Last Saturday was the best day I've ever had autocrossing, and I couldn't hardly get out of my own way; came in 5th in class and way down on the overall postings.
But, my son joined me for his first autocross (you have to be 16 to run with the BMW CCA)! He's running a '92 240SX that won't be set up for drifting! We've added a limited slip diff, an aftermarket shifter (B&M), and got an alignment done.
One rule I made with myself was that I would NOT be his instructor (the whole Dad-Son communication thing ) He did great with his instructor, not DNFing once (although a couple of spins, overcooked corners, etc). Like all beginners, he pulled great gobs of time off during the day.
We're doing the car maintenance stuff together, putting in a thumper stereo system, doing fluids, tires, etc. Next on the list will probably be fabricating a harness bar and harnesses, then suspension, all along going to as many events as we can!
It's going to be great. And, BTW, I found I had corded both my rear 315s; no wonder I kept losing the back end!
It's all about fun (how many of us have made money at the track?), and this one was the best.
Have a good one,Mike
Autocrossed last Saturday, drove lousy, and had the best day ever!
Re: (TrueSlide)
Actually, I let him take it out on some fun runs at the end of a couple of events this last summer before he turned 16. He found out that real competition is a lot different from fun runs!
Next event is 3 weeks away, then we'll be down for the winter.
Have a good one,Mike
Next event is 3 weeks away, then we'll be down for the winter.
Have a good one,Mike
Re: Autocrossed last Saturday, drove lousy, and ha ... (Vettedrmr)
Very nice I always like watching the vett guys...something about a car like that doing a bunch of corners in 1st gear always interesting
Re: Autocrossed last Saturday, drove lousy, and ha ... (Red coupe)
1st gear? Nah, out where we autocross I'm almost always in 2nd gear, maybe a 1st gear pivot corner. This particular shot was taken at a Porsche club time trial at the same location. Here's a map of the course they have set up. You get one warm up and four timed laps.
http://mav.pca.org/Autocross/M...y.htmh ... se1New.jpg
This is corner 4, a slightly off camber corner, about halfway through 2nd gear, probably around 40 mph or so. Corner 3 is a right hairpin, that, if I get it right through the sweeper leading up to it, I'll get into the rev limiter in 3rd, about 110 mph. Then it's down to 30 or so for the hairpin.
And the great part is that you have to work really hard to hit something! It's a fantastic location!
One of the things I'm going to do in the off season is set up a camera mount in my car; when I do I'll share some vids.
Have a good one,Mike
http://mav.pca.org/Autocross/M...y.htmh ... se1New.jpg
This is corner 4, a slightly off camber corner, about halfway through 2nd gear, probably around 40 mph or so. Corner 3 is a right hairpin, that, if I get it right through the sweeper leading up to it, I'll get into the rev limiter in 3rd, about 110 mph. Then it's down to 30 or so for the hairpin.
And the great part is that you have to work really hard to hit something! It's a fantastic location!
One of the things I'm going to do in the off season is set up a camera mount in my car; when I do I'll share some vids.
Have a good one,Mike
Re: Autocrossed last Saturday, drove lousy, and ha ... (Vettedrmr)
Last one I went to had maby 3ish 1st gear corners. Alot of the Vet guys said they were just staying in first for the majority of the tract...it was pretty tight. At any rate my point was amature drivers+torque+really tight corner = back end trying like hell to step out... Is your son on this board too?
Re: Autocrossed last Saturday, drove lousy, and ha ... (Red coupe)
Yes, he doesn't post much, but I'm not sure of his username.
As far as the first gear corners go, you do have to watch how you use the go pedal. It's interesting out at Mineral Wells (the place in my sig) when different groups are there. The Porsche and BMW groups use the whole facility, and put together courses that are technically challenging, but also open and fast.
The Corvette, SCCA, and similar clubs will only set up about 1/3 of the course, and their courses are just like you would find in a typical parking lot. 1st gear primarily, with 2nd occasionally.
The PCA time trials are the fastest. Both the BMW and PCA autocross courses are a bit tighter and slower, but I still usually get into 3rd to some extent on each course. If not, then I'm definitely at the top end of 2nd (which is somewhere north of 70, I've never looked )
Thanks for the post, and have a good one,Mike
As far as the first gear corners go, you do have to watch how you use the go pedal. It's interesting out at Mineral Wells (the place in my sig) when different groups are there. The Porsche and BMW groups use the whole facility, and put together courses that are technically challenging, but also open and fast.
The Corvette, SCCA, and similar clubs will only set up about 1/3 of the course, and their courses are just like you would find in a typical parking lot. 1st gear primarily, with 2nd occasionally.
The PCA time trials are the fastest. Both the BMW and PCA autocross courses are a bit tighter and slower, but I still usually get into 3rd to some extent on each course. If not, then I'm definitely at the top end of 2nd (which is somewhere north of 70, I've never looked )
Thanks for the post, and have a good one,Mike