North Texas Autocross Thread

[14stu]

Originally Posted by Ramster

I plan on attending the July 21st Autocross. Sign ups open on Thursday this week I believe. Any one else planning on being there?

I'll be at the scca club trials that day.

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[Shneegle]

I plan to be at the SCCA Time Trials at Eagle Canyon Raceway as well.

[Ramster]

Originally Posted by Shneegle

I plan to be at the SCCA Time Trials at Eagle Canyon Raceway as well.

What are the SCCA Time Trials? I've been to Eagles but I have not heard of these time trials. Is this for a different racing league?

[mjanmohammad]

Originally Posted by Ramster

I plan on attending the July 21st Autocross. Sign ups open on Thursday this week I believe. Any one else planning on being there?

I'll be there in the Miata! BRZ is gonna get a break from autox/track for a bit.

[14stu]

Originally Posted by Ramster

What are the SCCA Time Trials? I've been to Eagles but I have not heard of these time trials. Is this for a different racing league?

The SCCA Club Trials are run by the Texas Region SCCA as a race series (time trials, not wheel to wheel). http://www.texasscca.org/trials/

The SCCA Time Trials are run at ECR and MSR Cresson (we ran at TWS before it closed too). There is a season long points competition and most events also include a "Track Event" (PDX/HPDE deal) that can be run as a novice with an instructor.

To run in the timed, competitive Club Trials you have to meet one of the following criteria:

Driver qualification for Time Trials will be as follows:
1. Hold a current SCCA Competition license, or a history of tracking events with SCCA or SCCA recognized organizations such as PCA, NASA, CHIN, BMW, PBOC, etc; or

2. Hold a current SCCA PDX License; or

3. Hold an SCCA PDX log book that indicates the ability to ‘solo’ and has successfully completed at least 3 SCCA PDX events; or

4.Has been approved to drive solo by any of the following HPDE schools: Apex, Drivers Edge, Chinn, Eagles Canyon, Texas World, Edge Addicts.

5.Receive an entry waiver from the Event Chief Driving Instructor.

Registration is on Motorsports Reg: Registration Link

I highly recommend these events, they are well run, well attended with reasonably limited numbers of respectful drivers, and competitively priced.

[Shneegle]

Originally Posted by Ramster

What are the SCCA Time Trials? I've been to Eagles but I have not heard of these time trials. Is this for a different racing league?

What Sam said above is spot on. Just another thing to ruin more sets of tires and put more wear on the car.

[Ramster]

Thanks, I will definitely check out some of these things. I could definitely use some proper driving training (partly the reason I am getting involved in the autocross scene). I didn't know there were so many HPDE schools in our area. I had heard of Apex and I was planning on going through them for a track day at MSR this fall.

[Shneegle]

Originally Posted by Ramster

Thanks, I will definitely check out some of these things. I could definitely use some proper driving training (partly the reason I am getting involved in the autocross scene). I didn't know there were so many HPDE schools in our area. I had heard of Apex and I was planning on going through them for a track day at MSR this fall.

I would recommend The Drivers Edge event if you have never tracked before.

[14stu]

The only group that isn't novice friendly is the track night in America, the rest are pretty good with first timers.

The Drivers Edge and NASA are the only groups I haven't run with and I've had positive experiences with them all.

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[malubawla]

I ran with APEX twice and really enjoy it. They seem to limit how many cars that are out per session, go you seem to always have more space. Instructors are great as well, highly recommend. They run MSR and Eagle Canyon and all cost $250. Good classroom as well.

[Ramster]

I've tracked twice at Eagles so I have a tiny bit of experience. One question though for the vets: I signed up and got a number for the autocross event and they said the number has to be displayed on the side of the car. Do yall know if I have to do that myself ahead of time? Or do they have the special markers at the event to do it for us?

[14stu]

Originally Posted by Ramster

I've tracked twice at Eagles so I have a tiny bit of experience. One question though for the vets: I signed up and got a number for the autocross event and they said the number has to be displayed on the side of the car. Do yall know if I have to do that myself ahead of time? Or do they have the special markers at the event to do it for us?

Most clubs have some painter's tape (the SCCA use big sheets of paper you write your class and number on, then tape to the side of the car).

You can make your own ahead of time, I recommend making some out of "Magnetic Vent Covers" from Home Depot (number have to be 11" and letters 5"). You can also order numbers and letters, but the vent covers come in 3 packs (I'd recommend two packs so you can make extra numbers) and each pack is like $5. The cheapest number sets I've seen are around $40 (my first set lasted over 5 years, so either way we're not talking big bucks).

The twins fall in the following classes:

DS (D Street):

No modifications aside from catback, a single swaybar, and tires (wheels have to be stock sizes but can be +/- 1" in diameter as long as they are the same width and offset). Tires have to be minimum 200TW but any size that fits on the wheel is allowed.

STX (Street Touring Extreme)

Most suspension modifications are allowed, anything before the air inlet and after the exhaust outlet can be modified (intakes, headers, and full exhaust). Wheels can be up to 9" wide, 200tw tires up to 265 section width.

If you fall into any of the higher categories, you are in "racecar" classes.

SM (street modified)

Most people end up here due to forced induction.

CSP (C Street Prepared)

NA but with modifications that throw you out of STX.

CSP and SM allow for slicks, the rules are super specific and the rule book is over 300 pages, so it'd be easier for you to list your modifications than for me to write up all specific the class rules.

The "gang" will be both at the ER and SCCA autocrosses coming up (and David and I will be at the Club Trials too). We'd be more than happy to help out, just look for the other 86's (we're all in STX together, which has become a bit of a bloodbath).

[Ramster]

That's awesome, thanks for the suggestion. I'll keep an eye out for you guys. I'll definitely be at the Texas Motor Speedway NTAXS event on the 21st of July. I'll have to look at some of the other clubs like SCCA and see if I can attend any of those events.

[14stu]

NTAXs just uses engine displacement, so we're all in Class 1. I think Brandon (bslate3) will be at NTAXs, but David (shneegle) and I (Sam) are going to the Club Trials at ECR that day.

NTAXs is s great group to run with though, if you have a good attitude and ask for some help you're sure to find some. Lelanie Jan usually helps out with the novices and she's great.

Bring some water and sunscreen, the lot gets hot when you're shagging cones.