First AutoX, any advice?

[BigCars4Ever]

The Martin AutoX club is having an event in my neck of the woods this Sunday. Any advice from the old hands on everything. I've heard everything from "if it's not part of the car it can't be on the track... including floor mats and spare" to expect to replace your brakes. What are the do's and don'ts of AutoX?

[HwyCruiser]

Search for posts by wesman on the subject, I think he did quite well with his prepped Marauder on autocross and road courses. Brake, suspension, and tire upgrades go a long way to making any car competitive, but you'll have a blast testing the limits of a stock Marauder.

A few tips I can offer is to push your side mirrors all the way out and turn the rear-view mirror so it is parallel to your line of sight for better visibility. Twist the seat belt catch a couple of times just before you buckle it in to keep you in the seat and make sure your helmet strap is tight. Practice hand-to-hand steering (vs. hand-over-hand) so you have a lesser chance of loosing grip on the wheel.

Also, take some chalk with you and mark a few spots on all four tires where the tread and sidewall meet to find out how much tire pressure you should be running. If your rubbing the chalk off the sidewalls on the course then your air pressure is too low. I found 45 psi was about right on the stock tires. Having a small tank-less air compressor that plugs into the cig lighter is pretty handy for any track event.

At the events I been to everyone works the track chasing after cones between their designated heats. Pick the later heats so you can work the track early and pick a spot to work that is near the tight turns so you can watch what everyone else is doing.

Have fun, keep your wits about you and keep off the cones.

[Hotrauder]

Relax, drive the snot out of it and have fun. You will amazed what that great big hunk of iron can do. Practice your threshold breaking a little. You will not believe how good your brakes are until you start working at later and later braking prior to turn in. Remember, no coasting. There is only power down and braking. Brake straight and power through the apex and unwind. Enjoy all those little car guys watching your beast run. Dennis:burnout:

[BigCars4Ever]

Thanks for the tips. I have an old seat belt buckle I was going to put on the lap belt to keep my but in the seat. I'll borrow a small compressor and run the tires on the high side. I like that suggestion. I'm runing the Eibach fronts and I haven't put the new tires on yet or done the alignment so I have lots of camber. I'm hoping the extra camber and lack of treads really help me keep the front end planted. The addco in the rear won't hurt either.
Wish I had an Atom to tear around the track with. That episode of Top Gear was awsome!

[Vortech347]

My merc auto-x's best with 55psi in the fronts and 40 in the rear. Note: this is for the course i'm doing its very tight and a 1st gear course. On a more open course I do about 50psi fronts and keep the rears at the usuall 35.

Make sure you also have a good time and don't worry about getting the fastest time. If ya do you'll get frustrated, overdrive, and not enjoy yourself. Relax on the first 2 runs then once you know the course drive it like you stole it....

Also walk the course. I usually walk it at least 2-3 laps.

I'll be auto-xing myself sunday and teaching the wife. Pray for my safety

[BK_GrandMarquis]

I like to manually shift the car. Leaving the car in 2nd doesn't give me a good launch. Leaving the car in drive and the car is constantly searching between 2nd and third.

Keep your attention way down the course. Try not to concentrate on the gate that is coming up and look down 2-3 of them. It helps you setup for turns better.

Walk the course as many times as you can. Start off taking it easy and learn the course. As you get more comfortable, start pushing harder. You don't want to screw up the first few runs, it'll throw you off and if you go off course, it'll be harder to figure out when your going faster later.

I've seen people drive through the course properly when they were with an instructor, when they ran on their own, they had no idea where to go and went off course run after run.

Most importantly, HAVE FUN!!! ;)

[DEFYANT]

Smooth is fast!

There is some quality advise ^^^^ here!

Sit up in the seat, keep your eyes up and down range (as mentioned). Watch your breathing and beaware of tunnel vision. Look at where you want the car to go, and that is where it will go. If you look right, the car will go to the right. Resist the urge to look at (whatever) is on the side of the road.

Smooth is fast!

Use the 3 - 9 o'clock position on the steering wheel and shuffle steer. No hand over hand!

Smooth is fast!

Watch your foot placement. Plant your heel and move the top of your foot between the pedals.

Did I mention: Smooth is fast?

[BigCars4Ever]

Wow, 55psi! I guess there is a definite learning curve. So here is may plan:
1) Start with the fronts at 50 and the rears at 40.
2) Write a new shift schedule that won't go into 3rd untill 70mph and let the car downshift earlier back into first.
3) Grab the lap belt buckle I have and put it on my seat belt to keep myself in the seat.
4) Try not fixate on the immediate corner and plan my entries and exits like a pool player setting up his shots.
5) Walk the course and plan a strategy.
6) Smooth is fast

[wesman]

That pretty much covers it. Practice makes perfect, so if you can find a spot where you won't bother any one, trying pushing your car to the limit. In front of a crowd is not the time to learn when your car wants to swap ends.

[shakes_26]

ditto.

Look through the turn, doing this, things will 'slow down' for you, you'll be better able to react.

I'd say the most important is to learn the layout, walk the course, if you can see the layout in your head...you are way ahead! If there is a vantage poitn so you cna see the course from above, this helps to visualize it.

For me autocross is a sea of cones, a sea of evil cones. My car usually tries to eat one..or more.

[jdando]

I have not autocrossed yet, but here are my thoughts;

If possible do a ride along with an instructor/pro.

OD off

If you have a "tune" put it in D and do not shift yourself

Assuming you get 3 runs, be very conservative the first run and get a time in the bank. Avoid the cones and time penalties, also learn the course.

Get a comfortable driving position that does not lock out your elbows during turning. This will probably be closer than your typical road driving position.

Get your seatbelt to lock you in so you do not slide around. This can be done by; seat all the way back and reclined, then snug the belt on your waist, then lock inertia lock by pulling on chest strap, move seat forward and vertical while not loosing the "lock" on the seatbelt. Now your belt is locked and hopefully holding you firmly in place.

Have fun.

Have fun.

Have fun.

Post the follow-up report!!!!


jeremy