Ok, who do I need to talk to in order to know what I am suppose to do?
I need a helmet, license, and class.

What is a really good helmet under $500. I was looking over the helmet thread and I know I can get a good one for under this. I want it to be really good though, protect the nogin

License for autox is basically a pay $55 or whatever and that's it, right?

Classing. I have not paid attention to classes when modding my car so I figure I am in a "run whatcha brung" class.

Any and all help is greatly greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Bryan

 

If you're talking about an SCCA license, then, no, you don't need a SCCA competition license. That's for club racing and other wheel-to-wheel events. Unless you plan on trading paint ....

Most auto-x clubs let any 2000+ rated helmet suffice. I auto-x and time trial with an MA2000 (motorcycle helmet), and I get zero grief about it. If you're willing to spend on a helmet, it is in your best interests to get an SA rated helmet (meant for cars) ... but for cheap guys like me, the bargain buy at the local cycle shop is okay.

SCCA membership is I think $55/year. You don't need it to compete locally. It's when you enter National Tours/Divisionals/Nationals that you'll be required to have it. Most clubs have a membership fee for the year, which will usually discounts your entry fees (for each event). Although, having an SCCA membership allows you to work SCCA regional races (road courses) ... give you an opportunity to score some free road race rubber.

For classing, check out this link:

http://mouton.best.vwh.net/sccasolo/

It should answer most of your questions about classing. I'll make this part easy for you though ... if you have a PowerFC (or any other type of boost control device), you're in either AP or SM2. Good luck and have some fun. It's addicting ...

 

Thanks for the quick response. I have been reviewing the SCCA website under the Solo II (autox) and it looks like a ton of fun. Their space on classing is very limited and therefore not very informative. I appreciate the link though. That helps out tremedously. Where do I sign up for a membership? Is it on the SCCA website but I am just missing it?
Thanks again for the help!

 

redrotor beat me to it. Only thing I would add is to go to www.autocross.com and find a club near you to contact.

As for what class you would be in you can find out when you get there if you are not sure. Fact is when you are just starting you are going to get creamed so don't worry about it, it's still loads of fun!

Redrotor, see you in Houston for the Tour?

 

I read that I could sign up for a few times just as "novice". Does this mean that I will not be put into a particular class but rather just race against other novices?

Placing does not matter to me at this point in time. I just want to get some good seat time and experience.

Also, I printed out the membership form so I just turn that in to them when I go to my first event right? I don't need to send it somewhere?

Thanks for the advice and links!

 

Where can I find a schedule of events that I can participate in? Is this what I need to be looking at?

http://www.atl-scca.org/soloII/rungroups.htm

Sorry for all the questions. I feel like such a newb

 

Typically the novices race eachother with varying time handicaps on the car. For instance a Honda Civic may have a slower time than you yet win because your handicap means you have to be MUCH faster than him. They guys at the course will set you straight on all that.

As for your other questions just look for some contact info for your local club and call or email them! They will be very happy to handle all your questions I am sure.

 

Bryan,
Bring the filled-out form to the next event. If you join the SCCA at an event, they waive your entry fee that day! There's a novice school on May 31 that would be a perfect first event.

There are loaner helmets if you don't have one of your own but they can be kinda nasty.

The link you posted is the correct link for the Atlanta schedule this year.

You can run in the novice class until you trophy. After that, you'll have to figure out what class your car, with your mods, would fit into. The novice class cars are issued numbers at each event so you needn't worry about that. Some masking tape would be a good item to bring so you can tape the paper numbers to yuor car.

I think the oldest acceptable helmets are actually the Snell '95 rating. It's the current and two previous snell specs. Check out Discovery Motorsports for good deals on helmets. He's a local guy who started out autocrossing, then road racing, then quit his job to start selling gear. Good guy to buy from.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

cory

 

Where can I find this guy? his business? I want to try on different helmets if at all possible before purchasing one.

Also, what about these events posted:
http://www.apexbenefits.biz/2002_area_events1.htm

What does it mean to trophy? I don't care if I get put into my respective class because I am not shooting to win anything. I just want good seat time.

Thanks for all your help!

 

Well, you could do a search for discovery motorsports on google. But it's discoveryparts.com. He's got a trailer he brings to events (he's at Sebring this week) and you can try on sizes until you find one that fits your lid.

Those events were great. It's an old page for 2002.

Trophy would be a podium finish...if we had a podium. It's actually more than three positions, I think. I've never gotten one though so I' not sure.

CW

 

Yep. I'll be there. We're currently debating how we're going to do it. I have a co-driver now ... I know, asking for trouble, two driver RX-7. There is the other option ... two driver Camaro.

Bryan, in Novice, you will be paxed. You class has a weight factor which, in essence, evens out the playing field. From your signature, it looks like you'll be running SM2. That means you'd have to beat a, say, a stock WRX, by at least 3.5 seconds. That's a lifetime in auto-x terms. But, it's still fun anyhow ... where else do you get to push your car to the absolute limit without having to worry about putting it into a wall/tree/curb/ditch?

 

Is the GF Force 1 SA2000 rated?

http://www.discoveryparts.com/cgi-bi...roduct=helmets

Thanks a lot everyone for your help. I am going to start at the novice school at the end of May. Can't wait!

 

you realize you can get a perfectly good helmet off of EBAY for like 20 bucks right???

 

Jeez, really you just need a car, and a DL. and like 25 bucks for the entry fee.

most clubs have loaner helmets.

When you really get into it, there are so many things you could use....

allignment
tires
etc

Biggest HELP would be to take extra time walking the course and visualize it over and over. Try and walk with the fastest guy, or a long time Vet. to get the right line. Lots of newbie's come with nice cars, but can never finish, and drive around like a chicken without their heads. totally memorize every turn, that will help, don't stick the map to your dash and try and follow it during your run.

walk the course 3 or 4 times. With more experience you will not need to take this amount of time....when you watch autox's the guys getting lost are usually novices.

 

definitely go to the novice school coming up, all the guys there are experienced and skilled drivers who are also very nice guys. they can answer just about any question you have for them and will walk the course with you to help you plan out your route. MEMORIZE THE COURSE! sign up for the e-list and you'll get a course map sent to you a couple days prior to each event. umm, bring a tire pressure gauge, sunblock, water, and anything else you don't think you could go without in an entire day. you really don't need a full-face helmet. in fact that may hurt your driving as it adversely affects your view. i find the sweaty ones they provide for me are alright. however, i've got an old dirtbike helmet that i might use, if it's approved. mike shoop races his r1 almost every time, so you may want to get in touch with him and ask him some questions. i look forward to seeing you and your rx7 out there, good luck.

 

You can probably buy cleaned-up used condoms too if you look for them but do you trust them?
I'm sure most of these used helmets are just fine but you never know herer they've been and helmets are ony good for ONE (1) impact and you can't always tell if they've had that impact already.
If you've got a twenty dollar head, go for it.

Cory Waters
currently values his head at $114 with tax included but looking to upgrade...

 

Nice post Cory but on the condom thing

I have talked to the guys at discovery motorsports and I think I am going to get one from them. I need a full helmet because I will be racing a 01 mr2 convertable as well (ever now and then).

Thanks for all the help and hope to see you all out there! Let me know when you all are going and we could meet up or something.

Bryan