So there is an AX in the area this weekend and I was just planning on checking it out as a spectator but the more I look into the more I'm thinking of giving it a go. I've been trying to do a DE but every time they've come up I've been unable to attend.

Any advice or tips?

 

do it. just remember, when in doubt throttle it out.

 

PASM = Sport
PSM = Off
Maybe add tire pressure - chalk tire corners to check for contact area.
Have Fun...

 

do not be a spectator. participate. it is cheap and fun.
if your car is bone stock - keep it like that just get proper alignment done - search this forum for mdrums and adias advices - max stock camber in front, rear camber within 0.5 diff (-1 front, -1.5 rear) 0 toe front, 0.10 toe rear - as you got alignment done - just start driving.

auto-x is not that much diferent from track in some way - you get 10 times more turns with almost 0 time to make a right decision of where is apex and how to proceed, it trains your reflexes and helps to learn your car very fast.

as of practical advice - on a first 2 runs fight your temptation to go as fast as you will see other folks doing it. start slow, crawl through the course. your goal as a novice is not to be fast but to be correct - not to go of course no matter what and try to choose correct line. look 4-5 cones ahead and try to visualize the path your` taking. your car will go exactly to that point you`re looking at so learn to look at correct destination. as silly as it sounds it is a most difficult part - to find that correct cone that matters and choose right path to it ignoring all the rest.

you will get instructors there - be proactive, ask them to drive your car to show you correct path and show you what your car can do - you`ll be amazed. then just go for it, trying as much as possible to keep same rules - slow in, fast out, no rolling - you have to be either on gas or on brakes. trick is - you can`t do that if you do not see right driving line. but it will come.

 

for novice on street tires - do not even think about all that.
get your street tires to stock 33/37 psi before event, warmed up they will get to 37/44 or so - you`ll be OK.

first season your problem will not be your tires, suspension, sways - your problem will be your brain.

but still get alignment done first, it is just $200 and if it wa never done before it will make you perfectly OK for strict stock class.

 

I disagree. For his 1st try:

PASM: Normal
PSM: On
Tires: std low load PSI

It's probably a 2nd gear track, so stay in 2nd. Learn the track walking it, if possible, with an instructor. Drive looking forward beyond the bends.

 

It is always quite fun to spin your car properly for a first time. In my first run in wet with PSM off I think I did about of 520 degrees spin, it was quite a tight corner and I did overshoot it by far, as usual.

 

For his first time, you may well be right. I do think that it would be worth at least one run with PSM off, just to get the feeling. I found while AX'ing that the PSM was most intrusive, but starting with PSM on may not be a bad idea.

Why do you think that PASM should be in normal mode?

 

Many autox venues have uneven surfaces with expansion joints and undulated areas. PASM Normal works better there.

 

My two cents for your first event...

Sport Suspension = ON
PSM = ON
Tires = Front @ 38, Rear @ 42

Now....... I say PSM on because if you turn it off, you will most likely round a corner and have sizable oversteer (tail out) if you are not prepared for it. First see how the car reacts on-its-own.

Afterwards run with PSM off, as it will have a huge impact on your launch with a power hit, and depending on how technical (tight) the course is, will drive the PSM crazy with corrections.

The key will be to keep your tire pressures in a good range (fronts 38-40), rears about 44-46 max if possble. That will depend on how long the car sits before your 1st run, and how much time between runs. I believe that if you run too low and the car has sat (ie. cold tires), you will kill your sidewalls. Check your pressures after each run......... because typically half-way-though they are rising more than you want and will want to let some air out.

As was mentioned, take some white marker/shoe polish and put on the sidwall "edges" of your tires to see how much roll you are having.

.......Bring a tire gauge (a decent one.....Longacre...etc), and have air/compressor available.

ENJOY. (I just ran AX with BMWCCA this weekend in our area, actually I'm on the AX staff and have a blast!)

 

Great, thanks for all of the info.

I think I'll start off simple with PSM on & PASM off.
We'll see how that goes.

I'll need to pump up the tires a bit when I get there. I'm assuming the above recommended pressures are cold numbers.

Do they usually provide air at these things?

 

I'd have to say no (on air) being supplied by the event sponser themselves. I typically leave the house at the pressure I intend to run with and start with that.

You'd be quite amazed (possibly not) at how the pressures will change by just a short ride or sitting in the sun.

Now..........usually finding air is not an issue, as many of the diehard folks have everything you need and will be there to assist. Make sure you've got a SA or MA rated helmet, pure "DOT" wont make it.

Another word of advise. Walk the course MANY times........as many as you can before they start. While length itself may be only 60seconds (lets say),
it will be the fastest 60seconds you will ever see. Run the first 1-2 at a nominal speed to keep from being DNF'd......... get used to the course from inside the car. (because walking it at eye level is totally different than seating-level)

 

I ran my 997S for my 1st ever AX less than a year ago. My advice would be: don't worry about the car so much. Walk the course and try to memorize it before the event starts. Then for your first 2 runs just concentrate on finishing. All these camber/tire/etc adjustments won't mean squat until you have a little experience. The good news is, you will be having fun immediately!

 

Some recommendations:

Walk the course.

First timers can usually get instruction at AutoX events, don’t be put off by the rules and the expertise of the long timers, just go and have fun.

Tire pressure for AutoX I would start with normal pressure +1 lb. Mark your sidewalls
For AutoX I would start with normal pressure +1 lb. Mark your sidewalls with chalk and make sure that wear does not go beyond the wear bars.

Buy or borrow a helmet, Snell SA2005 is normally required for AutoX and DE's. They are usually available at PCA DE and AutoX events you might have to get there early to secure a helmet. Note that Snell SA2005 will be superceeded by Snell SA2010 this year (helmets will go on sale in October) so if you buy the helmet may only br good for 5 years (not to bad anyway)

When you get to the event, clean out any stuff that you have either in the ****pit or trunk so that it will not distract you by moving around. Empty the glovebox as well. I have a storage box that fits in the front compartment of my car for my tire pressure guage, car numbers, helmet... When I get there I take out what I need and put the junk from the car in the box.


Plenty of water(for yourself), sun block, wide brimmed hat (for when you are working the AX course), camera, folding chair, tire pressure gauge, Blue painters tape to tape your number to your car that they will assign, some people like to tape up certain areas of their car like the bumper and wheel wells, not really needed for AutoX.




Leave your PSM PASM setting on normal for the first few runs, then put PSM on sport you will find quite a change. Focus on driving the line smoothly, it is harder than it looks.

Have fun.

 

One word for your second AutoCross event........Hoosiers!!