Autocross Setup Secretes by Dennis Grant

[Piotrov]

Saw this posted on another forum and I just started reading it but it looks like alot of great information for the beginner and profesional.

Thought i would share this since it seems like there is alot more interest in Autocross from this forum for this coming season.

Enjoy.

http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets.html

[AtomicPunk]

Nice find! I'll have to read through the entire thing. Thanks Peter!

Todd

[Mister_2]

there is some good stuff in there...

I like the part about the driver being the most important factor that influences performance on a vehicle. So very true.

[Anomili]

Makes me wish I had a autoX capable machine :P. 87 Supras aren't known for their "handling." It did however give me amazingly useful information on springs and shocks! Thanks for posting it.

PS. Where did you get your helmet? I think I may need one for the drag strip this upcoming season.

[Piotrov]

PS. Where did you get your helmet? I think I may need one for the drag strip this upcoming season.

This year the new requirements for helmets are Snell 2000
So make sure when you purchase one its got that rating. Its usualy on a sticker under the padding.

Also any motorcycle helmet will be fine and that is the cheapest way to go. If your actually looking for a racing car helmet they will run you anywhere from 200 for a good deal up to.... well up to where ever your pockets empty.

[Mister_2]

What?! you could so use your supra! I had the suspension done up on my supra and I could outcorner a lot of my buddies cars! even my friends 85 mr2. Even with the stock suspension it did the job. Plus it is way better than some of the cars I see at those events. Ask Peter and Todd about the station wagon lol.

[Piotrov]

^^^

Very true. and like Colin said before. Its got alot to do with the driver.
Even if you get out to the local club events. These are mostly for fun! Just go out and have fun and learn the limits of your car. That i think is more important then winning as it will save you in real life driving situations because you know what the car does and how to recover in a emergency situation.

100 times Better then Young Drivers of Canada and cheaper too.

Too bad insurance is a bunch of dumb asses and figure that knowing what color your oil is will actually save you in emergency avoidence on the highway.

[Mister_2]

haha yes very true Peter. They should discounts for this instead of young drivers. Stop like 15 feet away from an intersection so the guy behind you doesn't expect it and test his avoidance skills! I love young drivers :D

[Anomili]

Hmm... even if the stock setup is willing, my big turbo will make for rediculously slow times. I built the car for power, which means the turbo will spool like 500 rpm before redline :'(.

[Marky]

Definetly can't wait til the season. But still nervous to see how the car would truly perform. Just got the new Adjustable shocks put in but i wouldn't be able to get the full potential (feel) of them til i get my summer tires back on. Running on winter tires right now. Definetly different from the Toyo proxies.
But where would be a good place to practice without cops on your tail.
Do you guys run through the Forks? That's where i've really got a feel for my suspension with just Tein-S techs on stock shocks. Car did pretty well.
Also the car is an automatic but running a TRD blower. Would that make up for an automatic Tranny? Are there people running automatic cars in an auto X events?

[Mister_2]

I'm pumped about this season as well! Nothing to be nervous about (even though I was my first time lol).

I suggest don't even worry about the suspension. Just learn to drive the car as fast as you can. When you "know" your car then start playing with mods and tweaking. The celica will be my 3rd car for this process and it works :D

I had the bug when I was young and modded my supra right away which I regretted later. Made it harder to learn. My MR2 I played with for a couple of years before I started playing with stuff. This is just over a year with the celica and I still don't want to touch anything important yet.

Just come out, run the car and learn.

And I know I've seen a few auto cars out there.

[Marky]

Cool, sounds good. Thanks for the info!

[AtomicPunk]

But where would be a good place to practice without cops on your tail.

Seriously consider taking this school. Best practice you can get is to have an experienced competitor help you out.

http://forums.c7performance.com/showthread.php?t=13557

I can honestly say I have never practiced. Taking a school here and there will do more for you than you running around an empty parking lot on your own. It's probably best to arrive at the first event and see if someone will ride along with you. Early in the season, it is fairly common that the organizing club will do an extra course walk through for new people and then offer up experienced drivers to ride along to provide suggestions. I would certainly be willing to pass along any help that I can.


Are there people running automatic cars in an auto X events?

Short answer is yes.

Todd

[Marky]

Great, thanks for the suggestions. :thumbup: