I have my first autocross this weekend. What should I do with the car between runs? Should the engine be allowed to run a little before shutting it off or should I simply turn the car off after each run? Is there a problem sitting with the emergency brake on after a run? (heat from the pads warping rotors if the hot pads stay on the rotor).

 

You will generally be stopping at the end of your run. Drive slowly back to grid or to your parking spot (whichever is appropriate). If you had a Justa, I would say you could shut the car down when you get to your spot on grid or parking spot. The turbo complicates things a bit, because it can heat soak if you just shut it down. I would probably consider idling it for maybe two minutes in the spot before shutting it down.

Similarly, start the engine a minute or two before you run again. If the car has cooled down most of the way, perhaps let it idle for a couple of minutes longer.

Don't use the parking brake. Leave the car in gear to keep it from rolling away. It is unlikely that the parking brake will cause the rotors to warp, but it is evidently not unheard of.

This is all advice from other cars, as I have not yet autoXed my MINI. I don't see any strong reasons (as yet) that MINIs would be different.

 

I'd let it run, with the a/c on. Remember to turn the a/c off...

 

Obviously autocrossing isn't as long as doing a track day, I would still let it run between runs for a while with the hood open for several reasons.


1) Allowing to cool while running will help prevent the oil from "coking" in the lines.

2) Leaving the hood open will not let the scoop warp.


Like I said, I always do this at the track, perhaps autocrossing doesn't require the same amount of cooling. Perhaps someone will chime in.


Mark

 

The turbo has an auxiliary pump to keep coolant flowing after the engine is off. That's what was just recalled as the pumps had a habit of bursting into flames. I'd just turn it off so you can leave the brake off (that's what I do after a track run).

 

I suggest letting it run, too hard on the turbo to just shut it off.

 

I assume its okay to keep the parking brake on then if the car is running as I obviously can't leave it in gear...

 

Unless it's a super long autox course, you're not going to build up enough heat in the engine or brakes to really make it matter all that much. So leave it on, shut it off, whatever you feel most comfortable with. Focus on having fun!! Besides, if it's your first autox, the goal will be to just keep from getting lost in the sea of orange, so you likely won't be going all that fast anyway. Tip number one...keep your eyes up....look ahead.

 

Read Klayfish's response... at the track where (especially if you're at a higher level and harder on the car) there is NO way I'd leave a parking brake on.

However, as Klayfish said, if this is your first event, chances are you won't need to cool down the engine or worry about brakes.

The more experienced you are and the harder you drive your car, that advice will change but if this is your first event, I wouldn't worry about it.

Mark

 

If it's your very first autox you should probably ask an instructor to ride with you for your first couple runs.

For what it's worth I idle for about a minute then pop the hood. I'm also awful and probably qualify for cone mass murderer status.

Another thing you can do between runs is to check your tire pressures and make sure you're not rolling too far over your sidewalls.

Most importantly have fun!

 

I keep my MCS running the whole time in between runs, which can be upwards of 20 min or more. My rationale is that when the engine is running, coolant is flowing through the engine and oil is flowing through the engine and turbo. If I shut the car off, all that cooling fluid flow stops. I don't want static hot oil cooking in the turbo in between runs. I want it flowing and helping to cool the idle turbo.

I always keep the hood popped open between runs to help cool the engine. And I always use a garden sprayer with water to spray down the little baby factory intercooler multiple times between runs.

Using the parking brake in between runs is no problem at all. Your rear brakes will barely be warm after an autoX run.

This is the exact same cooling treatment I used when I used to autoX my Evolution IX. The MCS power delivery seems much more sensitive to heat than the Evo was.

 

Bring a wheel chock or piece of 2x4 to block one wheel

 

Klayfish has it right, AutoX runs rarely last more than a minute or more......it's no harder on your car than running to the store around the corner. It's less strenuous to your car than sitting in stop and go rush hour traffic on a hot day with the A/C on!

All you people who are worried about heat soak and coking the oil in the turbo are not paying attention - your turbo is water cooled, it never gets that hot, especially on a short autocross run, and even if it did, the coolant pump runs after shut off, so it will not coke up. The only thing that's important is to be sure you have good clean oil and that it's topped off.

So stop worrying and go have some fun!

 

ya let it run for a bit. cool the turbo. im also doing an autocross...actually tomorrow. where are you going to race? ill be in stratford CT

 

Auto-X is not the same as a big track where you are hard on those brakes just before turn-in and then full out WOT at exit speeds. You're also not full out WOT for long straights. You won't be shifting much either (mostly in second gear the whole course). So don't worry about the brakes or the cooling. Do what makes you feel better, but as others have said, just have fun. Now if you're talking a big track, then that's a different story.

 

AutoX is boring between runs. After you do all the car related stuff people suggested, then what?

I would sun tan, especially if they make you work the cones.

Make some new friends and talk about cars.

 

Watch the in-car video of your previous run that you recorded and figure out where you can get faster.
Watch the other fast drivers in your heat run and watch where they are braking, where they are on the gas, and what line they are taking.
Spray your intercooler with water.
Open your hood to improve the cooling.
Check tire pressure and temperature and adjust as necessary to optimize traction on the course surface for your next run.
Adjust your shock dampening and/or swaybar settings to optimize for the course of surface.
Replay the course in your mind and see if you can figure out where you can go faster.
See if you can bum a ride as a passenger in another competitor's car (if your region allows it) to get some extra looks at the course at-speed and see what other drivers are doing differently than you are.
Talk to competitors about the tricky sections of the course and see if you can glean a new strategy to try on the next run.
Distract your competitors so that they don't have time to make any of the adjustments or improvements listed above.

 

That is why I don't autoX anymore. I just don't spend anytime on that stuff.

 

I haven't taken my MCS on a track, but my Porsche 911 has seen more track days than I care to remember.

You don't have to worry about the engine heating up. It is has a thermostat, which will keep the temperatures under control, even if the engines is turned off. If it gets really hot, you will hear the ventilator fan working after you shut down the engine.

Actually, a car is more likely to overheat when sitting in slow traffic on a hot day, than it is when blasting around a track, where it gets plenty of fresh air.

As for the brakes, always do a cool-down round of the track (at approx 60 mph) before going out to the pit lane.

In Europe it is common practice to activate your hazard lights during the cool-down round and to stay at the edge of the track. In this way, other drivers can see that you are cooling down and you stay clear of the ideal line, so that they can easily and safely overtake you.

Park your car in first gear and never use the parking brake. Your discs can warp if you use the parking brake.

Have fun! :-)

 

I have been autocrossing for over 25 years, and everyone does something different.
I am somewhat **** with temps on my car, which is a 04 MCS, but after my run, I let it idle for a minute, then open the hood, shut the car off, but leave the key on with the A/C on to keep the fans running, then again I have a large fan in my garage that turns on for a few hours when I pull my car inside. Does any of what i do help, I would guess not, but it cant hurt, except maybe wear the battery down a bit. I have done this with everything from my Vette to the Porsche's I have owned, again I doubt it did much.

 

No kidding! Come over to the racing threads and tell us a story once in a while!

Just per the OP topic, I shut her off and open the hood. If it's a hot day and 2nd or 3rd run sometimes she'll pant (high speed fan) for a minute, but that does not last long.

And I check pressures, and I visualize what I will do differently in the next run after wincing at whatever egregious follies I committed in the previous one...

Cheers,

Charlie

 

While that may be true on a real track, unfortunately the same does not hold true for a small autocross track. The track length, track space, and track speed does not allow for a true "cool down" lap. Autocross runs are very short and minimally creates any significant stress on the cars. Cars might hit a maximum of 70 mph for a very short distance. The stress on the brakes are much less than on a big track.

But, everyone has their own rituals. Some work to the advantage of the car, and some work to treating the driver's "peace of mind". I guess one can do whatever they choose to do, but to answer the question of the OP, some of the things mentioned does nothing for preparing the car for the next run or preventing the car from overheating. I agree with doing the usual checklist after each run such as checking pressures, lugbolts, etc.