1st auto-x experience

[Chiquae07]

yep, its that time. the time for me to make a joke outta myself, at my first auto-x. i took off of work and everything, so it should be fun.

now, ive been reading a lot of faqs and things, but because i know that there are some people on this forum that do auto-x occasionally, what do you recomend to bring/read/do?

i think im going to be placed into sts just because i have wai, light weight rims, and catback exhaust. idk if i can move into gs since im auto. any ideas on class btw?

i'll be posting up pictures and everything on sunday.

[Gotian]

Originally Posted by Chiquae07

yep, its that time. the time for me to make a joke outta myself, at my first auto-x. i took off of work and everything, so it should be fun.

now, ive been reading a lot of faqs and things, but because i know that there are some people on this forum that do auto-x occasionally, what do you recomend to bring/read/do?

i think im going to be placed into sts just because i have wai, light weight rims, and catback exhaust. idk if i can move into gs since im auto. any ideas on class btw?

i'll be posting up pictures and everything on sunday.

Here are some things you should know, you can stay in your stock class with a catback and rims, I dont know what a wai is. G-stock is way too hard for your car to compete in stay in H-stock (HS) class. I was competing in GS when I was racing the jetta and my competitors were Mini coopers (S) and GTI's. Also Auto VS Manual doesnt change your class.

Make sure you completly empty your car, no loose articles and make sure you have a helmet or use a loaner.

BTW I just came back from an autocross in ft.myers while I was visiting family there.

[CassiesMan]

What is the time penalty for hitting a cone?

[Gotian]

Originally Posted by CassiesMan

What is the time penalty for hitting a cone?

+2 seconds for hitting a cone in the course, +4 seconds for hitting a cone in the beggining where the starting line is and +4 seconds for hitting a cone where the exit is. Try to stay on course and always look one cone ahead so you know where to go next. keep both hands on the wheel and adjust your seat because they way you drive in an autoX is different then on the streets.

If you see the people waving a red flag that means to stop the car, and everyone on the course will get a re-run. If you see that you are going off course and youre losing control, dont worry just try to stop the car. If you are going to hit a cone try hitting it with your rear tire so you have a better chance of keeping it up and in the marked box.

A down cone means, it was knocked over on its side or it was moved out of its box. The cone is still good if it is touching any part of the box while it is up.

[CassiesMan]

What is the time penalty for going off course?

[Gotian]

Originally Posted by CassiesMan

What is the time penalty for going off course?

your time doesnt count if you go off course and you don't get a re-run. So going off course VS. hitting a cone to stay on course, you better hit that damn cone.

[CassiesMan]

Ah never mind then. I had an evil plan that was going to utilize possible loop holes in my favor.

[Gotian]

Originally Posted by CassiesMan

Ah never mind then. I had an evil plan that was going to utilize possible loop holes in my favor.

lol, and here i thought you were just trying to help a fellow a/fer out with his first autoX. Foreshame. BTW when are you going to take that MS3 to an autocross? Did you already pass the break-in period?

[CassiesMan]

I'm at 740 on the clock now, don't know when I'll take it to an AutoX, but I'm looking into them in the near future. I am also looking at some track days at a few road courses, assuming the guys at the Motorsports Ranch ever decide to hold an track day that doesn't have a damned thousand dollar entry fee.

[Gotian]

Originally Posted by CassiesMan

I'm at 740 on the clock now, don't know when I'll take it to an AutoX, but I'm looking into them in the near future. I am also looking at some track days at a few road courses, assuming the guys at the Motorsports Ranch ever decide to hold an track day that doesn't have a damned thousand dollar entry fee.

I'd say stick with autocrossing for about a year then go for road courses, autocrosses are nice practice events for the road courses especially since you really get to know the handling capabilities of the car. Also if you are going to an autocross try going to one that has a longer course set up so that way you tend to pick up more speed. The even I went to this weekend was a 1.3 mile long setup and I redlined 2nd in 2 occasions, I definately had to fight the urge to shift to 3rd. My top speed yesterday was 68mph since thats the top of my 2nd and that is a pretty high speed course for an autocross.

[Chiquae07]

wai = warm air intake aka short ram intake.

this isnt my car btw but
my engine looks like this to an extent right now:


basically made my aem cai into a wai/sri for the fall and winter, as i dont want all these nasty leaves on my air filter, and snow in there as well. dont want to have to replace a MAF sensor if i dont have to .

reason i say sts is because that is what most of the guys on the sentra forum told me i would have to run. i am debadged btw, and im classified as a 2.0 sentra, not the 1.8, so id have to run with the se-r spec-v's.

now that i look it over, they say g-stock because of the common known of the sr20 b15 sentra has a vlsd. i dont though due to the auto.

the night before, im emptying the car. cd's, notebooks, pens, floor mats, etc. now, does what is in my glove box matter or ???

[CassiesMan]

Every ounce counts...

[Gotian]

you need to empty the glove box because they check. Also the reason why you would be in STS or STX is due to the intake system. if you have the stock airbox still i would suggest slapping that back on so you can go to your stock class and ask if you can go to GSN (G-stock Novice) That way you wont have any real competition and you wont be stuck in an even more difficult category than gs.

and you are right that your class is GS. Which really sucks.

[Chiquae07]

can i have paper in the glove box, for registration purposes? like to show i own the car and the such in case if i get pulled over and things. i dont really like taking that out, but if i have to, o well.

to put on the numbers, im thinking about using masking tape. cant find huge magnetic numbers.

the airbox is a negative, unless i can find one at the junk yard. kinda demolished it lol.

doesnt matter about my competition, i think i'll prob surprise myself on what i accomplish. hopefully i can get video as well.

[CassiesMan]

Originally Posted by Chiquae07

can i have paper in the glove box, for registration purposes? like to show i own the car and the such in case if i get pulled over and things. i dont really like taking that out, but if i have to, o well.

Pockets are amazing things...