The most I learned at an autoX was riding in Mark McKnight's Miata during a fun run.

After an entire day of push push push and WHY cant I find this time he ran the course and claimed maybe 3-5 seconds over my best time, never really said anything to me the whole time, but it was so easy to see WOW is he faster out of here and WOW does that make him faster for the ENTIRE course. Taught me a lot about consistency and braking, I have a lot of braking issues.

Anyway, after you process that for a week and try again I think you will impress yourself. 8 seconds in an auto x is a lifetime, and you could put a supercharger and race rubber on your car and not make it up by thrashing it, you will just have to learn what youre doing. Until you know really really well what youre doing the go fast parts will probably add confusion.

One of my friends runs a rusted to hell 90 miata with no alignment, no mods, an he drives it to and from work and the events on chicago roads. He consistently beats one particular very good driver with everythign done to the car up to and including a blue printed engine, this type of competition is so driver influenced...and it takes a TON of practice. Just keep going to events and you will learn in no time!