Exactly wrong. You never want to push to the limits on the street, especially around here (just noticed the location) where all of the Good Roads are clogged with joggers, cyclists, horsey-types, and 30mph speed limit signs.

Plus, screwing around on roads does not equate to autocross driving very much.

 

^ Exactly, it's dangerous and irresponsible to push that hard on public roads, you never know what's around the next corner, a slow truck, a broken down car, a deer, whatever. DON'T DO IT. ALWAYS leave some in reserve.

A good tip would be to leave your ego at home, it does you no good on the track, at the autocross or on public roads, even if you're a superstar driver.

 

a couple tips I would give u are:

just have fun remember if u are there to win u may try to hard and mess up
remember going off the couse sucks but everyone has and/or will do it dont be affraid you HAVE to learn to push your car just to the edge of spinning at times in order to get everything out of it

seat time is very important just hit as many evenets as u can and enjoy yourself

tires are a VERY important part as well and a good sound suspension. I recomend the Falken Azenias for tires

good seats ACTUALLY help in keeping yoru body planted so u can drive better if your seats are torn or bulsters broke get new seats. leather sucks get something that will hodl u in tight.

other then that just go out and have a blast!!!!!

 

My $0.02

Seat time is important, but much more important is what you are doing mentally why you are there. Your focus should be on observing yourself and figuring out what you can change to better archive your goals.

In the beginning your goal should be improving your technique, upshifting, downshifting, steering inputs, hand position. If your are new to pushing your car the first thing you have to learn to work with is yourself.

Once you get that down move toward being as smooth as possible. Your goal is to make all your inputs flow. This doesn't mean doing everything slowly, just smoothly.

Once you have that down now you can work on entering and exiting corners with more speed. Timing, track position, speed.

If you find when you are driving that you have no spare attention to observe yourself, then you are pushing too hard. This is fine for a run or two but don't make a habit out of it. There is a difference between thinking you are driving fast and actually driving fast. The end goal is to drive in your comfort zone, and through education raise your comfort zone until it surpasses the cars abilities.

 

Read a book.

"Secrets of SOLO RACING, Expert techniques for Autocross & Time Trials"
by Henry A Watts.
ISBN # 0-9620573-1-2

it's about $14.95 and is a great reference.

 

^ I have that book. Great read.

 

If you're too nervous that you might mess up, mess up right on the start! That will take the pressure off

My first time i spun out on the 2nd corner (had just exited the pits) doing 30 on a tight u-turn.. it was tighter then i though... Wasent stressed out anymore

Also, go with some one that you know and is a "regular" at the track. Either have him has a co-pilot (and he will keep telling you to slow down) or if he has a "similar" car, follow him from a safe distance... you´ll learn braking points and lines alot faster..