially likely since you beat half of them in the Forester. Glad to hear the Forester is fun! I haven't had to take anything but the Contour yet, but when I do it's either that, a 2004 Passat 1.8T auto, or a 1993 M-B 190E auto. Lindsey is a little picky about me racing her car, so even though the M-B is my first choice it might have to be the Subie. The specs are actually the same hp/tq, displacement and weight as the stock 'tour!

Originally posted by moxnix:

Yes most FWD cars need a little more difference in the pressures than I run. Like Auto-X-Fil posted try 45F/35R and see how it goes.

Kremit I think you should do a little research on the SCCA forums about rear tire pressures and oversteer. Yes both lower and higher work for AutoX but they have different breakaway characteristics and differnt people/cars find different ones work better for their driving style and car.

I know what you're saying and I don't really disagree with it. Like I said, do what works for your particular car, tires, and driving style. I was saying what works for me and many others. I know running 45/35 would not work for me. I don't know if having less power/less weight plays into it or not, but I do have a zetec and less weight than stock.