first auto-x -- clueless

[Bavarian Motorist]

Ok so... air compressor, gloves, put on my other license plate, try to change my name...and I'm good!


I would like to have someone drive my car, but would I have to sacrifice a run to do that?

[Perfectlap]

I didnt' say swap plates! that's illegal man!! Just cover it up.

Yes you will have to sacrifice your lap. So make sure you get an instructor
that likes to go fast!!

[986 Girl]

The experience and perspective you will gain by riding while someone drives your car will be worth the loss of a run. They will confidently push the car past limits you probably have not considered before.

I was, and still am, floored with the way my instructors handled my vehicle.

[Bavarian Motorist]

Hmm.... I dunno, I mean, you only get like 4 runs, right?

[986 Girl]

Depends on the event, and your region really. I've been to some events where I got 12 runs, and others where I only got 3.

I would suggest doing two runs (the first run to make sure you understand the course, the second to push yourself a little harder), and then try to either get someone to drive your vehicle, or in the very -least- ride with someone else.

[Bavarian Motorist]

I apologize for the questions, but don't you think people would be reluctant to have me ride w/ them in fear of decreasing their time? I weigh a good 275 lbs now, and that's being generous.


Btw, I looked at the results of last week's event and it appears as if there were 6 runs.

This week's event is from the same organization at the same place so I presume it will be the same.

[986 Girl]

Ask all the questions you want In my local region, I'm the assistant to the Novice Chief, so I'm more than happy to help out.

Sometimes you will encounter those who feel that the added weight will ruin their times and thus take them out of the running. Those are not the people you want to ride with anyway.

Hopefully (and again, I can't speak for your region as it isn't even the SCCA, which I'm most familliar with), you will find those people who have been doing this for 20 years and for whom winning is just an added bonus. Those are the guys who are typically the best because they are out having fun and not taking everything so super seriously. If the event offers instructors, they are most likely the ones willing to bring you along (and for my SCCA region, it's technically only the instructors who are allowed to have people ride along... other people are required to get explicit permission from the safety chief).

Don't make the first thing you say to someone "Hey, nice car, can I ride along?" If you are being a proper novice you should be asking numerous questions as you go along from anyone who seems like they know what they are doing. After your secondish run, you should feel a little more comfortable with the people around you, and feel a little more comfortable popping the "big question." And if all else fails, find the person you registered with, teched with, or who did the novice walkthrough (if offered) and ask them if they know anyone who would be willing.

Honestly, I've never ever had a problem getting a ride along. I'm simply honest and upfront "Hey, I'm new to this autocrossing thing, and after having driven a run and seen your driving, I was wondering if I could possibly ride with you once? If you think I'll be a distraction, I completely understand and can try asking someone else."

[Bavarian Motorist]

Damn it. I was going to dress up like a girl, shave my legs, and hold up a big sign asking if I can ride w/ anyone. I guess I will lower my standards to that of a 'proper novice'.


Maybe I will just drive my car as hard as I can and see how much it can take before it spins out. I've never really taken my car to its limits, (though I've tried)


I will ask someone to drive my car when I am there.

[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!