Hey everybody, I've been bitten by the urge to try out autocross for the first time. The next event is this weekend and I'm finally starting to feel a little more comfortable with my car. I'm looking for some tips and pointers for a first timer. What should I try to accomplish? What should I avoid so I don't look like a noob. I don't want to overthink anything or change my cars setup from where it is right now. I could use some guidance on what kind of tire pressures to run though. The weather for the event is likely to be 65 and partly cloudy.

My cars setup:
AP1, 2002, 66k miles
9" wheels all around with 255/40-17 Hankook v12 tires
stainless steel brake lines
Swift Spec R lowering springs on stock shocks
I do my own alignments. max caster, 2 degrees on the front, 2.5 rear, 0 toe on front, 1/32" toe in on the rear.
everything else stock

I think this puts me in the STR class from my interpretation of the rule book.

I don't really expect to be competitive on my first outing. I'd just like to have some fun and learn some car control.

 

Those tires are going to hold you back. For the first time, just focus on running smooth over running fast. But most importantly, just have fun.

 

most run 1/16 total in the rear. first thing you should def worry about is just paying attention to the course. enjoy the day. dont try to cloud your mind too much with extra information. just look ahead, be smooth on throttle inputs. only thing you should worry about is tire pressures. just keep them at a constant and adjust properly. but for now just drive. my concern is that you might rub your fenders. the first few events i did, i didnt even worry about anything but just getting used to reading the cones and learning the car. and if you dont spin once, that means you werent trying. get some laps in and once you feel comfortable keep pushing harder. once you get that initial spin out of the way youll feel so much better. get your go pro if you have one and mount it.you can learn alot after watching yourself drive. and def ask for an instructor. and if you have a local hot shoe who happens to drive an s2k and can instruct get them. valuable information. what helped me the most is after an instructor who drove an s2 took my car out with me as a passenger it opened up my eyes on how much more the car can do. ENJOY! and welcome to yet another addiction

 

It's okay to look like a noob. We were all there once.

Don't try and be all hard and tough. Embrace the noobiness and be nice and pleasant. Ask for help. Autocrossers are nice people and will help you. Find another S2000 driver with magnetic numbers and grid next to them. Ask them if they can show you around and introduce you to people. You're not going to set the world on fire your first time out. Enjoy the people and enjoy learning. Don't try and pose.

 

lots of regions have a "novice" class and can run morning or afternoon session. If your region works that way, go out in the morning and walk the course with people and see if you can ride with people in the morning and then drive in the afternoon.

Most of the time,..once you get it in 2nd gear you can pretty much stay there, so dont waste time shifting unless you really need to.

I DNF'd 7 times my first time out because I didnt walk the course more than once and I got lost.

Bring a cooler full of food and water/sports drinks.

For tire psi,...youre probably not even gonna get to a place where you can tell a difference between a few lbs just yet. I typically still run a 34f/32r but all tires are different. There is a little diamond on the sidewall of your tire, near the tread edge, look at that after a run and see if the scuff goes into the top of the diamond. That "typically"shows you that you are using the usable tread. If it scuff the whole diamond, you have too much tire roll so you need to add psi. The opposite of course if you are not touching the diamond with any scrub/scruff....but honestly,...set your psi to something and just forget it your first time out.

 

Try not to kill any cones!

 

Have Fun!

 

Thanks for the good advice guys! Yeah I don't even plan on being remotely competitive, although I would be very happy if I wan't the slowest person out there!

 

Unless I missed it you're running a square setup with stockish suspension? I'd imagine it's going to be very loose and you'll be fighting to catch the rear all the time.. Other than that, as others said just go out and have fun. You might want to try disconnecting your rear sway bar after a couple runs though if you have too much oversteer.

 

its for sure that it will oversteer. but its his first time, he can decide after the event if he wants to pursue it further. then he can start planning on adjusting the car. i think it would be better for him to just focus on driving at his first event. just staying on course is hard enough for a first timer.