This is a public service annoucement.....

[dsgerbc]

^You're thinking about track/HPDE, not autox.

[Draco-REX]

Originally Posted by kwood9000

Isn't the cost of insurance pretty high for these types of events?

No insurance needed for AutoX. One of the key aspects of AutoX is that you can explore the limits of the car without having to worry about getting into an accident. A properly designed course should give you, in the event of a loss of control, enough space to regain control or stop your car before you reach any obstacle. The worst thing you should even hit are traffic cones which may scuff your paint. (Blue painter's tape on your leading edges can prevent the scuffs)

So go to an event worry-free! I've AutoXed and RallyXed a lot, but this past weekend was the first with the BRZ. That car is so much FUN! These cars were MADE for this kind of racing. Even on the stock tires it was fun, if not competitive. Better tires and some suspension tweaks and this car will be more than competitive.

So go find one and have some FUN! Every Autocross/SOLO sanctioning body has some way to contact them and get started. MotorsportReg.com is a good way to find events near you.

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by Draco-REX

No insurance needed for AutoX. One of the key aspects of AutoX is that you can explore the limits of the car without having to worry about getting into an accident. A properly designed course should give you, in the event of a loss of control, enough space to regain control or stop your car before you reach any obstacle. The worst thing you should even hit are traffic cones which may scuff your paint. (Blue painter's tape on your leading edges can prevent the scuffs)

So go to an event worry-free! I've AutoXed and RallyXed a lot, but this past weekend was the first with the BRZ. That car is so much FUN! These cars were MADE for this kind of racing. Even on the stock tires it was fun, if not competitive. Better tires and some suspension tweaks and this car will be more than competitive.

So go find one and have some FUN! Every Autocross/SOLO sanctioning body has some way to contact them and get started. MotorsportReg.com is a good way to find events near you.

hey now, lets not be overly optimistic here

autocrosses are the safest auto related sport you can participate, but they are NOT trouble free.

individual clubs are responsible for following track layout, but not always do they have someone inspecting them and not all track layouts are 100% danger free.

If there are curbs, lightposts or people, there will be a chance for an accident. Brakes fail, wheels fly off, engine explode.

Sometimes people turn left instead of right, and what was supposed to be a safe corner turns into a dangerous ones

pylons can get stuck underneath the car, pop rad hoses, tear O2 sensor wires, all sorts of weird things.

the chances of these happening are SMALL, whole seasons go by without incidents

but please keep in mind that they are not danger free, just like driving to your local 7/11 to pick up some milk, shit can go wrong

[AlanLGuy]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

hey now, lets not be overly optimistic here

autocrosses are the safest auto related sport you can participate, but they are NOT trouble free.

individual clubs are responsible for following track layout, but not always do they have someone inspecting them and not all track layouts are 100% danger free.

If there are curbs, lightposts or people, there will be a chance for an accident. Brakes fail, wheels fly off, engine explode.

Sometimes people turn left instead of right, and what was supposed to be a safe corner turns into a dangerous ones

pylons can get stuck underneath the car, pop rad hoses, tear O2 sensor wires, all sorts of weird things.

the chances of these happening are SMALL, whole seasons go by without incidents

but please keep in mind that they are not danger free, just like driving to your local 7/11 to pick up some milk, shit can go wrong

Absolutely true, anytime you drive a car near the limit there is risk involved, but autoX is probably THE safest performance driving event you can do.

A properly managed club will have procedures for guaranteeing as safe conditions as reasonably possibly as well as guaranteeing the basic safety/drivability of the cars that are competing. While accidents can happen they are usually very rare, extremely avoidable and more often than not a combination of mechanical failure AND human error (a proper set up course should account for possible panic situations for drivers and leave plenty if room for recovery)

That being said, as Draco pointed out, there is really no need for anything more than the insurance you would need for everyday driving.

[Draco-REX]

I have a greater fear of my car getting damaged going to my local 7/11 to pick up milk than I do on an AutoX course.

I'm not arguing that Stuff doesn't Happen, I've seen failures at AutoX and RallyX events. But on the open roads you're going faster with far less space between you and hazards than you'll ever see at an AutoX. And with much higher consequences for getting something wrong.

[helloimgil]

I've been wanting to go to an Auto X event but I'm trying to figure out how to deal with the insurance issues. I've read lots of threads about people getting dropped from their insurance if they find your name / plates posted on a site somewhere. Just do a google search for Autocross insurance dropped.

[Draco-REX]

Just tape over your plates.

[ImAwesome]

or take it off....you are usually in a parking lot

[helloimgil]

So I take it you guys have no problems with using your real name when registering for scca and events?

[Jedi1]

Earlier in this thread someone mentioned that they weren't interested in AutoCross and track days were what they wanted to start with. I have NOTHING but great things to say about being on track with a good instructor. There is a ton you can learn in that environment. The flip side of this is the exact same skill set it takes to correct over/understeer during a 50-60 mph AutoCross run is what you employ on a race track at much higher speed. I've been racing since I was 4 and auto crossing since I was 16. I seriously recommend learning proper performance driving technique at 50-60 mph instead of having your first "MOMENT" on a track at somewhere between 80-110 mph. The difference in pucker factor and potential danger to you, your car and others around you is MUCH lower at the autocross.

[Kido1986]

People think because it's slow that it's beneath them. I autocrossed and did tiny tracks for 2 years before doing any time at a real track and it was beneficial. I outran nearly everything else on track at Daytona in a 2.5L NA Mazda3. 335is, Maseratis, Mazdaspeed3s, 350Zs

[Mitch]

Originally Posted by Jedi1

Earlier in this thread someone mentioned that they weren't interested in AutoCross and track days were what they wanted to start with. I have NOTHING but great things to say about being on track with a good instructor. There is a ton you can learn in that environment. The flip side of this is the exact same skill set it takes to correct over/understeer during a 50-60 mph AutoCross run is what you employ on a race track at much higher speed. I've been racing since I was 4 and auto crossing since I was 16. I seriously recommend learning proper performance driving technique at 50-60 mph instead of having your first "MOMENT" on a track at somewhere between 80-110 mph. The difference in pucker factor and potential danger to you, your car and others around you is MUCH lower at the autocross.

I'd been aware of autocross since I was a teenager, and I even helped out by doing photography for a couple of events when I was in college; but it wasn't until I actually drove an event that I understood what it was really about. I learned more in four autocross events than I had in the previous six years of driving, and I learned more at my first autocross school than everything put together. And, like you said, the margin for error is so much more forgiving. It's the most forgiving of any motorsport, really. Wipeout and take down a few cones. That's it. It takes effort to hurt yourself or your car.

[Draco-REX]

Originally Posted by jinrawke

So I take it you guys have no problems with using your real name when registering for scca and events?

Not at all. An insurance company can't deny your claim unless it happened at a race.

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by Draco-REX

Not at all. An insurance company can't deny your claim unless it happened at a race.

Are you 100% sure.

Does your insurance company openly know that you participate in a "race event" on the weekends?