Thought I would throw out an invite to all. There are only 3 SCCA autocross events left this year. Next one is next weekend on September 21/22 in Rantoul at the air force base (North of champaign). For more info go to the SCCA web site and click on Solo and find our region. I will be there, hope many more can too. Great place to meet new people.

 

are these events something that you can just bring your regular street car to and race? kind of like an open track day or whatever?

 

Yes, for autocross all you need is a helmet of snell M95 or newer (you should be able to rent one if you dont have one), a car that is structurally sound, no loose wheels (grab a wheel and shake it to see if it makes a "ka-lunk" noise, if so fix it), money to pay admission (about $30), a lunch, sun screen, and a smile...

I think that covers most of it
Have fun

 

really?!?!? i figured you'd need to prep the cars in some sort of special way or something. if all it takes is a helmet and and smile then that should be pretty easy. i'm going to hop on that scca website and check it out. i'm about 50 miles from rantoul.

 

is this something you would honestly bring your every day driver to? i drive my GTA every day. i usually don't drive it too rough, but i do get on it. is this something that would tear your car up or be pretty hard on it?

 

Yes that is pretty much all you need.

I used to race my dad's 2001 Dodge Dakato Sport Quad Cab. Which was his daily driver unless he decided to drive one of his many motorcycles, anyway, I raced that for almost an entire season and the only differance from when I began racing is the tire wear. Now I just bought an 87 IROC-Z, which is my daily driver, and it did pretty well out on track.

Oh, you should also bump up your tire pressure when you get there or do it the night before (I ran 44 front and 40 rear in my IROC-Z, worked well for me), and you have to take out all loose items (everything in the trunk, floor mats, stuff hanging from the mirror, etc.). Most places also require you to work for atleast one heat. All you will have to do is work a corner which is safe even though you dont have a metal wall to hide behind or anything. To work a corner you just have to run out on track between cars to place the cone back in its boxs.

Make sure you take part in an instructor walk if it is provided and if you have any question at all fell free to ask. Most people will be glad to help in any way they can.

I'm only 16 but I know what im talking.

 

sweet dude, thanks for all the info. i'm going to try my best to make it. i doubt i can make it saturday though, so i'll shoot for sunday. the schedule shows the 22nd-23rd so i'm assuming you can go to either or both. my cousin has an 88 IROC and i'm going to try and bring him so we can both learn for the first time. looks like $30 is it. do you have to join the SCCA or anything? as long as i can get my cousin to go sunday i'll be there. i'll throw a snell95 or better helmet in the car and be good to go.

from the video's i've watched it looks like you can have a passenger ride as well. can you verify this?

thanks again dude!

 

No problem. Yes that means you can go on both days or just one, but if you go on both days you have to pay admission twice. That would be neat for a friendly rivalry while your there. If you join the SCCA I think its $25 instead of $30 and if you're a member and you preregister I think it is $20. But you have to pay to join. Yes you can take passengers but they usualy dont let two beginners go together... unless you have a "professioinal" ride along meaning ur friend will be in the back. Heck, why not go without him... this way you can get an edge for when he can make it to a race.

 

Just to let you know though, you wont be placed in the stock class. Your computer chip and headers will bump you up to STS (its only one class higher). Dont worry about the classing though, just focus on having fun and improving your times.

You may want one of the professionals ride along with you just to give your pointers. Make sure you walk the course until you know it well enough to not get lost if you spin out, and as you walk stay in the same relitive postion you would be in if you were sitting in your car. Meaning if your turning to the right, dont walk right next to the cone because then you would be driving over it if you were in your car... hopefully I make sense.

 

this sounds awesome! how many cars like ours actually show up? how many times on the track do you end up getting?

 

In the Milwaukee events (at Miller Park) I'm the only one with a third gen, but there are several fourth gens. And The milwaukee region gets atleast 5 runs and sometimes 6. It all depends on how fast worker change overs are.

I wont be showing up to the event your going to because its gonna take 3 1/2 hours for me to get there and then I still have to drive back. So you wont be able to compete.

 

This novice handbook by tirerack is a must read for the first time autocrosser: http://www.tirerack.com/features/solo2/handbook.htm. I auto-x some in St. Louis when I'm at home and in Indy when I'm away at school. I take my daily driver out and throw it around the corners. I actually raced last weeked at the southern Illinois Region's even in Lawrenceville, IL. Anyway, read the handbook - lots of great info for the first timer.

 

thanks for the guide! while reading through i had a couple questions:

1. under tech inspection it says this "Steering / Suspension: The steering must be tight, with no excessive play. Wheel bearings cannot have excessive play." ----- my cousin who i'm trying to bring has a loose steering column. the steering is tight when the wheel is turned, but the wheel itself will move 3 inches in any direction. will this disqualify him?

2. how long does the event usually last? do you usually bring food and eat it there, or do they have vendors there selling food/drink or can you just go get something to eat and come back?

3. also, i know i mentioned this before but i didn't see it mentioned in the guide. what's the rules for passengers? can i just take any adult for a passenger as long as they're belted in and have a helmet on? or is there restrictions?

i think that's about all i came up with. for now anyway.

 

1. I would definitely be hesitant to race, to say the least, with my steering wheel moving around like that. I would hope they would catch that and not let him drive with that problem. It would be a good idea to get that fixed before trying to auto-x.

2. The event duration is heavily dependent on how many cars are there. In events with 150+ cars, I'm usually at the course from 8 am till 4-5 pm. Last week at the one with 30+ cars, it lasted from 11am until 5:30pm (granted they had a different start time). Definitely bring a lunch with you along with drinks. Having water when you are out working the course is nice. Depending on the location some places will sell food/drink.

3. Again, the passenger rule depends on the location. Most allow anyone who has signed the waiver and has a wristband on to ride so long as they have an approved helmet (snell m or better) and are belted in. The place I went to last week required the driver to be an SCCA member to have a passenger. The people runnig the event usually have loaner helments incase you or your potential passenger does not have one.

 

we're going to try and get the steering fixed, but yeah, if not we probably won't bring it. i just wanted to make sure that if i end up making him come with me that he can at least ride with me while i race.

 

i just wanted to stop back and let and give my 2 cents on this event. let me put it this way. i'm 30 years old and have done a lot of crazy **** in my days but autocrossing ranks up in the top 3! thanks for the heads up and getting me hook on a new hobby!

here's some links to video's if anyone is interested.

the i had to host them all over the place since youtube caps you at 100mb

my run from inside: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWsliGFY7Uw
Steve Wrights GTO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D598oyKeptA
Greg Lukach Vette: http://www.xpiring.com/mj/8.mpg

i've also attached a couple pics.

 

Thats good to hear!!

the first picture is the best

 

You must have gone on Sunday then, I went Saturday as that is when my other friends went. I had a blast to! I never had a clean run. I'm glad that you were brave enough to come out, hopefully I can meet you sometime. The next event is mid october, going? Always invite anyone that is into cars or driving.

 

hey man, you must have been in the white camaro? i saw the pics from saturday's event and saw it on the board. is this you? on the attacehd pic?

yeah i'll be there next month for sure! it's oct 20-21 and i'll be there for at least sundays if not both days!

how about you? are you going next time?