I've been to karting places that go 24 mph tops and you still need helmet and neck-brace for the slower speeds so that doesn't tell us much. Racing go karts is all about gaining momentum then one fast lap then repeat. I hope people here can help you with your questions but in the end, just going and trying Autocross is the best way for you to find out as I'm sure you won't just go WOT your first time.

 

You know we have a whole section devoted to autocross right?

Ill enlighten you as to what autocross is when this thread gets moved there and/or you create another thread in the proper section.

 

Now its is in the right place lol

 

Now its is in the right place lol

Good, great now I can fill you in.

Autocross is basically a race against the clock. The clock starts once you cross the starting line and stops once you cross the finish line. In between the start/finish there are a series of cones that you must navigate thru. You are paired up with similar cars in your class.

You can be anywhere from mild to wild. People come out in stock cars and people come out in full blown race cars. Some groups have a Novice class and other dont. Check around and get some info for your local autocross chapter. I believe there is a sticky in this section of autocross clubs around the country.

Check out a few videos and see what you think:
<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/clipse_gt/Auto-X/3gsinvadefostoria.flv">
<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/clipse_gt/Auto-X/drifteclipse.flv">
<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/clipse_gt/Auto-X/autox10707.flv">
<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/clipse_gt/Auto-X/autox93007-1.flv">

 

THANK YOU!! That was the best info ever! Im 100 percent interested but i need info about any around me. You said there is a sticky about it. But idk what i sticky is ( noob) please fill me in!

 

CLIPSE GT, when and if i do get to trying it ( have to find a club etc) what would be some cheap ( under $500) mods you would suggest for handeling,breaking or any proformance??

 

Honestly your best bet would be to go race stock the first time then let us know how your car handled. Every driver is different and some mods work better for some people moreso than others.

 

Guy, contact your local SCCA chapter for AutoX information in your area. SCCA is the largest Solo I and Solo II racing organization in the United States.

SCCA Sports Car Club of America

The nearest AutoX area to you and the one that encompasses Delaware is Philadelphia.

http://www.phillyscca.com/

 

Thank you very much!!!!

 

Well first mod may/should be a rear strut tower brace, isn't the RRE $70, it will take some understeer out of the car. I would also learn up a bit to what oversteer, understeer is. Get a helmet Snell 2005 or similar motorcycle spec though most places may have some extra helmets for drivers only but sometimes you need to share them and well that could get smelly :facepalm:.
Also some kind of letters/magnets to show what class you are in.

And go out there and autocross! Learn how to adjust tires pressures, usually one wants to bump them up so the tires don't roll so much. Take stock tires, cold pressure is 31f/29r in our cars? Something like that, for autox I start of with 45-40f(front)/35-32r(rear). Also after each run your pressure usually goes up 2psi so after each run you want to bleed out the difference. I personally run 43.5 in front and 29.5-28.0 in back (depending on days temps - colder the lower I go) but never below 27.5 in back (slower) on the tires I ran - Falken Azenis RT615 which is a good tire for ST (formally STS). I won't be running those tires this year (I have something faster ) but those pressures may not work exactly with different tires. You should try to play around with the pressures and run what you feel works best for you.

Understand also you can make the car understeer or oversteer by just the tire pressures. Kick up the back psi to 42 and the back end will come around easier, I wouldnt do this on your first autox. Lowering the front may give you more grip but less steering response so it won't react to your inputs as fast. I found the balance for me was 43.5 and 28.5 but I like the car very responsive in the front and the car was setup to oversteer like mad so I'm actually trying to get the more grip out of the back. Results will very, stock rear tire pressure should be around 32-34.

Just tossing out a few ideas... any questions let us know.

 

Oh and have fun. Don't worry about placing high in the first year, most people it takes them about 3 events to get it and about a year to get faster.

My first autox I though it did awful. I finished 7th out of 22nd drivers. Let me tell you I remember that event like yesterday. I had butterflied like a mofo on the first run. It passes quickly, no butterflies now but nothing excites me more then right before a run. I've completed some run just shaking cuz of so much adrenaline in my body, awesome feeling!
Anyways I've had people come up to me telling me how awesome I did, I was like you are kidding, I thought I sucked, but I learn quick, every event I got better. After 3 I had a top 4 finish, pretty good considering I had limited mods, tires (they were summer tires but only ok and the wrong size - they were rolling over bad and I was running like 51 cold psi in front!!! - I took the bridestone lettering right off the sidewall haha!!!), and had a rear sway bar. By the end of the year I finished 2nd on my last event. I was devastated though!!!! I set the fastest time by some .5 seconds but that run had a cone which was a 2 seconds penalty. After the event, they allowed us to do some fun runs, with a passenger in the car I was so 'focused' I ripped a clean run 1 second faster then my best dirty run! Just cuz I was trying a little different approach and well it works, the light kinda clicked there and I was oh so thats how I am suppose to drive Somehow I ended up w/ the rookie of the year trophy!!! So I guess I did ok.

I was also adding a new mod at almost each autox. One event I had added a rear strut tower = car faster (oh I likely), next event some rotors and pads (I can stop now, yay!) and so forth. I could feel every little add on did this or that to the car. Thats the approach I would recommend.

Now after a full year the next step: learning to drive the car with the throttle. You learn that = you fast. Driving fast isn't just about gas-break-turn left/right - gas. Get the basics down before exploring the world of counter steer, threshold braking, trail braking, controlling the turn in with the throttle, blimping the throttle in mid corner, and driving a tight quick line. NOTE these need to be practice on the track!!!...easy to loose control of the car while doing these for the first time. See below, taking a left corner from a long straight, I jam on the brakes hard - almost to lockup (threshold braking) then start to lift of the brake - this caused oversteer - I turn quickly to the left - car is a little loose so its a little more then I wanted and I have to counter steer the car. I'm going left but notice where the wheels are pointing in that - there turning right - once I get the car point where I want it go - I'm still holding the brake into the corner to lower the speed without lookup (trail braking) so I can make a nice tight corner - moment I'm 1/3 into the corner off the brakes and 1/3-2/3 tap the thottle, 2/3 and out full power maybe a light lift if I feel the car understeer out of the corner but then right back on the throttle to the next corner. All this happen about 2 seconds perhaps...

 

So secsi Art!! You Da man!