Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Autocross and Open Track First SCCA solo event ?s

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.

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!