So I bought an RX8, a good friend of mine bought an S2000, and we are suddenly planning to race our vehicles. Neither of us have ever raced other than the occasional road debacle. So here I am, a complete novice, trying to find out what to do so I don't go to my first autox with a look of complete dumbfoundment on my face. I just have a couple of questions really...

Does anyone know of a good place to buy a helmet? (I'm in Tampa, FL)

What do people usually do for the numbers? I read that you can request a number but I'm not sure how. I read in one place you can use shoe polish on the window and in another that the number has to be on a body panel? Can someone steer me in the right direction....if I can request a number at the events I wouldn't mind getting magnets.

Anything else you think I should know would be good. I've scoured the forums, but I'll take anything you can offer. Thanks!

 

Can't help you with the helmet in FL, but as for numbers, different clubs have different rules. Shoe polish is strictly verboten in a national event, but many local events allow it, at least for novices. You best bet is to find your local club's website and read up. If the website isn't informative then there should be an email address somewhere. Many clubs also have loaner helmets if you don't mind that sort of thing.

Our club is set up such that a novice can just show up and drive. Shoe polish for numbers and loaner helmets are available. I suspect most clubs are the same. Really, just show up at an event and you probably will be able to drive that day. If not, hang out, get the vibe, and watch.

Other than a helmet, bring cash to pay the entree fee, bring a cooler with drinks, and bring food. Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, etc. If you are going to just watch for a day bring a folding chair. Welcome to the sport!

 

Go have fun. As George said, most clubs go out of there way to help novice drivers. Most have loaner helmet.. When you review their website you should find some point of contact you can call to get club requirements. Most have Novice course walks, training assistents.

PS - don't pass judgement on any club based on one member.


Go and have fun.

 

There's no helping that at your first event.

Just have fun, don't go crazy and drive past your ability the first time out. Don't be too stubborn to ask for an instructor, an experienced driver can really help.

Most clubs will have loaner helmets and definitely will have some way for you to get numbers on the car. If you want to get your own helmet, you'll need to get a Snell rated one. Motorcyle helmets are acceptable for solo2 and are cheaper, but if you ever plan to road race you should consider an SA rated helmet. I picked up mine online at tonker.com.

 

The event I am going to has a practice day first. How does the practice day work?

 

You'll need to find that out from the people putting on the event, as different regions do different things. Generally, it's like a normal event where you work a certain group and run a certain group and usually get a bunch more runs. The atmosphere is more relaxed and you can take passengers on any runs.

 

Too late for me on that one. I gave it hell my very first run and it turned me right around. I had so much forward momentum I exited the slalom driving backwards. I stalled it like a true amatuer right in front of everyone.

It was a very educational lap - very embarassing too. It even made my check engine light come on.

My worst time was when I drove like a madman. My best time that day was when I eased up and drove relaxed. Autocross is a funny thing.

 

Yep, the challenge is to be right on the edge and you often end up going over. Sometimes the run that feels slow is the quickest.

My first event, I was carrying way too much speed in all the slow corners and plowed like crazy. Do as I say, not as I do.

 

Show up early, not on time, and


walk the course, walk the course, walk the course, walk the course, walk the course, walk the course, walk the course, walk the course, walk the course, walk the course.....

This is THE biggest mistake I see new people make, they show up late and just figure all it is is going around some cones. Then they get horribly lost, feel terrible, and never come back...

Second biggest mistake, people always want to shift back and forth during the course. For most courses, it is one shift and you are done shifting til the end of the course. There is a local guy with an Evo, who is actually pretty nice, who I beg to shift into second and leave it there, and he insists on leaving it in first. He is chronically slow.

Third biggest mistake, what feels fast is usually just reckless. I loved hanging the tailend out and hearing the tires roar. Those are signs that you are not going fast. Smoother is faster. There are no style points.

Please don't go to drift. Drifting is cool, but it is not cool to do at an autocross or in the streets.

Please have fun. I predict your friend in the S2000 will spin at least one time during the day. Understeer will be more of a problem for you.

 

I hope to do this too for the first time probably down in Columbus, OH. Luckily I have a cousin I'll be going with that is very experienced and will be able to show me the ropes. Lukily I have a bike so I already have a helmet. But I think anything snell or at the minimum DOT rated for a parking lot AutoX would be fine. I think even some clubs say that helmet is encouraged but optional. The other thing I learned from reading is that they don't like anything hanging inside the car, loose stuff, like freshners on your rear view window and what-not. Parking lot AutoX is a "fairly" safe thing to do I would think. In terms of racing, it's probably the safest race you could do, aside from soloing on a closed course with no walls.

 

All SCCA events require a helmet, and you should wear one even if its not required. Your brain is a terrible thing to waste. There are requirements for the helmets that can be checked via your local SCCA region, and they will check helmets you bring. As noted, most clubs have loaner helmets.

It is a great time, have fun.

 

Get in touch with the local club and ask for help. Like others said, most clubs have loaner helmets. Some clubs, like mine, give out stick-on numbers that you put on your windshield. Again, ask the local club. The goal should be getting seat time, not trying to set the world on fire first time out - you won't. And don't worry about spinning out, getting lost or knocking down some cones. It happens to everyone, especially when they're first starting out.

One thing in addition to walking the course - if the club doesn't have a course map, bring a pad of paper on the course walk and sketch it out. One of the most frustrating things for newbies is getting lost on the course or missing a turn. Ask others there for guidance. If there's a club instructor available, by all means get their assistance. Also ask around if you can ride with someone else as a passenger so you can concentrate on the course while they drive.

...Oh, and HAVE FUN! Autocrossing is a blast!

 

As a fellow novice...I would say that the best days I have had since starting the sport, have been the practice events. To have someone ride along and share their thoughts at the end of the run is very informative. Going on ride a longs with others who also drive the 8 is also very helpful. We have a small group who go to practice events together and I find that everyone drives differently. Take advice from as many as you can get, and don't do anything to your car until you figure out which class you want to race in.

I modded my car out of a couple of lower classes and am stuck in a very difficult class. Also, figure out if you want to race on street or race tires. With the 8 owners I know, they race in "B-Stock", "B-Street Prepared", and "Street Touring U". Of course, there is PAX as well, but as novices, we don't need to worry about that.

 

You can get a helmet at any motorcycle shop, even at wal-mart. Where in tampa are ya, i'm in Oldsmar.

 

I registered for the upcoming SCCA Brooksville event under B stock. With the novice racing, do they just lump all the novice classes into one class? Also on the flyer it has a schedule for the event day, but not the practice day. Do the practice days follow the same schedule as the event? (Do I need to get up at the crack of dawn!)

 

I actually live in Hudson for the time being..but I work right near the oldsmar flea market.

 

there should be a novice PAX class whereby all novices can compare times against each other regardless of car and class.

 

Usually the practice days are an all day thing, whereas championship events you can show up for tech, do your work and run groups, and then go home. Practice events usually have the same course, but you run it in reverse.