Getting into Autocross (broke and ambitious thread renamed)

[Red coupe]

Expensive autocross events are like $60.

As long as your car is not broken or almost broken it is ready to go.
A cheap helmet is like $150 and most events have loaners.

People make too much out of it. Save up for a helmet, then events are fairly cheap to run every now and again.

[dre1507]

Here are some tips:

1. Finance management: If you're not making a truck load of money that would allow you to do whatever you want, you could always try to live below your means. Easiest way to do this would be to stop spending on things you don't need, and stop overspending on the things that you do need.

2. Build bridges and try to maintain them: Meet/get to know more people, and only end those relationships if it's an absolute must. So many times we're eager to burn bridges over small and most likely reconcilable issues.

[TTkickedin]

http://cms.scca.com/documents/Solo_Rule ... gories.pdf

Do you have anything on the CS category or does the bullet point labeled "stock" within that link cover that?

And due to my mods (specifically the air intake being a full replacement unit, not just the element, and the wheel size, plus the suspension upgrades and rear strut bar) I don't think i'd be considered stock still. I guess in my case it would be possible to b-s them then?


Dre, I definitely need to get better with my finances for sure. Red Coupe, I can get a helmet fairly easy as well. I think i still have one from my F1 boston days anyway

[Bubba1]

Do you have anything on the CS category or does the bullet point labeled "stock" within that link cover that?

And due to my mods (specifically the air intake being a full replacement unit, not just the element, and the wheel size, plus the suspension upgrades and rear strut bar) I don't think i'd be considered stock still. I guess in my case it would be possible to b-s them then?


Dre, I definitely need to get better with my finances for sure. Red Coupe, I can get a helmet fairly easy as well. I think i still have one from my F1 boston days anyway

As far as your helmet, don't assume your kart helmet is okay. You must check if the helmet's Snell (SA) rating is still valid. If the SA rating is too old, SCCA will not allow you to use it, even though that gokart place does. As far as being able to BS your mods by SCCA, especially the obvious ones you're talking about, uh, probably not. SCCA inspects (or "tech's")your car prior to every event to not only make sure your car is safe, but to check that you aren't cheating by making unapproved mods for the class you've registered for.

[PEZi]

Autocross is easy to get into and relatively cheap if you want it to be. You can go nuts, and make it expensive, but don't have to. For me, I work a few jobs, but I also have some awesome contacts that are willing to make me some cool things to help as I break parts. I also have someone that has given me their car for 2012. It really ends up being who you know more than anything else...

[IanS]

Autocross is easy to get into and relatively cheap if you want it to be. You can go nuts, and make it expensive, but don't have to. For me, I work a few jobs, but I also have some awesome contacts that are willing to make me some cool things to help as I break parts. I also have someone that has given me their car for 2012. It really ends up being who you know more than anything else...

Its all about who you know. I credit that for so much. knowing rthe right people opens up so many opertunities. i will be competing in a national level rally evenT in 2 weeks using someone elses car. mine is still apart, and they needed a driver. its because of connections that I got the first call.

[TTkickedin]

Autocross is easy to get into and relatively cheap if you want it to be. You can go nuts, and make it expensive, but don't have to. For me, I work a few jobs, but I also have some awesome contacts that are willing to make me some cool things to help as I break parts. I also have someone that has given me their car for 2012. It really ends up being who you know more than anything else...

^ THIS is the point i want to get to, if anything more happens later, that'd be sweet too..

So you both started semi-pro/pro racing through amateur autocross?

I'm assuming the same (networking, who you know,) goes for if you wanted to get into pro-level circuit racing as well, right?

[PEZi]

Exactly. I am registered to race in the Pike's Peak Hill Climb, and simply from being there and talking with people, individuals like Rhys Millen and Tanner Foust know who I am... its things like that which will get you where you want to be. It doesn't hurt know some people with real credentials to talk you up as far as sponsors etc. That's where the real money comes from. For example, I just got word earlier today that Wiseco gave us a brand new set of pistons for our engine rebuild...

[TTkickedin]

Im so jelly.. How long did the whole process of networking and 'coming up' take you? (Pezi/FlatBlackIan/Red Coupe)

[Bubba1]

Im so jelly.. How long did the whole process of networking and 'coming up' take you? (Pezi/FlatBlackIan/Red Coupe)

I guess NICOnauts with decades of track experience are excluded...

[Red coupe]

OK, thanks everyone for the advice. Flatblackian, I can see where you're coming from with not knowing why you do what you do. The biggest thing i'd ever gain out of racing is that I've been always wanting to do it. People say "im on X racing team in a X with a Y swap and Z, etc and I'm having a lot of fun doing it."
<
> I just want to be that person! I'm not trying to be famous per-se, but at least trying my best when I'm on the track is what I want to achieve.


Now with that said, I will check out that video as soon as I'm out of work. But for right now, I'd like to understand the SCCA a bit more. I've checked out a few links about the SCCA solo stuff, and that's where im like So, I get how the z32 tt is in the CS class. BUT what I don't understand is how they pick these classes. Is there a certain weight criteria, amount of power, allowed modifications, and other stuff to be in the CS class?


Better question, what is the absolute extent, and maximum amount of modifications/weight reduction I would be allowed to do to my z to keep up with the better handling cars in the CS? (Lotus seven, esprit, mini cooper, etc.) What type of tires are allowed? If anyone has a link on that or a better explanation for this, please let me know. Right now, my z has what's in the sig; 17" wheels and goodyear eagle f1's, diy intercooler water sprayer, apexi intake, a street legal exhaust stock cats, rsr springs and some shocks, and a rear strut bar. Would I be CS class legal according to the rules?


http://moutons.org/sccasolo/Lists/2011/ ... tml#Nissan

The z32 twin turbo is listed here as well as a "BSP" but it doesn't even say what that means. Can anyone explain how this works? I don't understand this stuff at all.

Honestly man, your making too much of this.

IF you want to know how the classes are figured out, there are documents on what ever sanctioning bodies website that will explain classes, modifications, all that... plenty to read, just go to the source. Google what ever sanctioning body hosts your local events and check their website. They more then likely will have a how to start writeup even.

Classing is important, especially since you will need to limit and control your mods if you are serious about being competitive. Often times stuff like getting a new swaybar that has nice endlinks (solid heim joint) will suddenly bump you up to a highly prepared class your car could perhaps never be competitive in without completely re-doing the car.

Having said that, forget classes.
You WILL NOT be competing for a class win on your first outing, and likely not your first season. You will likely find that driving fast on the street is not the same as closed course 10/10ths driving... You will likely not even know how to drive at 10/10ths

I say none of this to say you suck... You need seat time, and for most local autocrosses all you REALLY need is $60 and your moms 92 honda accord. Go get seat time. Go start racing... it takes nothing more.

I have no idea why people are talking to you about sponsored rides, meeting professional drivers, needing connections, hell even worrying about what class you want to run. You do not need to perform any modification to the car, it would almost be better with none. You do not need to plan out a strategy, or research anything....
Just go do your first autocross. Not saying plans, and classing and networking is not important, but super irrelevant to a guy who has never even autocrossed. They are often small low key events filled with friendly people just out having fun on a sunday. They can be more if you would like but no need to treat it like such a big deal, go out have fun. Plan once you get your feet wet.

[TTkickedin]

Not to make excuses, but that's where the 'ambitious' part comes into play. I've wanted to get into it for the longest time, and just been putting too much thought into researching every possible detail.

(didn't mean to leave you out Bubba, care to share still?)

My point of view was that if I do go out to a scca sanctioned autocross, I want my car, (if I was a great autocross driver, obviously I'm not counting on being the best my first time out,) to be at the maximum allowed modifications in the CS class without being bumped up to a higher level class...

But if you think it would suit me best to just go as is (currently with the mods listed,) then so be it. I just want to know if i'm excluded from CS because of the current mods I have. In this case, a better way of saying it would be that I don't want there to be a suprise and find my car non-competitive from something I could've removed before I even got there.

[PEZi]

I guess NICOnauts with decades of track experience are excluded...

No... just old :P

Im so jelly.. How long did the whole process of networking and 'coming up' take you? (Pezi/FlatBlackIan/Red Coupe)

Mine started in '09 and has progressed to where we are coming up in the new year... so... 3 years?

Red Coupe has it all right, though. A proper car in the proper class will showcase your real driver skills and get you better known among your friends you'll meet along the way. Some po dunk car with a good driver rarely gets noticed because it won't be in the right class for you to do anything noticeable. For example... a 240sx with a turbo or an SR swap will land you directly into Street Modified. One of my friends won that class nationally in 2010 in an Evo with 400+whp and 450+wtq on an extremely dialed in set of AST's and 285 width Hoosier A6's on all corners. No crappy 240 will keep up with that. A guy named PJ actually has THE fastest autocross 240sx and runs in that same class, and came home disappointed. The biggest thing is focusing on your skills, but second comes putting the right car into the right class.

[Red coupe]

Not to make excuses, but that's where the 'ambitious' part comes into play. I've wanted to get into it for the longest time, and just been putting too much thought into researching every possible detail.

My point of view was that if I do go out to a scca sanctioned autocross, I want my car, (if I was a great autocross driver, obviously I'm not counting on being the best my first time out,) to be at the maximum allowed modifications in the CS class without being bumped up to a higher level class...

But if you think it would suit me best to just go as is (currently with the mods listed,) then so be it. I just want to know if i'm excluded from CS because of the current mods I have. In this case, a better way of saying it would be that I don't want there to be a suprise and find my car non-competitive from something I could've removed before I even got there.

Unfortunatly, if you have just been modding your car and have done a decent list of stuff... you probably did SOMETHING wrong.
(but seriously SCCA rules can be fairly restrictive and WILL require conscious effort to keep from out classing yourself. Hold off on any further mods till you start to get a picture of how to prepair for your desired class.)
You say your broke though, so buying mods makes NO SENSE as your money should go to making you fast (racing) not making the car fast (modding).

I don't mean to disregard your ambition, and I don't mean to downplay autocross... But you are not going to write a playbook for the world cup before you kick a soccer ball (at least not a good one)

You say you want to mod to the limit of the class... yeah you can't afford that. You need to mod to the limits of the class, your budget, and the deficits of your particular car and driving style. This requires experience. Just start by getting experience.

I say you make too big a deal out of it because I have seen so many people think they need to wait till they have a race car to start racing... Turns out a race car is nothing more then a car you race, and you will have one the second you head out on track.

There is no reason not to plan, but there is also no reason to not simply enter the next autocross you possibly can, in what ever class you currently fall... and work out the plan while you improve you abilities as a driver. Driving in an autocross with no plan will not take away from future success, at this point your money should be focused on driving not mods and I don't see how ANY plan will be more effective at making you a better driver when it keeps you from behind the wheel for longer.

[PEZi]

Mods that make sense are the only way to spend your money properly... I learned that the hard way. Here is a link to my thread as to why you want to at least know what knocks you out of what class. This is a project I had started a while back, and it turned out that a few of the mods knocked me into a prepared class. Then.... It went FULL prepared and broke my bank. Crazy fun, though.

project-featherweight-v-2011-nico-s-aut ... 28346.html

That is the mods specific to running the 2011 season. About half way down the page you'll see a few issues I had along the way as well. Now that thing is getting set aside while we rock on the 240 for a while. Its return is unknown... but I have big plans for it

[TTkickedin]

I hear what you're saying now, that post definitely made it more clear for me, thanks!

This has really been the first time I've actually sought out advice on how to start up in racing. I only wish I did it sooner. My z's almost up and running, and when it gets out, the first thing i'll do is just go out and learn by doing it. As a matter of fact, it really isn't like me to ask before I learn how to do something, so I guess I should follow my gut feeling then. I just assumed the process was a lot more involved, because there aren't many people that end up doing it, and very few people become successful in racing. I'll continue to have the high hopes for it, but I won't expect it to be anything more than fun.

[IanS]

Honestly man, your making too much of this.

IF you want to know how the classes are figured out, there are documents on what ever sanctioning bodies website that will explain classes, modifications, all that... plenty to read, just go to the source. Google what ever sanctioning body hosts your local events and check their website. They more then likely will have a how to start writeup even.

Classing is important, especially since you will need to limit and control your mods if you are serious about being competitive. Often times stuff like getting a new swaybar that has nice endlinks (solid heim joint) will suddenly bump you up to a highly prepared class your car could perhaps never be competitive in without completely re-doing the car.

Having said that, forget classes.
You WILL NOT be competing for a class win on your first outing, and likely not your first season. You will likely find that driving fast on the street is not the same as closed course 10/10ths driving... You will likely not even know how to drive at 10/10ths

I say none of this to say you suck... You need seat time, and for most local autocrosses all you REALLY need is $60 and your moms 92 honda accord. Go get seat time. Go start racing... it takes nothing more.

I have no idea why people are talking to you about sponsored rides, meeting professional drivers, needing connections, hell even worrying about what class you want to run. You do not need to perform any modification to the car, it would almost be better with none. You do not need to plan out a strategy, or research anything....
Just go do your first autocross. Not saying plans, and classing and networking is not important, but super irrelevant to a guy who has never even autocrossed. They are often small low key events filled with friendly people just out having fun on a sunday. They can be more if you would like but no need to treat it like such a big deal, go out have fun. Plan once you get your feet wet.

Spot on sir. You will NOT be competitive early on. You need experience, but also a well set up car in almost any form of motorsports will take a very long time to fine tune, and most likely a large amount of money to get it there.

My advice was aimed at someone getting deeper into racing then random auto crossing. Auto crossing is the only form of racing where a stock or semi stock car can compete. Any other form of racing requires foresight, not just a couple of $20 bills, some car keys, and a helmet. Having come so far, I sometimes forget what its like to be 18, broke, and gung ho.

Seat time should be the focus above all else. Tuning the nut behind the wheel will bring so many benefits. As you get more seat time, you will gain an idea what parts of the car need modifying. You will also meet people while out at events.

Most of my advice stands. Meet as many people in the automotive world as possible. Its something that I wish I would have started doing sooner. I just went to Autocrosses, Rallycrosses and Rallys to have fun. I always wanted to make racing a bigger part of my life, but it took a few years before I realized how many opportunities arise more then anything, because of who you know. Building your own car is expensive, but driving someone elses doesn't have to be. Even if its just a couple passes at an autocross, its still seat time. Spending a few corners in someone else's car could teach you about setup, and boy is it fun.

Im so jelly.. How long did the whole process of networking and 'coming up' take you? (Pezi/FlatBlackIan/Red Coupe)

Im still coming up, and I am still networking and I am sure I always will be. I have been at it for nearly 10 years now and I have met a lot of people. Some of those people are what people would consider famous (Ken Block, Travis Pastrami, Dave Mirra and the ilk) that being said, I doubt most of them would know me past a face at a drivers meeting, but maybe someday....... I am not in this to get famous, I am not in it to get rich. I am here for the smell of race fuel, for the sound of a tuned engine working its way to redline, and for the feeling I get every time I get airborne at 90 mph. Anything that allows me to do it more, makes the juice worth the squeeze.

[Bubba1]

These guys did a great job answering you and it appears things are starting to get repeated.

Your enthusiasm is commendable, but it seems like you're hoping to find a short cut to becoming a professional driver. There is no short cut. Almost all of the young pros you read about began as children in karting, with highly supportive parents, both financially and mentoring. When they get to your age, they have already had a full decade worth of competitive training under their belts. If you;re looking for a fast-track to the pro ranks, autocross with a randomly modded heavy car like a 300ZX TT ain't the best way to do it.

My advice is exactly the same as the other guys who answered you. Get out there and have fun, whether it's autocross, HPDE or Karting. Focus on learning how to drive right, and meet people. It's a very friendly community. Don't quit your job any time soon. If it happens to work out for you? Awesome. At the worst, you had a great time learning how to drive better. just recognize there's a whole lot more cost involved to motorsport than $60 and a helmet. There's travel, hotels, meals, tolls, towing when (not if) something breaks, etc, etc. Notice I didnt even mention the car yet? It's an expensive hobby.

My background? I got my SCCA license before you were born thru Skip Barber. I eventually switched to HPDE instructing due to the high cost to compete. I also found I have more fun meeting new people at these HPDE's, sharing my knowledge, helping them improve their skills. I also get to drive or ride in just about every imaginable car you can think of, plus I still get to toss my own car around at big speeds around some famous race tracks with friends and professionals literally for free with no pressure to "win" in order to keep/attract sponsors. In recent years, I've added instructing at winter driving schools, and have had fun helping out with the annual NICOfest autocross/drift event at Carlisle(which I suggested you try earlier). There are some talented autocrossers that attend Carlisle that are happy to help you.


As far as mods, the only mods I've done to my current track car is a brake upgrade and better tires due to the extreme use I put it thru. And I invested in a old tow vehicle so I can push the car even harder and not worry about getting it home if something breaks. That's it. Mods are not no substitute for driving skill and they do not improve your skills. If anything they make learning more difficult as modded cars tend to be less forgiving than stock setups. I say save your money and skip the mods, and invest in seat time instead. Much better bang for your buck.

Enjoy

[flohtingPoint]

First things first, the only reasonable competitive Nissan in stock trim is a 370Z, everything else is cannon fodder (though an SER has proved to be marginally competitive in GS). You have a 300ZX which, in all regards, is a pretty bad autocross car (too heavy, bad suspension geometry) for high level competition (National Tours, Pro Solo's, Divisionals, Nationals). For local stuff and for learning, it'll be fine, but in the future, you're very much going to want to look at getting a different vehicle. Choosing a car will not prove to be hard, you're not going to reinvent the wheel so the templates are already out there, you just have to pick the most successful one in your price range. Basically, learn on the car you have, save your funds for a proper vehicle.

My question is, what's behind the scenes? What's behind these build threads that they don't post about?

Forget swaps, forget tuner stuff, forget about build threads. Build threads, more often than not, are for show/street cars, you're not going to learn what you need to learn from them. Hardly anyone will make a build thread for their Stock/Street Touring/Street Prep/ETC vehicle because, like I said, you're not going to reinvent the wheel, everyone knows pretty much the direction you have to go with a given car, and for the most part, all the proven cars are known.

How long do these weekend racers actually last!?

The cars will last as long as your pocketbook will let them.

And what type of jobs do they have? I'm not asking for a biography of each individual automotive enthusiast that decides to build a weekend racecar. I just want to know the personal ins and outs of the auto racing industry that you can't search for. How does one go from weekend racing to maintaining a full time job and attending all sorts of auto events? Do they usually have their own shops to work with? Are most of these people even certified automotive techs/licensed racers?

Like myself, a lot of the national level autocrossers from my region are in IT, but that's a big industry in DC so it's to be expected.

Most autocrossers only know as much as they need to know about cars. I know very little that are mechanics or have their own shops. It's a breed of people that would rather turn a wheel than a wrench. Myself, I loathe working on vehicles, even my karts which are fairly easy to wrench on. I can name several national tour winners that wouldn't know a blow off from a wastegate. We're drivers, not mechanics. This is not to say that knowledge about vehicles isn't helpful, I'm just saying that it's not necessary. It's boiling back once again to "you're not going to reinvent the wheel" so you are not going to need a lot of knowledge to copy a spec.

Seriously, I'm finding it hard to get into racing and building cars and I'm just fed up with the loose ends of the research into it. I want to know the ropes, I want to be able to actually build a track car, I'd like to import a car someday like I've seen many people do.

Lets get something straight, track car and autocross car are VERY DIFFERENT. Any advice you get to build a track car is more often than not, bad advice for building an autocross car. Track cars are bad autocross cars, autocross cars are (for the most part) bad track cars. The builds do not cross over.

Forget about importing a car, total waste of money and time. You will not be eligible for much in autocross with a NON-USDM vehicle.

I don't know how other people do it but I've been interested in cars all my life, and I think my best motivation would be sitting in a dedicated track car that I built.

No. I would highly recommend buying someone elses pre-built vehicle. It's going to save you a LOT of money and it will already give you a proper template. Look on SCCAForums.com, lots of cars for sale on there, even cheap stuff.

You gotta get away from your focus on "building," you dont get any points for creating your own vehicle. The only thing that matters at the end of the day is that time sheet. I want to see my name at the top or pretty damned close to it. I contract a lot of my build work out, I do not wrench on my kart motors.

And if you were able to come up in the racing industry, how did you go about doing that? I'm serious about becoming a weekend racer, and I'd like for it to be my main goal in life to be successful in racing, maybe open up a racing school for young adults looking to do the same thing later on in life, via paid internships, technical classes, racing licensure, etc.

There are not really any "pro autocrossers" but there are some who make money doing it. Some folks own shops that sell autocross related parts or Hoosier Tires, some folks run schools (like Junior and the Evo School), etc.

A racing school with do very little for you. Aside from "being smooth" there is nothing that really transfers, it's a different skillset. An Evo School will do wonders for you though and you live on the east coast so attending one will not be difficult for you, should you choose to go down this path. The instructors that teach there are all either National Champions or National Trophy winners, so you're getting top notch advice on how to be successful.

I've recently started contacting some aftermarket tuning companies (Honeywell/Garrett is the first) looking for potential sponsorships...But i'm not even sure how to write a formal proposal for something like that either. I suppose searching "sponsorship proposal" would probably be helpful too?

It's safe to say that 95% of National level autocrossers have no sponsorships, or just put down funny fake sponsorships, or put down the names of their friends company. With no win resume, you'd be hard pressed to get anything.

I never even knew how much autocrossing events were, so thanks for this info! I'm just going to get my car all sorted out maintenance wise, and make sure my suspension setup is what I'd like it to be (either upgrade my shocks or just go with full coilovers), then I might give autocross a try. I'm assuming you have to have a helmet, correct?

You got a couple months before the season starts, but I'd get out ASAP. Start learning, start meeting folks. The individuals in your region are some pretty nice people, I camped with them at the Northeastern Divisional Championship last year and had a blast with them. At the National Championship, one of the folks from that region was my "pusher" for a day.

So, I get how the z32 tt is in the CS class. BUT what I don't understand is how they pick these classes. Is there a certain weight criteria, amount of power, allowed modifications, and other stuff to be in the CS class?

Dont concern yourself on how they pick what cars go into which class. There are committees and boards for that, they've been doing it for a long time. Folks who have been around for some time will submit request letters from time to time, but that's a few years ahead of you right now.

Your car is not stock legal, wheels have to be stock diameter and width and your springs have to be stock. Also cannot modify your intake.

Seriously, read the rule book, or at least the section on classes. It will do you a LOT of good about understanding what is legal and what is not in the given classes.

As far as being able to BS your mods by SCCA, especially the obvious ones you're talking about, uh, probably not. SCCA inspects (or "tech's")your car prior to every event to not only make sure your car is safe, but to check that you aren't cheating by making unapproved mods for the class you've registered for.

Solo has no scrutineering Joel, it's self-governed. Tech inspections in solo are just to make sure that the car meets safety standards. Any class ruling enforcement is 100% on the competitors at the event. The only time the SCCA intervenes is if someone files a protest, if a car doesn't meet weight, or at Nationals they'll spot check a couple things for the trophy cars.

My point of view was that if I do go out to a scca sanctioned autocross, I want my car, (if I was a great autocross driver, obviously I'm not counting on being the best my first time out,) to be at the maximum allowed modifications in the CS class without being bumped up to a higher level class...

Like I said before, even if your car was CS legal (which it isnt), it's cannon fodder. The Miata's in that class will destroy a 300ZX. Dont worry about your 300ZX, just go learn with it and start thinking about a different car for next year, OR try to find a co-drive with someone.

Since everyone else is giving their resume: http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/ae86-jim-newman-1.html That would be mine. Since then, I've sold the Corolla, took up karting and won two SCCA National Tour's last year.

[flohtingPoint]

It should also be noted that NOW is when you start making sure your vehicle is in order. Go over that mess under the bonnet and make sure you're not leaking fluids, things are secure and that nothing needs replacing. You don't want to start the season with a failed tech inspection.

[Bubba1]

Good point, and you'll also find many car clubs are publishing their event schedules about now, so you can plan the your driving days to avoid conflicts.

[TTkickedin]

FlohtingPoint, lots ov valuable information there. Seeing it from the racers point of view, I can see what it would actually take to become an autocross racer, and it seems as though it's rpetty easy to do. Just have to do it.

Now as far as your comment about track cars being much different than autocross cars, and that 300zx is probably not very competitive in CS (figured as much,) how well do you think the z could be at track racing? I'm really trying to stay away from building a drift car as that's not what I want to do.

Say I get some seat time in autocross and become accustomed to my 300zx and want to get out of autocross and dive into track racing, IDK if you have experience with that but if you do, or know someone that does, the information would definitely be great to have. I intend to look at this thread like a "racing for dummies" type emergency manual in case I forget something important. Most of it now seems like common sense.

[flohtingPoint]

FlohtingPoint, lots ov valuable information there. Seeing it from the racers point of view, I can see what it would actually take to become an autocross racer, and it seems as though it's rpetty easy to do. Just have to do it.

Now as far as your comment about track cars being much different than autocross cars, and that 300zx is probably not very competitive in CS (figured as much,) how well do you think the z could be at track racing? I'm really trying to stay away from building a drift car as that's not what I want to do.

Say I get some seat time in autocross and become accustomed to my 300zx and want to get out of autocross and dive into track racing, IDK if you have experience with that but if you do, or know someone that does, the information would definitely be great to have. I intend to look at this thread like a "racing for dummies" type emergency manual in case I forget something important. Most of it now seems like common sense.

You do not have the budget for circuit racing. It matters little how your car could or could not do, as it is not within reach of your budget. Your goal should not be anywhere near the track until you secure yourself a five figure budget.

[TTkickedin]

Since I'm in the IT industry, and have a job within Computer Science, it's possible over time (note, this would be way after I've become an intermediate/advanced level autocross racer.)

[flohtingPoint]

Since I'm in the IT industry, and have a job within Computer Science, it's possible over time (note, this would be way after I've become an intermediate/advanced level autocross racer.)

Nothing changes from my first post. You need a different car. What you have now is fine to learn on but uncompetitive. If later in e future you get into circuit racing, you'd need an exhorbitant cash flow to make Z32 competitive, especially considering ITC cars can be had for nearly nothing.

[Red coupe]

I will say at all the NASA events I have been to the Z31 & Z32 are underrepresented to the point of being absent.

I'll admit I don't look for it, but I cannot think of the last one I saw at a race.

[flohtingPoint]

I will say at all the NASA events I have been to the Z31 & Z32 are underrepresented to the point of being absent.

I'll admit I don't look for it, but I cannot think of the last one I saw at a race.

NASA will not show you the potential of a vehicle most of the time, there are so many underbuilt/bad cars at a regional level that it's sad. Even if there was a Z32 there crushing it, it wouldn't mean anything. One of the folks who has won 3 regional titles for his NASA class doesn't even run competitive ITA times on Summit Main.

[TTkickedin]

Maybe I should try NASA then? O.o

Ok, for those of you who actually started racing, did you feel like you had the 'heart' of a racer before you went and got a rude awakening once you got your first seat time in?

In other words, did you feel like you could race and actually do decent the first time out and suddenly realized you absolutely suck? How long did it take for you to adjust to the turns and slaloms of autocross?

First timer tips?

[flohtingPoint]

Maybe I should try NASA then? O.o

Ok, for those of you who actually started racing, did you feel like you had the 'heart' of a racer before you went and got a rude awakening once you got your first seat time in?

In other words, did you feel like you could race and actually do decent the first time out and suddenly realized you absolutely suck? How long did it take for you to adjust to the turns and slaloms of autocross?

First timer tips?

Like I said, you do not have the budget for circuit racing, entry fees will start at around $300 for one event. Also, a track car has to be disposable. It has to be something you can completely destroy and not be fiscally hurt. If you cannot financially do that (which you cannot), you do not belong on a track. Regional level autocross is about the only thing really in your budget.

Everyone sucks at first, this is given. How long it takes you to get good is going to depend on how much commitment you have. If you dive head first into it and get out as much as you can, obviously you're going to progress faster than someone who does two autocrosses a year.

Your fist timer tip is to get out there and experience it. Get the NER SCCA schedule and figure out what events fit into your schedule.

[Bubba1]

1st timer tips? I'll lay it all out for you.

1. Fix your car now so it's in top notch shape mechanically. Make sure your fluids are fresh, make sure there's plenty of tread on your tires, plenty of lining on your brakes. Stop with the modding. You simply want your car to pass tech, survive the runs, and get to/from Braintree without any drama.

2. Buy yourself a good fitting helmet that's minimum SA2005. Don't skimp.

3. Sign up for NICOfest Carlisle this May. That's 4 months from now. Plenty of time to get your car ready. It's a weekend of unlimited autocrossing (and drifting if you're interested) for very little money plus there will be seasoned autocrossers there that will happily show you the ropes. You could ride with them, they could ride with you. Carlisle offers HOURS of track time vs MINUTES of track time if you sign up for SCCA Solo II.

4. Try it out, have some fun and see first hand if its something you want to pursue. After the first run, yes, you'll realize how much you need to learn. But with so many runs available, you'll feel a big difference at the end of the second day.

5. If you then find autocrossing is something you want to do more, we can introduce you to some folks from the SCCA Susquehanna chapter who will be at Carlisle. they'll happily answer any/all questions you have about Solo II.