Hi all, got some questions my fellow my350z members can maybe help me with.

This Sunday is my first AutoX, and I would like to know a few things before I go. I know these are kind of stupid but I really have no idea what to expect:

1. How many runs do we usually do each?

2. What am I going to be doing the majority of the day since so little time is spent actually driving?

3. How difficult is it to remember the layout when you go? I have a pretty bad memory and am scared of forgetting when I line up.

4. This kind of goes back to question #2, but my girlfriend wants to come and watch, am I going to be able to spend most of the day with her or is she on her own the entire day because I am going to be busy doing stuff?

Thanks in advance!

 

i haven't been out for a while. but i think..

1) three timed runs
2) i thought you were supposed to work the cones, depending on who's setting up the event, otherwise chill out until the run group is called
3) i think you can walk the course before the event starts and they should have a whiteboard with the course marked out.
4) i'm sure if you're not tasked to working the course you guys can make out still in your car until your run group is called.

 

Thanks for the insight!

I don't mind doing some work, I would just hate to have my girlfriend stand there by herself all day. If that's the case I will make her stay home.

 

I think it totally depends on the group. Ive gone to some and you would get 20 minute sessions which ended up being like 3-4 runs depending on how many cars there are, and you would get 4-5 sessions, and you didnt have to work the course so you had a lot of downtime.

The other group Ive ran with, you worked the course for 2 other sessions and the rest was downtime while you werent running. Maybe google whatever group youre going with and see how it usually goes?

 

If you bring your girl, sign her up to drive. I drug my wife out to one , and will do it again soon.

She did have more fun running autocross than a track day.

 

I already tried to talk her into it. She is not budging. She is really not into cars at all, and I think moreso because all I talk about it cars haha.

 

We usually get 5-6 runs and our schedule runs something like this; the sign up page for your event should have a tentative schedule.

Registration/Tech
Course walk
Drivers meeting
Heat 1 (lets assume you run in this heat)
Heat 2 (then you would work this heat)
Heat 3 (leaves you time to relax, walk around, talk to other drivers or go home)

Personally, for my first autox I would choose to run heat 2 and spend heat 1 watching how it all runs. Perhaps see if I could ride with anyone to get a better idea of what its like out there. Stop by the paddock or grid and talk to the fellow drivers and pick up some tips, tell them your a novice. Theres no shame in saying that and perhaps they will be more prone to offer advice if they know you're not competing against them, though your mileage may vary depending on the event. Ours are pretty laid back and not terribly competitive, but I've been to some where the the drivers don't like to be bothered or don't want to carry the extra ballast (you) on a run. There should also be a novice meeting (which you should attend) that should help put some anxiety at ease. If you're lucky, they'll have a novice coordinator/instructor that can help you get things figured out.

If you have any other questions, ask away!

 

Also, when you're walking the course...stay away from friends and avoid the pack. This is the only chance you'll get to see it before your runs so concentrate on trying to make sense of how the course flows and where you intend to put your car for the next gate.

 

If it is a large SCCA region (San Fran, So Cal, D.C., etc) you will only get 3-4 runs, but many of the smaller regions/clubs will do as many as 8-10.

Truth be told, half the time at local events I don't even walk the course. Once you've been doing it for a while, you can do it in your sleep regardless of venue. Some times course designers suck and give you the "sea of cones".....then I have to walk it to figure out where to go.

 

Everyone here is posting great advice and the right answers.

I know you're questions seem pretty cut and dry, but as you can see from the responses, the answers vary.

You can get as few as 3 runs or as many as 10.

Some clubs have workers designated by heat, others by times of the day, pay attention to that.

Being a novice, if you're not working you should be watching. Not where you can be faster but how other people are taking the course. If you have any questions about the layout don't be afraid to ask. I've been auto-xing for 15yrs and I sometimes still have to ask other people or even the course designer where to go. If you still have questions, watch the first group of cars.

For your first run or two, go slow. No sense of going fast when you have no idea where you are going. The time will come later in the day, trust me. If you can take an instructor, they will be invaluable to you. If you're still off course after you're 3rd run, ask someone for help. There's nothing more annoying than seeing someone off course in the same spot on their 4th run and they refuse to get help.

Take your gf if you want. Personally I'd leave her behind until your third event or so. You'll be on sensory overload trying to remember the course, the people, when you run, when you work, etc. Wait until you're a bit my comfortable and you can spend some time with her there.

But the most important thing, HAVE FUN!!!!!! Anyone going out to nationals this week will tell you, they want to win, but its the fun that brings them back every year.

 

Thanks for all the responses!

Just to follow up, Sunday was great!

I did 9 runs (11 since the time didn't start on 1 of my runs and they had to red flag me on another run since the previous car took out an entire row of cones)

The day comprised of 2 groups, both running 2 heats. I ran 1st and 3rd heat.

The first run I took an instructor with me, and he taught me alot. I ran 62.X on the first run, and he told me my goal for the day was 55 seconds flat. I finished the morning at 54.9 and in the 2nd heat I got down to 50.9.

Placed 6th in my class, and got a "trophy."

The instructor was awesome and was bragging that he taught me and that it was the first time he ever saw a first timer place.

Overall it was a great experience and I met alot of great people and learned alot about my car and the way it handles in this type of scenario.

The only regret I have was that I haven't been doing this for years!

 

Glad to hear you had a blast, that's what I hear from most people (they should have started sooner). Stick with it, its a ton of fun!

 

What club did you run with?
There is another event Sunday at Nassau Coliseum with NY Porsche club.
I'll probably be making a rare appearance there myself. (avid autox'r with no more time to do it regularly)

 

It was a NYR Regional event. There was no club, but it was a late addition to the 2012 schedule, making it a non-points event. I heard about the Porsche event as many people that I was talking to were also going to go to that event, but I think I am going to wait and run both events in October for NYR. I believe it is the weekend before Halloween, it is Saturday and Sunday.

The rest of my adrenaline for this month will be spent at Gotham as I bought the Groupon where I can drive a F430 or Gallardo for 3 laps in NJ. Hopefully they let me have some fun with the car!

 

Didn't know that was still going on! I got one of those as a gift but due to the "incident" at the Meadowlands involving a motorcycle I figured they were done. Good to hear they're not. Gotta redeem my ride this year before it expires.

 

Yea I remember seeing that in the news. Ohh well one isolated incident shouldnt ruin a company (well this scenario at least)

I am excited, although I read horrible reviews about it, whatever, I just want to drive a Ferrari!

 

Except that incident totally ****ed us out day 2 of the Northeast Divisional. At this point, he is making more money to help settle the "prepare your angus" civil suit settlement, which will be coming shortly I'd imagine.

 

It's gonna be a nice one I bet I don't think the felony charges stuck on both drivers but they couldn't have gotten away with all of it.