Looking into Autocross

[cvchtchbck92]

I recently started looking into autocross. However, I have already done some mods that may raise me up in class. Note: I put them in my signature. But what worries me mainly is that I swapped my engine, and now that I do suspension, it is going to raise me up to a class that will be too hard for me. I had a few questions: -What should I do? -Is there any hope for me in autocross? -How do I get schooling? (I've read that schooling can cut a few seconds whereas mods will cut fractions of a second. Recommendations to make a sticky -General info about autocross -Where to gather info about "schooling" and how to get "schooling" -Briefly discuss about classes and how more modifications can raise you up into a higher and harder class There were other things I wanted to mention but I got a "brain fart"

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[CivicSiRacer]

http://home.comcast.net/~mikelouie/autocross.html

Read that. Your first year will be a learning experience. Get as much seat time as you can. Ask for instructors to help you. They can ride along with you to give you pointers or drive the car and see what the limit of your car is. Most people drive their cars at 5/10ths or 12/10ths of their car. A seasoned driver will always be 9/10ths to 10/10ths the limit all the time.

You would be in SM with the engine swap and as long as you have the interior infront of the front seats.

[cvchtchbck92]

Originally Posted by CivicSiRacer

http://home.comcast.net/~mikelouie/autocross.html

Read that. Your first year will be a learning experience. Get as much seat time as you can. Ask for instructors to help you. They can ride along with you to give you pointers or drive the car and see what the limit of your car is. Most people drive their cars at 5/10ths or 12/10ths of their car. A seasoned driver will always be 9/10ths to 10/10ths the limit all the time.

You would be in SM with the engine swap and as long as you have the interior infront of the front seats.

I read your page and it was helpful and beneficial (knowledge wise), but I didn't read anything regarding "novice autocross school." I read your comment on the civic forum with the thread about if civics are racing material http://www.honda-acura.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=238546... and you say this

Originally Posted by CivicSiRacer

Personally if you get started in autocrossing I would get a nice 1989-1995 Civic Si and just leave it stock. Get some upgraded shocks, replace the whole braking system (considering it's over 15 years old or so), and some 185/65x14" Azenis on the stock rims and use the extra money for a novice autocross school.

Doing the car the way I just described and then taking a novice autocross school you would be about 4-8 seconds faster and in fact I think you would be faster with the stock car and a novice autocross school then a 300 hp Civic and no novice school.

Every year when I teach our autocross schools the students are usually 10-15 seconds behind me in their own cars. After the school those same students are right on my butt

How do I register for novice autocross school? Or where do I gather the information I need for this?

[LER510]

Originally Posted by cvchtchbck92

How do I register for novice autocross school? Or where do I gather the information I need for this?

Check out MyAutoEvents.com and look for events in your area. It may be too late in the season to find a local club doing a "novice school," but you don't need to attend one before autocrossing.

There is a dedicated autocross school, EVOlution Performance Driving School, that can help you improve your skills. I did one last month and learned a lot. But, I've been doing this for a few years and know a little about how the events work and such. You'll get more out of it if you've autocrossed a little bit first, IMHO.

My advice - find an event near you, sign up, show up early, and ask lots of questions. Autocrossers are, as a group, pretty friendly and willing to help newbies out. And have fun - that's what it's all about in the end, anyway.

[CivicSiRacer]

And check your local region or even regions 2-3 hours away. They may still be hosting schools. We're hosting our first school next month in the sweltering hot month of July.

[cvchtchbck92]

Well, I went to myautoevents.com and it lead me to the Racer Factory in Orange County, CA, since I live in Los Angeles. I suppose I wont be able to do Evolution Performance Driving School, since it is in Florida.
BTW, what does it mean to be in SM class? Is that bad, considering I am a newbie to this?
Thank you both, for your help so far.

[LER510]

Originally Posted by cvchtchbck92

I suppose I wont be able to do Evolution Performance Driving School, since it is in Florida.

Check their schedule - they do stuff all over the country. I did the school at our regular HS parking lot venue in WV!

Originally Posted by cvchtchbck92

BTW, what does it mean to be in SM class? Is that bad, considering I am a newbie to this?

StreetMod can be a very competitive class with some very well prepared cars, depending on where you are. In our region SM is dominated by STis and EVOs (who are regularly among the fasted guys overall, too).

There are no bad classes for a newb. Unless you have a wealth of untapped natural driving talent (the second coming of Senna, or something), you will get beat badly at your first autox.* It happens to all of us. But chances are you'll beat somebody, maybe even in a really cool car (I beat a supercharged Mustang GT in my Escort LX at my first event).

You're best bet is just to go do it and see if you like it. If you do, you can worry about getting into a competitive class. Have fun, learn the car, learn the sport. Then you can obsess about it like some of us do.

* Some regions have novice classes, which cuts down on that just a bit.

[CivicSiRacer]

Originally Posted by LER510

But chances are you'll beat somebody, maybe even in a really cool car (I beat a supercharged Mustang GT in my Escort LX at my first event).

Lol I remember my 1st autocross. It was hosted by the Corvette Club. I think I was like 3rd place out of 20 Corvettes with my Civic

[LER510]

Originally Posted by CivicSiRacer

Lol I remember my 1st autocross. It was hosted by the Corvette Club. I think I was like 3rd place out of 20 Corvettes with my Civic

I bet you weren't invited back!

[CivicSiRacer]

Originally Posted by LER510

I bet you weren't invited back!

Actually Jeff the Corvette Club president wanted me to come back to smack down some of the Corvette owners who thought they were the shit in their $70,000+ cars.