Anyone here into autocross?

[tcG]

I started going to local events here a few months ago and have really enjoyed it. For an entry fee typically under $50, you get to drive your car at the limit on a course in tight competition with other drivers. I have gone to 7 events so far and seeing the times tumble and the increases in my driving skill has been very rewarding. The only thing I regret is not doing it sooner, as I had erroneously thought I couldn't autocross an automatic. Turns out you can!

I definitely encourage anybody who is remotely interested in learning to drive properly to check out their local SCCA chapter to see what's going on in your area. BMW and Porsche clubs also put on events. It's a very accessible form of motorsport.

I'm fortunate enough to be in an area with pretty stiff regional competition so I have a good benchmark for any improvement. Right now I'm running my stock 1997 Nissan 240SX on all-season tires and the limiting factor is definitely my driving. Currently working on looking ahead, braking earlier, and sticking to the racing line.

What has been your experience with autocross? Do you like it? Are you fast?

 

[jlee]

I'm generally better on a track than autocross...I have a hard time memorizing the route through the cones, since everything basically looks the same. It's fun, though.

 

[RayH]

Drove my first autocross last year after having only driven road courses in the past. Definitely a big difference in skills involved.

 

[Midwayman]

It fun driving. My issue was always with being there all day for a cumulative couple minutes of seat time. Maybe its better in smaller areas? I like track days more since you get a ton more seat time even if it costs more. I did a couple autocross schools where you got a lot more runs and those were more entertaining.

 

[thedarkwolf]

I did it pretty regularly for a couple years but haven't been for about 2 years. I damaged something in the valvetrain in my miata at the last event I went too and I've been extremely lazy about fixing it. It is fun but I was starting to get burnt out. At most of our events you would get 8 runs normally and for those 8 runs you would stand around for 6 to 8 hours in the sun.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

I've been a few times. Straight murdered those damn cones. By the time I get the track memorized it's time to go home.

There was one occasion where the turnout was sparse and got to do laps without the lengthy wait times. HUGE improvement. I must have the memory of a goldfish. If it isn't practiced repeatedly and in rapid succession it's gone.

I really want to try rallycross.

 

[Fenixgoon]

loved autocross when i did it. met a lot of great people - not just great drivers. i'd say i'm an ok driver. i was towards the back of the pack while my car, in the hands of great drivers, could do about middle of the pack (stock and on street tires). top of the pack was AC cobras, turbo miatas, etc.

track days are technically more monetarily efficient, whereas the autocross i did was a bit more social in nature. two different beasts, both tons of fun.

 

[tcG]

Fastest run from last Sunday (more details in description):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3uTjtpMIXE

 

[tcG]

loved autocross when i did it. met a lot of great people - not just great drivers. i'd say i'm an ok driver. i was towards the back of the pack while my car, in the hands of great drivers, could do about middle of the pack (stock and on street tires). top of the pack was AC cobras, turbo miatas, etc.

track days are technically more monetarily efficient, whereas the autocross i did was a bit more social in nature. two different beasts, both tons of fun.

Yep, I enjoy the social aspect and the fact that it is basically a car show as well. Even working a corner is fun because I get to see how other drivers handle the course. If I didn't enjoy the whole thing seat time would be an issue.

8 runs... hahaha. At the last event I attended we had 180+ registrants and only got 4 runs each. As much as I have an unqualified fondness for the sport, only getting 4 runs did make me question my entry fee.

 

[thomsbrain]

I've only done track driving, but one of our local track promoters also does noncompetitive auto-x in the parking lots during some of the track days, and that has been tempting as it's super cheap and they get unlimited runs with super short wait times (like you're running every couple minutes). Track driving is about riding a knife edge of slip angle, and auto-x looks like it lets you play around and throw the car around a lot more without worrying about consequences.

The competitive auto-x doesn't look like it would be as fun due to working corners and all the class rules. But I guess if you're looking to compete, it's the cheapest and easiest way to legally race, and you can take it all the way to a national level if you want.

 

[Midwayman]

8 runs... hahaha. At the last event I attended we had 180+ registrants and only got 4 runs each. As much as I have an unqualified fondness for the sport, only getting 4 runs did make me question my entry fee.

Yah, that's pretty much my local scene. IIRC it was almost always two morning and two afternoon runs. They'd basically run each class through twice and then you'd go work.

 

[thescreensavers]

I do autox quite often, I go to Fort Myers for it they got a big airport runway plenty of room to go wild with

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFr8l7Z_aQQ

Thats the latest one from that event that I record.

Ive also done a track day, really love it but its expensive.

Unfortunately the subaru is gone, saving up for a new car

 

[shabby]

Been doing it for around 8 years now, haven't gotten tired of it yet, except for changing the tires everytime. Which reminds me i need to order some new hoosiers, old ones are corded.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

I'll be doing my first ever event at the end of this month. It looks like a lot of fun and I can't wait to try it out in my 2013 Accord. lol

 

[cbrsurfr]

I've only done one auto-x during the drivers school at mid-ohio. It was fun but was a very short track.

I prefer full tracks as I can learn the lines, spend more time on track, manage traffic, pass people, and go back time and time again.

 

[tcG]

Bump

Autocross day this Sunday.

 

[Raizinman]

Make sure to raise your tire pressure to about the maximum inflation pressure stamped on the tire. It will definitely help you in the turns.

 

[Billb2]

Make sure to raise your tire pressure to about the maximum inflation pressure stamped on the tire. It will definitely help you in the turns.

Use a tire temperature gauge (with a probe that you stick into the rubber) to determine the correct tire pressure. You're looking for getting the largest part of the tire over 180-200°f. Of course changing camber will have a massive effect.

 

[Raizinman]

With so many of todays cars having OEM horsepower of over 400 and 500 or more, it becomes very fun to take these muscle machines to the autocross. But beware, my last time there I saw a 1966 Corvair Monza (140 Horsepower) beating everybody on the track. It's not always horsepower that will win the race.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Make sure to raise your tire pressure to about the maximum inflation pressure stamped on the tire. It will definitely help you in the turns.

are you sure about that?

my understanding was you wanted your tires as low as possible without rolling onto the sidewalls.

even in regular track days guys run their tires "low" - for the tires on my motorcycle the recommended pressure is 42 rear 36 front for street use, but for track situations it's 28 rear 30 front

 

[jlee]

Make sure to raise your tire pressure to about the maximum inflation pressure stamped on the tire. It will definitely help you in the turns.

It's a bit more complicated than that.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=58

 

[thesmokingman]

It's a bit more complicated than that.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=58

It may be however on an autox course, high psi is the way to go in most cases especially since speeds are so low that you can't get temps up.

Btw, look what they say about DOT tires.

The Hoosier Radials can wear unevenly if underflated and seem to work best at much higher pressures, such as the mid 30s to as high as 50 psi.

 

[tcG]

Make sure to raise your tire pressure to about the maximum inflation pressure stamped on the tire. It will definitely help you in the turns.

Also, charge your cell phone in the microwave, right?

 

[Raizinman]

Also, charge your cell phone in the microwave, right?

Your goal when setting the tire pressures on your car for Autocrossing should be to maximize tire grip. There is a tire PSI pressure that will give you peak grip. If you have your tires set above or below that PSI pressure you will have less than optimum grip.

If you are currently running below the optimum pressure you will increase grip as you raise tire PSI. Once you've passed the optimum point, grip will decrease as you raise PSI.

This happens because, at much less than optimum pressure, you are allowing the sidewall to come in contact with the pavement. The rubber of the sidewall is not compounded for grip, it is compounded for durability and UV resistance. Also, a sidewall that is rolling over will tend to pull the opposite side of the tread off the pavement, losing grip.

If you over inflate past the peak, you begin to balloon out the center of the tread, and it will remain ballooned out even as the sidewall rolls under cornering.

Sometimes it takes a video camera to see what your tires are doing going around a curve. For the most part overinflating your tires to the maximum inflation pressure stamped on the tire is a very good starting point.

Posting autocross questions on a mainly IT board will only get you theories from want-a-be car racers. You are best to Google Autocross Tire Recommendations and read pretty much what I pulled off their boards and posted here.

 

[thedarkwolf]

I don't get why everybody wants to argue with you. You are pretty much right. I did old chalk on the side walls trick to help figure out my pressure which are higher than I normally run. Maybe the guys on all out race tires can get away with low pressure but everybody on street tires quickly learn to run higher pressures to keep off the sidewalls.