My Friend signed me up for Autocross - HELP!

[Civic06SiR]

I've never done this before and my friend suprisingly signed me up for autocross this weekend. He paid all the expenses so it's really a free trip. I don't really know anything about autocross, let alone, the school is designed for BMW so I will be the only Honda there. Are there requirements on mods, do you have to have certain type of ties? I'm currently rolling on 18", 225/40/18 with Tein S tech lowering springs. Do I need anything else? I have CAI, DCRH, and reflash, would they not allow me to run my car? Any advice would be appreciated.


National Capital Chapter, BMW CCA

If you view this link, you will see a 2005 Honda Civic, that's me....but it's actually a 2006 Civic SI!

[udumkid]

Originally Posted by Civic06SiR

I've never done this before and my friend suprisingly signed me up for autocross this weekend. He paid all the expenses so it's really a free trip. I don't really know anything about autocross, let alone, the school is designed for BMW so I will be the only Honda there. Are there requirements on mods, do you have to have certain type of ties? I'm currently rolling on 18", 225/40/18 with Tein S tech lowering springs. Do I need anything else? I have CAI, DCRH, and reflash, would they not allow me to run my car? Any advice would be appreciated.


National Capital Chapter, BMW CCA

If you view this link, you will see a 2005 Honda Civic, that's me....but it's actually a 2006 Civic SI!

Let me drive Sam...

[Gonzo]

You should be ok. Manufacturer events like that are pretty lax on other car's restrictions from what I have heard.

Air up your tires if they aren't hardcore performance tires. You'll want to keep them from rolling over too much. I would start with 40 up front and 35 in the rear as a vague ball park for street tires.

Other than that, I'd try to get an experienced driver to run with you, hopefully one who drives lots of cars and has experience with FWD. They'll have invaluable input. They can axe bad habits right from the get go and tell you things you need to work on or teach you initial concepts newbies don't often know.

Go out there and don't be nervous. Try to have fun! Show up early. Try to meet up with people and ask questions. Hopefully everyone is chill. At SCCA events in DC people are really cool for the most part. Hopefully it will be the same there.

How many runs do you get?


Oh yeah, and don't forget to turn off the stability control.

[Civic06SiR]

I have a 06 so no TSA. Just found out my friend is teaching the class, he's going to let me take a few runs in my car and then in his track M3. I've seen his car and it's full race...roll cage, totally stripped...everything lightweight....amazing vehicle.

[Gonzo]

Get him to drive your car a few times. His car is going to be waaaaay different. You'll have a blast riding in it, but will probably learn more if you ride shotgun in your own. Pay particular attention to how he approaches corners and where he turns in. Turn in on slaloms is crucial. Early and light movements.

When driving always be looking ahead. If you are looking down the track your brain with be constantly preparing for the next turn. If you're only looking at the corner in front of your, they will keep surprising you.

Do a course walk in the morning. Get your friend to explain how oyu decide which cones are important. There are lots you can just ignore all together. For many corners you often only have to focus on one entry, one apex, and one exit cone. Sometimes even fewer, occasionally more.

Remember a course is several obstacles strung together. It is not like you start one, finish it, then start another. You are constantly negotiating. Always be aware how you exit one corner will determine how you enter the next.

[Civic06SiR]

Originally Posted by Gonzo

Get him to drive your car a few times. His car is going to be waaaaay different. You'll have a blast riding in it, but will probably learn more if you ride shotgun in your own. Pay particular attention to how he approaches corners and where he turns in. Turn in on slaloms is crucial. Early and light movements.

When driving always be looking ahead. If you are looking down the track your brain with be constantly preparing for the next turn. If you're only looking at the corner in front of your, they will keep surprising you.

Do a course walk in the morning. Get your friend to explain how oyu decide which cones are important. There are lots you can just ignore all together. For many corners you often only have to focus on one entry, one apex, and one exit cone. Sometimes even fewer, occasionally more.

Remember a course is several obstacles strung together. It is not like you start one, finish it, then start another. You are constantly negotiating. Always be aware how you exit one corner will determine how you enter the next.

Thanks, I am going to pay attention to everything. He's taken me out for a drive in his race M3 on street roads, that thing is so loud. His racing seats hold you like a condom and the sounds is just crazy. He usually rocks out to techno while he drives at the track. He's flipped his M3 twice, no more...he's a really good driver.

[Gonzo]

And just remember to have fun. There will be times you'll get confused, nervous, and maybe feel stupid but everyone has been there. Turning on your wipers, honking your horn, spinning out, eating cones, these are things that happen.

There will be a ton to learn and absorb but don't obsess over it too much. Just have a blast, that is important when you're first starting out. Plenty of time to get angry and frustrated when you're a seasoned competitor.

I can guarantee you'll drive home from the event, eat dinner, and fall asleep thinking about your runs and how you can improve. I know I did.

Not to sound like Obi-Wan or something but you also get the fun of knowing you're taking your first steps into really learning how to drive your car. You can apply that knowledge any time you get behind your car or any other. Whether you're driving spiritedly, just motoring about, or defensively driving.

[Civic06SiR]

Originally Posted by Gonzo

And just remember to have fun. There will be times you'll get confused, nervous, and maybe feel stupid but everyone has been there. Turning on your wipers, honking your horn, spinning out, eating cones, these are things that happen.

There will be a ton to learn and absorb but don't obsess over it too much. Just have a blast, that is important when you're first starting out. Plenty of time to get angry and frustrated when you're a seasoned competitor.

I can guarantee you'll drive home from the event, eat dinner, and fall asleep thinking about your runs and how you can improve. I know I did.

Not to sound like Obi-Wan or something but you also get the fun of knowing you're taking your first steps into really learning how to drive your car. You can apply that knowledge any time you get behind your car or any other. Whether you're driving spiritedly, just motoring about, or defensively driving.

Thanks, but right after I'm heading out to the club. The track ends at like 4 and I have to be in DC by 5 for a formal dinner then out clubbing.

[Gonzo]

Haha, that is a busy day. Make sure you get plenty of sleep the night before. Granted my first autox event was many many runs and hours of driving, I was absolutely done afterward.

[Civic06SiR]

Would it be a good idea to swap my wheels with stock wheels?

[Gonzo]

Are they sporting tires of similar performance?

If so I'd say yes. Wheels will generally get scuffed at autocrosses. I have white painted wheels so they get it pretty bad. Applying two coats of a wax made specifically for wheels helps a lot though.

Either way your wheels may very well try to salad shoot a cone (as I've come to call it) so be prepared to clean them thoroughly once you get home. Being able to clean them off the car is a bonus so if you can avoid running your daily's do it.

If they are wearing stock all seasons that is going to hold you back quite a bit. For your first time out though that isn't too big a deal.

[ameuba10]

im just scared of cones messing up my cars paint, and etc.

[ethlar]

start slow, learn the lines, then you can start going quicker around. dont try to take it quick on your first run through.

[Gonzo]

For cones messing up your paint, apply painters tape.

Get a hold of a cone if you can. Tape everywhere there is paint on your bumper up to the top of the cone. Do the same to the sides. The rear you don't really have to worry about.

The front bumper is plastic and flexes to absorb the impact nicely. The side skirts are metal and don't take kindly to harsh impacts. Almost all the cone hits slide along the surface. However at an autocross school I lifted the throttle while at the limit and the car rotated around. I sideswiped a group of cones. Yes, they did put a dent in my side skirt area. That's pretty rare though. (I think I hit a laying down code sideways, so basically the stiff base cut sideways like a knife into the metal. If it had been standing up it would have likely just folded. Again, rare occurrence.)

Know that yeah, your car can get a little beat up running into cones. However if you tape up your car properly you shouldn't really have a problem. Anyone giving you shit for having tape on your car they probably has a beater and don't care much for its appearance.

Autocross is the safest way to really drive a car like it is meant to be driven. Those dents did suck, but never getting to drive my car like that would suck more.

Originally Posted by ethlar

start slow, learn the lines, then you can start going quicker around. dont try to take it quick on your first run through.

Good advice. No one will think badly of a newbie taking it easy their first run. You're inexperienced, timid, and need to learn the course. If you don't know the course and try to go fast you'll end up going the wrong way fast. Oh, and don't miss the course walk...

At my first practice event I was a full 5 seconds slower on my first run compared to my second. I just wanted to make sure I had the basic course layout down.

[nayilsi]

I think roughly hand drawing the track on a piece of paper
would be a good idea .... paying xtra attn to tight turns

[friedk]

I like to think of my cone damage as..battle scars.

[Civic06SiR]

aahh this was a bust. I woke up half an hour before it started and it takes me an hour to get there. Damn that totally sucks

[20strong]

If I was your buddy I wouldbe pissed that you couldnt set an alarm.

[Gonzo]

Damn, sucks dude. Set two alarms next time.

My first practice event I woke up over an hour after I was supposed to. I arrived with 4 minutes to tech my car and register. It was a bad morning but I did make it and it was a good, albeit wet, event.

[Civic06SiR]

Woot, got 7th place, haha beat some of those M3s.