autocross

[ken k]

Anyone ever run a car in a SCCA solo autocross?

They are having one here in Reading next Saturday and I just signed up for it. Always wanted to run one just for kicks, so i figured what the hey.

k

[Rick Denney]

Anyone ever run a car in a SCCA solo autocross?

They are having one here in Reading next Saturday and I just signed up for it. Always wanted to run one just for kicks, so i figured what the hey.

k

Yes, but it's been nearly 30 years. I started in H-stock with a 1976 Toyota Corolla. Then, I hot-rodded it, and moved to E-prepared. Then, I turned it into a road-race car, and moved to C-Modified. I even spent part of a year racing oval tracks in the Texas International Driver's Association Pony Pro series. The result of all that was some great experiences, a broken car, and a big balance on my credit card. I sold the roller and haven't looked back. But I have no regrets.

Rick "now scratching that itch with this:" Denney

[windshieldbug]

Go early. Walk the course before things get started, so you get a clear idea of the way to go and the angles involved.

Autocrosses are the epitome of long periods of boredom punctuated by brief moments of extreme excitement!



but have fun, and beware; this can become addicting!

[Rick Denney]

Go early. Walk the course before things get started, so you get a clear idea of the way to go and the angles involved.

The best advice I ever got about driving was to drive the course rather than letting the course drive you.

For example, if you have a curve to the left followed by a curve to the right, the second curve is usually the problem. I would take the first curve following the outside-inside-outside line that maintains the most speed, and then stay there, finding myself on the inside of the second curve and having to stand on the brakes to keep from ending up in the rail. After getting through that first curve, I learned to drive to the best starting point on the second curve rather than just following my nose.

Determine the fast line through each curve, then determine the starting points of those lines, and then drive to those starting points. Where that is impossible, find the line through both that maintains the most speed. I often posted better times than guys driving big muscle cars, because I made my car handle, and then I avoided slowing down as much as possible. Those guys would blast down an opening straight, stand on the brakes, turn slowly, and blast to the next turn. I would have been 50 feet outside their line going into that first turn so I could make a big arc, with barely a touch on the brakes. It's not about distance, it's about time.

Oh, and don't race your ride.

And get a good helmet. SCCA used to require a current Snell-rated helmet, which was expensive. The rules may be different now, but I bet the price hasn't gone down any.

Rick "who raced his ride and sometimes had no way home" Denney

[ken k]

Boy Rick, I didn't know they had a motorhome class in SCCA.....
looks like a great pit vehicle.
Thanks for the advice!

Although i am racing my ride since that is all I have. a 2000 Ford Escort ZX2. I am sure i won't be making anyone worry about losing to me....but I plan to have fun just the same.
k

[OldsRecording]

Rick "now scratching that itch with this:" Denney

Stripes_442.jpg

Cool, man! It's the EM-50 Urban Assult Vehicle!

[CJ Krause]

i want to start doing this as well but will wait till the beginning of the year.
Thanks for all the tips Rick
i joined the local chapter as well and went to a couple of meets to see what it was like and loved it.

at the end they let me drive around the track for fun before they tore it down, i drove it reg speed to see what the track was like
it was a hoot.

i also became a Trifecta Performance Tuning Shop
http://www.cjsmodsandmore.com" target="_blank

[tofu]

--

[Brucom]

Autocrosses are the epitome of long periods of boredom punctuated by brief moments of extreme excitement!

Sounds like baseball: fifteen minutes of action jammed into three hours.

[windshieldbug]

Autocrosses are the epitome of long periods of boredom punctuated by brief moments of extreme excitement!

Sounds like baseball: fifteen minutes of action jammed into three hours.

Yes, except you're the one doing the exciting!