Haven't autocrossed in 11 months
 

I have not autocrossed (solo II) in almost 11 months. Instead I've done a dozen track days (most with instructors) and a solo I event.

Will my skills have deteoriated significantly with the layoff? I was decent before having done about 12 autoxes in the year prior to the layoff.

Any tips for getting back in autocross shape? Some of the local clubs get more runs (usually 12-15) so I figure I'd hit them up and try to get some more seat time.

I'm in a local competition with my friends where we compete on index at autocrosses with any of several local clubs. I need to get in four events to gain a shot at a trophy. One of the events is a "medium speed" autocross that I usually do well on because it takes place on part of an old NASCAR oval and requires some solo II and also track skills (and most people don't push it because they are afraid to hit the walls). But for the other three autocrosses, I'm a little worried since my friends are already in mid-season form :scared:

You lose. :)

You want to go back to autocross after being on a track? :p:

There's a saying that goes "Autocrossers make excellent Road Racers, but Road Racers make horrible Autocrossers"


:angel:

Yep, that probably sums it up. Although, I'm not shooting for a top spot, just hoping to grab a trophy. We have about 30 guys in the competition and trophies to the top third so maybe I can snipe one.

As for track versus autcross, sometimes I enjoy the competitive rush of autocross (both solo I and solo II) versus the zen of driving around the track.

Then there's the saying that goes "Road racers will be bored out of their minds after wasting an entire Sunday for 5 minutes of tracktime".

I think there is another saying like:
"People that don't like autocross aren't any good at it."

Then there is that other saying that goes:

"People who can't accept that some people find autocross a waste of time make up a lot of stupid sayings" :p:

LOL, I know that most events give 3 or 4 runs, which sucks. But some clubs will give you 7+ runs and or test/tune days which at $30 bucks is hard to argue with.

The autoX group I frequent usually gets between 10~16 runs each event. Given the cost I don' thitnk AutoX is that bad. Besides track time = $$$$ so it is a little harder to go evry weekend. (well for me and poverty it is)

I imagine that the people who are knocking autocrossing spend a lot of money and time on the track, or street race :D:

It is kind of like riding a bike, you always remember how. Now if you sucked before you still will. :mdrmed: Most of the guys I know that stopped autox to go road race are a little rusty, but no more so than if you just did not autox for those 11 months. I would guess by the end of the day you will be back on your pace.

Actually, I'd imagine the people that don't understand where we're coming from have never done and real racing. I'd rather race my RC car than autox, because with RC racing I get about 40 minutes of actual racing and it only takes up about 4 hours time. And then there's the fact that you're actually racing someone rather than dodging a bunch of cones against a clock.

I've done trackdays, practice days, full out nationals level races in my shifter kart and sportsman kart. I've raced all different types of RC cars and real cars (all street cars), I've raced motox, I've raced BMX bikes and snowmobiles. Autox comes in a distant second to every single one of them.

If you think autox is a great time and that's it's worth wasting an entire Sun. for 5 minutes of tracktime, good for you. I used to think making out with girls was great as well. But I can't remember the last time I just made out with a girl, but I can remeber the last time I had dirty sex with one.

For anyone who needs cliffnotes...

Autox = Making out (fun if you don't know any better)
Trackdays = Masterbating (not as good as the real thing but pretty good if you're feeling lazy)
Racing others on a track = Dirty Sex ( a memorable experience that will last long after you've hung your helmet up)

I don't care who you are, that is funny. :mdrmed:

I do both autox and track. For the most part I run with whoever is doing something on the weekends I don't have my daughter. With my home club (MSCW) I'll get as many as 16 runs in 1 day. With others it'll be more like 8 runs. The DC Region SCCA has a larger course and higher speeds, but with ~270 drivers showing up it's only 4 runs. Track days are another matter - I see serious addiction on my horizon. :D:

Oh yeah, Rotary Bro - give it hell. You know you want to. :rock:

Holy crap. Another autocross versus track thread. I cannot wait to subscribe to this thread. I imagine some truly insightful posts will come out in this thread.

:boring:

Yeah but racing RC cars doesn't give us any seat time... Just Kidding. I see your points, track and real racing is undoubtedly more exciting, but for those that need seat time and dont have tons of money to spend racing other "things", autocrossing does not seem like a waste of time. However, given your background and experience I can certainly understand why you feel that way towards it.

:rollingla

Autocross = fun
Track = fun

Personally I don't see any issues there. :rolleyes:

The venue for my return to autocross, this weekend.
Should be a good time.

http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires...ack_aerial.jpg

Holy crap, that is awesome! not your run of mill parking lot course. Got more pics?

Yeah, and where is it?

That is the awesomeness that is the tire rack test facility in Southbend, Indiana. I have done a few events there and they were alot of fun. Depending on how they set up the course it can become a highspeed autocross event.

Lucky bastards!

Yep, tirerack can be fun. I'm kind of excited because last time I was there was a couple of years ago in a heavy BMW convertible with all season tires.

Here is another of our fun local autocrosses. This is for the "medium speed autocross" that I mentioned. It uses this 1/3 mile oval and you'll get into third gear with the RX-8.

We call it the Lake Geneva Monster.

http://www.scscc.net/lgr.gif

:Freak_ani

Be sure to rotate the right side tires to the left side between runs.

:Freak_ani

Until last summer I hadn't autocrossed since 1983. I still took 2nd in class and 2nd fastest time of the day but that was in my 125 shifter.

It was fun to get back out there.
http://www.e-owned.com/albums/userpi...l_IMG_0866.jpg

Nice pic. :) Hey, get that license plate off before you overheat! ;)

What? :confused:

The Best Motoring Heat Race. Someone might have posted it in this forum at some point.

Kidding, sort of... it's no biggie for autocross. But on a track weekend, where you're generating much more heat, it's better to remove it. Someone told me it made a noticeable difference on their coolant temp gauge. And with as much heat as our motors generate, we need all the cooling help we can get.

Since there is a big plastic plate behind it, how can it make a difference???

Yeah the plate covers about a 1/2" of open area, the rest of it is just solid anyway. Only someone that has not looked behind the plate would think it makes a difference.

Do you mean the license plate bracket? Take that off too, of course. It makes a difference in the amount of air getting to the radiator.

Look again.

Or someone who has removed the plate and seen the difference on their coolant temp gauge. Engine cooling is a very different matter for a 30-minute track run than for a 60-second autocross run.

I have no plate on my car so I have a clear view of the solid plastic that fills half the grill work.

Looks like this:

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...chmentid=77699

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...chmentid=77697

Ah good, I was looking for a decent pic like that first one. As you can see, the bottom half of that grill is open, and passes air through to the radiator. If the license plate is in place, it covers about the center 1/3 of that opening. That's a lot of air flow to block when you're spending the better part of 30 minutes at full throttle, with as hot as our engines get.



https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...chmentid=77699

I don't think so.... The bracket puts the plate forward and up, covers part of the nose of the car. I still say it only covers about a 1/2" of the opening. Also the plate is not as wide as the grill.

Anyone got a pic of one on the car... I am to lazy to dig mine out.

here's a pic of the license plate on the front of the car.
http://www.e-owned.com/albums/userpi...ger_edited.jpg

Thanks.. I think we need a ground level close up to see how much it blocks.

OK had to dig the dumb thing out... I come up with a loss of area of 1"X12". Well under 1/3 of the grill. Also keep in mind the opening under the grill is very large and most of your air will come in there anyway.

Might make a tiny difference in a track day. However you should just take the thing off because it uglys up the car. :mdrmed:

:Wconfused It blocks enough to make a noticeable difference on a coolant temp gauge during a track weekend. (I can't remember exactly what the difference was, but somewhere along the lines of 10-20 Deg F.) I agree that measuring the actual area that is blocked might be an interesting exercise, but it's the actual difference in temperature that counts.

And with that I violently agree. :ylsuper: