twrx
New Member
Posts: 4 
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Post by twrx on Jun 22, 2015 10:23:10 GMT -5
Hello everyone,
I'm Eric, a newbie who is excited to experience my first autocross this season! I enjoy (responsibly) carving up the twisties in the Boone and Asheville areas but want to learn my car's limits in a safe environment and improve my driving skills. I will be killing cones with my gently modified 2004 WRX. Any other subaru drivers out here with any advice for somebody looking to get into the sport?
My work schedule requires I occasionally work weekends, and unfortunately I will not be able to run until the two-day event on 7/25 and 7/26. I'm considering running both days but have not decided.If all goes well in novice class and i'm not boo'd off the ZMax parking lot for my noob-like abilities I may start to modify my car for competition. Will there be instructors on site to give pointers?
Right now I have some aging (~30% life left) Continental ContiPro Contacts on the car and was wondering if these will be adequate for autocross duty? Since I have another car I drive regularly, some sticky rubber would not be out of the question. Im considering a set of RS-3's but was also considering the Bridgestone S04 for a good balance of grip, treadwear and practicality but am open to other suggestions. |
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Post by srduck on Jun 22, 2015 18:39:07 GMT -5
Welcome! Well will indeed have instructors available at every event. And don't be afraid to ask for ridealongs with people too. Looking forward to seeing you out there!
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twrx
New Member
Posts: 4
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Post by twrx on Jun 24, 2015 9:08:26 GMT -5
Does your group usually congregate together or is competition to fierce to fraternize with the enemy? Looking forward to getting out there!
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Post by yellow CR on Jun 24, 2015 18:35:57 GMT -5
We will be having a social gathering this Saturday at 7:00PM
Flying Saucer
9605 N Tryon St - Suite A
Charlotte, NC 28262
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twrx
New Member
Posts: 4
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Post by twrx on Jul 5, 2015 1:00:01 GMT -5
Will you have any more social events in the future so I can meet some of the club members?
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Post by matthugie on Jul 5, 2015 10:52:38 GMT -5
Hello everyone,
I'm Eric, a newbie who is excited to experience my first autocross this season! I enjoy (responsibly) carving up the twisties in the Boone and Asheville areas but want to learn my car's limits in a safe environment and improve my driving skills. I will be killing cones with my gently modified 2004 WRX. Any other subaru drivers out here with any advice for somebody looking to get into the sport?
My work schedule requires I occasionally work weekends, and unfortunately I will not be able to run until the two-day event on 7/25 and 7/26. I'm considering running both days but have not decided.If all goes well in novice class and i'm not boo'd off the ZMax parking lot for my noob-like abilities I may start to modify my car for competition. Will there be instructors on site to give pointers?
Right now I have some aging (~30% life left) Continental ContiPro Contacts on the car and was wondering if these will be adequate for autocross duty? Since I have another car I drive regularly, some sticky rubber would not be out of the question. Im considering a set of RS-3's but was also considering the Bridgestone S04 for a good balance of grip, treadwear and practicality but am open to other suggestions. I don't drive a Subie but can answer most of your questions and offer general advice. First, we have a great novice program. They do novice walks to show you the course to explain what you're looking at, show you where to go, and general tips about the course. They can also help you with explaining how the event runs, work assignments, etc. When it comes to driving you will have an instructor available to you for in car coaching to help you navigate the course and improve your driving. You also have the option to let the instructor drive your car to see both what it can do and what they do differently. As for the car, worn out all season tires are the best place to start. They have relatively low grip levels which encourages good basic driving techniques. Your tires don't have much life left so you'll have to upgrade sometime soon anyway, but my recommendation is to focus on getting a couple events under your belt before changing tires and reevaluate then. For modifications, before you do anything else to the car read the rules! Many a competitor (myself included) have done what are relatively small or common modifications for a street car that can bump you multiple classes. Something like a lightweight flywheel can be the difference between being in Street class or Modified. Bottom line, just come on out and we'll walk you through the entire thing. Also, if you want to hang out and meet people we have social gatherings about every month or so. It's a very friendly club, even between competitors. |
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twrx
New Member
Posts: 4
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Post by twrx on Jul 7, 2015 15:55:38 GMT -5
Thanks for the warm welcome everybody. I look forward to seeing you at the two day event at the end of the month. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the novice class is open to any modifications since the times are not posted and for driver reference only. I'm not worried about being competitive this season since it's so late, I really just want to figure out if this is something I want to pursue. (I have a feeling I'll be hooked.)
Do I need to worry about tuning the tire pressure other than ensuring it is even and at the manufacturer specification?
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Post by xeric13x on Jul 8, 2015 15:11:58 GMT -5
People with TireRack sticker on their windshield = get advice from them.
Bring sidewalk chalk (the fat stuff) to mark the edges of your tires with a few ticks (I usually have some specifically for novices since I usually help with instructing). That's a good starting place to figure out tire pressures then adjust by feel instead of where the chalk got rubbed off. Worrying about tire pressures and vehicle setup should be less of a concern for the first event or so.
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Post by yellow CR on Jul 8, 2015 16:44:51 GMT -5
Novice Class is all about getting acclimated to autocross, finding the limits of your car and your driving ability. In it you get an extra run and instruction from veteran autocrossers. It's more about fun than being fast.
As for your tire pressure question, even though you are new I would always recommend that you monitor the pressures. Not in terms of being competitive, but to keep the tires in as good of condition as you can. As you drive them hard, the pressures will rise and should be lowered in between each run. Ignoring the rising tire pressures will likely lead to extra heat and potential uneven wearing. So it is good practice to monitor them and keep them at a reasonable PSI.
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