Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB - View Single Post - Washington

Locust · 03-03-2015, 06:24 PM

Pre-registration closes Friday afternoon. There's still a little room in the practice event on Saturday and the Sunday event has no entry limit so sign up soon if you want to come out (you'll save $5 per session)! You can also register on site Sunday morning or at noon if you'd like.

For those of you that are nervous / first timers feel free to come talk to me on Saturday or Sunday. I'll be driving a yellow RS 1.0 and when I'm not in my car I'll be wearing a brown SCCA coat that says Novice of the Year on the back accompanied by basketball shorts. Shouldn't be too hard to spot.

If you want a novice instructor to ride along with you and give you pointers just put a cone on top of your car once you're in grid and they will find you before you run. Feel free to ask anyone on site (in particular those wearing an SCCA jacket) any questions you want as everyone around here is very helpful and knowledgeable.

Some easy tips I can give you about driving at autocross for your first time though are these:

Slow is smooth, smooth is fast - Don't try to over drive the course or brake at the last minute. A wide line around a turn costs you a lot more time than a tight line at a slower speed.
Try to look further ahead than just the next cone - This is the hardest thing to force yourself to do because it's natural to look at the next objective in front of you. Try to always be looking 2-3 cones/gates ahead to determine where you're going and how to set up your car to make those.
Brake in a straight line - Braking while cornering is a surefire way to spin out because the weight shift to the front of your car will cause the traction to your rear tires to lessen. Try to brake in a straight line prior to sharp corners.
Keep both hands on the wheel - A lot of people develop bad habits over the years from regular driving such as keeping their right hand on their shifter or only turning with one hand. Make sure you keep both hands on your steering wheel for the best control.
Breathe!!! - Don't forget to breathe. Even long time autocrossers often forget this.
Don't be afraid to ask for help - Everyone was new at some point. Some courses are confusing to read and at some point at an autocross in your life you will get lost. It's okay, it happens to everyone, and if it happens to you just slow down and find the course. If you can't find the course, ask a corner worker.
Have fun! - At the end of the day that's what we're out there for.

03-03-2015, 06:24 PM	#14
Locust Custom User Title Join Date: Oct 2014 Drives: 2015 Scion FR-S, 2012 OB Evo X MR Location: Seattle Posts: 807 Thanks: 13 Thanked 424 Times in 272 Posts Mentioned: 13 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Pre-registration closes Friday afternoon. There's still a little room in the practice event on Saturday and the Sunday event has no entry limit so sign up soon if you want to come out (you'll save $5 per session)! You can also register on site Sunday morning or at noon if you'd like. For those of you that are nervous / first timers feel free to come talk to me on Saturday or Sunday. I'll be driving a yellow RS 1.0 and when I'm not in my car I'll be wearing a brown SCCA coat that says Novice of the Year on the back accompanied by basketball shorts. Shouldn't be too hard to spot. If you want a novice instructor to ride along with you and give you pointers just put a cone on top of your car once you're in grid and they will find you before you run. Feel free to ask anyone on site (in particular those wearing an SCCA jacket) any questions you want as everyone around here is very helpful and knowledgeable. Some easy tips I can give you about driving at autocross for your first time though are these: Slow is smooth, smooth is fast - Don't try to over drive the course or brake at the last minute. A wide line around a turn costs you a lot more time than a tight line at a slower speed. Try to look further ahead than just the next cone - This is the hardest thing to force yourself to do because it's natural to look at the next objective in front of you. Try to always be looking 2-3 cones/gates ahead to determine where you're going and how to set up your car to make those. Brake in a straight line - Braking while cornering is a surefire way to spin out because the weight shift to the front of your car will cause the traction to your rear tires to lessen. Try to brake in a straight line prior to sharp corners. Keep both hands on the wheel - A lot of people develop bad habits over the years from regular driving such as keeping their right hand on their shifter or only turning with one hand. Make sure you keep both hands on your steering wheel for the best control. Breathe!!! - Don't forget to breathe. Even long time autocrossers often forget this. Don't be afraid to ask for help - Everyone was new at some point. Some courses are confusing to read and at some point at an autocross in your life you will get lost. It's okay, it happens to everyone, and if it happens to you just slow down and find the course. If you can't find the course, ask a corner worker. Have fun! - At the end of the day that's what we're out there for.