My first auto-x is coming up next Saturday!

[Natty]

My first auto-x is next weekend, I can't wait. I am looking for all the tips I can get. I cleaned out all the useless crap from my car. I left the spare in.
The car is stock, and has 1/4 tank of gas. What should I do about tire pressure?
What can I do if I get oversteer?
Any other random tips?
Would leaving my pop ups up help any?
What about wear and tear, like my brakes and clutch, etc? My synchros are already bad. I may have to double clutch &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'>
Jeff

[Replicant_S14]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">The car is stock, and has 1/4 tank of gas.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

That's good.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">What should I do about tire pressure?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

I don't know, I go with 40psi front and 38psi rear

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">What can I do if I get oversteer?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Enjoy it. Tuck the nose in and let the car do its job.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Any other random tips? Would leaving my pop ups up help any? </td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Don't sweat power too much. You're 240 has plenty for auto-x. You'll probably outrun some cars with twice your hp and then some P.O.S. civic will smoke you by 5 seconds.

The tranny? Don't sweat it either. You'll probably shift to second and stay there. Auto-x isn't too rough on cars. You don't really run long enough to build damaging heat in things like tires, clutchs, brakes etc.

Just go have fun and you'll get all that other stuff figured out.

[thelinja]

I just got back from my second autox, oh man it was a blast. &nbsp;I had my tires at 40psi. &nbsp;Just walk the course a few times and watch for gravel spots. &nbsp;I hit a few loose spots today and got a little tail-happy. &nbsp;Also, don't try to go all out the first time, just get the feel for the car and the track. &nbsp;After you feel rounded ion those areas, then push it a little. &nbsp;My first autox I got dead last in G-stock...today I got 12th out of 18. &nbsp;I can't wait fot next seaon.

[dave240sx]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">My first auto-x is next weekend, I can't wait. </td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

WHERE? &nbsp;I want to come.

Let me know when and where it is. &nbsp;I want to come. &nbsp;

-Dave-

[DSC]

http://www.steamymirror.com/dsc240sx/link/linksinfo.htm
Scroll down and check out the racing section, lots of good auto-x info on a few of those links.

Don't expect to be competetive your first time out.
Have fun, that is the ONLY reason to do it.

I'd recommend running the same f/r tire pressure. &nbsp;Higher in the front = understeer. &nbsp;Higher in the rear = oversteer. &nbsp;So, whatever you want. &nbsp;Driving has more to do with it than anything though, don't worry about your car too much as long as it's in good cond. &nbsp;But, those articles will give more detail than I can.

[orange-grey]

Sounds like you have the major stuff under control. &nbsp;The biggest thing I think you could do is get a custom alignment done. &nbsp;With the stock alignment, the front tires seem to roll over on the sidewalls pretty hard even at 40 psi, making for a lot of stupid-looking understeer on turn in. &nbsp;I run about 1.5 degrees negative camber and zero toe all around now. &nbsp;Whiteline suggests a little less rear camber and a little rear toe-in, which I think I will do next time I get it aligned.

Oh yeah, and late apex! &nbsp;Early apex = #1 noob mistake.

[Natty]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (dave240sx @ Oct. 26 2002,9:09)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">My first auto-x is next weekend, I can't wait. </td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

WHERE? I want to come.

Let me know when and where it is. I want to come.

-Dave-</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
http://www.gescc.com/
It is in Cookeville though, at Tennessee Tech, about 1.5 hours away &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unhappy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':unhappy:'> Just hop on I-40.
The website says it is on November the 2nd, which is a Saturday. However, someone just told me it was today. I have to find out when the real date is.
They are having a meeting on Monday, so I should find out for sure.
I really hope the one on November the 2nd wasn't cancelled &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/butbut.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':but:'>
Jeff

[Natty]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (orange-grey @ Oct. 26 2002,11:46)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Oh yeah, and late apex! Early apex = #1 noob mistake.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Really? That means be on the inside of the turn a little late, take it sort of wide?
That may take a bit of "belief" but I'll give it a shot &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/alien.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':alien:'>
Jeff

[DSC]

about the late apex

VERY hard to do at first. &nbsp;I was so damned determined to early apex the same turn every lap, about 3 laps later my instructor grabed my steering wheel and would not allow me to turn until the right point. &nbsp;I thought i was gona run off the road <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'> It was a kindof blind turn over a crest thing tho...uphill to the apex and imediately downhill and left. &nbsp;So i had to use a very late apex to setup for the next turn... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/huh2.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':huh2:'> hard stuff <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/alien.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':alien:'>

Really I wouldn't worry about it too much right at first though, just stay on track and don't hit cones <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

[SilviaDriver]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Natty @ Oct. 26 2002,5:34)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">My first auto-x is next weekend, I can't wait. I am looking for all the tips I can get.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
1. dont mess up
2. be safe
3. have fun
4. dont mess up

[DSC]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (SilviaDriver @ Oct. 27 2002,05:57)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Natty @ Oct. 26 2002,5:34)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">My first auto-x is next weekend, I can't wait. I am looking for all the tips I can get.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
1. dont mess up
2. be safe
3. have fun
4. dont mess up</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I'd prolly word that

1. your going to mess up, don't let it get you down
2. be safe
3. have fun
4. your going to mess up, don't let it get you down

To tell someone not to mess up their first time out doesn't make much sence <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unhappy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':unhappy:'>

[LanceS13]

I don't know if any of DSC's links mention this, but I'd like to stress an area not related to the car...your physical/mental condition.
1. Eat a big breakfast. I never eat breakfast...except on AutoX days. If it's an afternoon event, eat a big lunch.
2. Get plenty of rest the night before. A tired mind is a slow mind.
3. Take plenty of fluids to drink throughout the day. Things to snack on like potatoe chips and candy bars don't hurt either. &nbsp;At bigger events, I usually take a cooler full of water/poweraid, lunch meat, mustard, a loaf of bread, and snacks. &nbsp;With bigger run groups, after a run you may have time to go fix a sandwich, eat it, and still be ready to go before your next run.
4. Take sunscreen...putting a helmet over burnt ears sucks! (may not apply if you aren't cursed with a Conan O-Brian complection <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> ).
5. Walk the course as many times as possible. Ideally, it should be stamped in your memory before you even get in your car. Knowing the course like the back of your hand beforehand inspires confidence and, therefore, better performance.
6. Stage early and be ready to go well in advance of your turn to start. If you wait til the last minute to get in your car, put your helmet on, and stage, you'll likely get over-excited from rushing to get ready. Get ready early and slowly and stay calm and collected. While you're in your car with your helmet on waiting your turn, close your eyes and envision the course you have stamped in your memory. Try to envision shift points, braking points, turn-in points, apexes, etc...this will become easier as you get used to your car.