Well to introduce myself, I just purchased my first Z and I am really enjoying getting to know how the car handles. Been on some twisties and wow this car is so much better than I am.

Ill keep working on my revmatch downshifts and getting to know the dinamics and braking. Just loving every second behing the wheel, really weird when I get back in the tamoca now.

What is the best way to find autocross events in my area. I am in Wilmington DE?

 

SCCA.org will be able to point you to regional SCCA chapters for a start.

A lot of clubs use DLBracing.com to list events. You have to know the names of the nearby clubs to filter on though. That's where SCCA.org will come in.

 

http://www.myautoevents.com/pls/mae/...77809258531136

 

Thanks for the quick reply, found the last event for a few months.
http://www.sjr-scca.org/solo.html

Will I be ok with without prepping the car in any way? Just change my oil, stock tires and pressure?

 

You'll be perfectly fine. 40 psi front, 36 rear. Go have fun! And if it's raining, drop a couple psi.

 

Here's a couple of threads on getting started...

https://my350z.com/forum/autocross-r...a-sad-day.html

https://my350z.com/forum/autocross-r...-and-faqs.html

 

..check this website autoX4u.com. It has all events within 100 or so miles of you.

There is an event in Hershey PA (Sat and Sun) and at the Philly sports complex this Sunday.

 

What is the reasoning behind the higher pressure up front. I know it will effectively increase the vertical stiffness (spring rate) of the tire. But why up front and why lower it in the rain? I assume there are cold tire pressure, how do I then adjust the pressure maybe for a second run if I want to see the difference?

Thanks,

 

The front tires on the Z tend to take a beating on an autocross course. 30-35 psi with stock (lack of) camber could result in the fronts "rolling over" onto the sidewall.

In the rain, there is less traction and less latteral force on the tires. This allows/requires lower pressures.

And the pressures are for each run. Start with the pressures cold and adjust air pressure before each run as the tires heat up.

Most venues have air compressors on site, so you can go up or down with the tire pressure to experiment.

Before I had adjustable suspension components, I would use whatever pressures used all of the tread (without rolling over on the tire) as a starting point and then use pressure adjustments to try and "balance" the car's handling.

 

^ he answered it

 

To add to what Z!ONLY said.

The venues available to me don't have compressors. So I will inflate my tires to cold pressures of 38psi front and 36 psi rear. By the time I get to the event, my fronts are about 42 and the rear close to 40. Then just before my first run, I'll adjust the pressures to 40 front and about 37 rear. On some days when it is really cold and my run group is second, I won't have to adjust the pressures down for the first run.

A cheap and easy way to check to see if you are rolling onto your sidewalls is to pick up some sidewalk chalk (Big Lots, Dollar Store, etc...). Chalk up the outer edge of your tires before a run and see how much is gone afterwards. If the chalk wears away down on the sidewall, you need more pressure. If the chalk is still there on the edge of the tread, then you need to soften the tires a bit. This isn't exact, but it is a good place to start and works pretty well for rookies like me.

 

Thanks for all the tips and information. Unfortunatly I wont be able to get out there this weekend, but as soon as posible.

 

Here is an example of painted sidewalls. As dhays mentioned, it will give you a good idea if you are driving on the sidewalls.