autocross help
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2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
autocross help
Hello Everyone.
I'm new to the birmingham area and I'm sorry to admit I've got the best plate in the state.
It's a barber motor speedway plate listed as: MNI-S. I aaabsolutely love it. So, if you see a little silver Mini scooting around - give me a wave.
Also, I've just gotten started in autocross and I'm looking for some pointers. If anyone knows anything, I'd love the help.
-Jamie
I'm new to the birmingham area and I'm sorry to admit I've got the best plate in the state.
It's a barber motor speedway plate listed as: MNI-S. I aaabsolutely love it. So, if you see a little silver Mini scooting around - give me a wave.
Also, I've just gotten started in autocross and I'm looking for some pointers. If anyone knows anything, I'd love the help.
-Jamie
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,201
Likes: 8
From: Norfolk, VA
Well, if you think you're going to be autocrossing more than once or twice, invest in a helmet. Worrying about the availability of loaners can be a hassle.
I don't know what class you're planning on being in, or how competitive you are, but I would suggest spending some time on stock tires, even the heavy factory runflats. Learn how they behave, how to listen to them, and what they do at their limits. If you jump straight to R-compound tires, there are some bad habits you can get into that will cause you to chew up tires pretty rapidly, as well as not being able to get the most out of them.
Walk the course as many times as you can in the time allotted, and ask questions - most people are happy to share their knowledge.
Turn off the traction control, at least after your first few runs, and when you take off out of the gate, try to get into 2nd gear as quickly as you can without lugging the engine, and just keep it there for the rest of the run. Your courses may be different, but I haven't gotten close to redline in 2nd gear yet, and even in the tight, technical parts of the course, it's not worth it for me to downshift to first and then upshift back to second after getting through the element.
I don't know what class you're planning on being in, or how competitive you are, but I would suggest spending some time on stock tires, even the heavy factory runflats. Learn how they behave, how to listen to them, and what they do at their limits. If you jump straight to R-compound tires, there are some bad habits you can get into that will cause you to chew up tires pretty rapidly, as well as not being able to get the most out of them.
Walk the course as many times as you can in the time allotted, and ask questions - most people are happy to share their knowledge.
Turn off the traction control, at least after your first few runs, and when you take off out of the gate, try to get into 2nd gear as quickly as you can without lugging the engine, and just keep it there for the rest of the run. Your courses may be different, but I haven't gotten close to redline in 2nd gear yet, and even in the tight, technical parts of the course, it's not worth it for me to downshift to first and then upshift back to second after getting through the element.
Coordinator :: Alabama Motoring Society
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 527
Likes: 0
From: Panama City Beach, FL
Welcome to the MINI world Doc.
Glad to have you in the area. Be sure to check out our state clubs and come to some of the events we plan.
www.bamamini.com & www.rocketcitymini.com
Looking forward to meeting ya and good luck on the auto cross.
Thats something I would love to do, but job kinda gets in the way of it.
Glad to have you in the area. Be sure to check out our state clubs and come to some of the events we plan.
www.bamamini.com & www.rocketcitymini.com
Looking forward to meeting ya and good luck on the auto cross.
Thats something I would love to do, but job kinda gets in the way of it.
OVERDRIVE - Racing Champion
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 15,262
Likes: 72
From: Mililani, Hawaii
Hello Everyone.
I'm new to the birmingham area and I'm sorry to admit I've got the best plate in the state.
It's a barber motor speedway plate listed as: MNI-S. I aaabsolutely love it. So, if you see a little silver Mini scooting around - give me a wave.
Also, I've just gotten started in autocross and I'm looking for some pointers. If anyone knows anything, I'd love the help.
-Jamie
I'm new to the birmingham area and I'm sorry to admit I've got the best plate in the state.
It's a barber motor speedway plate listed as: MNI-S. I aaabsolutely love it. So, if you see a little silver Mini scooting around - give me a wave.
Also, I've just gotten started in autocross and I'm looking for some pointers. If anyone knows anything, I'd love the help.
-Jamie
Evolution autocross driving school or Phil Wicks Driving school would be worth the effort to attend. More than once.
Some books to read-
On Autocrossing:
Autocross Performance Handbook by Richard Newton (new)
Winning Autocross Solo II Competition by Turner and Miles
Secrets of Solo racing by Henry A. Watts
Motoring by Gary Anderson and Don Racine (Minimania)
On General/Track Driving:
Going Faster by Danny Sullivan
Drive to Win by Carroll Smith
Speed Secrets 1 & 2 and Inner Speed Secrets by Ross Bentley
A video - Autocrossing with **** Turner by Turner on VHS tape
Some NAM threads to review-
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=115535
and
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=75063
We could have an entire forum devoted to just getting started but check out the various forums on NAM such as-
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...aysprune=&f=11
or
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...play.php?f=199
Solo 2 discussion is good- that's autocrossing.
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