My first autocross experience!
 

Matt D., Zac (hellomynameis), and myself took the auto-x novice class this weekend which was 4 hours of classroom on Sat and 8 hours of track on Sunday. All I can say it HOLY CRAP THAT WAS FUN! This was the first auto-x event that Zac and I have ever done; it was Matt's 9th or 10th event I think. It was a great time, I definitely learned a lot about my car and how to handle it at the limit. In all my years of driving on the streets I've never ever even gotten close to driving any car that hard. There were 50 drivers in the course and Matt came away with the fastest time of the day at a 29.1 seconds and I made the 2nd fastest at 29.8 seconds! A E36 M3 turned a 29.5 but b/c of cone penalties he got knocked back with his next best at 30.1 (I think). It was definitely a great day and I hope to make at least a few more events this summer; hopefully being able to win (and then kicked out of) the SI class :)

Re: 2008 Autocross Schedule and Information
 

Yeah, that was freaking awesome. Honestly, I don't see how anyone could not have fun doing that. My best time was a 30.4, it was my final no instructor time. Considering I've had zero on road racing experience, not even go-karting, I'm quite happy with my time. Add a sway bar and I think I could have cracked into the 29's.

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

Another thing that was really cool, during the 2 hour lunch break the instructors were giving rides in their street/racecars which was a total blast and quite eye opening! I rode in some pretty neat stuff including an Integra Type-R, Chris Deutsch's Evo IX, a supercharged Miata, and this all-out racecar that at one time may have been a Miata. I also want to thank Chris Deutsch along with all the others for the great advice!

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

Sounds like fun, and now I challenge you to a go-kart competition.

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

Lets do it. I'm always down for Stockholm in Cokato.

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

I don't know what that is, but I bet it'll be awesome.

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

In my opinion its the best go-kart track in the area. These are quick karts on an outdoor track, plus its cheaper than the indoor places.

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

Good for you Kracka , welcome to the Autox world, I'm sure you'll have so much fun...Novice school is nice, but nothing compared to a regular day..Can't wait to see your face after one of those

Andres

Re: 2008 Autocross Schedule and Information
 

Another awesome time, if I'm not mistaken thats 4th fastest of the day after the M3!

Re: 2008 Autocross Schedule and Information
 

I'm glad you guys really enjoyed it and are looking forward to running in a real event. Ryan (mustgofaster) has been doing well right out of the gate, so that right there is proof how far $50 and a couple hours of seat time with instructors goes.

Even though I have a handful of events under my belt already I learned more at the school than I did in all of my previous experience. I'm looking forward to using what I learned at a real event and turning it up a notch.
We are all proof that Evos make you look like a good driver. ;) All kidding aside, I've been told more than once that no matter what car you have or how prepared your car is, you still need to drive it.

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

Kracka, get your ass down to Lacrosse this weekend for the autox.

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

I just need to figure out what events to do now. Might have to wait for the September events as my weekends are fairly booked up the rest of this month and in August. Any non-MAC events in July?

I look forward to next year when I get my suspension mods in. I'll have to run as many as I can, though by that time I'll apparently have to run in the modified class because I'll have my cams in...

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

That might be the only downside to autoX. Certain mods can put you in classes you don't really have much of a chance in (with out spending A LOT).

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

I wish I could but I'll be in the process of driving around Lake Michigan.

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

You'll love Autox

Andres

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

I need some neat magnetic numbers!

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

Andres, do you know where Brandon got his numbers made? Kracka is trying to find somewhere that has the carbon fiber vinyl like what Brandon's background has.

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

Yes at the same place I got mine, in Blaine abc Signs, by my work. You can call him and e-mail the design


Andres

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

Awesome! I'm going to have to get in contact with them, thanks.

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

Would it be possible to auto-x my dsm?

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

For sure! Its possible to auto-x anything with 4 wheels. There was a VW Bug and some Suzuki thing this past weekend, and I guess at one of the events a Prius showed up.

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

Sounds fun. I was considering trying a little bit of this in my Saab just for fun. Someday.

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

There is no better time to try it out than the present.

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

I wish I would have done this many years ago!

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

I'm thinking of building my car around Auto-x. I think after it's running I'll do complete chassis/suspension mods.

The crappy thing is, you're put in your class by the mods, correct? And not the "skill"?

What would turbotalon1g's car put him into?(Class-wise)

Matt, I'm sure you have a book somewhere, could you link me?

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

Mods do move you up very quickly in the classes which is the major downfall to auto-x. Once you have any internal engine/tranny work (including cams) you are put into a VERY competitive class. My plan is to build my car as I originally planned, try to win SI class, and then just have a good time and not worry about beating the hardcore guys in the tougher classes.

http://www.scca.org/contentpage.aspx?content=61

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

Thanks Chris.

I watched a 20 minute vid of a guy on Toonerz (GreenAWD) I believe do a autocross run around what I believe was Martinsville(?). It was friggin sweet, incar vid. I can't find it now though! Damnit! It was a google vid. From pictures, I'm not so into the parking lot and cone tracks, but they could work. I'm going to get my practice in at Thunder Road or wtf ever it is called in Watertown,SD with go-karts!

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

WHAT! Have fun!?!?!? Mod your car as you wish and race it as-is, despite the class you land in? Oh noes! :P

Bravo!

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

You'll be shocked how intense they are; I know I was!

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

"Street Modified – The top of the “street” categories, Street Modified allows
anything from Stock, Street Touring, and Street Prepared and just about any
engine and drivetrain configuration as long as the engine manufacturer matches
the body manufacturer (see Solo Rules for details). Four-seaters (BMW, Corolla,
Civic, Integra, Neon, Supra, Talon, VW, etc.) run in SM and two-seat sports cars
(Corvette, CRX, M Roadster, Miata, RX-7, MR2, etc.) compete in SM2. Carbonfiber
hoods, cams, turbo/supercharger kits, etc are welcome, too."

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

Street Modified is a very high-level competitive class; a lot of those cars are track-prepped and gutted.

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

Kracka and mustgofaster were both skeptical. Just ask them how much fun it is.

There is a reason autocross is described as being the most fun you can have in your car with your clothes on.

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

Sure, it'd be awesome to win and receive national acclaim and get signed on for the Audi LMP team. But...whether you put down the fastest time of the day or the slowest, it's fun as hell and there's no other opportunity to do something like this in your car outside of expensive and risky track days.

It's fun in the evo, but I imagine it's just as fun in any other car. There is NO EXCUSE to not go out and at least try it.

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

Honestly might even be more fun than anything involving clothes off! HAHA

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

The only other car I've driven in an autocross is a stock Focus on R-compounds. It wasn't fast and didn't handle great, but it was fun. There's no other time you'd ever be able to drive like that and get away with it.

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

I'm thinking about doing this next Spring or Summer when my car is all fixed up and doesn't have a million parts in the trunk. I have a pretty simple suspension setup, just tokico springs/shocks and decent swaybars, but it should still be fun. I really want to learn how to drive better because I really don't know my car's limits at all.

What is the SI class you are talking about, just a novice class where anything is allowed until you win? Then you're forced into a real class? Pretty sure my car would be placed in a very tough category, not much stock suspension or motor wise.

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

The last time I went at Dakota, I fishtailed around half the track. It's definitely geared for small turbo cars with no lag. I wouldn't even bother with my car.

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

SI = Special Interest

It's the catch all class and is not competitive. If you "win" the SI class by posting the fastest time at an event you get kicked out for life and have to run in a regular class. Regardless of what your modifications are autocross is more about fun and the people than being competitive. It's a give and take thing, you can either "run what you brung" or you can build a car around a certain class to be competitive. Either way you will still have fun.

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

Not true. When Mark Daddio was running his Street Modified Evo he had an FP Green, not exactly a "small" turbo. He's an 8 time national champion and is driving the AMS time attack car, but he himself has said that autocross is 80% driver and 20% setup.

Re: My first autocross experience!
 

I think big, powerful cars would probably just take that much better of a driver to keep everything in control.

My favorite autocross rule when reading the "SCCA Solo Novice Handbook":
-Don't blame the car!