A fun day autocrossing with a first-timer

[LtNoogie]

justjesus joined me this weekend at the AAA Speedway in Fontana for his first autocross. For a rookie, he did really well, especially in the afternoon when he got in four fun runs at $2 apiece. Here's a composite video of one of his runs. It was also nice to see Superskunk and Bob out there with their Versas.

One day, maybe we can get more than two Yaris on the track?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRwDr9rwUmI

[Loren]

He has really good hands for a first-timer.

DAMN, that's a big site, and a mess o' cones!

[kurokoma-kun]

go jebus go!!


loren you beat me to the remark about the quiet hands!

I like the big open course, though that sure is a lot to walk beforehand

[LtNoogie]

Originally Posted by Loren

He has really good hands for a first-timer.

DAMN, that's a big site, and a mess o' cones!

It's the most cones I've ever seen. Normally, they only put down just enough cones to provide guidance. They even chalked the entire course this time so there were very few DNFs as a result.

The course at the old El Toro airfield is even bigger and about 50% of a longer drive.

Here's where we race, if you have GoogleEarth installed. Rename the extension ".kmz"

[justjesus]

Originally Posted by Loren

He has really good hands for a first-timer.

Thank you, Loren!

Originally Posted by kurokoma-kun

go jebus go!!


loren you beat me to the remark about the quiet hands!

I like the big open course, though that sure is a lot to walk beforehand

I'm going I'm going! ! :)
Wait a minute... my hands are quiet?

With regards to the big site/course and many cones: YES. It was huge. MUCH bigger than I expected. And it was a nice long walk...both times! Although, I'm very thankful for the many cones. It was easier for me to navigate through the course. From videos I've seen online, I thought there would be minimal cones, and that I'd get lost.

I'll come back and post (or maybe a new thread, Noogie?) and post my times, and my overall experience.

Thanks to the lieutenant (j/k) Noogie for walking me through the entire process and making it an overall fun day. And for making the process less nerve-wrecking!

[LtNoogie]

I haven't experience significant body roll since I put on my new springs, shocks, and rear sway bar last October. But... these new Kumho Ecsta XS tires grip so hard that something had to give. Either that or justjesus doctored the picture.

This was a square shaped turn after the second fast slalom where you're bringing alot of speed into the turn. I executed it the way I wanted to but I distinctly remember seeing way more sky out of the passenger window than I am used to.

The tires, with a treadwear rating of 180 look like they've been to three autocross events.

[Loren]

Forget the body roll. What is the car telling you? Is it still wanting to plow through the turn? Bad question... if it is, that's ALL YOU, you're over-driving the car. Are you not able to get on the gas as early as you'd like to when exiting the turn? That would be an indication of needing more rear roll stiffness. (Garm's 23mm rear bar comes to mind...)

[LtNoogie]

I'm braking later with my new brakes and holding light throttle through the turns. Most of the turns are more of a sweeping nature so they feel good going in an out. The instructor that leads the novice walks mentioned that the course designer added a trick in this turn. Maybe I fell for the trick. I need to find that book you mentioned in another autocrossing thread.

[Loren]

For autocrossing FWD (especially underpowered FWD), you want to be able to get the back end to step out at will... in fact, you should have to make a concerted effort to keep it behind you! That's the setup that will allow you to get the most acceleration coming out of turns. When you're set up that way, you'll want to brake probably a little earlier than you are, but still fairly late... and as you trail brake into the turn, you'll feel the back end get loose, which you can then bring back into line with throttle input.

I think FWD is actually more fun to autocross than RWD. But, don't try to tell the RWD guys that!

Oh, the trick on that kind of turn is usually a false apex. Something to trick you into taking the first apex such that it screws up your exit. Not that I've ever designed anything like that, myself, of course.

[justjesus]

Originally Posted by Loren

Oh, the trick on that kind of turn is usually a false apex. Something to trick you into taking the first apex such that it screws up your exit. Not that I've ever designed anything like that, myself, of course.

Holy smokes! It's like you were...there. I believe that's what the instructor mentioned during the novice walk-through. Also, that's pretty much what happened during my first few runs.

Speaking of...
I just spent 40 minutes trying to get my internet to work. I have a headache now, so I'll post my times tomorrow.

[dvlnblkdrs]

grumph, now this just makes me want to go more!!!!! i dont wanna be left out.. everyone whos seen me drive says i need to get involved.. now i think i will... to jesus... looks like ya had a fantastic time.... im jealous

[cleong]

I don't think JJ has a Blitz Supercharger, while Lt Noogie did? If so, then less is more!

But in any case if its true that the only car quicker than JJ's Yaris is a Ferrari, then I'm sure there's a lot of other red faces that day at the track...

[Lazerdot]

Sounds like a great day at the AutoX.

I use Kumo MX tires and have all the TRD suspension. The car pushes as I've mentioned before, mostly driver tryin to hard. Yarstar sold me his spring stiffeners and I'll be trying them on the 17th. I expect some loosening of the rear end. I'll let you know. The bigger sway bar may be the next try. Sure is fun taken the little grocery getter out there, lots of fun comments.

Have fun.
Check out www.autocross.com/er it's one of the groups I compete with.

Greg

[justjesus]

Originally Posted by dvlnblkdrs

... now i think i will... to jesus... looks like ya had a fantastic time.... im jealous

It was good, Jill. Don't be jealous, JUST GET OUT THERE!

Originally Posted by cleong

I don't think JJ has a Blitz Supercharger, while Lt Noogie did? If so, then less is more!

But in any case if its true that the only car quicker than JJ's Yaris is a Ferrari, then I'm sure there's a lot of other red faces that day at the track...

hehe. No SC here. Stock. He was teasing a bit.

[PHXDEMON]

Originally Posted by Lazerdot

Sounds like a great day at the AutoX.

I use Kumo MX tires and have all the TRD suspension. The car pushes as I've mentioned before, mostly driver tryin to hard. Yarstar sold me his spring stiffeners and I'll be trying them on the 17th. I expect some loosening of the rear end. I'll let you know. The bigger sway bar may be the next try. Sure is fun taken the little grocery getter out there, lots of fun comments.

Have fun.
Check out www.autocross.com/er it's one of the groups I compete with.

Greg

Cliffs on spring stiffeners? Are you talking about those little metal chunks that you jam into the spring?

Edit: I just google searched spring stiffeners and found a link to your thread is there anything special or a certain size I need to get?

[LtNoogie]

Finally the pictures. I'm posting these so that Jesus can download the ones he wants.

[mojoyaris]

Sweet.