CAN WE GET A STICKY ON AUTOX HOW TO'S???

[ROCKLAND TOYOTA]

this guy at my job with a old school gti wants to have a battle at the local autocross track. problem is i never did it before but im sort of interested. what things do i need to do to the car so im a little prepared????

[ChinoCharles]

Depends on what association. SCCA or NASA or a private club or what?

[WRBlue]

Nothing else matters.

The #1 best how-to you'll ever get is three things:

1: seat time

2: seat time

3: seat time

auotx is 89% driver, 5% tires, 5% car prep, and 1% luck.

[ROCKLANDTOYOTA]

I DON'T THINK ITS either of those 2 cause im not being asked to join to participate. if abyone from ny knows where MIDDLETOWN NY is its at the airport....

[Ran Kizama]

How-To Autocross
1. Sit in seat and buckle seatbelt.
2. Slam gas, go fast into turn.
3. Brake, then coast through turn while avoiding cones.
4. Slam gas and pull out of turn.
5. Repeat Steps #2-4 until completed.



Seriously though, for a first time out there, don't expect to prove anything. For most autocross events, all you'll need is a car that doesn't leak/smoke, a functional seatbelt, battery tie-down, and a helmet. Then just pay attention when you walk the course and do your best when it's your turn to go. Be sure to watch the other drivers and try to follow their example if they're doing well. It's all about fun so go have yourself a blast.

[heylookitsjames]

Don't go to race, go to have fun.

that said, go buy some 12.4mm camber bolts and get as much neg. camber out of the front wheels as possible...
... What seems to work for me too is to lower the tire pressure in the front and raise it slightly in the rear... makes it a little more "balanced" feeling.

[TheCutsman]

I auto x'ed the liftback for the 1st time 2 Sundays ago. I wanted to run it bone stock b4 I put my suspension and tires on. Bad idea to run it on steelies and stock tires lol. My first run and I hit a pothole or something ??? (not a cone haha) took a huge chunk out of the tire and the lip of the rim bent in towards the tire. Didn't think it looked safe to do anymore runs so it was a waste of $$$$. But now that I tried it i've been itching to go back as soon as I mod her up.

[St_G]

Potholes on an autocross track/parking lot? For shame!

[drifto]

Originally Posted by St_G

Potholes on an autocross track/parking lot? For shame!

yeah thats a little scary, whats the point of going to a track if you still have to avoid potholes

[drifto]

Originally Posted by ROCKLANDTOYOTA

I DON'T THINK ITS either of those 2 cause im not being asked to join to participate. if abyone from ny knows where MIDDLETOWN NY is its at the airport....

im not sure but ill ask my boy. let me know when you plan on going im down for hitting the track in the yaris. anyways ill b at englishtown tomorrow. D1 tomorow!!! dori dori dori.....

[TheBird]

A friend of mine who has done all sorts of racing, SCCA/PCA club racing, dirt, drag, motorcycle, and who knows what else, for 30 plus years gave me a few words of advice:

Be smooth and if you are not hitting any cones you are not close enough.

[WRBlue]

Originally Posted by heylookitsjames

that said, go buy some 12.4mm camber bolts and get as much neg. camber out of the front wheels as possible...

Thats illegal for SCCA stock classes. You can only adjust the alignment through the factory adjustments.

[mojoyaris]

I just did my auto x run yesterday. We got five runs before the end of day and it' was a blast. I was in STS and having the suspension and tires changed helped. be prepared, since this can be addictive and you'll want to bring a change of tires if you are serious about it. Runnin Falken 512's I plan to change over to 615 Ziex Falkens for the next event.

You'll notice the understeer so you'll want to balance out the air pressure if your're running stock or STS. Going smoothly through the turns helps and learning how to play with your throttle will help you through the cones.
I tried to run the course (as a test) mostly in first gear and it was a blast listening to the car run at the rev limiter. I lost about 2 seconds based on my best time that day, but it was fun getting the car to run at 6500 + and steering with the throttle.

[drifto]

theres some auto-x at giants stadium on sundays if anyone is interested. i know a few people wo go regularly and say its not bad.

[TheCutsman]

There's a TSSCC event at Miller Park in Milwaukee WI on May 26th then a Milwaukee region event at the same place the next day the 27th. If there's any Yaris guys who live in IL,WI,IN,etc. or around that area maybe come out and represent with me haha.

[KS SOLO]

Something I posted earlier in this forum section

http://http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets.html

Yes go out and walk the track until you can stand with your eyes closed and drive it in your head, ride with other people, most SCCA SOLO people are more than happy to give you a ride before you try it yourself. Ask questions, again most people happy to help. Drive smooth, do not try and overdrive the car, our cars have to carry speed through the corners. Again about tire pressures, I run 42 up front and 37 in back :) Have fun! Keep your car as stock as allowed in the rules while you are learning, there is no reason to spend a bunch of cash until you know you are going to like doing this. The only thing you might want to get is some tires and wheels, they don't have to be great wheels just to make it easy to change. You can run R-Comps in HS but at first I would just try some street tires with as close to 140 treadwear you can get.

[mojoyaris]

for those in Vancouver Canada there is the VCMC event for novices and testing on the 27th this month. Check it out at VCMC.com for more information.

Cheers.

[Vanderkitten]

I worked for a motorcycle race school and the first drill we did, always, was running the track in one gear and no brakes... I know AutoX is diff. because you don't get multiple laps per session, but you REALLY learn the lines of the track!