First ever autocross

[umarov]

Yesterday I participated in the first autocross event ever in my life. I have been wanting to do it really bad.
Now that the Mustang has been broken in properly and the weather started to get better (weather was crap during this event), I decided to try to do the first autocross event of the year by Capital Driving Club (CDC) in Harry Grove Stadium lot in Frederick, MD.
This autocross event was two days. Saturday is a 3 heat with one morning session and one afternoon. I got six runs.
Right before my first run, it started to rain. Temps were around 38-39F. I recently switched to my summer wheels and tires, which are the PP wheels with PZero(traction) tires. As you know, those tires + cold temps + rain (and snow later) = not much traction. So for my first ever autocross event, this was an interesting environment.
I tried different modes of driving. First I went with Track mode and used second gear throughout, but left AdvanceTrac On. Then tried using third gear, because the tail would kick out wayyy too much. You will see me spin out right before the end of the run in the video. Later I tried Sport+ with third gear. In the end I tried Snow and Wet mode using second gear only. The fastest time was with Snow and Wet mode. However, I could have gotten a better time on the run where I spun out. That run was 66 seconds and I spent a good 7-8 seconds recovering from the spin. With Snow and Wet mode I got 59.9 seconds.

Now I can't wait to do an autocross in the dry. It was a lot of fun and a great opportunity to learn my car and the limits of the tires in the wet.
I have a HPDE event coming up in three weeks. I will have the video of my runs as well. I will try to include more video angles.

Check out the video below



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[Zerobar78]

"Racing is a disease cured only by poverty", unknown.

Welcome to the club, be ready for long nights working on the car, 6hr drives for 6mins of track time, and your wallet to be drained entirely, but its all wort it!!

 

[Static_LV]

Welcome to the club. Zerobar summed it up nicely.

 

[NWFreerider]

Glad you like it. Road course is a LOT more fun than autox, so be prepared for perma grin!

 

[Norm Peterson]

Congratulations on getting through your first event.

I tried different modes of driving. First I went with Track mode and used second gear throughout, but left AdvanceTrac On. Then tried using third gear, because the tail would kick out wayyy too much. You will see me spin out right before the end of the run in the video. Later I tried Sport+ with third gear. In the end I tried Snow and Wet mode using second gear only. The fastest time was with Snow and Wet mode. However, I could have gotten a better time on the run where I spun out. That run was 66 seconds and I spent a good 7-8 seconds recovering from the spin. With Snow and Wet mode I got 59.9 seconds.

The lesson I hope you learned here is that AdvanceTrak (and stability control systems in general) still have limits to what they can "fix". Autocross is probably the safest venue for learning how your car behaves at (and occasionally beyond) its limits.

Now I can't wait to do an autocross in the dry. It was a lot of fun and a great opportunity to learn my car and the limits of the tires in the wet.

You want to be able to sneak up on the tire limits in the rain gradually enough to feel them just about to slide, without making them actually let go. In a word, patience. In a long sweeper on the big track, you can actually steer the car slightly purely with the throttle without spinning it or going four-off if you've learned the "feel" at autocross.

I have a HPDE event coming up in three weeks. I will have the video of my runs as well.

Compared to autocross, your steering inputs in particular won't be as hurried (frantic?). Work on smoothness and staying on line.

Where is your HPDE going to be held?


Norm

 

[umarov]

"Racing is a disease cured only by poverty", unknown.

Welcome to the club, be ready for long nights working on the car, 6hr drives for 6mins of track time, and your wallet to be drained entirely, but its all wort it!!

Hahaha so true. My friend is spending a lot of time and money on this hobby.
I will be driving about 5 hours to drive for few hours on the track. So it's not so bad lol

Welcome to the club. Zerobar summed it up nicely.

Thank you [emoji2]

Glad you like it. Road course is a LOT more fun than autox, so be prepared for perma grin!

Yes I can't wait!

Congratulations on getting through your first event.


The lesson I hope you learned here is that AdvanceTrak (and stability control systems in general) still have limits to what they can "fix". Autocross is probably the safest venue for learning how your car behaves at (and occasionally beyond) its limits.



You want to be able to sneak up on the tire limits in the rain gradually enough to feel them just about to slide, without making them actually let go. In a long sweeper on the big track, you can actually steer the car slightly purely with the throttle without spinning it or going four-off if you've learned the "feel" at autocross.



Compared to autocross, your steering inputs in particular won't be as hurried (frantic?). Work on smoothness and staying on line.

Where is your HPDE going to be held?


Norm

Thanks so much for your comments.
The HPDE will be in NCCAR. It's organized by APEX Racing. I will be in the novice group with an instructor. Soon I will be prepping the car for the event.

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[RidetechJosh]

It's slightly addicting! I tore my drag car apart and turned it into an autocross car not too long ago... lol, have fun man!

 

[smidra]

Nice! I saw the thread title and thought to myself "what??? With a Mustang? He has to be completely nuts! I have to see this sh*t!".

This is what one would expect in Europe when you say "autocross"
[ame]

Those little differences...

 

[umarov]

Nice! I saw the thread title and thought to myself "what??? With a Mustang? He has to be completely nuts! I have to see this sh*t!".

This is what one would expect in Europe when you say "autocross"


Those little differences...

OMG :headbonk: hahahaha different meanings in different places

 

[JiminVirginia]

Good post. CDC runs a nice, low pressure, congenial event.

You should also try a local BMW club event at FedEx. Bigger lot, more speed. You'd really be hooked then.

And there is always SCCA at FedEx.

I've got a 2015 Magnetic GT PP. See you out there.

Jim

 

[umarov]

Good post. CDC runs a nice, low pressure, congenial event.

You should also try a local BMW club event at FedEx. Bigger lot, more speed. You'd really be hooked then.

And there is always SCCA at FedEx.

I've got a 2015 Magnetic GT PP. See you out there.

Jim

Oh nice! If you are on Facebook, we have a local group called Capitol S550. You should join.

I am doing a HPDE in NCCAR on April 9th and 10th. I got my brakes flushed and inspection done. After that I will be doing more autocross events, I will definitely checkout the BMW club events.

Let me know if you are going to specific one. I don't think any of the S550 in our group does any autocross or track racing :headbonk: lol it will be nice to have someone actually use their car for those purposes.

 

[bumada]

Tell me when you guys are autocrossing in this area again, and I'll make the trip. I ran an event in Virginia Beach last weekend and now I want to keep it going in the capital region. I just don't know anyone else that autocrosses in the area so it doesn't really motivate me.

 

[umarov]

Tell me when you guys are autocrossing in this area again, and I'll make the trip. I ran an event in Virginia Beach last weekend and now I want to keep it going in the capital region. I just don't know anyone else that autocrosses in the area so it doesn't really motivate me.

I plan to do one in April 30th in Waldorf, http://www.capitaldrivingclub.com/schedule.php. You can find the schedule there for CDC.

In here you can find events in this area http://www.motorsportreg.com/calendar/?q=&continentCode=NA&radius=180&zip=22033
I live close to Fairfax as well. You should come to some of the local meets man.

 

[bumada]

I plan to do one in April 30th in Waldorf, http://www.capitaldrivingclub.com/schedule.php. You can find the schedule there for CDC.

In here you can find events in this area http://www.motorsportreg.com/calendar/?q=&continentCode=NA&radius=180&zip=22033
I live close to Fairfax as well. You should come to some of the local meets man.

I can probably do April 30th. I'm not a big meet person but I could probably go to one if I have nothing else to do or if it was at a brewery.

 

[umarov]

I can probably do April 30th. I'm not a big meet person but I could probably go to one if I have nothing else to do or if it was at a brewery.

Np!, Once the registration opens for it, I will make a post. I will try to bring more S550 owners in my group. All of them are so hesitant on doing autocross. Some have full Steeda suspensions lol

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