Going to my first auto-cross, in the RX-7, what do I need to know?
 

So I've been filling out forms all week, I have my SCCA membership sent in, and the paperwork for the auto-cross. It's a Novice only event (maximum limit of 10 auto-crosses to be allowed into this one). It's in exactly 30 days.

I already have a Snell M2005 full-face helmet (for drag racing) and the car itself is my 100% stock 83 RX-7 GSL which has a fresh tune-up and oil change.

What else do I need to do, especially to the car, before the auto-cross? I'm not worried about winning or placing, but seeing as how it's a 50-mile drive each way to the event, I'd like to finish the event and be able to drive home with no problems.

My car does have new tires and runs and drives well. It does have a bizarre groan when turning very tightly and/or going over a bump/dip funnily (like at an angle instead of straight on). It's manual steering and the posi works excellent. Brakes seem very good, but I haven't actually had the wheels off to check.

Any and all advice is appreciated. I just want to be able to concentrate on the instructors and learning how to auto-cross properly without worrying whether or not the car will make it! :icon_tup:

good job! glad to see you making the jump on your first event. so things you need/should know/should bring..

1) remove loose junk from the car before you get there. don't wait, do it at your house, only bring loose things that you need, wallet, phone, tools maybe.
2) make sure you have a battery tie-down and that the tray it is tied to is tight, if they sense it to be loose at all, they won't let you race.
3) I highly recommend sunblock. even if you think you won't get burned, you will, always happens. even if it's cloudy out.
4) bring a tire pressure gauge and if possible a small electric compressor. you will want to take out some air for the race and then put it back in after wards. between heats check the tire pressure, it will go up as the tires get warmer.
5) bring lunch, don't expect there to be food there. and don't expect to leave, you will have to work a heat too remember.
6) have fun!

that's all i can think of for now.

look through this site, it has info on preping the car, driving the course and working the event. (it's interactive and even show different lines and the results of each, so click around)
http://www.wtfstables.com/rmsoloschool/

Show up early, walk the course a few times, ask questions (most are more than willing to help you), and HAVE FUN. It's like Crack for car nuts.
:driving:

Dean

Battery is the big one for tech inspection, along with no leaks, good belts and lug nuts torqued down. I'd also ditch the spare tire once there and floor mats if you have them. Like said anything loose that you don't need. Since you have the helmet already, see how you fit with it on in the car. Some people have to really change the way they normally sit to fit right with the extra height the helmet adds. Your instructor should walk you through the course, memorize it in your head and replay it over and over.

Other than that, just relax and have fun! It's addictive and you'll be surprised how much you'll learn about you and the car.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...s/turbo2-1.jpg

Werd on the helmet thing, I usually pop up the sunroof on the SE so my helmet doesn't hit :D

Use the proper wheel studs!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3yLGTYX7kI

check your wheel bearings. if they can rock your wheel on the hub they wont let you race. you going to the one in bremerton?

No, the Oregon SCCA Novice one at PIR on April 13th.

oh cool, ima drive too. cya there!

Sveet! If it stops raining I'll be at the drags tonight and/or Sunday. Isn't looking good though :(

walk the course as many times as u can...

full face helmets suck (sorry to say) they limit yoru perifrial vision... if its not to late I woudl trade it back in for a brain bucket..

on the first run just feel the track dont try and "win"

most the time u get 3-5 runs leave the glory runs untill u are ending for the day...

good luck, have fun, and most importantly be safe

I've been using for drag racing since 2006, so yeah a little late. I happened to be working for Daytona International Speedway when Dale Earnhardt had his fatal wreck. Seeing what happened to him, I'll stick with a full-face helmet and just deal with the visibility issues.

well if you luck out they might have helmets there that aren't full face. i know the local club brings about 5-6 open face helmets that people can use when they get up to the line.

dont worry- when you hit the concrete barrier, it should be at no more than 90mph.

i use a motorcycle helmet. i dont think its a big deal- you should be looking where you're going, and theres no traffic, so who needs peripheral

Lol! I might pick one up just because. I'll see what Summit has on sale.

An earlier post recommended reducing your tire pressure for the race. I do not agree with this, but it may depend on the size/type of tire you are running. I usually run my tires at 35 for street, but will go up as high as 50 for autocross. Here's how to tell what pressure you'll need, without getting very technical or requiring additional equipment.

Use some chalk or shoe polish to mark the sidewall of your tire, right up to the shoulder. After your first run, see how the markings have worn off. If it shows that you are rolling the tire over onto the sidewall, increase your pressure. If it shows that you are not anywhere near the sidewall, then you can reduce the pressure. The idea is to use all of the tread surface, without going onto the sidewall.

Good luck, and have a good time. :)

well, you're supposed to set tire pressure with a pyrometer. camber too. they sell them at autoparts stores, but i dunno how much they cost.
the chalk is a nice bandaid tho.

I have no issues seeing with a full faced helmet....

Just go and have fun. Since its your first event, you'll spend most of the time trying not to get lost in the sea of cones. I still get lost sometimes but I'm not out to break any records. :)

I agree. At all of the autocross schools and meets I have been to the older guys who have been at it a while tell me to raise my tire pressure when they see how low it is.

I guess step one is to fix my busted driveshaft :D

Mar 30th in salem yo. you think you'll make it?

as far as batteries, when you relocate them to a bin inside the cabin.. does it have to have a cover? I have the battery in a box, which is bolted down, and the battery is strapped into the box. the top is open though

I think as long as it's behind the driver it's not considered in the drivers comparment.

I just have mine straped down on a tray under the passengers side bin with racers tape on the terminals and I've never had a problem anywhere, including a Nat. tour, and multiple HPDEs.

I agree with this also: it's a lot easier to let a little air out of the tires after a lap than to add more pressure.

Ask about instructor runs when you are at the registration table; the region I run with allows you an additional run with an instructor driving if you request it. It's really helpful to see what your car can do in the right hands, keeps me from spending money on suspension or tire mods when I really just need to "fix the nut behind the wheel."

If you're at a practice event, try to ride shotgun with other drivers if there is time when you aren't driving or working. It's nice to see the difference in lines, braking points, and steering is especially important on an autocross course.

Yeah, the loose nut behind the wheel is right! :) The biggest lesson I learned was when my fairly well prepped '85 was down with a blown engine for the last race of the year. Perfect_circle allowed me to co-drive his car for the race, but it was nearly completely stock (I think he had exhaust). Original suspension, old tires, etc. What a difference from my own car!

Well, once I finished throwing a fit and trying to make the car do what it wasn't capable of doing, I settled down and started "driving what I've got". At the end of the day, I really doubt I could have turned in a better time driving my own car. That was when I learned that very little of your actual performance is related to what you are driving. Its very important to drive what you've got, rather than trying to make your car perform above it's capabilities... You can gain a lot of time by just slowing down and driving within the car's limitations...

i think that is really my biggest problem is just slowing down and taking the corners better. does anyone know of or have a picture of a track with a birds eye veiw of the apex? im more of a visual learner and kinda want to check somthing like that out. what do you guys think is the best race book?

Great thread! I'm brand new to Autocross as well. I've only done a handful of events, both practice and "real". I need to figure tire pressure as well. On Sunday I was trying to see when my tires were rubbing on the edge. This weekend I'm going to take some chalk with me so I can see for sure. My FD tends to understear quite a bit with me driving it. I waste a lot of time by not braking soon enough or hard enough.

Unfortunately, my FD has to run SM2 in SCCA events (thanks Chadwick for the info). My FD is a dog. Even so, I know I have lots of room for improvement as I try to learn how to drive. It is a LOT of fun. Nopis10, you should consider coming up to the BSCC events in Bremerton. It is a great group of folks. Very relaxed and very helpful. They also have some very fast drivers. You can always find someone to ride with you and give you pointers and they will often offer to allow you to ride along.

Two things really helped me. The first was walking the course with experienced drivers. They see things in the course that I never would and give great ideas on how to drive it. The second was to have an experienced RX racer drive my car with me in it. This guy, who races an FC, climbed into my car cold and drove it 5 seconds faster than my best time, even with the one spinout he had. Enjoy it!

some places are more uptight about that than others. a drycell like an optima is your best option. just make sure its not in the drivers compartment(ha.) and get a good tiedown. ie not ducktape or zipties and you should be fine just about anywhere.:biggthumpup: