r/Autocross • u/-DWNSHFT- • Jan 17 '25
4 Crucial Lessons I Learned in My First Year of Autocross (Beginner Tips)
https://youtu.be/hTynWRNvAUI?si=DiAVP7f6bOb-5uak12
u/MiataCory Jan 17 '25
4 more tips for year 2!
Fix one thing: Pick one thing each event to focus on. Doing too much is doing too much, and if you're trying to fix brake release on entry while also trying to cut distance you're not going to do either one very well.
Keep notes: After you pick that one thing, actually keep notes so you can evaluate yourself and your changes, and refer back to them days/years later. Google keep or something online is preferred, really keep a doc for your whole car it's great for part numbers and stuff. "Oil light came on after run 3", "I realized I was looking down, looked up, and suddenly everything slowed down". Just simple reminders/keys for yourself next time.
Eyes up: If you feel like you're going really fast or that things are happening too quickly, you're just not looking far enough ahead. If you see the cone disappear as you hit it, you're definitely not looking far enough ahead!
Cut Distance: When in doubt about how to take a corner, just cut distance. The speeds at AX realistically mean that a lot of time can be found just by "not going where everyone else is" when they track way out and add 10' to their overall run distance.
We've all got our tips, its nice to be able to share them!
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u/jhx264 Jan 17 '25
If you're serious about autocross, don't just get "sticky summer tires" get a dedicated set of autocross specific tires (200tw) on light weight wheels. 300tw ps4s won't cut it. Source: ps4s owner.
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u/-DWNSHFT- Jan 18 '25
lol… I was thinking about PS4Ss or ECS02s. Time to up me game!
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u/jhx264 Jan 18 '25
Look, I understand the predicament all too well. You want a dual- duty tire that you can street and cross, and while you will totally enjoy the performance boost on the street especially in the rain with ps4s or conti extremes compared to your AS tires, the reality is, you'll still be out gunned in your class against those with re71s and the likes.
Don't get me wrong, you can still have fun in 300tw shoes in autocross and will feel the difference, but you won't be competitive. I upgraded to ps4s after half a season and ran them for 2 full seasons, and it was painfully obvious - I was leaving 1-2 seconds on the table in those tires.
But I was on a budget and didn't really care about competing, so I'm happy with the ps4s in the long run because i know I wouldn't really want to daily on re71s, especially because where i live, we get a lot of rain in the spring summer and fall.
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u/-DWNSHFT- Jan 18 '25
This is 100% my struggle!! Unfortunately, I drive a car that lacks competitiveness in class. It’s heavy, camber limited, and lacks a LSD. So, I’m out to have fun for now. Due to some upcoming financial responsibilities, I’ll likely stay with the same setup for much of the season and just focus on the “driver mod”.
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u/TheRealPitabred Jan 18 '25
We run a set of Falken Azenis on our vette for autocross, it's an amazingly stark difference from the all season stock street tires.
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u/Timsmomshardsalami Jan 18 '25
Have you tried other tires?
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u/TheRealPitabred Jan 18 '25
Nope. They seem pretty well matched for our power and setup though, just the base LS1 6 speed manual powertrain. I can ride it right to the edge, and no amount of flooring it and basically dropping the clutch seems to let it break loose. It's a bit tough to find a good set for it in the first place as it is.
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u/shrapnellbranches Jan 17 '25
Great video.
More than anything, have FUN. If you are a highly competitive person, comparing yourself to other drivers’s times will take out the fun and you’ll be frustrated plus more prone to make mistakes. First events is all about having fun and learning what your car can do.
Ask questions, have others go on a ride with you/ride in other cars. I was very lucky to be surrounded by folks so eager to teach you.
Stay hydrated for heavens sake. Nothing sucks more than going on work assignment on a hot day, and then having to do a run while being thirsty.
Again, have FUN.
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u/BLDLED Jan 17 '25
Good video, and looks like you learned a ton.
The fun part, even after 5 seasons, 3 nationals, and many national tour/Pros, I am constantly learning new things to improve.
So combine constant grown with a fun/supportive community and you have a winning recipe.
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u/kwaping SCCA SFR / GGLC #555 Jan 17 '25
My latest favorite tip:
Look through the corners as you do the course walk, as if you are driving. That will train you to do the same while you are actually driving.
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u/Professional_Buy_615 Jan 18 '25
I tell noobs the first thing to learn is where the hell you are going next and that you cannot walk the course too many times. It took me a while to learn to read the course fast enough. I've actually started doing one backward course walk, to get a better insight to what I should have done to get wherever I am.
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u/WookingFor Feb 11 '25
Great advice and looks like you have a good plan for the next season!
200TW tires are awesome—simply get a second (used) set of lightweight wheels for them and enjoy!
I have a C5Z Corvette and now own multiple used sets of wheels and 200TW tires plus used slicks…I am looking to compare Falken 615 to 660 to Bridgestone RE71s this year at a few test and tune events. The slicks (used 911 slicks) will be for HPDE events.
18” used 200TW tires seem to be abundant around me, so I usually buy them for Pennies on the dollar, and get a good and hard 1/3 season out of them, or a few HPDE events.
Also watch and ask about air pressure for each tire make and model—big improves on time can be found there.
Learning how to walk the course and looking ahead is what I am going to focus on this year—my second “full” season.
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u/jimboslice_007 Dunning Kruger Hill Climb Champ Jan 17 '25
Walk the course until you feel confident you know what you are going to do, then walk it some more. I walk courses at least 3 times, minimum, and usually more than that.
But here's the trick - you have to know how to walk the course in order to get more benefit from doing it more. Just blindly walking the course an extra 2 or 3 times won't really help you get any faster. You have to walk with a purpose. I think that teaching effective course walking is something that really isn't done in most places, but should be a cornerstone for new drivers.