I just signed up for my first auto-x and honestly i have no experience doing this type of thing... any suggestions from yall that have been doing this for a bit and especially doing it with a balt...

 

buy some suspension mods i.e. anti sway bar, lowering springs, strut bar. bring a helmet.
walk the corse first, so you know where you are ging and don't look like an ass when you go off track. take the first lap slow just to get the feel for it.
maybe have an instructor or someone who knows what they are talking about ride with you the first run.
oh and have a friend bring a camera, nothing like watching your balt in action!

 

Walk the course with an experienced driver. Don't get focused on speed just yet, learn to drive the course then add speed. Listen to any advice from more seasoned people. Ask for ride-alongs from people who seem to know what they're doing.

 

sweet thanks yall.. i am so excited to get out there... its on the 22nd down at Langley speedway...i have been on a few ride alongs b4 thats what got me hooked...

 

Yeah and for now... get used to your car in it's STOCK FORM. DOn't worry about mods and such just yet.

The 1st year is a big learning curve and like Alleycat said... get with some experienced people and ask questions. Look for people with a similar car ( FWD Front engined ) and ride with them, and then look to other guys of different types so you can see the difference.

fast is nice, but a slower CLEAN run will be best in the long run.

Later you can shoot to win, just use a goal to improve.

GOod luck and welcome to the sport!

Let us know how you progress.

 

+1

Definitely don't worry about modding your car. Learn from those who are better and watch for their advice as you walk the course. Don't worry about being fast. Have fun!!!

 

I'll post up how i did hopefully some shots of the action after the meet next weekend.... i just picked up my helmet so now all i have to do is wait...lol

 

1. Take it slow.
If you have a strut bar or anything else that puts you out of your stock class you may want to take it off. You will be quicker without the mods riding the handicap your first time out.

2. Walk the course like they said with someone who has been doing it. Try to focus on the the quickest line to take. Whoever is walking with you should help with line choices if they are experienced.

3.Try not to stomp the brakes and lock your tires. This will only cause the car to go off balance and not do what you want when you let off the brake. There is things such as brake controlled turning but dont worry about that right now.

4. Be smooth when turning your steering wheel. Jerking the steering wheel will cause quick weight shifting and you will loose your tire traction. Try to be smooth and flowing through the course. If you can maintain your speed in a fluid motion you are usually much quicker. If your tires are smoking and spinning around the courners let off a bit. Tire spin will slow you dont a lot especially when the course is so small.

5. If you are having a problem volunteer to work in that area when your not driving. Some places assign working positions before you run. But most do it on the fly. Be quick if your having a problem in a section because most likely there are going to be more then one of you trying to work that spot. It will help to see others go through that section. If you feel like there is a part on the course that everyone else is quicker. Try to get in at that section as well. You can see how they are going quicker then you through it.
Car Prep and setup.

1. Dont go there with a full tank. Under a half tank is usually preferred.

2. Make sure the battery tie down is on and that the positive terminal is covered.

3. Bring the proper helmet

4. Piece of chalk. Use this to mark the side walls on the tires. Just a line along the side of the tire. This will show you if the tire is scrubbing the side walls as you corner.

5. Tire pressure. This has some to do with the chalk above. The proper tire pressure setup can help save a lot of time on the track.

6. If you have the money and plan to continue doing this you may want to get a more aggressive alignment done. Most people ignore doing this but it is one of the most beneficially mods you can do beside having experience.

 

ok guys... thanks for the help... i am now officially FING HOOKED....... i ran a 54.2 as my best run sorry no pics i left the camera at home...but oh man apparently i did ok i did 10 runs and only hit one cone...... people changed their opinion about the balts to... i had some people say damn that cars ALOT better then i thought it would be. in short WOW i love auto-X

 

y did that person go from 1-5 then 1-6

 

??????

 

Ha ha....because he simply copied and pasted from some kind of website when he was trying to give advice.

Its good advice though

 

Ha I actually typed that out. I dont know why I did that honestly. Long work day? Dropped on my head as a child? I am on my 7th year of road racing so I know what to do for the most part at the track.

 

I hear ya man....sometimes i get so brain dead I forget what I am doing. We just have to make sure we get plenty of sleep before the track.

 

either way thanks.... it was good advice and i had a ton of fun i am now an advocate of AutoX...

Update:
I am going to an autox school put on by VMSC coming up on the 12th.... soooo addicting