I dont know a whole lot about doing autocross, but I think it would be fun to try it out in my Vette. I have a few questions. I've heard of different classes (SM2, A, etc), which makes sense, but do they all mean? What equipment would I need to install on my Vette to be able to autocross? What equipment will bump you up classes?

 

Go here

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...66&forum_id=23


It's not the most fun you can have with your pants on, but still worth trying out. You might like it. It's very rough on the car though, more abusive than road racing, IMO.

 

You might want to do some reading in this section to get a better overview. Autocross & Road Racing It is fun and very challenging.

 

It does sound like a lot of fun, thanks for the links. One more question though: Just how bad is it for the car?

 

You can get started by showing up with a road-worthy car, valid
driver's license/insurance and a helmet.

Depending on the group, they may still permit helmets rated as
SNELL 95 or they may now require SNELL 2000. They may also be
particular about whether this is an 'M' (motorcycle) or 'SA' (auto)
designation. If you aren't totally committed enough to buy a helmet,
check with the organization to ask whether they offer loaners.

I disagree with CentralCoaster on the matter of AutoX being more
demanding on a car than R-R. The runs are short and speeds are
generally below 60 MPH. There is nowhere near the heat build-up,
brake wear or time spent operating at or near redline. Not to mention
that you are on the course by yourself so there is no opportunity for
trading paint. In most cases, there is little or no opportunity for
running into obstacles (if there is, you should run with someone else
in my opinion.)

Like any endeavor with cars, you can go overboard. But a lot of
people take their DD out on Sunday, have fun with a good group of
people, drive home and then drive the same car to work on Monday.

.

 

yeah I know what you saying Slalom, I enjoy driving my car around even as a DD. I would like to try autocross once though. I love racing games like Gran Turismo and Forza where you have to find the best racing line and it teaches you the physics of racing a car. Forza even has an autocross mode. I would like to try it out in real life at least once. A road course would be awesome but I dont know any track that would just let me drive around on it by myself.

 

I highly recommend that you get out. For a very modest amount,
you will be able to exercise your car and yourself.

As has already been mentioned, you should lurk and search over in
Autocross and Road Racing. Start with the FAQs at the top of the
page. Then use the Advanced Search every time you have a
question. After a few unsuccessful searches on a topic, post.

Reading material is posted in the FAQ but there have been two or
three great threads since the fall listing some books and videos not
in the FAQ.

As for your question about classes. Check out this link and use the
links it has to gather a bit of background.
As for preparation, you will want to have
your brakes bled with a good quality DOT3 fluid no more than 3-6 mos
prior to a first event. Valvoline SynPower is well regarded, easily
available and inexpensive. The club may require proof of the bleeding
- ask in advance or take along the receipt as a precaution.

The club may also require proof of an inspection by a licensed
mechanic. They want the event to be safe and don't want to
jeopardize their insurance or access to the location - so cooperate.

A last comment is that these events run on the energy of volunteers.
Arrive early, help set up, attend the driver's meeting, follow the rules
help pick up after the event and you'll be helping to make the event
a success.

.

 

I think autocrossing is insanely fun. It teaches you how to keep from spinning out at street speeds, and take a smooth line, which is hard at first, mostly because it's so fast (less than 1 minute).

It's not that hard on your car because you can't hit anything, and it's only for one minute. It's cheap and easy too.

 

I read some of the FAQs but I dont think i'll be able to go to an autocross. There doesnt seem to be any tracks near me. Closest one is Mid-Ohio and thats about 4 hours away.

 

You'll need to get in touch with local vette clubs, chances are they'll have members who race at local airport tracks on weekends a couple times a year.

Down here the SCCA groups race on a DOT track where they train cops to drive, right beside a police station.
When I was at Clemson Univ., we had Univ. sponsored races beside the football stadium in a parking lot. So, it'll probably be that kind of thing a couple times/yr.

But about being hard on the car, if you have a component that is weak or failing, its going to break at the autox or soon after.

 

I'd be surprised if you actually had to go that far. A 'Track' isn't required.

Events here have been held in the warehouse dock area of a tire
distributor (thanks BFG/Michelin !), one of Wal*Mart's parking lots
(thanks, W-M !), a former military parade square, and frequently at an
air base.

Look harder or sniff the air on any given Sunday. Follow the scent
of tires on the breeze.

.

 

As opposed to breaking on some deserted off-ramp after midnight in a
g-forsaken part of town.

My vote - do the mechanical inspection and fix the questionable stuff
before you do ANY kind of strenuous driving.

This would be a good time to repeat the 'Save it for the track' mantra

.

 

4Ever21

Do either of these links mention events or groups close to you?
.

 

It won't be easy on weak or soon to break components. But then, they'd break sooner.

As to where you might find autoX events or practices, in one city they locate them very centrally at a football stadium parking lot. Since the lots so large, it's not untypical to have a couple of different kinds of auto events going on simultaneously. Then again, you are in Monroe which seems to be about 30 miles outside of Cinncy. Should be something there.

 

The Ohio Region is by far the busiest in NCCC.

They have events EVERYWHERE...after all, you can drive across the entire state in a few hours (I used to live in Dayton...I know)...

Down here in Texas I can drive 4 hours and not even get to Dallas....

Not sure which side of the state you are on. They had so many races going on up there they split the state into 2 regions. East Ohio http://www.eornccc.org/ and West Ohio http://www.westohiocorvettes.com/.

Some VERY good racers up there...you'll learn a lot from them.

 

I disagree with you here CC. I do both road course racing and auto-X. I can tell you autoX puts no where near the stresses on the vehicle that road racing does. i can autoX all day - several days in fact - and end up replacing front brake pads.

When I go roadracing - I can usually expect a 500 - 1000 dollar repair list after I get done - higher speeds - more severe speed changes much more violent turns much higher g-forces, much more heat - much more internal pressures much more in and out of the throttle - bumpier etc. in road racing your car takes a sustained beating from all directions - AutoX is a 1 minute playing around in the parking lot!

AutoX is a pleasant diversion - go have some fun for cheap on sunday.
Roadracing is a weekend commitment - at the end you hope you didn't do any irreparable damage to your car or your body!

 

Don't let the above posts scare you- AutoX is NOT as complicated as it sounds. As long as your car is in good working order, you'll be allowed to run. SCCA events usually have loaner helmets for you too.

Things to check before you go:
*Make sure your tires have legal tread. Unless you're running R-compounds, they don't want you to be running bald tires as they are a potential safety risk.
*Air up the tires. Somewhere between 35-40 psi would be good.
*Make SURE the battery is tied down. All cars have a factory battery tie-down in the car- just be sure it's used. The battery should NOT move when wiggled.
*Remove anything that is not secured in the car. Floor mats, CD's, anything that will fly around the car.

Other than that, as long as the car is in sound mechanical shape, you'll be allowed to run. Have fun!

 

Check out www.corvette-troy.com we autocross once a month near dayton ohio, visitors are always welcome, and we have a test and tune event in late april, just for beginners to come out and get a feel for it, and get pointers from experienced members, you are not far from us being in monroe, come out and join us, you will have a ball.

 

You don't need a track for autocross. If you go to the SCCA website they have a contact in every region. Email the person in charge and ask about where they hold events to see if you are too far away. Time Trials and Club Racing require tracks and that can be an issue depending on where you live. Autocross can be done anywhere there is enough people and someone is willing to let you use their large parking lot.