first auto-x -- clueless

[ChrisZang]

Hi Bayerischer Motorist,

here are my "golden rules of autocrossing" (in no particular order):

* when you walk the course, draw a map because at the end of the walk (and specially before your run you will have otherwise forgotten everything)

* ALWAYS try to look at least two turns ahead

* your foot is either on the gas or the brake, try to avoid coasting

* when your car is understeering like hell, this doesn't mean you need new tires or a new alignment, this means you are too fast in the turns (that took me VERY long to learn), I was the "king of understeer" for a long time

* don't be nervous, you'll meet 99.99% very nice people there, who are happy to help and give advise

* and most of all: HAVE FUN

btw: for insurance reasons here in CA you are only allowed to hitch a ride with an instructor, so don't just jump into anyone's car

and last not least let me create some traffic to me autocrossing on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi0CdWJoIQg

Enjoy
Christopher

[Bavarian Motorist]

Nice vid! Nice comment someone left you :-\


Reminds me...to look at 986girl's vids.

[986 Girl]

Batavian Motorist: Oh my! If you do that there -better- be pictures!

ChrisZang: Wow, you guys use a lot of cones on your courses, haha! It's fun to see the differences in things like that between regions. Great run though! I like the way you loosen your hands up several times during the run (at appropriate times), making sure that your grip isn't too tight.

Also, what is that on your dash?

[steve00s]

Lots of good info stated in this thread but I wanted to add one thing for others who want to try autocross but are a little intimidated by the unknown. Check with your local PCA for Driver Skills Day. I have taken several autocross schools and the PCA run event was the best. For $50, we drove ALL day long!!! Many great lessons learned and an instructor rode with you at all times. Without that feedback I was just reinforcing bad habits. After the skill drills (slalom, apex, weight transfer, etc.) we got to run as many laps on an autocross course as we wanted or were physically able to. PCA was welcoming to all whether first timers or experienced veterans. In fact I'm signing my wife and son up for the next session.

[Bavarian Motorist]

Wow!! That is exactly what I need.


An all day tryout.

[ChrisZang]

Hi,

yes we like cones out West my first Auto-X ever was literally a "see of cones"
Thank you for the nice remarks about my driving skills
When you ask about the thing on my dash, I guess you mean the windshield, it's the base for my Garmin GPS which I took out of the base for the runs.

Originally Posted by 986 Girl

Batavian Motorist: Oh my! If you do that there -better- be pictures!

ChrisZang: Wow, you guys use a lot of cones on your courses, haha! It's fun to see the differences in things like that between regions. Great run though! I like the way you loosen your hands up several times during the run (at appropriate times), making sure that your grip isn't too tight.

Also, what is that on your dash?

[BobMarley1]

I go to my first AutoX on 3/25 down here in VA, MD.

[Bavarian Motorist]

Originally Posted by BobMarley1

I go to my first AutoX on 3/25 down here in VA, MD.

Good luck w/ it!