Thread: One Down!!!! first post! first race!

Raced once on a mostly stock 93 SE-R, I wasn't the fastest, but I wasn't the slowest either, although I was a LOT closer to the latter than the former. Aside from a good guide to figure out what the heck is going on with the whole "what the hell class am I supposed to be in." My driving skills are well lacking at the moment probably closer to sucking than kicking ass. Any good how to info out there floating around the internet? Advice for the newbie? I can't be the only one looking for a good obi wan.

Newbie advice. Google autocross. Read. Google, SCCA, or NASA. Drive.

Seriously though. Its great that you got out there on your own and drove. At every event we hold, I see the faces of the new guys. They look lost. Then once they get registered, and through the drivers meeting, all you see is smiles. I promise you that after a few events and a few things start to click its going to be something you want to do every chance you get.
The one more piece of advice you will get from everyone, is that you just need seat time. Get out there and drive. Dont go crazy with mods. And if you do end up in a lousy class dont worry. Just go out and have fun. Thats all that matters.


Zach Mickle
N.A.S.A. Mid-Atlantic
Auto-x tech cheif

There's also a few good books to read, but I've always said that the best you can do when you start is to practice, practice, and practice. If you go to every available event in your area, you will start to improve fairly quickly.

The B13 will probably not put you in first place, depending on the local competition (nor will a B14 or a B15, for that matter ), but it is probably one of the best cars to learn in.

Still, there are basics to be learned. Are there people available to help you out on seating position, etc.?

Done a bit of that and a bit of searching on the non-dash site. but havn't read anything so far that makes me say something like, "Oh, so that's what I'm supposed to be doing while driving." But then again I havn't looked all that hard yet, enough to keep ShawnB from getting mad at me but not enough to make him proud. Most say the best advice is to find someone good and get them to let you follow them around the course/drive with you, and go to classes which is hard to do out of season.



I have read enough on the classes to make me think that I don't want to read anymore about classes other than taking a class. Japanese didn't seem that hard back in school. Is there a big ass flow-chart or rubric/graph thingy somewhere that says something along the lines of "If you've got this and you do this and that but not this then your that or something." I'm not doing anything crazy or anything but I have messed and plan to mess up my OEM status. Say I upgrade the brake calipers to the AV22's, add a SSAC header, K&N WAI, a FTSB, Koni b13 red strut (thanks GregV for the good deal) inserts with bumpstops and the roadmagnet springs (unless I can source some hyperco's II's or if the Dash can reinvogorate the group buy that failed!!!!) and strap on some junkyard 15" Enkei rs6 am I DSP or something more? Do fluids/additives matter/count against you?

Seating position? Other than adjusting so I can reach the pedals and to not hit the helmet on the dash/ceiling/door, what is this wisdom you speak of? Makes me kind of nervous as to what basics "etc." refers to?

Well, there would be too much to be said without writing a 10-page post...

May I suggest you read this book:
Secrets of Solo Racing
by Henry A. Watts

It's a great read for people that are starting in this sport.

wish there was a track in miami or broward where its not justa a straight line.

your biggest tool is seat time. even if you arent good at first, keep at it, and you'll learn and climb up...

Seat time, Seat time, Seat time, Seat time, and then when you are ready, more seat time.

Seriously.


Seat time.


Ride with as many of the "fast" drivers in your region as possible. Go to as many events around your area as are financially possible. Get the fast people to ride with you and "coach" you.

Ask questions of them. Try different things, tire pressures etc...

Then get some more seat time.

The brakes put you into STX (street tire class) or DSP (R-comp class). Leave the brakes alone and the rest of the mods put in STS (street tire class).