OK...I don't want to argue..but I'll couterpoint you since you counterpointed me.

I don't know what track you're at but 100 won't be seen on many turns...straights yes, not turns. Average corners speeds are in the third gear range on our cars....and in real life..guess what...I take more turns in third gear than I do full wood in first!!!

I don't think autox is a substitute for tracking and same with the other way around. They're both vital in the development of your driving ability. So if you enjoy being a cone killer that's cool. The other thing I don't agree with you on is the money. You better have decent cash flow if you get addicted to tracking. Autocross is downright cheap.

$30 vs. $200
and so on....

 

No arguing just two guys talking about cars and racing.

[QUOTE=WVtwisties,Nov 10 2005, 10:20 AM]I don't know what track you're at but 100 won't be seen on many turns...straights yes, not turns.

 

Here is some more: (Not trying to pour fuel on a fire, just showing that autocross isn't necessarily cheap.)

Typical Divisional or Tour weekend

Entry fee: $75 (6 runs)
Tire cost: $150-$200
Travel expenses: $250-$300


And if you want to be competitive, consider $2k per set of used JDM wheels, $5000 for shocks, $650 for swaybar, and so on, and so on, ...

Edit:

Malakas, don't let me scare you off. For <$30 you can show up to a local event with no mods and have a blast and learn a ton about driving this great car.

 

...trailer, hitch, jack, etc.

These are all wish list items though, and really shouldn't be thought about until you get some good seat time, and maybe an Evolution School under your belt.

LOOK AHEAD
LOOK AHEAD
LOOK AHEAD
I can't say it enough. I just came back from an Autocross and was trying to relay the importance of looking ahead as it was her first time out. It is the one thing that you must remember while driving. Otherwise, it will be very easy to get lost, and not as easy to find yourself again until it's too late.

Other than that, have fun.
If you have a choice of accuracy over speed, choose accuracy. The speed will come with experience.
Don't be frustrated with the faster times from similar/ same cars.
You'll have fun driving at your own speed, trust me.
You'll have even more fun riding along with the faster/ fastest drivers, and you should learn more, too.

Good luck!!
Have a great time!!
By the way, after my girlfriend's first autocross (practice day and event) she has informed me that we need to get a dedicated race car, trailer, and bigger truck to pull it all with.
YEAH!!!

 

Cool, I'll be there.

-Dustin

 

Have fun and don't worry about too much else. I run 36psi front, 32psi rear on the stock rubber and it feels pretty good, which is about the only change from street setup for me. As for the S, I am leaning towards the belief that as a noob you can chuck it around a bit with the wheel but not the throttle. Sudden steering inputs will just result in understeer, which is manageable and something you should be framiliar with. Sudden throttle changes will spin you. Sudden throttle changes + steering inputs will just be ugly. Drive easy, putting a little more into each run and over a few events you will learn what the car does and when. Learn the course on the first couple of runs, learn the car on the last couple. Have fun!

 

One of the biggest challenges for inexperienced drivers is staying on course. Obviously, this depends on how the course is laid out. What I was taught, and what I now do, is to pay very close attention on my walk throughs to where are the difficult sections to follow the course. As you are leaving a corner, you may look down the course and see 50 cones! Stop where you are, and identify the two or three cones that 'control' your line. Take a mental picture. Think to yourself... I'll being coming out of this corner steering this way and I need to look for that cone and that cone.

As you're walking the first time, follow behind someone who is really good and go where he/she goes. You'll notice as he is walking that he is nearly clipping cones with this left shoulder, but giving plenty of space to his right. He is walking the exact line his body will be following in a left-drive car. Do the same.

On your next walks, don't get behind a crowd. You want to see as you're walking what you will be seeing when you're driving. People in front of you block your view.

Finally, if you're not in the first run group, watch carefully where people go off course. See if you can figure out why they're having trouble there (cross-over point, poor visibility due to a rise, etc.).

Good luck!

 

That's awesome!! My wife is pretty psyched about going - maybe we'll try a 2 driver entry next time.


Thanks all for the input!! "Look ahead" I definately will do. Thanks also for the rec'd psi for the tires - will try it out. I've heard the AP2 cars oversteer a little less, so hopefully I wont make too big of a mess. I raced sprint karts as a kid - but thats the last time I've raced anything RWD.

pOpe: See you there!

-Jay

 

my first autox in the s2k.. now mind you i'm used to the z06 with hoosiers.. so..
the stock s2k will get ass happy if you have speed and turns.. obviously..
i spun out on the first run..
then dropped 2 lbs in the rear.. next run. much better

each run i dropped 2 lbs in the rear and stuck much better each time.. 5 runs .. and dropped a second to a second and a half each time.

i would start with 4 lbs out of the rear and go from there.. take a tank to fill back up when done.. you don't want to build up too much heat in the tires on the way home..

i assume this is a parking lot solo 1 type event ?

have fun..
don't get mad.

 

I wouldn't be so sure it was the 2 lbs. less air for each run that made you go faster - it was much more likely that you were figuring the car out. Many folks, myself included, have very successfully run with ~36f/32r pressures on the OEM S02s. The car needs to be learned since it's so neutral compared to virtually any other street car.

I assume you really meant Solo 2 which is on parking lots...