tracking for n00bs

[BlaineWasHere]

Originally Posted by mou

I'm new to tracking as well and I've only been driving stick for 2 weeks. I'm tagging along with a friend to autox at marina this sunday to learn from him

Don't tag along, drive. What are you waiting for?

[ayau]

With no track/autox experience, definitely stick to using OEM tires. You'll learn the limits of the car much quicker/easier. Sticky tires will just cover your mistakes.

[BlaineWasHere]

Originally Posted by ayau

With no track/autox experience, definitely stick to using OEM tires. You'll learn the limits of the car much quicker/easier. Sticky tires will just cover your mistakes.

The stock tires are so bad you can't find the limits. The car will just push like crazy on corner entry due to the sidewalls folding like a French military force. You can try like 40 PSI to hold the sidewall up, but now you're loosing contact patch on a tire that already feels like someone oiled it up.

I'm certainly not saying you want R-comps, or maybe even 140-200 TW streets, but the stocks are worthless for autoX. They prob do better at the track due to more gradual side forces. Corner entry is much more violent at autoX.

The core of what you are saying is really good advice though. Sticky tires will mask errors because you will mistake grip (which this car can make a lot of) for good driving. The less grip you have the more forced you are to run a proper line.

I just had to whine about my displeasure in the stock tires... if you can even call them that.

[BlaineWasHere]

I guess you're right, if you have ZERO autoX experience stock tires will be fine.


































But you should get new tires for your 2nd time out

If you wanna see the difference a proper wheel/tire set-up can have come ride with me on Sunday.

[overlookedx]

what's tracking?

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by overlookedx

what's tracking?

Going to a track instead of a parking lot.

Around us we have Thunder Hill, Sonoma and Laguna Seca, we're pretty blessed.

Edit: don't mean to sound condescending to auto cross, just being blunt.

[spitz]

Originally Posted by BlaineWasHere

[B]The core of what you are saying is really good advice though. Sticky tires will mask errors because you will mistake grip (which this car can make a lot of) for good driving. The less grip you have the more forced you are to run a proper line.

This.

[fiveoneoh]

Originally Posted by PMok

oh, as for books... there is a book that someone in the Porsche club recommended to me when I first started AutoX and track days. It's a really old book at this point but I read that thing so many times it's ridiculous. And I still remember some of the lessons from it. Apparently it's still in print and you can get it through NCRC or Amazon. It goes over just about everything, from what to do at your first autox or track day (they called it solo racing back then), to physics and theory of things like weight transfer, the friction circle etc. Definitely recommend it and it's not that expensive... guess after all these years no one has yet to write a better book on the subject.

Secrets of Solo Racing: Expert Techniques for Autocrossing and Time Trials: Henry A. Watts: 9780962057311: Amazon.com: Books

thanks, will def check it out! Super excited about this now. Just gotta wait for an event closer to me =\

Originally Posted by BlaineWasHere

Why?

cuz you might regulate on my thread!

[mkiisupra]

Originally Posted by PMok

oh, as for books... there is a book that someone in the Porsche club recommended to me when I first started AutoX and track days. It's a really old book at this point but I read that thing so many times it's ridiculous. And I still remember some of the lessons from it. Apparently it's still in print and you can get it through NCRC or Amazon. It goes over just about everything, from what to do at your first autox or track day (they called it solo racing back then), to physics and theory of things like weight transfer, the friction circle etc. Definitely recommend it and it's not that expensive... guess after all these years no one has yet to write a better book on the subject.

Secrets of Solo Racing: Expert Techniques for Autocrossing and Time Trials: Henry A. Watts: 9780962057311: Amazon.com: Books

I purchase this book above and the following at the same time. Ross Bentley's one is more modern, although both have great information.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Autocross-Techniques-Speed-Secrets/dp/0760331561"]Winning Autocross Techniques (Speed Secrets): Ross Bentley, Per Schroeder: 9780760331569: Amazon.com: Books[/ame]

As for heel-toe and double clutching, you won't need these skills for a while, unless you want to attempt national-level competition in the next year or so. I have been autox'ing for only 12 years, instructing for the past 3 or so, and still found Bentley's book highly edumacational.

Autocross in Stockton (San Juaquin Fairgrounds) on Sat and Sun this weekend. About $45 and some time will get you started and some seat time, which is 1000x more valuable than my post. Our group holds a novice course walk, and we often pair up an experienced member with a newer/novice driver to help and make the day more satisfying.

Eric G

[PMok]

Originally Posted by fiveoneoh

thanks, will def check it out! Super excited about this now. Just gotta wait for an event closer to me =\

PMokfucious say, no wait for event to come to you. You come to event.

Originally Posted by mkiisupra

Autocross in Stockton (San Juaquin Fairgrounds) on Sat and Sun this weekend. About $45 and some time will get you started and some seat time, which is 1000x more valuable than my post. Our group holds a novice course walk, and we often pair up an experienced member with a newer/novice driver to help and make the day more satisfying.

Eric G

There you go, golden opportunity right there.

[fiveoneoh]

Originally Posted by PMok

PMokfucious say, no wait for event to come to you. You come to event.



There you go, golden opportunity right there.

lol as the kids would say.

I am lazy. Lazier than lazy. So lazy that if the event is too far away, I will be too tired to compete by the time I arrive. It sucks, I know. =\
That being said, I will read up and study hard. My goal is to make an event by June!

[newold_m]

Lots of good advice here. for AutoX I'd also recommend golden gate lotus club. need to sign up in advance since they cap the attendance but in exchange you got tons to seat time and a lunch. they also use Marina and a really low key fun group to hang out with.

[BigFatFlip]

Originally Posted by mkiisupra

I purchase this book above and the following at the same time. Ross Bentley's one is more modern, although both have great information.

"Speed Secrets" is an awesome series, love those books (yes, they have a permanent place in my bathroom)

Originally Posted by mkiisupra

Autocross in Stockton (San Juaquin Fairgrounds) on Sat and Sun this weekend. About $45 and some time will get you started and some seat time, which is 1000x more valuable than my post. Our group holds a novice course walk, and we often pair up an experienced member with a newer/novice driver to help and make the day more satisfying.

If I do make it out there, I might just hit your up for some tips

Originally Posted by fiveoneoh

I am lazy. Lazier than lazy. So lazy that if the event is too far away, I will be too tired to compete by the time I arrive. It sucks, I know. =\
That being said, I will read up and study hard. My goal is to make an event by June!

Like mkiisupra said, nothing is better than actual seat time. We're pretty similar in that I'm big on theory/research/reading books. The funny thing is, the moment I got out there, all of that went out the window up until a few hours of seat time where I started to "feel" what I knew in theory. My 2 cents.

[MyRx]

Not sure if this has been said but just have fun. Leave your ego and your superman cape at home. You're welcome to a ride along and see when/how traction breaks. Throttle steering/braking. All necessities eventually you will learn.