Autocrossers - your opinion on this article?

[sander]

Hi all,

I'm coming to the end of my novice autocross season and I thought I'd jot down some advice for the next generation of AXers.

It's not really meant to be an Autocross FAQ, or even a Beginner's Guide. Actually, it's more like little things you learn from personal experience.

So be honest - do you think anything in here would be useful to the average joe who's just starting to race? I'm thinking of sending the link to a couple local web sites, but I'd like to get some feedback first.

You can read it at http://www.911eregistry.org/autocross.html

[MarkY]

On my browser (Netscape), the web page shows up with a black font on a dark reddish background.

This makes reading your page very difficult.

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1988 black on black Coupe
www.cheaterswayside.com/911/gallery.asp?sort=0&userid=339

[pwd72s]

Well written, full of practical tips, not all of them "going faster" related. I liked it! Think it would be very informative to someone contemplating his or her first autocross. Good job!

[sander]

Mark: D'oh! I always forget about Netscape. I'll work on a fix...

Pwd: thanks, glad you liked it...

[This message has been edited by sander (edited 07-16-2001).]

[Jim T]

I think all that is good info for a first time autocrosser.

But I think the best advice, that someone gave to me when I first started, was to "Take It Easy" the first few outings, and "Observe and Learn." The first few times should really be a recon mission, check things out, see how things are done, get a feel for autocrossing, the way events are run, etc. etc.

No one is going to impress the crowd on the first time out, no one is going to get the lap record the first time out, but plenty of people do foolish things the first time out! Spins do happen, but a newbies spinning 4 times on his first lap is definately not looked upon as cool! So, I think its good advice for a newbie to stay well in control.

Your point about hitching rides is really good, too. It really helps to ride with a good, fast, experienced guy, its amazing how much you can pick up. Similarly, its really good to have an instructor with you the first few times.

[epbrown]

I'm not an autocrosser, but the article is a good read; interesting, well-written, not too long. MarkY is right about the color-scheme, though. (Okay, some of my web pages are purple, but there's a reason for it!)

Emanuel

[pwd72s]

Emanuel...you're the perfect test subject..so tell us, did the article make you think about giving autocrossing a try?

[Early_S_Man]

The article is OK, but I suggest an 'outline format' organized in time sequence ... getting ready before leaving the house, at the gas station on the way to the event, setting up at the event, walking the course, driving the course, etc.

Ever heard of **** Turner's book or video? Still the best book of it's kind ... after 20+ years!

Your specs on the 'technical' page show 2.4 specs for the '71 2.2 models ...

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

[sander]

Thanks for catching that error on the tech page, Warren...

[sander]

Mark & epbrown -

I think I put in a fix for Netscape, hopefully the text should come up white now...

[Early_S_Man]

White on red, indeed, in NS 4.08!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

[Randy W]

Sander,

Looks good, you may want to add some basic pointers that all us coneheads need to be reminded of every so often (besides eating and sleeping well the day before!):

1. Look ahead 2 or 3 gates/cones
2. Be quick but smooth with your inputs
3. Seat time, seat time, seat time

Randy Wells

[epbrown]

pdw72s, I've got to say "not really."

Much as I like zipping around in my Targa, the only event that I've really been interested in for my cars in concourse competition. Call it the accountant in my soul (okay, I'm not one but that's what I went to school for, and all of my siblings are CPAs), but I love the attention to detail of it - it's basically like building a model, except is 1/1 scale!

Some people are blown away by speed - I'm blown away by seeing an old car that (like yours) looks like it just left the dealership. Neither car will become a trailer queen since I like driving them too much, but in the next year or so, they will both be serious bad-*sses as far as appearance :-)

Emanuel

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Everybody wants a normal life and a cool car;
most people settle for the car." Chris Titus
1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
1983 Porsche 911 SC Targa

[Mark 69 911]

Hello Sander!

Although I cannot get the page to load at the moment, I look foward to reading your Auto cross article.

You drove very smooth and fast last Saturday at Candlestick Park. I hope I can do as well as you when I start Autocrossing.

I really like your car, it looks great in blue.

I especially enjoyed meeting and talking with you and I'd like to thank you for all of the advice you gave me about Autocrossing.

Regards, Mark

[sander]

Hi Mark -

Yeah, it was great meeting you. Hope to see you on the course next time!

Definitely let me know if you find the information in the article valuable, since you're exactly the kind of new autocrosser I was writing for...

[expat]

Hi,

I really liked your information. I've never autocrossed so some pictures would be exciting to see - maybe even some humouress ones.

I drag raced (on tracks) in my yonger years but this no longer appeals to me but the thought of working with the car as in autocrossing seems more fun, more rewarding, and ultimately a greater test of driver skill (drag races don't flame me...but I think autocrossing tests the driver skills more - personal opinion ok!)

I look forward to your continued development of this web site.

Cheers
Mark

[sander]

thanks Mark,

Pictures are a good idea - God knows I've taken enough of them...

I'll work on it...