My first AutoCross

I just went to my first AutoX this weekend. I didn't drive, but I went to watch for a few hours. It was the coolest thing I have ever seen. My SC never felt as powerful and exciting as it did on the way home. Watching these cars as they should be driven is amazing. I am definitely attending (to drive) the next one! If driving is anywhere near as cool as watching, I am hooked!

OH, driving is MUCH more cool than watching will ever be!

You WILL be hooked!
I have only done 3 events but have already changed to softer tires, but 7's and 8's Fuchs on and am about to change my rear shocks for stiffer ones. Plus new helmet so I didn't have to suffer a sweaty loaner!.
It is definatly addictive!.
rgds Ben

I'm probably in the minority here, but last weekend I attended my region's (Arizona) autocross event and thought it was one of the most boring events I've witnessed.

The actual driving is probably fun but for what little amount there is and for all the work that goes into it, I think I'd rather sit around and watch paint dry.

I'd much rather go on a nice winding road drive, stop off for a nice lunch and see some scenery.

To each their own I guess.

I would agree that being a spectator at an autocross would be pretty boring. Significantly more boring than actually participating.

I agree with Marky, watching AND driving autocross....BORING....

I live in Santa Barbara, I used to run the Autocross and I am still the Safety Chairman for the SB region. We lost our race area and we now have to drive to other regions.

With the crowds and the wait time, my fun factor has gone down to zero....

I was the "H" Improved champ for two years, so I think I know what I am talking about....anyways, I started going to time trials.....

All I can say is W O W.....

I was afraid of wheel to wheel action, but there is the 13/13 rule that is very rigorously enforced....no contact, period.

The Time Trials are actually easier on the car.

Only down side, more bucks for registration and safety equipment....

Hey mike, it was so boring you did it for several years??

Autocrosses do vary from event to event. With some, you get a decent amount of driving time on a fairly wide open track. The San Diego region autocrosses at Qualcomm used to be like that (probably still are, havn't been there for years). I remember doing 15 or more laps at SD, which isn't bad for a morning.

Others are far more impacted, I remember some of the SCCA ones at Lion Country, where you'd get maybe 3 laps, plus one timed one, on a super tight layout. That was tough.

So, yeah, AutoX is viewed as boring by some of the more experienced and jaded, but for those that have only driven their porsches on the street, it is a great experience. It is dirt cheap, and requires the purchase of no equipment. For those that have never done it, I don't think that "boring" will be an adjective used after the first few times.

It was not boring THEN.....it's a great starting place. Matter of fact, you need 8 or more autocrosses to even be allowed to time trial in PCA.

I was a low budget racer, and did not know any better. I was also afraid of damaging my ride and not being covered by insurance...

Now that my normal insurance covers DE/TT, I am all over it.....

BTW.......San Diego is where we went after we got banned by that ******* manager at Earl Warren Showgrounds. They run a great show at SD, just too many cars, and not enough run time to justify a 250 mile round trip drive for 15 minutes of track time...

Wow, never thought about crowded tracks at an auto-x. My region is huge geographically but the Porsche population is quite small. The same 12 guys show up at every event. We set it up for 911s (no tight tracks for the 914s - HA!). And run, run, run. It is not unusual to get in four or so practice laps. Once the "race" is over we stay, practice, give rides, or whatever for as long as the event chair is willing.
Our latest event had straights where you could hit 90mph. Because of the size of my tires my car is in the modified class. This automatically kicks me out of any chance of placing. Good for me!! I get to have a blast blazing the tires instead of concentrating on winning. Somebody has to come in last! I am told that it always looks like I'm having the most fun.
So have fun with it. When it gets boring move on.

As a side note, remember the supercharged SC I have spoken of in the past? This guy always takes first in the modified class. The car is totally trick and runs in the GT3 class when road racing. Now here is the kicker - the FORMER owner of that car purchased a Boxter S, and promptly took best time of the day! I couldn't believe it. Both these guys can drive. Looks like the Boxter has some real potential.

Magilla, I'm glad you enjoyed the viewing. Now it's time to get your feet wet. I have to say though, that I was pretty disapointed in the PCA event. I didn't get to drive noon. Being there for over 4 hours prior left me rather bored. granted I was working for the first run group, but even then, for the first several runs, there wasn't a single cone to chase. As people got more familar with the course, there were more cones hit. The section you saw me working was probablt the hardest to get right thus a good place to work to view good and bab lines.
When I finally got back to the car, I found that the battery didn't charge, and had to get a push start. I ran two runs before the car died again (like you witnessed). at that point, I decided to head for home in hopes as not to need a tow.

My first run was a work out. I had only driven the car less than 15 times (and only driven hard for one autocross - 6 runs). I was going too fast at the optional 180 and fish-tailed for quite some time. I think I hit about 3 cones in the process. on my second run, I was able to use the throttle induces oversteer to my advantage for several turns. That was fun!

I liked the fact that the PCA set up it course to allow for oversteer and some fast straights, but I prefer the BMWCCA (for which I am also a member) events for it's seat time. At the last BMW event we got 3 runs before noon, a 1/2 hour lunch break, three runs before 3pm and then numerous fun runs that I didn't stick around for. The amazing part was that the BMWCCA had about 60 more cars.

Check out one of their events too. There are a few Porsches about 40% BMW's and the rest Rice Burners.

Sorry I couldn't give you a ride earlier. I you have any questions on what to do to prepair for the next event, just give me a buz; I'll be more than happy to help you out. Then We'll get you into a DE event.


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Dave
1970 914-6 (soon GT)

Rarley, are you saying the boxster is a real Porsche??

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Robert Stoll
83 SC
83 944

Doh!
Didn't mean to imply that! Sacrilege!
No, for all their visual shortcomings the 996 based 911s and Boxters ARE sports cars and do handle excellently. Like everything else, they are going to take a little getting used to. Gimme an aircooled 911 any day.

Sure, Boxsters have potential ... but, they can be rolled and damaged rather severely, too, as Mr. Pasha demonstrated at a Parade!



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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

http://209.150.235.158:8585/autocross

there's some pics of an autocross i went to recently. enjoy!

obin

Magilla,

Did you talk to anyone there?

Seems to me you could have gone for a couple of rides and got a REAL taste of the fun.


I know the instructors here in SVR PCA are MORE than happy to take someone for a ride during the auto-cross.

Now for my ramblings...
Ours was last Saturday Cinco de Mayo. First one of the new year. I forgot how incredible these cars really are.

I went in the instructors (Russ H.) car, an early (72?) fiberglass front and rear flared 911. The car had a full cage, stripped interior, I can only imagine what suspension he was running.
I kept thinking my eyes were going to pop-out everytime he came into the corner, late braking.
His time, 44.8 seconds, with me in his car. He later pulled out a 42.5, I think.

I take my car (stock except 7 & 9 fuchs w/street tires) I go through it in 46.011 my best of the day out of 6 runs.

So I am thinking, wow, all that $ and sticky tires on his car vs. my stock and he only gained 4 seconds? Of course that translates into 10% faster.
Makes me think it is time for some R compound tires.

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Nick Hromyak
'85 Carrera 7 & 9 Fuchs
Havin' Fun in Sacramento

Hey Nick, was that your first time?!? If so, that's incredible, IMO! R compound tires alone would be worth 10% quicker times (probably more, in reality).

You and the instructor have different cars, but it sounds like he actually had the faster autocross car (the Rs and weight differences alone are huge), so I think your times are really impressive. Sounds like you have some natural driving talent!

Jim

Nick,
I did talk to a couple of people there, plus I know Dave from this board. I am right in the middle of finals, so I could only spend a few hours there. Had I hung out any longer or actually ridden along, I think I would have spent the rest of the day trying to sneak onto the course. I will be ready next time... I will definitely want an instructor the first time, however. Maybe I can ride in another class before I drive in mine. I am not worried. After watching a couple of people out thre, I can't be the slowest one running. My Grandmother drives faster than a couple of them!

Magilla, I did not catch that you were studying. What a bummer. Someday!

Thanks for the compliment Jim T. Although, something tells me I am not that good. 82 Cab, I was told it is stock, street tires, only has limited slip - 42.4 consistently.

I read High Performance Driving by Vic Elford. He has some GREAT insight into the 911 handling.

"Keep it smooth."
- Vic Elford

I know I was braking early, and accelerating late. I told my instructor that I seemed rather "noisy" out there and he said smoothness doesn't work too well for auto-crosses. I disagree.

Now, I am debating, whether or not to get some R tires (this will bump me up to improved class). My street tires are shot, especially after Saturday.

BTW: 99 Acura NSX w/ stock tires, best time 47.2. Makes my 16 year old car, and me, quite happy!

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Nick Hromyak
'85 Carrera 7 & 9 Fuchs
Havin' Fun in Sacramento

Yes, you definatly should take someone with you. At your first event (to drive) arrive early, unpack, register and walk the course as many times as you can. I usually walk it 2-3 times plus I draw a map. Then take either an instructor or an experienced autocrosser with you. Your first day you will usually try to learn the ins and outs and not so much how to get faster times. Did you see that black 930 (#50a I think)? He did not make a clean, timed run the entire day. He took out many cones and blew off the most obvious gates. And every run, he was solo. He was fast in the straight though.
I should also say again, that I was only there for 1/2 the day, so maybe he wised up in the afternoon.
Go to Barnes and Noble and pick up a copy of Henry Watts' Secrets of Solo Racing. I learned so much from that book in my first year. I also learned not to loan the book out because I have since lost 2 copies that way.


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Dave
1970 914-6 (soon GT)