It's really bad to lose to the top driver(300zxTT..A-stock) by 2-3 seconds on a 50 sec course on my 4th autocross? Just wanna see if I really suck as a driver...

 

...it takes a lot more than 4 events to reach your full potential(you're still improving after 40 events) as a driver.It's like anything else : to get good at it takes technique(read books),practice(try go-karts,ect) and dedication.Whoever applies(or has applied) him/herself more than you will run better than you,everything else being equal...

...and never blame the car and think that modifications are a solution...put the right tires and air pressure and away yiu go...

Pierre

 

Indeed. I wasted a few emails with a novice here (Rochester, NY - Finger Lakes Region SCCA) who has already decided that mods are the way to go - never mind the fact that he was about 16th place in the Novice class. He insisted that he knew his car from street driving and that the new parts were all designed by experts (I didn't tell him that they may not be "experts" and that they aren't necessarilly tested with other parts installed).

Save yer money and learn to drive. When you beat the 300ZX on a regular basis, THEN spend your money...

 

You think you feel bad when a 300ZX beats you. Wait till that driver in a bone stock 4 door VW golf puts a whoopin on ya and beats you by 3-4 seconds......

Oh by the way......I'm speaking from experience here!

At that point you'll wish you'd invested that money in a good driving school. I've only been AutoX since the first of this season and it becomes more and more apparent to me each event that it's 90% driving skill and 10% car.

 

Yep, don't throw parts on the car until you're certain you're squeezing out all the performance you can get.

Did you notice you were not in the right place on track many times? Any gutless-wondermobile can beat you if you're fighting the course and he's cruising through. I can honestly say I have lots of room for improvement in this area after two years of Auto-X. Are you walking the course as much as you can? And figuring out where you want to be?

After four Auto-X's without drive-along instruction I expect you're lifting or even braking in areas you can actually go full-throttle through. Some boxes or gates are deceptive that way. Fast sweepers are intimidating and a lift or brake can be a sideways experience.

Are you using maximum braking? You get around the course slower if you gradually brake before turning, as opposed to maximum brake effort as late as possible (but NOT in the turn itself). Related to this, are you using maximum throttle when you are NOT braking? You may be surprised how many people feather or incompletely depress the throttle in wide open areas.

Anyway, get some novice instruction before you do anything too radical and don't feel bad about getting beat by a few seconds.

 

This is why I'm taking a 2 day AutoX school in June! Can't wait!