my first autocross!!!
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my first autocross!!!
Just got done with my first autocross and it was awesome!!! I am definitely hooked now. 
It was a great day and lots of fun. The even was SCCA solo II in Englishtown, NJ. It was a last minute decision on my part but I am glad I was able to get my a** out of bed this morning. I think the event was well organized except for some strange glitches with the timing system. We were planning on 8 runs but, because of the timing system, only 5 runs were possible, no big deal.
I met a bunch of very nice people including a very experienced instructor. The course was tricky (very easy to get lost for a noob like me) from what I was told because it had an inner loop and if it wasn’t for my instructor going “No!!! Left, Left!!! THAT GATE!!!” I would not have not made it though on my first two runs. He was also nice enough to give me an incredible run in his CSP Miata-All through the run I was thinking “No way! He is not going to make that gate!!! We will definitely miss it”. But every time, somehow, he managed to have that car pointed in the right direction. He also drove my Z! This car can really move with someone who knows what they are doing behind the wheel. I wish the timing system did not go haywire on that run so I at least could see how the Z compared to other cars in BS class.
The Z was great but waaaay over my skill limit. I was in NBS class “N” for novice. I don’t even know what my times were on the second heat, cause the timing system would not display anything and I could not hear anything at the end through my helmet. I don’t think I did too well - I’ll post times here when they post them online.
The Z was not represented at all. Besides mine, there were 2 other 350Z and no other Z cars. One Z was not racing and the other racing Z was DeadhedZ (it was zainoed too!!!) who was also a novice. C’mon guys, there has to be some experienced racers out there in NJ with a Z.
My day was pretty good. In the first heat I drove with an instructor for all of my 3 runs and was able to consistently improve my times by about 2-3 seconds each run. Second heat I was solo. I do not know the time for my first second-heat run but the last run did not go too well. Its called greed: I was able too look ahead and set my car up very well coming out of the infield section. Somehow, I finally managed to do what the instructor told me before and went very smoothly through this one set of gates. My car picked up some serious speed (I just wanted to use the term “serious speed”, in reality it was caterpillar pace) and I got greedy. I was fixed on this oncoming gate, thinking I can make it, I am gonna kick a** on this run. When I finally looked up and realized my car was pointed in a completely wrong direction and going too fast, it was all over. Jam on the brakes, turn the wheel…my back end going one way, I want to go the other way and the gate is somewhere on the left. I managed to make it through without killing any cones but lost a lot of time and could not concentrate for the rest of my run. But I still had a lot of fun, which was my main goal.
I want to go again and again and again.
Hopefully, I will see more 350Z cars next time.
Dmitry
It was a great day and lots of fun. The even was SCCA solo II in Englishtown, NJ. It was a last minute decision on my part but I am glad I was able to get my a** out of bed this morning. I think the event was well organized except for some strange glitches with the timing system. We were planning on 8 runs but, because of the timing system, only 5 runs were possible, no big deal.
I met a bunch of very nice people including a very experienced instructor. The course was tricky (very easy to get lost for a noob like me) from what I was told because it had an inner loop and if it wasn’t for my instructor going “No!!! Left, Left!!! THAT GATE!!!” I would not have not made it though on my first two runs. He was also nice enough to give me an incredible run in his CSP Miata-All through the run I was thinking “No way! He is not going to make that gate!!! We will definitely miss it”. But every time, somehow, he managed to have that car pointed in the right direction. He also drove my Z! This car can really move with someone who knows what they are doing behind the wheel. I wish the timing system did not go haywire on that run so I at least could see how the Z compared to other cars in BS class.
The Z was great but waaaay over my skill limit. I was in NBS class “N” for novice. I don’t even know what my times were on the second heat, cause the timing system would not display anything and I could not hear anything at the end through my helmet. I don’t think I did too well - I’ll post times here when they post them online.
The Z was not represented at all. Besides mine, there were 2 other 350Z and no other Z cars. One Z was not racing and the other racing Z was DeadhedZ (it was zainoed too!!!) who was also a novice. C’mon guys, there has to be some experienced racers out there in NJ with a Z.
My day was pretty good. In the first heat I drove with an instructor for all of my 3 runs and was able to consistently improve my times by about 2-3 seconds each run. Second heat I was solo. I do not know the time for my first second-heat run but the last run did not go too well. Its called greed: I was able too look ahead and set my car up very well coming out of the infield section. Somehow, I finally managed to do what the instructor told me before and went very smoothly through this one set of gates. My car picked up some serious speed (I just wanted to use the term “serious speed”, in reality it was caterpillar pace) and I got greedy. I was fixed on this oncoming gate, thinking I can make it, I am gonna kick a** on this run. When I finally looked up and realized my car was pointed in a completely wrong direction and going too fast, it was all over. Jam on the brakes, turn the wheel…my back end going one way, I want to go the other way and the gate is somewhere on the left. I managed to make it through without killing any cones but lost a lot of time and could not concentrate for the rest of my run. But I still had a lot of fun, which was my main goal.
I want to go again and again and again.
Hopefully, I will see more 350Z cars next time.
Dmitry
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From: NJ
pic
p.s.
do not put masking tape on like i did. some of the glue did not come off with the masking tape after a day in the sun. I needed to clay the damn thing. Magnetic numbers, or strips or whatever is the ticket.
p.s.
do not put masking tape on like i did. some of the glue did not come off with the masking tape after a day in the sun. I needed to clay the damn thing. Magnetic numbers, or strips or whatever is the ticket.
Last edited by DmitryZ; Aug 16, 2003 at 07:35 PM.
Glad you liked it, auto-x is a blast! Always happy when another Z joins in.
However, I discovered drag racing on friday, and think I've got a new favorite
Not gonna give up auto-x, it uses a lot more skill, but drag racing is a blast and less $$$, even though I need to get a couple more wheels now.
However, I discovered drag racing on friday, and think I've got a new favorite
Not gonna give up auto-x, it uses a lot more skill, but drag racing is a blast and less $$$, even though I need to get a couple more wheels now.
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From: NJ
Originally posted by 2003z
Glad you liked it, auto-x is a blast! Always happy when another Z joins in.
However, I discovered drag racing on friday, and think I've got a new favorite Not gonna give up auto-x, it uses a lot more skill, but drag racing is a blast and less $$$, even though I need to get a couple more wheels now.
Glad you liked it, auto-x is a blast! Always happy when another Z joins in.
However, I discovered drag racing on friday, and think I've got a new favorite
Not gonna give up auto-x, it uses a lot more skill, but drag racing is a blast and less $$$, even though I need to get a couple more wheels now.
Dmitry
Originally posted by DmitryZ
I just looked up my posted lap times. Not so good...lol Both of the Z's finished dead last in the BS class. Oh well, it was fun anyway. I am definitely going again!
Dmitry
I just looked up my posted lap times. Not so good...lol Both of the Z's finished dead last in the BS class. Oh well, it was fun anyway. I am definitely going again!
Dmitry
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From: Rockland County NY
Hey Dimitri
It was nice meeting you there. For the rest of you, I had pretty much the same experience. Ran with an instructor first and consistenly improved each run (64, 57, 54 sec.s) Did not do any other runs as I couldn't stay all day. I think standing on the sides waiting for cones to be knocked over took it out of me.
And actually, I was probably placed in the wrong group BS, shoulda been NBS with Dimitri, then only one of us would have had the worst times (lol).
It was alot of fun though and I too was suprised with the lack of Z's. I'm sure more experienced drivers would have fared much better. My freind with his lingonfelter upgraded vette felt the Z's handling would have beat any vette on the course.
The worst part of my day was when a 240 SX owner wanted to feel the springs on my car and pushed down on my freshly zainoed hatch--yuk, greasy palms on my black Z.
It was nice meeting you there. For the rest of you, I had pretty much the same experience. Ran with an instructor first and consistenly improved each run (64, 57, 54 sec.s) Did not do any other runs as I couldn't stay all day. I think standing on the sides waiting for cones to be knocked over took it out of me.
And actually, I was probably placed in the wrong group BS, shoulda been NBS with Dimitri, then only one of us would have had the worst times (lol).
It was alot of fun though and I too was suprised with the lack of Z's. I'm sure more experienced drivers would have fared much better. My freind with his lingonfelter upgraded vette felt the Z's handling would have beat any vette on the course.
The worst part of my day was when a 240 SX owner wanted to feel the springs on my car and pushed down on my freshly zainoed hatch--yuk, greasy palms on my black Z.
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From: NJ
Originally posted by DEADHEDZ
Hey Dimitri
It was nice meeting you there. For the rest of you, I had pretty much the same experience. Ran with an instructor first and consistenly improved each run (64, 57, 54 sec.s) Did not do any other runs as I couldn't stay all day. I think standing on the sides waiting for cones to be knocked over took it out of me.
And actually, I was probably placed in the wrong group BS, shoulda been NBS with Dimitri, then only one of us would have had the worst times (lol).
It was alot of fun though and I too was suprised with the lack of Z's. I'm sure more experienced drivers would have fared much better. My freind with his lingonfelter upgraded vette felt the Z's handling would have beat any vette on the course.
The worst part of my day was when a 240 SX owner wanted to feel the springs on my car and pushed down on my freshly zainoed hatch--yuk, greasy palms on my black Z.
Hey Dimitri
It was nice meeting you there. For the rest of you, I had pretty much the same experience. Ran with an instructor first and consistenly improved each run (64, 57, 54 sec.s) Did not do any other runs as I couldn't stay all day. I think standing on the sides waiting for cones to be knocked over took it out of me.
And actually, I was probably placed in the wrong group BS, shoulda been NBS with Dimitri, then only one of us would have had the worst times (lol).
It was alot of fun though and I too was suprised with the lack of Z's. I'm sure more experienced drivers would have fared much better. My freind with his lingonfelter upgraded vette felt the Z's handling would have beat any vette on the course.
The worst part of my day was when a 240 SX owner wanted to feel the springs on my car and pushed down on my freshly zainoed hatch--yuk, greasy palms on my black Z.
The cones thing kind of sucks but somebody has to do it. I guess it is part of the deal. I need the exercise anyway.
I actually didn’t think it was that bad after a while because you get to see what more experienced drivers are doing. The Z would definitely do better in the hands of a more experienced driver. I don’t know if you seen my run with instructor driving but it was intense. I know it’s hard to let some one else drive your brand new car but if you come next time I highly recommend that you go for a ride in your car with the instructor behind the wheel. The amount of tire wear will be worth the experience.
Dmitry
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After reading this, I am all pumped and ready to try it. I live in PA, but would be willing to make the commute some time to try. I recently did the Mazda Rev It up event and I had a blast. I was dying to take my Z out and try it 
Forgive my ignorance, but what is BS? and how do I go about getting involved in Auto-X
Thanks!
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From: Chesterfield, NJ
Haanz, I live in Bucks County, Pa and Englishtown is not far from where I live, I've done those auto-x's in the past. dmitryZ, there's another autocross run by the M Club this friday at 2:00 pm at Giants Stadium. Perhaps you guys can make it? I'll be there co-driving in my friend's RSX Type S. Check out their website, hopefully you guys can make it, I'd love to meet some of the people from this board.
http://www.themclub.net
http://www.themclub.net
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Originally posted by haanz
After reading this, I am all pumped and ready to try it. I live in PA, but would be willing to make the commute some time to try. I recently did the Mazda Rev It up event and I had a blast. I was dying to take my Z out and try it
Forgive my ignorance, but what is BS? and how do I go about getting involved in Auto-X
Thanks!
After reading this, I am all pumped and ready to try it. I live in PA, but would be willing to make the commute some time to try. I recently did the Mazda Rev It up event and I had a blast. I was dying to take my Z out and try it Forgive my ignorance, but what is BS? and how do I go about getting involved in Auto-X
Thanks!
BS is B Stock. NBS is Novice B Stock. I am not an expert so what I am about to say can be wrong. The SCCA puts all cars in different classes so equal cars compete against each other. No matter how good your driving skills are, you would have a hard time beating a modified, track prepped miata. Thus, different classes for different level cars. There is also a PAX index. I have a good idea of what it is, but I am too much of a noob to try to explain it to anyone…sorry.
To get involved in autocross you need to:
1. Have a car (preferably a Z
)2. Show up
3. Helmet (optional) they have some loaner helmets.
4. read this guide below (optional)
http://www.tirerack.com/features/solo2/handbook.htm
Everyone I met was super friendly. I told every person I met that this was my first time and everyone was very helpful. There definitely wasn’t any attitude such as: “you’re a noob get away from me!!!”
I cant make it this weekend to the BMW thing, but I think there is another autocross in Englishtown on Aug 30 (Saturday). I am definitely going.
I hope I see some more 350Zs
Dmitry
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