Well A friend of mine was saying he autocrosses on some weekends and it sounded fun. I was wondering what would eb the best way to get started with out blowing tons of money. I hear they have weekend events and some courses at some places? Only race experience i have is 11 sec 1/4 mile cars and motorcycles.

 

You're in luck. You're less than an hour away from two SCCA regions - Baton Rouge (CENLA) and Lake Charles (SOWELA). We (CENLA) have monthly events, I don't think SOWELA has them that often.

Basically, it costs you nothing other than event entry fees ($20-$30) and optionally, joining SCCA/CENLA ($70). You can start out on stock tires so there's really nothing to buy except maybe an accurate tire pressure gauge.

Check out the CENLA website:

http://cenla-scca.org/

It has links to the SOWELA webiste so you can check their events too. The next autox is July 8 - the first of the summer nighttime events. We have an excellent facility where it's virtually impossible to hurt your car or yourself. I have to warn you, once you try it you'll be hooked.

PM me if you need more info or details.

Also, check out this forum:
http://www.autoxforum.com

It's where a lot of the regional AutoX stuff gets posted.

 

YES... definately... as long as you go into it with the mindset to have fun, and not worry so much about winning at first - you won't blow tons of money doing autocross. It will make you a better driver, and give you a taste of things to come.

You CAN blow tons of money preparing your car to be competitive, but you don't have to (same can be said for track events too, but the initial cost for an event is about 10-15 times the cost of an autocross event... then again, you get 10-15 times the amount of seat time per event as well )

 

Club events (SCCA for example) cost about $30. There are several things that you should do to the car the day of the event. Put about 45 psi in the tires. Remove the spare tire, floor mats and other stuff. So autocross is pretty much a race it the way you brought it sport. Unlike drag racing, the club puts you to work! You will be scheduled to race one heat and work another.

Well rounded 350Z drivers autocross, drag race and do HPDE. Others post street racing tales and ask childish questions like How to I do a burnout?

 

Thanks for the info! Looking forward to this. Are there any places that have some kind of course to teach new comers some basics? I dreally like to find someplace that had a actually class then had a instructor ride with u and tell u what ur doing wrong etc.. Ive raced with motorcycles and familiar with choosing lines and stuff but a motorcycle and car are evry different

 

There's not really a place to get Autocross schooling in our area. Occasionally a club will host a EVO school (professionals). CENLA usually does an annual autocross school for beginners taught by the more experienced club members. There might be one later in the year.

Your best bet is to come on out to any event. There are lots of helpful and friendly people who will help you get started. I'll be glad to take you for a ride in my Z just so you can get an idea of what it's like. There are also "novice" classes that we run so you're not beign compared to the regular drivers.

 

I hate to jump in on your thread but do you know of any in the Houston or Dallas areas, thanks again
Todd

 

There's a big organization in Houston. A lot of the LA guys go over there for some of their bigger events. I assume Dallas has one too.

TX and LA are part of the Southwest Division of the SCCA. Here's part of their site that has links back to all the individual clubs under the SW Division:

http://www.sowdivscca.org/regioninfo.aspx

Both Houston and Dallas are listed there.

 

thanks dave for the offer i might take u up on it. Send me a pm next time u going to one of these events.

 

Will do. Keep an eye on the South Central regional forum as I post event announcements there regularly. I will definitely be at the July 8th CENLA autox and I'll try to remember to PM you a few days beforehand.

 

Hey thank you so much