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I want to get into autocross or road course racing but don't know where to start. I was wondering if any of you members participate in this sport. What basic things beside a car do you need to get started, (ex. helmet, special license, safety gear etc. ). Do you have to pay anything to race or is there some type of membership? Sorry, also do you prefer autocross or drag? Thanks

 
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I have never participated in an Autocross event, but I perfer that type of racing to Drag racing. I know here in San Diego there are car clubs that hold events at Qualcomm Stadium. You might want to check out some local car clubs or SCCA (Sports Car Club of America).

 
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I participated in an autocross last august with SVTOA. 2 friends of mine own fords and they were attending/participating in their events. Having had suspension work done I asked if I could participate and they said, "sure". I paid $50 for 6 runs (which took about all day for everyone to run 6 times). It's probably the funnest thing I've ever done. : )

Try to find some local car clubs and see if they do autocross, they'll probably let you run even if it's all fords. SVTOA is a FORD SVT owners association and they let me with my honda run. (i did well by the way, i beat some supercharged mustangs). Places like SCCA charge you a certain amount every year for membership and their events are ALWAYS really, really crowded. It's hard to get a good number of runs in. Like I said, hook up with small car clubs that do autox, because you'll get a lot more runs in and it'll be more enjoyable with less people. You don't need a special license or anything. You just need to emtpy out you car and wear a helmet. oh, and good suspension will help. : )

Good luck finding a club. And have fun if you go, it definitely is.

 
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Look in to the SCCA. they call it Solo2 but its autocross.

you should find a local chapter some where close by. Here in las vegas, once the season starts they have about 2 a month.



Sports Car Club Of America (SCCA)


I love the sport. Much more fun then Drag racing.


As far as being crouded? I know San Diego is Very Crouded, But here In Las Vegas We average 70 cars, which means that We each get in about 12 Runs in a day. A lot better then what I here From the SD SCCA they get in maybe 3.

 
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i used to autocross we did it at my college we started our own autocross club it was alot of fun

 
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Hey zzyzx where in vegas are you? I plan to move out there in a couple of months.

 
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South side [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG] Silverado Ranch, It reminds me of home (San Diego). Henderson is nice also. Try to stay out of North Las Vegas.

Definitly Check out the Las Vegas Regon SCCA. they are a great bunch of people, and maybe Ill see you there.
Las Vegas SCCA

We have a 2 day event coming up this month. Feb 15/16. Too bad I'm going to miss it.

 
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anyone in the SF bay area autoX?

 
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how long is your car supposed to last after doing events like this?

 
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It's about 10 times less the amount of stress that drag racing puts on your car. You're basically in 2nd gear the entire time. You're ruining your tires and putting stress on your suspension, but that's about it. Since you don't really switch gears that much (unless you get brave and start using 1st) you're not even touching the clutch. You don't have to go all out, you can just chill and let your car breathe, but run the track.



Other cars I ran AutoX with :

C5
Ford Focus
Ford SVT F150 Lightning
Ford Mustang
Ford Mustang01
Ford Focus(?)
Talon (fastest time)

 
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nytejade has it right, autocrossing dosn't put much extra wear-N-tear on your car. though like all motorsports there is danger involed both for you(the driver) and your car. but with the low speeds, the fastest course I've ran I hit 60 just as I had to slam on the brakes to get through the next turn, most of this danger is minimized. Mostly you'll want to change your oil more often, your brakes will wear quicker, and I definitly recomend geting a second set of wheels/tires to save $$ in the long run.[IMG]i/expressions/beer_yum.gif[/IMG] It s probably the most fun you'll have with 4 wheels. that and it will teach you that nomatter how good of a driver you think you are, you dont know SQUAT! I am 100% more confident with my driving now then when I had never AutoCrossed before, and I know not to try to take on/off ramps at excessive speeds.

 
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What kinda tires you guys use? Like 15" or 17" and I was reading on the SCCA site that they don't allow "r" rated tires I think
[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/IMG]

 
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the different tire sizes and compounds allowed varry from class to class. I race in STS (Street Touring with Street Tires) the softest tires allowed have a minimum of 200 wear rating. most classes dont let you run Pure Race tires, but you can run Dot Legal race compound tires, which are basically the same thing except they are legal to use on the street. an example of these are the Kuhmo Victoracers, excelent tires.

This coming season I plan on running a set of 16' wheels with Falken 215/45ZR16 Azenis sports (wear rating 220) on them.

If you get a smaller wheel/tire combo, you can get a gearing bonus to help you accelerate. thats why 13' wheels are Very Common in Autocross.


What you have done to your car will determin what class you can run in.
its a good system, and can keep things competitve and cheep

 
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I have 18" Primax wheels with Yokohama Parada Spec-2's. They worked well though most magazines give them bad reviews. Also, if you want to be strict about performance don't get 18" wheels. I'm telling you man, with all 4 of my wheels on I think it adds about 200lbs. or close to it. It's not worth it. Get some cheap, small, light weight wheels.

 
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I did it once last fall, I'm hooked. I'll be doing it again this season. I was a bit unprepaired last year, I ran on shitty stock firestones... I very BAD idea unless understeer drifting helps you through the course. This year, I'm going to be on 16's and some sticky tires (Probably Pilot Sports). Hopefully also stiffen up the suspension a little bit. The trick is not to be the fastest... it's to be the cleanest. If you're clean, speed and lower times will come along with it. Squealing tires around every corner is not going to get you to the top of the leader board. Remember that and you'll have success. Make your goal the first time to have all your runs count (don't DNF) and try to beat SOMEONE... anyone, just don't finish last.

 
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200lbs! Holy shizam, what do you have? I've got 17" Rota Attacks at 15.5lbs a piece. With my tires it's 3lbs more per corner than stock, so only 12 pounds more than stock. I'm thinking of getting something different though, that is when I can afford it.

 
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I'm probably wrong, but when I pick up one of my wheels it feels like 50lbs. When I put the steelies back on last week I felt a dramatic increase in accelleration.

They're Primax, they're not exactly sport wheels : (

 
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Oh, so you mean total weight. Not how much more than stock. Yeah, that could be right. Mine are 39 pounds with the tires. That's 156 pounds total. OEM weigh 36 pounds per corner, and 144 pounds total.

 
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lol. Of course I meant total man! heheh. : )

 
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i really want to get into AutoX, but i dont know if its worth it for me.. mainly cause i have an auto.. i dont know, does it suck more to have auto in AutoX?

 
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You can autoX an auto... From what I hear.... most of the time you can just leave it in 2nd for the whole course anyway... so it isn't like gearshifting makes it all that much better. When I went, some guy raced an auto Grand Prix... It shouldn't keep you out of the fun. Just go and do it. Its the driver not the car that makes the difference.

 
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YAY!! a number of people told me that i would suck **** in AutoX with an auto. but i think i'll give it shot when spring rolls around

 
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I run STS class out here. In the central PA section there are usually maybe 40 cars each sunday. Its all about having fun, btw i am runing 15" wheels with 205/50 potenza re-730's.....

 
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This is all great info being provided here, but does anyone know of an autocross club operating in the So Cal area that I can contact? I've talked to one club called SATCAR, but they are based out of La Fox, Illinois. They said that if we, out here in So Cal, get enough people to sign up that they might sponser a race out here, but I haven't heard anything from them in a while.

 
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used to run my miata in solo 2 . great fun, even more amazing in a miata with fully adjustable suspension, on a rwd agile car. u really realize how little you know about driving once you auto-x, i highly recommend it. worst that can happen you get to see a bunch of cool cars


a reason im selling the civic is so i can get back into solo 2 and drag...
awd dsm...oh the possibilities

 
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Was an SCCA event today here in phoenix was watchin em. fun stuff then I got to do it while I was at Bob Bondurant's School of High Performance driving.

 
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Swiftler

There is a San Diego SCCA and an LA based one too look them up.

 
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Thanks Zzyzx.... I'll check that out.