Autocross first timer

[rxryanm]

As a person, I'm generally competitive when I think I'm good at something. Video games (minus sports games) usually top that list. I think I'm a pretty good driver too, so went into yesterday's points event thinking I could do relatively well. Turns out I am not nearly as good as I think lol. 5th of 6 in CAMC by a large margin from 4th and about a year behind first. 80th out of 90 in RAW/PAX. I've got a long way to go. We've got some crazy fast drivers, so I'll probably be focusing on the PAX number outside of class.

Did a driver's school on Saturday and that went much better. Sunday may have just been nerves. But both of my instructors thought brakes could definitely use an upgrade. One of them drives a Dark Horse, has been behind the wheel of a Mustang for 10+ years, and regularly places high from what I can tell - she recommended EBC blues, so that's likely in the purchase plans very soon as the next event is June 8th. Maybe new rotors as well, we'll see.

Here's a cool pic. I'm confident I hit that cone but it fortunately stayed in the box cuz I didn't get a penalty.

s

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[Dana Pants]

Stick with it. Almost everyone starts in the basement of the pax list first time out.

As for brakes. Stock brakes are fine for a while. Stop tech sports are fine and what I use. If things are goofy, it’s probably just needing a fluid flush.

 

[mavisky]

While its not impossible to be fast your first time out, the bottom line is that its a new sport and new set of specific experiences. If nothing else just learning to read the course and cones is a skill thats totally foreign to most.

 

[Dana Pants]

While its not impossible to be fast your first time out, the bottom line is that its a new sport and new set of specific experiences. If nothing else just learning to read the course and cones is a skill thats totally foreign to most.

Most people who do really well first time out are driving their friend’s highly competitive AX car.

 

[Decosse]

You did well for first time out. It's a skill that takes practice and patience. You listened to instruction, picked up some advice, and experienced what most of us did- that we didn't know how much we had to learn. Think I became a better, more careful driver and I had my need for speed satisfied, lol. If you take a turn chasing cones and working the course, watch where other drivers brake, turn, are smooth or have problems. If you can, watch the skilled drivers and other Mustangs closely.
Never forget the time I got it right, though. It was like dancing with the car, feeling it just on the edge. I realized my time was pretty good before I saw the slip. The next weekend, it was back to the usual, lol- one part really good, but either hit a cone, missed a gate, got two left feet on the pedals or whatever.

 

[kz]

As a person, I'm generally competitive when I think I'm good at something. Video games (minus sports games) usually top that list. I think I'm a pretty good driver too, so went into yesterday's points event thinking I could do relatively well. Turns out I am not nearly as good as I think lol. 5th of 6 in CAMC by a large margin from 4th and about a year behind first. 80th out of 90 in RAW/PAX. I've got a long way to go. We've got some crazy fast drivers, so I'll probably be focusing on the PAX number outside of class.

Did a driver's school on Saturday and that went much better. Sunday may have just been nerves. But both of my instructors thought brakes could definitely use an upgrade. One of them drives a Dark Horse, has been behind the wheel of a Mustang for 10+ years, and regularly places high from what I can tell - she recommended EBC blues, so that's likely in the purchase plans very soon as the next event is June 8th. Maybe new rotors as well, we'll see.

Here's a cool pic. I'm confident I hit that cone but it fortunately stayed in the box cuz I didn't get a penalty.

s

CKR event and Cindy was your instructor... Some really good drivers there.

If your want some more autocross, we have an event this Sunday in Cinci and mid June have Starting Line school (and later at some point our own school - don't remember when at this moment). We're about hour and half away from Lexington and some people come down every once in a while - Brett Spence bridge is pain in the ass though.

Don't get discouraged - it takes a _lot_ of practice to be good at it. I was very very humbled at my very first event bunch of years ago and thought I'd be great.

 

[ModernSVO]

I want to try an event out this season, but afraid I'll embarrass myself.

 

[rxryanm]

Stick with it. Almost everyone starts in the basement of the pax list first time out.

As for brakes. Stock brakes are fine for a while. Stop tech sports are fine and what I use. If things are goofy, it’s probably just needing a fluid flush.

Any certain fluid you recommend or just some DOT 4?

While its not impossible to be fast your first time out, the bottom line is that its a new sport and new set of specific experiences. If nothing else just learning to read the course and cones is a skill thats totally foreign to most.

We did novice walks both days and they're super helpful on how to attack, especially with the novice chief being a Mustang driver.

CKR event and Cindy was your instructor... Some really good drivers there.

If your want some more autocross, we have an event this Sunday in Cinci and mid June have Starting Line school (and later at some point our own school - don't remember when at this moment). We're about hour and half away from Lexington and some people come down every once in a while - Brett Spence bridge is pain in the ass though.

Don't get discouraged - it takes a _lot_ of practice to be good at it. I was very very humbled at my very first event bunch of years ago and thought I'd be great.

Yes sir, nailed it! She was great. She put down a time in my car on Saturday (nowhere near 100% of what she was capable) that I was itching to hit and I think could've gotten there with another run or two.

I've got the Cincy schedule in my phone too. I may have to cruise up this Sunday. And I think I'll definitely come to the school. Could always use more instruction.

 

[Dana Pants]

Any certain fluid you recommend or just some DOT 4?

I’m sure any fresh DOT 4 or 5.1 from a sealed bottle can do the job. I use RBF600. Several of my friends use the Bosch fluid because it comes in a metal can and is/was inexpensive.

 

[WItoTX]

As a person, I'm generally competitive when I think I'm good at something. Video games (minus sports games) usually top that list. I think I'm a pretty good driver too, so went into yesterday's points event thinking I could do relatively well. Turns out I am not nearly as good as I think lol. 5th of 6 in CAMC by a large margin from 4th and about a year behind first. 80th out of 90 in RAW/PAX. I've got a long way to go. We've got some crazy fast drivers, so I'll probably be focusing on the PAX number outside of class.

Did a driver's school on Saturday and that went much better. Sunday may have just been nerves. But both of my instructors thought brakes could definitely use an upgrade. One of them drives a Dark Horse, has been behind the wheel of a Mustang for 10+ years, and regularly places high from what I can tell - she recommended EBC blues, so that's likely in the purchase plans very soon as the next event is June 8th. Maybe new rotors as well, we'll see.

Here's a cool pic. I'm confident I hit that cone but it fortunately stayed in the box cuz I didn't get a penalty.

s

Just my two cents. Maybe flush the fluids. If your pads are shot, replace them. Otherwise, keep the car 100% the same. Run the car for 6 months with zero modification.

After 6 months, you will know what problem it is you are trying to fix. Being new, seat time is the best modification you can do. Learning how the car is going to react is so much more valuable than throwing parts at it to cover up bad habits.

I say all this because I pretty much just started throwing parts at mine, and swapped stuff I had no business swapping relative to my skill level. I threw money at problems that stemmed from poor driving mechanics. It got expensive real fast, and was unnecessary looking back.

Good luck, hope you had a lot of fun!

 

[KilgoreLSU]

This is all very familiar to me.. lol

HPDE is actually more comfortable for me to improve on.. I think it's just more time to think and look ahead..

I did my second SCCA Solo even this past Sunday. I improved 7 seconds over the day.. and I was not last this time. It's such a different pace and quicker understanding of tire grip/weight transfer. I'm definitely going to do more of these over the winter. We stopped for the year due to heat in Louisiana.

I used my stock wheels for SCCA.. I was not planning on going and made a last minute decision to do it. I have a squared 200t setup for HPDE.. So I probably could have done better on them..

But, I really wanted to learn how to be smoother and understand the car better. I knew I was not going to set any records, I'm a novice.

Looking forward to more fun up in Atlanta in a couple weeks!

 

[NightmareMoon]

I want to try an event out this season, but afraid I'll embarrass myself.

If you want to get good you have to get over your fear of being bad. Nobody will judge you (much), we all know that someone’s performance their first time out has very little to do with their long term potential if they stick with it.

If you stick with it long enough to build your skills its very rewarding.

Literally everyone is bad this when they start out. There are no (or extremely few) naturally talented drivers. Even long time track rats leave a ton on the table their first times out.

i will say the guys who have been sim racing for a long time tend to do better than average (as far as novices go)

 

[rxryanm]

Just my two cents. Maybe flush the fluids. If your pads are shot, replace them. Otherwise, keep the car 100% the same. Run the car for 6 months with zero modification.

After 6 months, you will know what problem it is you are trying to fix. Being new, seat time is the best modification you can do. Learning how the car is going to react is so much more valuable than throwing parts at it to cover up bad habits.

I say all this because I pretty much just started throwing parts at mine, and swapped stuff I had no business swapping relative to my skill level. I threw money at problems that stemmed from poor driving mechanics. It got expensive real fast, and was unnecessary looking back.

Good luck, hope you had a lot of fun!

Kyle, that's worth at least 5 cents haha. Will definitely do a brake flush. I did have some inconsistencies in braking that I had felt. And agreed, seat time is king. I'll definitely have to start branching out to other regions as well.

 

[kz]

FWIW, I still use stock pads (the rear ones came with the car, they basically don't wear out) and Pentosin LV from AutoZone/Amazon unless I go to the track (then RBF or whatever is available).
They're fine.

 

[mavisky]

I run Motul RBF600, but just the stock Brembo pads. They grip great cold and moving to an actual track pad that would never heat up wouldn't help, and I don't feel the need for an "autocross pad" for this braking setup would offer me enough benefit to offset their relatively high price.

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