In-Event Autocross Schools

Recently, my local autocross club, San Antonio Sports Car Association (SASCA), held a school during their October 15th points event. The idea is simple, cheap, and very good for both the novice and the veteran. A very big tip of the hat to Jeff Chestnut, who set this whole thing up and kept it running smoothly throughout the day.

The basic idea is to have a set number of students pay an additional entry fee for the school. They work twice during the event and they are each assigned an instructor. Usually, the instructors get two students each to keep it simple on them and give more instruction time with each student. All students and instructors run in the first run group, regardless of class, and each of the next two run groups is dedicated to one student. During instruction, each student gets unlimited runs, within reason, with the instructor riding shotgun giving pointers and critiquing the student's driving skills.

I had two students, Raul and Kevin, that ranged in experience from one to three years. Both of them had the basics down and  didn't have trouble getting around the course so we were able to concentrate on improving their racecraft. It was great to see both of them take my help and improve their driving, especially when it came to being smooth on throttle inputs. Both started off rough enough to get me a bit queezy but by the end of the event they were both very smooth and were in much better control of their cars. Hopefully they hold onto what they learned and improve over the next few events.

If any of the other students or instructors are reading this, I'd love for you to share your thoughts on the school in the comment section.

Tape Numbers, Painters Tape And You

Ah, the rite of passage of the new racer, taping numbers on you car. Nothing says "I race" more than painters tape on the side of your car  :-)

Ok, joking aside, this is a rather important, overlooked subject that needs to be discussed more. There are right ways and wrong ways to make legible numbers and class on your car.

First off you need to make sure the color of the tape contrasts heavily with the color of your car. Secondly, they need to be big enough to be read at a distance as you fly by, killing cones. SCCA rules state the numbers are a minimum of eight inches tall and the class be at least four inches tall. Both must be made with tape at least one inch wide.

This driver's got it:

Umm, no....

See the difference here? The Corvette's numbers are very easily read but the BMW put dark blue tape on his dark tinted windows.

This'll work:

 This won't:

Again we can see how different color and size can be. The RSX, though a bit artistic, has numbers very easily read at speed but the Miata's numbers are difficult to read.

Please, for the sake of your fellow racers, pay careful attention to how you make your numbers and class on your car! Ideally, if you find you want to continue racing (and I know you want to) you should get yourself some real magnetic numbers. They are cheap, and make you at least look like you know what your doing. Most folks in my area use the services of Vitek Boruvka, owner of Axware Systems to make our graphics. Check out his store for prices:

Axware Systems

Oh, one last thing. Please remember the club is paying for the tape so don't waste it. Make your numbers and class and then return the roll of tape to the club.

Don't be this guy, just don't.....

Going Faster, Basics Tips for the Novice

It's time to talk basics of how to improve your times on course. In this post I'll go over some things to think about while walking the course, taking your runs, and reviewing how you did after the event is over. Please keep in mind these are basics. Every turn is a little different, every braking zone is a smidge unique, and every car you drive will have a different way to do things. Just take these points as general things to know.....

Slow In, Fast Out

If you stick around in motor sport you will hear this phrase a million times and it's the single most useful idea on course but it's also one of the hardest to master. What the phrase is saying is you need to slow down at the beginning of the turn to go faster out of the turn. Here's the basic idea:

In a turn you shouldn't be fighting the car. There's a limit to the car's ability and if you exceed it your times will get worse. This means you need to slow way down for the start of the turn, so you can remain in control around the turn, allowing you to roll onto the throttle as you finish the turn. If you find yourself fighting the car and sliding to the outside then you went into the turn too fast. Think of this over simplified example: The first third of a turn is the slowest and if you're really good you may even be lightly braking still at this point. The second third you have stopped decelerating and started to apply a tiny bit of throttle, not to accelerate, but to balance the car. Finally, if you've done the first two thirds of the corner correctly, you'll be able to roll onto the throttle in the final third of the turn and be already accelerating before you even leave the corner!

This leads us to the next lesson:

The Turn Before A Good Straight Is The Most Important

It's a simple premise really, the faster you exit a turn, the faster you go down the straight. If you use the Slow In, Fast Out rule above, you will find your times drop significantly. Note these important turns when you walk the course in the morning. See a decent straight? Look long and hard at the turn before it. Where do you want to enter it? Where is the apex? And most importantly, how do you take that turn in a way that allows you to start accelerating the soonest? Even one mile per hour faster out of the turn is one mile per hour faster than your competitor down the straight. Remember, when I say faster out of the turn you need to be in absolute control of the car and not fighting it.

And finally:

Slow Down To Go Faster

Confused yet? It's all about control. If you and your car are out of control you can't better your times. Sure, sliding around makes lot's of smoke and cool noises, and you may even get a round of applause, but it will also make your times suffer. So make sure you're not fighting the car to stay in line, and if you are, slow down! It's rather rare to win a race when you're all over the place. And if you need proof of this, simply watch the fastest drivers at the event. Are they plowing through a turn, fighting the front tires as they loose grip? Are they drifting sideways through the turns at crazy angles? No. So slow yourself down, stay in control, and be the faster driver.

European Market Cars Are So Interesting!

Last month I spent two and a half weeks in Germany and got to see so much history, drink great beer, and taste some great food. On top of all that, there were the cars. So, so many cars I have never seen in the wild and quite a few I wish were available here.

Smart Roadster

I shouldn't like this little thing. It's under powered and slow, with a top optioned 0-60 just under ten seconds, and build quality is reported to be not so great. But dammit, it's a good looking, tiny little two-seater that weighs less than 1,800 pounds!

Ford Focus ST Wagon

From the front these guys look the same as our US market hatches but they have a lot more room in the rear. The curb weight is about the same and performance has not been hurt by the bigger back end. I admit, I liked it better than the US hatch we get.

VW Amarok Pickup

These were very popular and quite attractive in the flesh. From the side it's very similar to the Tacoma and Colorado. Rumor has it VW has been considering bringing it here but I imagine the infamous Chicken Tax will make that difficult.

Wagon All The Things!!

Lastly, driving in Europe makes you realize how many wagons we miss out on. BMW's, Audi's, Toyota's, Honda's, and every other manufacturer has a large selection to choose from. They were everywhere! Since European drivers tend to dislike SUV's the wagons are the go-to family and gear hauler. It's not that the manufacturers haven't tried to bring them here, it's that Americans don't buy them! Recently, Acura brought over the Accord Estate as the TSX Wagon and it was a sales dud despite being a good looking, functional car.

Your First Autocross

So, it's the day of your first event. You're excited, you didn't sleep well the night before, and it's dawning on you that you're about to do things in your car most people would describe as "not safe". Take a deep breath, calm down, and enjoy yourself. I've listed a few things you need to do at your first event.

Before You Even Get There

Make sure you get there early! I suggest arriving shortly after they open the gates. This allows you to find a nice paddock spot, get your car prepped, walk the course, and still have time to walk around and get to know people. My post, 9 Things a Novice Should Bring to an Autocross has a list of things you should bring to the event.

Before The Race Starts

You're at the event, now what? Take anything not nailed down out of the car. Things like the spare tire, tools, dead bodies, and the drivers floor mat should come out. This includes loose change in the cup holder, things hanging from the rear view mirror, and loose items in the trunk. Check your tire pressures. They should be higher than you usually run on the street since the cornering loads will roll the tire over on the sidewall. Get your car teched. Most clubs have a lane where they can inspect your car for safety. Register and pay for the event and get your class and number. Put your numbers on your car, usually with painters tape, in a size and color that would be easy to read as you fly by the corner workers. Blue tape on a black car is hard to read so make sure you use contrasting colors! 

Now that the car is ready, it's time to walk the course, repeatedly. I recommend at least 3 course walks, and if you can tag along with some folks that seem to know what they are doing, even better. I'm not kidding when I say at least 3 times walking the course! The biggest issue novices have is they get lost when they make their first runs since the course can look like a see of cones! Many clubs have a Novice Walk Through where a veteran driver will walk the novices through the course, pointing out where you should be and generally giving you good tips.

Your First Runs

First off, get someone that's done this for a while to ride along with you for at least the first run. They will help you not get lost and give you pointers on what you did right and wrong. Second, do not bonzai the first runs!! Think of your brain as a computer, and on your first runs you need a lot of processing power just to figure out where you are going. This leaves little processing for going fast, so if you try to go mach 1 you will completely forget where to go. Fortunately, your brain will remember the course and you will find that each consecutive run get's faster. You should have both hands on the wheel at all times, except to shift into second.

Working

Autocross is a volunteer sport. This means you need to work the course while others are taking their runs. It may be hot, raining, or generally uncomfortable at times but it's required, and it's a good time to chat with fellow racers.

Down Time

At most events you will run one heat, work one heat, and have another one off. Take advantage of the down time by riding along with other racers, watching other's runs, or getting help from vets. When riding with others it's a good idea to ride in cars similar to yours.

The End of the Event

After your runs and after you have worked the course, it's time to pack it up. Make sure you clean up your trash, return your loaner helmet, and help clean up the course. Some clubs do novice trophies at the end of the event so stick around for the bling! Also, don't forget to adjust your tire pressures back down to normal levels before the drive home.

Novice Car Prep Before An Event

So you've signed up for your first autocross or track event and now you need to make sure your car is up to the task. Here is a list of the most common things novices need to do to their cars before they even get to the event.

Safety Check

You need to make sure your car is safe for the event. Keep in mind that your car will be asked to do things far in excess of what it would do on the street so "safe to drive" isn't always "safe to race". This is especially true for track events, where you can easily wear out a new set of brake pads in one event. Check your tires, are they worn out? Are they dry rotted? Replace them! Are your brake pads more than halfway through their lives? Replace them! Brake fluid more than three years old? Get it replaced! Fluid leaks? Get them fixed! No one wants to drive through the oil dripping from your car.

Battery Tie Down

This is such a common issue with novice's cars that it deserves it's own section. Your battery must be secured with tie downs (factory is best) and be unable to slide off it's tray. Zip ties work in a pinch but shouldn't be a permanent solution.

Empty Out Your Car

If it's not nailed down and not required for the trip to and from the event you should get it out of the car. Clean out the back seat, empty the trunk, and get the junk out of the glove box. These things all fly around on course and at the least make a lot distracting noise and at worse fly around and hit you or fly out an open window.

Check The Oil

Your car is going to be pushing g-forces it would never see on the street and if it's getting low on oil you could have a serious problem on course when your car starves of oil in a turn and destroys itself. Top off the oil before every event.

Fill Up With Gas

Much like oil listed above, your car needs to be nearly full of gas before the event or it will start starving for fuel and slow you down. Personally, I always fill the tank the morning of the event to be safe.

You Are Responsible For The Health Of Your Car

Most people will agree that cars today require far less maintenance than they used to. Oil changes go past 5,000 miles, spark plugs are only every 100,000 miles or so, tune ups are all but gone, and cars even tell you if you have a low tire. While this is great it has led to a general feeling that you never have to worry about anything about your car but this is far from the truth! We still need to pay attention to our cars and in the end, it's you, the owner, that's responsible for it's health. Heeding some of the advice listed below will not only make your car more reliable, but it will also allow you to get to know more about how it works.

Check Your Oil Regularly

Many people assume new cars don't consume oil when in fact, across all makes, oil consumption warranty claims are on the rise. Mix the higher oil consumption rates with extremely long oil change intervals and people soon find their cars running out of oil! In pretty much every owners manual it recommends you check your oil every thousand miles. It's not a lot to ask since for most folks that's only once a month, and it could save you some serious trouble down the road.

Check Your Tires

All new cars are now required to have a tire pressure monitoring system that warns you if one of your tires is getting low. These systems are not fool proof however and it would be wise to know how they work, what their limitations are, and how to check the pressures yourself. Doing this while you're checking your oil is a good idea. If you find a tire consistently loosing a couple pounds per month you can get it checked and repaired before it leaves you stranded. Pay attention to the tread depth while you're doing this so you can plan early for the rather expensive tire replacement down the road.

Know How To Change A Tire

This one comes up so often these days. Yes, getting a flat and having to put on a spare on the side of the road, in the summer, in nice clothes sucks so very bad, but getting a flat in a place where you have no cell phone signal and you don't know what to do is MUCH worse! I have family in West Texas and there is a good chunk of I-10 where I lose reception. Picture getting a flat in the high desert, in 120 degree heat, with no ability to call for help. Not a pleasant thought is it? Go learn how to change a tire, please......

Open The Hood And Have A Look

Ok, sure, you most likely will not know what you're looking at but that's not the point. Checking under the hood will give you heads up if you're about to have car trouble. Things like oil leaks, power steering leaks, and coolant leaks are all obvious things to look for but there's more to see under there. Every cold snap we get a surge of people with strange electrical issues, bad smells, and check engine lights and the first thing I do is pop the hood of their car and see rodent droppings, nests and chewed up wiring. Most of the time it's pretty obvious the critter has been living in the car for quite some time and had the owner simply checked under the hood they could have saved a hefty repair bill.

We're now more than a generation beyond the time where a car's owner needed to know how to do all these things so don't feel dumb if you need someone to show you how to do the checks I listed above. Since the lives of most technicians, mechanics, and advisers would be easier if folks knew more about the cars they are driving you shouldn't have any trouble finding someone to happily take a few minutes to show you how to keep a better eye on your car.