Autocross Cherry Popped!!!

[Rev_D21]

And the truck was a smash hit. I had a great time and the truck handled it better than I expected even though it was still a handful. Driver needs Practice Practice Practice!!

[Looneybomber]

Bump those spring rates up, get some 1" sway bars, KYB's, and some R compounds and dominate! Z06's won't even believe it.

[elwesso]

In auto-X, usually the combination of low weight and good tires are winners (drivers being equal), HP doesn't really matter so long as you're not stuck between gears or something.

Congrats, auto-X is a great way to get out there and have some fun with you car in a safe way, and that also isn't too hard on your car.

[flohtingPoint]

Good stuff, I hope you stick with it. The best advice I can give you can be summed up fairly quickly:

1) Dont go crazy with upgrades. Get yourself another set of wheels, a set of Hoosier A6's. Thats the only thing you really should do right now. If you get serious about autocross, you're going to want to use a different vehicle, so dont pour tons of cash into what you have now.

2) Keep your head up. You need to look as far through the course as you can, keep your head and eyes up, rotate your head, look through corners instead of at them. You can see in this video, how much I'm turning my head on one of the huge sweepers, as it required me to see through the exit and use the throttle to set up everything ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Efn5TxXtrTo ).

3) Keep your head up (in a different way). You're going to get kicked in the teeth by your competition, everyone is bad at first. Doing tip 2 will help with tip 3. Learning to drive is a growth process, dont worry about how you're doing vs so-and-so. The only thing you should be worrying about is if you're becoming more confident with your driving and learning how to read the course well. If you cant beat the course, you cant beat anyone.

4) Ask questions and walk with fast people. Dont bug them on their course walk unless you know them well, but just walk beside them or behind them. Copy the line they walk, see what they see.

5) Stay ahead of the course. Kinda goes hand in hand with tip 2. When you enter a slalom, make sure you can backside that first cone and not get behind on it. You can see in this video ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEXv9jRbUd4 ), I'm not late on sections, I'm constantly looking ahead and turning in to setup for the next element.

If you have questions, feel free to ask me, I'm an open book. I autocross nationally all over the country and have done and seen a lot. If I dont know the answer to a question, I'm certain I know someone who does =)

[krash]

Auto-X ftw! Its one of those rare sports where you dont NEED a dedicated track car to go have fun with a on a random weekend. However, I completely agree with flohtingPoint about being competitive. If you actually want to get really competitive and start classing and what not, having a dedicated auto-x car is a smart idea.

[Bubba1]

The nice thing about autocrossing a pickup is if you want to run track tires, just toss 'em in the bed with a jack.

[Rev_D21]

I was able to bring everything I thought I might need in the tub. I didn't bring a set of wheels though, I wanted to try out the truck the way I have it set up now. I have a nice lightweight set of 15x8 Outlaws waiting for rubber but for now I am doing this for the fun of it. If I do get serious, which right now I have little ambition to go national ATM, I'll drive someone else's car for that. Ultimately I just want to enjoy the truck I am building and take that and myself to the limit in a track setting with no hope of winning but having a great time trying. Maybe I'll inspire more locals to bring trucks to compete for the F of it and we can spend Sundays racing and breaking each others balls. I am a just Nissan truck guy having fun in the end.


Vids link...remember these are the first 5 times I have ever driven in an AutoX event EVER!! Just completing the course was a challenge. LOL!

My Youtube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFHIj5wikHohPOttGYRSB5A

All 5 runs are posted. Enjoy!

And thanks for all the advice! I do take every bit into consideration and everyone I have talked to has been very forthcoming with great ideas for me to think about and I appreciate that more than words can describe.

[Jesda]

Looks great!



Heck, even pigs get to autocross:

[Bubba1]

Looks great!



Heck, even pigs get to autocross:

If the autocross bug has bitten, there's a nice little NICO autocross event in Carlisle coming up (hint hint).

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Nice pictures! Looking good out there Rev!