I want try and autocorss. There is an event at Turner Field in ATlanta oct. 25/26. I wanted to get some tips from the Accord owners on things like driving techniques and setup such as tire pressure. Any info, general or specific, will be appreciated.

 

for fwd cars u want tire pressure around 42/38. walk the course many times. dont forget to get a loaner helmet before u start staging (yea i did that my first time :doh take your first lap cautiously. if u lose control hit the brakes and clutch, dont try correcting it or u'll flip your accord. learn to look ahead, not whats right in front of you so u know how to prepare for the next turn. thats all i have for now, im still a n00b tho. most of all have fun!!!!

 

Thanx.. I'll try not to flip AHHHH!! I was also thinking about my suspension settings. They are 5 way adjustables and right now I have them at 3/5. The manual sais that low front and high rear can get some oversteer action. The current setting is fairly neutral to the extent I have tested it. You guys think I should go lower on the front. Maybe a 2 or even 1? I did my share of e-brake turns so a loose rear doesn't scare me but I don't want to do anything stupid. I'v always slid for fun not to get around a turn faster.

 

we'll im not sure about what to put u're settings at. for now u'd want the front to be less stiff and the rear to be stiffer. oh, btw those 18" rims arent going to help you out much. i dont think u're going to rotate well with that large of a rim, but i guess we'll see. goodluck!!!

 

Good thing u mentioned the rims. Should I put the stocks on the rear and leave the 18's up front? It would look gay but might be a good idea to get some oversteer. Also should I take out the jack and spare tire befor the Auto-X or is that just insignificant.

 

just leave the 18" rims. they're going to grip better than oem. yea take the floormates out, take jack, spare out. u should be good to go. oh btw. it is required to take out the floormates. if u become a hardcore autox'er u'll eventually get some 15" lightweight rims with falken azenis. oh if u didnt know already u're classed in STS. for more info go visit the autox forum here or at honda-tech

 

hey, u're in ATL? kool man, same here. I never autox my cord though. It's an Automagic, so might not worth it. Stiffer rear give u more oversteer. Best if you had a sway bar rear and the front upper strut, help u tie things up better. I never autoX but slide my car some time, especially when I'm in a hurry around them corners. eh he. Good, may be we can have a meet somewhere and go there together. My schedule is so busy that I never find time to get online or go to any event much. If u see tem Kinetix members out there, tell them u're Kay's friend and they'll take care of u good. . Btw, if you need any parts, i can get u low down price. Got accounts with Nopi and few others

 

Thanx for your kindness poohboi. I'v got pix of my accord up on the boards so if you go to the autox say whatsup if you see my cord. I'm trying to get an Invidia exhaust before the autox so its gonna drain my budget for parts, but some suspension things would be nice in the future. At least a rear sway. So u think a rear sway with front strut is a good combo?

 

last time i autoXed in my accord (6th gen v6 sedan...don't laugh..) I primarily stayed inbetween 1st and second gear....here's my advice...

1) walk the course. When walking, watch the ppl how they walk, they are walking the lines that they will take. Lines, is how they are going to drive their car...which routes, how to enter the turn, look for the apex...prep for the next turn, etc....
2) Don't worry about how fast you go on your first run. It'll always be the worse cuz you won't know the course and won't be comfortable with it until your 3rd or 4th run.
3) on your first run, have someone who is experienced with autoxing ride with you. he/she will tell you how to take the turn, how hard to brake, when to brake, when to open up...etc.
4) When working on the course (i had to), watch the other cars to see what turns, routes they take...you want to basically stay on the same route.
5) Again, don't worry about going fast...in AutoX, it's how much you IMPROVE by...I've learned that taking the right route into a turn is much more better than hauling @$$ around it...you're time actually IMPROVES because of better negotiation aroudn the turns.
6) Your 6th gen is almost guaranteed to oversteer...mine did...
7) Don't jerk your car, ie, making hard turns and overcorrecting too much...Be like water, you want to be fluid in your motions. Hard steering breaks the cars momentum = loss in time.
8) Look for 1 or 2 turns ahead of you and KNOW what is coming...when you know what is ahead...you can better prepare yourself.
9) Remove anything that is loose in your car...Floormats must be taken out...
10) I would suggest keeping the spare inside your car, for the first couple of times...Taht way, you know how your car handles without any drastic weight gain/loss.
11) Seating and hand positions is critical. you don't want to be sliding in your seat when negotiating the course...it's murder. Here's a trick i learned....Sit in a regular position. Grab the seatbelt (shoulder section) and give it a good, hard, quick tug to get it to lock...once locked...lean forward to hold the lock. Then adjust your seat accordlying so you are strapped into the seat.
11a) Hand position should be @ 3 and 9. In AutoXing...you RARELY go beyond a 180 degrees both ways...meaning you will @ max..cross your arms...This goes with helping keeping hte car with a fluid motion.
12) Most importantly..........HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!! AutoXing is a ball...and if you are like me, can't wait to get back and do it again...

 

Thanx for the great info... I was also wondering about any special driving techniqs that we don't use on day to day driving. One of my concerns is downshifting into 1st. I see that it will be necessary but ever since I was a little boy my dad made sure I know that 1st gear is used only for getting the car moving off a stop. That goes well in the traffic but I can't see taking 15mph turns in 2nd gear.