Anyone have any advice for a 1st time auto x er?

I have 2 victoracers and will run 2 street tires..
Where do they go ?
What pressure?
Anything im missing?

Thanks
Jonathan

 

first time. there is not much advice until you go a few times. Go and just drive and have a blast really. Find out the limits of your car and your skill.

On your 2nd-3rd time etc is when you start tuning ur car for autox. like autox cambers, tire pressure, suspension settings etc. And to know what you your doing right or wrong, mount a camera and compare your runs.

The key to fast times in autox is to be smooth. just remember autox isn't a drag race, look ahead before the turns come up and watch your speed accordingly.

 

Put the R compound tires up front, but be prepared to control the oversteer. The grip will help more up front in my mind.

Mike

 

try not to get lost in the track.... heheh i did on my first run, i ended up going backwards hhahaha , but any way key point to auto x is to have fun a test your driving limits of the car, .. who cares if u get a messed up time

hope you enjoy it

 

Don't mix your tires, it makes the car unbalanced and unpredictable. Best is to run w/ street tires and when you're maxed out then go R-compount.

1) Go early and walk the course a few times
2) Identify your lines and remember key braking/turn-in points
3) Pace out slalom cones, they're not always equi-distance
4) Crouch down sometimes when walking the course, it gives you a perspective of the cones that is similar to what you see from your car
5) Don't overdrive
6) Slow in/Fast out
7) Look ahead....not just 2 cones but 3-4 gates ahead, it'll prepare you for how to attack that section
8) When in doubt, talk to senior drivers (or ride w/ them if the event steward allows). Most of them are super friendly
9) Have fun and don't try to be the best first time out. If you end up near the top great, if not there's always next time

WRT tires, depends on sidewall stiffness. I run V700 from 34 to 36 psi. When I run street compounds (S-02 PP) I run 38-42 psi for a more nimble feel.

 

My advice..

Go slow to go fast. The smoother you are, the faster your time will be. It doesn't help to fishtail around every corner.

Other advice, Either be on the throttle, or on the brake..no "coasting". Your brakes can stop you a lot faster then you think. Brake later then you think you should.

Other advice, walk the course as much as you can, and pay attention. Look ahead to where you would be looking if you were driving. Then, when in the grid, close your eyes and run yourself through the course. It sounds silly..but it works.

Something else, turn your mirrors in. If you think you hit a cone, you'll want to look in your mirror to find out. You'll be able to pay attention to the course ahead of you instead of what is behind you.

Otherwise, with the tire pressure. Ask some other racers how to pull this one off, but what you do, is check your tire pressure on all four tires before you leave the house (while the tires are cold). Match them all, if nessecary, then when you get to the track...the racers will be able to help you out. Mark the "corners" of the tire with shoe polish. Then make a run, and adjust your tire pressure accordingly. The other people will help you with if you should add or release pressure. After your run, the shoe polish will be scrubbed off on the parts that are making contact with the racing surface, it should just roll over edge of the tread.


I also suggest you do the fan mod, and have your fan on while in the grids. And if you can help it, don't put your ebrake on just after a run (or use foot brake when at standstill). You brakes will be able to properly cool themselves better.

 

where are you going?

 

Yeah...For this first time, just go out and have some fun. Main thing you need to worry about is not getting lost in the course. Walk through it many times and at least ONCE, walk through it by yourself and then try to draw the course out on your hand. Theyll have little things called "pointer cones" which well attempt to help you see where to go.

Dont worry if you get lost or spoinout. Everyone was a novice at one point.