[drivingGiggles]

Welp...it was only a matter of time, but i'm signed up for the first Autox event on March 18th. Car is stock, so (FS)? I read a few things online letting me know to bring painters tape, water, sunscreen, etc. Any other tips or tricks I should know about for this stuff? I'm just wanting to get out and have some fun. I didn't buy this car to Autox, but did want to start more driving events with it. HPDE will probably be next. I'm really excited. :grin

 

[15SuperSport]

You will have a blast. Buy or bring a cheap air tank or compressor and bring a good pressure gauge with you to adjust air pressures if you feel the car understeering(high psi) or see rolling on the sidewalls (low psi) on the front tires. Rears are pretty good at factory psi, but an adjustment between runs might fine tune to your driving style and preference.

Also keep in mind that smooth is fast and sometimes slower is faster. I was pretty rough on the gas pedal when I ran, I needed to be much smoother.

Don't beat yourself up over the results, just make adjustments to the next run based on the last one.

Finally, have fun!

 

[drivingGiggles]

You will have a blast. Buy or bring a cheap air tank or compressor and bring a good pressure gauge with you to adjust air pressures if you feel the car understeering(high psi) or see rolling on the sidewalls (low psi) on the front tires. Rears are pretty good at factory psi, but an adjustment between runs might fine tune to your driving style and preference.

Also keep in mind that smooth is fast and sometimes slower is faster. I was pretty rough on the gas pedal when I ran, I needed to be much smoother.

Don't beat yourself up over the results, just make adjustments to the next run based on the last one.

Finally, have fun!

Bike pump it is.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[stembridge]

I've only run one autox in my SS (ran several with my '15 Honda Fit prior to the SS), and still consider myself to be in 'autox kindergarten,' so flavor my comments with that for context:

Get there early and walk the track as many times as you can before they start. Walk with an experienced driver and ask them to share their strategy for the track setup.

Be mindful that your tire pressure will go up with each run as the tires heat up, so you may need to bleed air.

I did the "two-press" to turn off stability and traction control, but the nanny's will still step in to keep you from getting completely sideways if needed. The long-press turns *everything* off. It was recommended to me to leave some assistance in place the first time out with the SS, and I did feel 'My Little Helper' step in a couple times toward the end of a slalom section.

As stated above, don't bother with your time relative to anyone else's. If you can improve your own time from start to finish, you're learning! It's all about learning the car as well as yourself.

Find one of the faster cars and ask if you can ride with them (they're almost certain to say yes). Then, ask if they will ride with you and offer observations. Things happen so fast that you're brain will be well behind the car and the track the first few runs, and having someone else point out things you're doing wrong will be a huge help.

Finally, drive to the exit of the curve, not the apex, which will take care of itself if you're aiming at the right place.

es

 

[micjester]

I'd also grab a folding lawn chair, a hat and chalk. Lawn chair because there's a lot of standing around and a hat to keep a long day of sun off your head. Chalk to mark the sidewall of your tires at the tread. That way you can play with pressure relative to how much the tire is rolling over.

 

[indyjaco]

My tips:

For the car:

Start at 36 PSI rear and 40 PSI front with the RE050s's drop pressures based on sidewall wear. Make sure you get to all nannies off mode. I turned the heads up display off. Don't worry about shifting unless the track is extremely fast. I did it all in 2nd. You will be in FS, I used painters tape for my numbers. Sit a little further forward as well to help with faster response times. If you have a spare, take it out to save weight and try to have as little fuel in the car as possible.

For the track:

Walk as much as possible, take notes if needed. Visualize your lines and make sure to watch for pointer cones or anything that can be confusing. Make sure to take the novice walk if offered. In general, cutting distance is more important than an extra 2-3 MPH. Adding 10 ft in a corner adds .25 seconds @ 30 MPH.

For you:

Make sure your helmet is within spec (most places have loaners), bring snacks, water, sunscreen, hat & sunglasses. Get signed up with SCCA and be ready to catch the bug. Being a smooth driver is key, don't be afraid to take it easy on the first couple runs to learn the track. Those cones will come at you fast.


Have fun! Our season starts 4-15.

 

[drivingGiggles]

My tips:

For the car:

Start at 36 PSI rear and 40 PSI front with the RE050s's drop pressures based on sidewall wear. Make sure you get to all nannies off mode. I turned the heads up display off. Don't worry about shifting unless the track is extremely fast. I did it all in 2nd. You will be in FS, I used painters tape for my numbers. Sit a little further forward as well to help with faster response times. If you have a spare, take it out to save weight and try to have as little fuel in the car as possible.

For the track:

Walk as much as possible, take notes if needed. Visualize your lines and make sure to watch for pointer cones or anything that can be confusing. Make sure to take the novice walk if offered. In general, cutting distance is more important than an extra 2-3 MPH. Adding 10 ft in a corner adds .25 seconds @ 30 MPH.

For you:

Make sure your helmet is within spec (most places have loaners), bring snacks, water, sunscreen, hat & sunglasses. Get signed up with SCCA and be ready to catch the bug. Being a smooth driver is key, don't be afraid to take it easy on the first couple runs to learn the track. Those cones will come at you fast.


Have fun! Our season starts 4-15.

Great advice! It may be rainy and a little wet so I'll be working on smoothness and good transition technique.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[drivingGiggles]

I had a great time this weekend. I lost to a Master in a camaro ss 1le package by like 1 whole second, but the most important thing is I beat an M3, 5.0 mustang, and killed 6 cones. Even at 45 psi warm the front tires will still rolling over a bit, but they are the original stock and I'm not wanting to keep them too much longer. Smooth was key!!! I took the first round slow at like 54secs then moved to 51secs and then down to the 48 range. Fun fact, the faster you drive the track the more braking zone you need. :grin:

It was tons of fun and thanks everyone for the advice.

- Clean Run

- Killing Cones

 

[Smirnoff67]

Very glad you had fun! Thanks for sharing the videos!

 

[SLA]

Pretty aggressive runs for a first timer.

FWIW, tires will flex. Just because a tire rolls over some, doesn't mean it is losing grip. It'll take time to figure out optimal pressures depending on course and conditions, but it will be worth it.

 

[drivingGiggles]

Thanks, I think. :grin: I tried out several different lines just to understand how different things felt and worked. Looking back now, I think I should get those things understood in the first lap or two and then work on smooth and consistency. There is definitely another 1sec + to be found out there. There was a lot of new going on that day for me so I'm glad I got to show that the holden/ss can do well.

Fun quick story: When I first go to check in there is a little kid, 8ish, helping get people registered. He looks over my car a few times and says, "Are you planning on racing this, I can beat this with a go cart". I told him that is probably true, but I'll be having fun either way. He didn't race his go cart.

 

[Glen H]

When I first go to check in there is a little kid, 8ish, helping get people registered. He looks over my car a few times and says, "Are you planning on racing this, I can beat this with a go cart".

SS will crush a go cart. You should have rolled him for his allowance.

 

[stembridge]

Welp...it was only a matter of time, but i'm signed up for the first Autox event on March 18th. Car is stock, so (FS)?

Looks like you had fun! Did you end up running FS? You can also run CAM-C and STP (SS was added to that class last year), depending on mods, of course.

I'm aiming to run two events this year, first is in early June... in the parking lot where I work. :devil

es

 

[drivingGiggles]

Looks like you had fun! Did you end up running FS? You can also run CAM-C and STP (SS was added to that class last year), depending on mods, of course.

I'm aiming to run two events this year, first is in early June... in the parking lot where I work. :devil

es

Yeah I ran in FS. There was 5 in FS and I think only 1 in Camc and 1 in STP (actually a 2013 modded Caprice I talked with a lot). I would have gone #1 in camc or stp, but finished #2 in FS because of that Master in a Camaro SS 1LE. I don't have any mods so FS seemed to be where I should be. I've got to see how my schedule is looking this year with the family, but I'm going to be back this season for sure. Hopefully April or Nov to escape the heat.

 

[SirShiftAlot]

1st timer
I have springs, lca, toe arms, trailing arms, headers. what class will I be in?

 

[drivingGiggles]

1st timer
I have springs, lca, toe arms, trailing arms, headers. what class will I be in?

Cam-c should work. I think the new arms will get you out of the FS class, but I'm all of 1 autocross event seasoned :grin:

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[bc84]

Wondering if anyone has tried AutoX with a slightly higher stall torque converter. Say 2800-3000? If so how was the experience?

 

[17HWSS]

Thanks, I think. :grin: I tried out several different lines just to understand how different things felt and worked. Looking back now, I think I should get those things understood in the first lap or two and then work on smooth and consistency. There is definitely another 1sec + to be found out there. There was a lot of new going on that day for me so I'm glad I got to show that the holden/ss can do well.

Fun quick story: When I first go to check in there is a little kid, 8ish, helping get people registered. He looks over my car a few times and says, "Are you planning on racing this, I can beat this with a go cart". I told him that is probably true, but I'll be having fun either way. He didn't race his go cart.

The fast times at our local events are almost always a couple of guys with go carts!