Help, new to autocross.

[Tidalwdave]

I've never autocrossed before and have only watched. I live in Tampa and would like to give it a try. What event would be best for me that is close. Would it be the "Rookie Event"? I have a S2000 if that makes any difference on the events I can attend. I really only want to practice and not compete at this time in my early career. ;)

Thanks for any help.

Dave

[oilleak]

Dave,
Welcome. In my opinion the best place to start - most novice freindly - is Sunriders. Check out the other thread about the most recent SR event and take a look at the results by class (http://www.sunridersautocross.com/srfiles/10Jan04ResultsByClass.pdf). Half the drivers were novices. It's a very laid back event with relatively low speed courses that are lined so they're easy to follow. Next SR event is on 2/22. I'd tell you to look for me but I'll be in Ft. Myers so look for Loren Williams instead, He's the club chairman knows his way around the cones.
SCCA is great too but the next few events (first one is this Sunday) are at Gainesville which is a pretty fast course. There will be some good novice instructors at GIR though so don't be afraid to go. If you do, tell Katie you're a novice when you register and she'll point out a novice instructor. They'll be happy to ride with you and give you some pointers. There's also always a novice walk though to help familiarize you with the course.

[OversteerS2K]

Dave c'mon up to Gainesville Sunday. You can follow me up at Warp Speed if you'd like. Sunriders is a good start, but seat time is seat time. You've given me some great photos and I certainly will be as much help as possible in return. I'm no expert but have spent a LOT of time learning how not to drive a stock S2K. I'd be happy to let you ride along on a run or two of mine and although not at a level to be a novice instructor, I can help you with the course walk and such.

I'll be doing Gainesville this weekend and probably the Martin Sports Car Club event in a few weeks. The 1st sticky thread up top has a complete schedule. E-mail or PM me with any needs (that don't cost money).

[OversteerS2K]

By the way, you can run novice for (I think) six events, or until you trophy, before you have to worry about any competition. It's all for fun and the more runs you do the better you'll get. I hope you can get some of our fellow S owners out with you.

[PseudoRealityX]

FWIW, IMO, 1st gear overly tight courses are HARDER for a novice to learn on. Engine braking screws up too many people. GIR is close to impossible to get lost on.....that'd be my choice.

[oilleak]

Originally posted by PseudoRealityX
FWIW, IMO, 1st gear overly tight courses are HARDER for a novice to learn on. Engine braking screws up too many people. GIR is close to impossible to get lost on.....that'd be my choice.

That may be true but I think SR events are a better introduction to the sport. Much less intimidating when you've never really done it before.

[oilleak]

Not that you shouldn't do both. More is better!

[PseudoRealityX]

my 2nd event was actually an SCCA event at GIR... it was imtimidating. But I managed through it all right. I believe I was 11th of 19th in Novice...

1st event was a PCA event up in Atlanta.

[Loren]

Well, I think these guys covered it.

Go back to the schedule, pick the next event. If it's too far for you to travel, pick the next one. Doesn't matter where it is or with which club, just get to an autocross. As someone said above "seat time is seat time". The sooner you get started, the sooner you'll be having fun.

Watch the forum, there's almost always a thread about upcoming events that will let you hook up with people who are going to a particular event.

Seeya out there.

[Tidalwdave]

Thanks for the replies. I am seeing if I can go to the Sunriders event on 2/22. That site didn't have a forum, so I sent an email to find out if I can get in, since I don't know if they have hit the limit of cars they allow.

Is anyone else here going on 2/22 to St. Pete? Any advise on the typical course they have there?

Thanks,
Dave

[Loren]

I just replied to the email you sent @ SunRidersAutocross.com. :)

We do have a "forum", but it is done through YahooGroups (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sunridersautocross/).

Typical courses? Well, we're the ones that PseudoRealityX referred to as "1st gear overly tight courses". Mind you, he hasn't attended one of our events in well over a year. He's judging us harshly based on history and his own prejudices.

Our courses are a little slower than most, and that's due to the size of our site. But I take pride in the fact that since I've taken over the program, our courses have been MUCH better. There's still more 1st gear than you'll find on a larger site, but the courses flow well and people enjoy them now rather than complain about them. (see the latest SunRiders event review thread)

Come on out, you'll have fun. I promise.

[OversteerS2K]

Dave, I was a little biased on the SR events too. I did one in November and the course was pretty good. I had fun and the combination of a tight course and a sealed asphalt surface is pretty challenging. You really should try to do the PCA event on Sunday if Gainesville is too far. If you're lucky Danny Shields will be the novice instructor. I can't think of anyone better. Let him take your first run (he won't hurt your car) and try to take some mental notes.

Gainesville is about two hours, the Martin Sports Car Club events are about an hour and a half, and Ft. Myers is about two. Even at the distant events you'd usually get back home by 6 to 6:30. Leaving the house at 6 a.m. kinda' sucks though. Just pick one and chances are I'll be going too. I'll walk you through what you need to know as far as registration, tech., walking the course, working the course, etc. It may seem a bit intimidating at first, but it's really just for fun. At my worst autcrosses I've still had fun and the adreneline rush is much bigger than you'd figure you could get from driving for 35 to 70 seconds.

I know you've done some mods. to your S. One you may want to think about is an aggressive alignment. The "UK" OE alignment is a good start. You can search the S2Ki board for the settings. It'll cost about $60 to $75 for a cheapie but it made a huge difference in how my car handled. I still need more negative camber, but it'll keep the rear more firmly planted and the tires will wear a little more evenly. I assume you're still on S0-2's, and the book calls for 32 psi all around. Definitely run 34 or 35 on the front and 35 or 36 on the rears or the outside shoulders will get eaten. I found out the hard way that once those squared shoulders are gone the remaining tread doesn't matter. I was getting great grip running 31 on the rears but the tires were toast in a few events.

[Tidalwdave]

Thanks Todd, I wouldn't have even thought to ask what tire pressure to use. Yes, I'm on stock S02s with 12k miles.

Putting miles on the car is an issue, since I plan/hope to sell it very late 2004. I want to stay very local and make sure I don't hit any cones. I only want to autocross 2-3 times with the S2K, then autocross more if/when I get my new car.

[Tidalwdave]

Originally posted by Loren
I just replied to the email you sent @ SunRidersAutocross.com. :)

Come on out, you'll have fun. I promise.

Thanks Loren, I plan on coming, and bringing another S2K owner with me. We don't have helmets, do you guys provide any loaners?

[Loren]

Originally posted by Tidalwdave
Thanks Loren, I plan on coming, and bringing another S2K owner with me. We don't have helmets, do you guys provide any loaners?

We do have some loaner helmets.