Houston SCCA Autocross this Sunday
 

Everyone is invited!

The Houston Region SCCA is having their November event this Sunday, the 2nd of November.

It would be cool if all of the RX-8's in the area showed up to compete (or just to "see and be seen"). It will be located at exit 15 off of I-45 South, Gulf Greyhound Park. There are maps, times, etc. up at the web site.

Houston Region SCCA Autocross Web Page

If you are competing, the RX-8 runs in the late afternoon (probably around 2 - 3), but you have to be there to register by 12:00.

Hope to see you all there!

I went to just go and watch (never been to an autocross before) and it was pretty cool. The announcer said there were some RX-8s there in the morning, but there was only a single black 8 there for the afternoon heat. I also saw another blue 8 park next to mine, but they left before I did and I was too lazy to hunt them down :p

After watching, I think I'm gonna have to try this out sometime. I don't claim to have any racing/precision-driving skills, though, so is there a good way for beginners to get into the sport? I saw some guys out there with instructors, learning the ropes. Do you have events where you set up cones, but just let n00bs get to know their car's handling? Or, is it best to just jump in with both feet at an actual race?

Many clubs have novice programs, designed to introduce newbies to the sport without totally throwing them in at the deep end. Here in Austin, the Spokes club has a specific committee position of Novice Coordinator, who's job it is to meet and greet all the novices, take them on a guided walk-through of the course, explain the day's procedings, find them instructors and/or get them rides with experienced drivers, and generally make them feel at home. We also have a Novice class, so newbies can compete amongst themselves before they move on to the open classes.

Not every club goes to quite that extent, but I'm equally sure that the Houston region SCCA folks will help you find your feet if you introduce yourself to them.

There are also autocross schools such as Evolution, but you'll probably want to at least try a couple of events before you shell out the bucks for something like that.

As Eccles has said, we (Houston region) GREATLY encourage newcomers, and we do everything we can to make them comfortable. The process is like this:

Preregister at the web site (Here) as a novice in the appropriate class (BS, for B-Stock in the RX-8) (there are only a certain number on non-members allowed at each event due to turnout size and the switch back to standard time)

Show up at the appropriate time (also on the web site).

At the drivers meeting, they will announce the novice rules, and will mention what time the novice walkthrough is going to take place. You should attend this first, as it will give you a simple explanation of the do's and don'ts of the sport.

In your heat (there are morning and afternoon groups), you will be required to ride with an instructor before you can run yourself, and then an instructor will accompany you on your first few runs providing direction and feedback. Then, when the instructor has determined that you "have" it, you will be on your own. Of course, you can always ask for an instructor to ride with you at any time.

You are allowed to run as a "novice", competing against only other novices, for the first three events. After that, you run in the regular class for your car.

ENJOY!

I was there, but due to a scheduling conflict with my co-driver, we had to run the morning session. Next month, the "normal RX-8 class (B-Stock) runs in the morning, so you would be there by 7:30 for registration (don't forget to preregister).

I am in the yellow one, and we run number 54 and 154, look us up and we'll guide you through it. We typically park close to the registration tent, you can't miss us.

PM me, and I can give you my email and phone numbers.........

That was me and my son. Originally he parked on the other side of the lot, but when my son saw the other blue RX8 he thought it would be cool to have them parked together. So I told him "Go for it".

It did look pretty cool to see 2 Winning blue RX8s right next to each other at the Auto-x