My first Auto Cross!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Originally Posted by skateparkdave
I wanna auto-x!!! 
Does anything like this ever go down in Texas?? I was all excited that we finally got a drag strip near by and ALL they will do is brackett! 
If all I wanted to do was be consistant and be able to predict it...I could've bought a slow car. 
Guess I have to stick with the underground. 
Does anything like this ever go down in Texas?? I was all excited that we finally got a drag strip near by and ALL they will do is brackett! If all I wanted to do was be consistant and be able to predict it...I could've bought a slow car. Guess I have to stick with the underground. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 10
From: Lufkin Texas
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Originally Posted by JrRifleCoach
) Thanks Man! I had no idea. Guess I wasn't looking hard enough. Cant see the forest because of the trees! 
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Originally Posted by BlackbirdZ07
I tried auto-cross once and I just got lost on the course. All I saw was a sea of orange cones. 
I'm still slow, but I don't get lost any more....
Larry
code5coupe
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
Originally Posted by skateparkdave
I wanna auto-x!!! Does anything like this ever go down in Texas??
I was all excited that we finally got a drag strip near by and ALL they will do is brackett! If all I wanted to do was be consistant and be able to predict it...I could've bought a slow car. Guess I have to stick with the underground.
Does anything like this ever go down in Texas??I was all excited that we finally got a drag strip near by and ALL they will do is brackett!
If all I wanted to do was be consistant and be able to predict it...I could've bought a slow car. Guess I have to stick with the underground. Houston has a very strong SCCA contingent. Texas A&M has a non-club sponsored event regularly. Austin's SPOKES lost their venue for the unpteenth time as drifters and thugs are ruining the sport for everyone. I am sure that Dallas has an SCCA contingent.
A stock C4 Corvette runs B/Stock/Prepared/Modified depending on your mods. moutons.org prints an html of the SCCA rules. This class also includes the ZR1 which is almost a class-killer, but their limited production and low-mileage value make them difficult to compete regularly.
A stock C5 Corvette runs A/Stock/Prepared/Modified and the Z06 gets classed into Super Sport with their original rubber.
In a good autoX you rarely get out of 2nd gear, and hard downshifts are not expected; so the difference between running a manual or an automatic becomes less comparative. Me, I plugged in the full race shift kit and set my shifts at about 5500RPM. At 340RWD HP, I am the loudest **** on the track with that honking V8. Remember that your proud 1984 came with 205 screaming horses from the factory.
Stock is stock, must have GM RPO numbers. Street tires. You are allowed the breather and CAT-back exhaust improvements. You can plop down some $$$$ for wheels and DOT-class tires and still stay in class.
Prepared can run the ECU, a two-point camber brace, some aftermarket suspension, things like that; and liberal sticky tire policy.
SM2 covers non-stock engine, suspension and drivetrain modifications. The car must be street stickered with an interior and DOT tires. You can bolt in (not weld) a rollbar.
Mods are beyond SM2. Most of the time they're trailered as you can run race rubber.
The C4 is thinner and hits its peak torque at 200 less engine RPMS when compared the A-stock C5.
We found that C4's were more in an understeer, where the front wheels don't go where they are pointed. I run 40psi in front, 34-36psi (cold) in the rear. The C5 gets all complainy with the EMTS as they will build up so much heat and pressure it's not funny.
The most important detail in autoX is the driver, as PAX scoring is the final determinant of the event winner. For the Corvette, Street Prepared is the easiest to be competitive in, as your competition these days is the BMW 325. Get into SM2 like me and fight with 1,500-lb hondas and turbocharged miatas.
I think that Vettes only need really big brakes and really sticky tires. Adjustable suspension if you want to win at regionals. Since the top speed is usually 60MPH, the HP won't help you as much as torque will.
Also, good restraints help out as you don't use the steering wheel for support. I found a harness bar (not a suspension bar) for 99.00 and the 5 point kit is about 65.00.
The funny thing is that in atuoX, a "vette course" is the one with all the really tight turns as you can out-accelerate everything else on the track. You will spend more time slowing down 3,000+ lbs and lose more interia on lateral forces on the "faster" flowing course.
The secret to autoX is to look ahead. When you are approaching a maneuver, your head should be visibly pointed at the next maneuver. Take a gander at my personal site (http://mikes-vettes.freeservers.com/photo.html) and see me loooking literally out the side of the car on an approach. Do this consistently and you will be FAST FAST FAST.
Send me an email as I have a couple of little web sites around this very subject for more info.
Also, for Texas, look at dlbracing.com as they maintain a events listing for the entire state. Good luck, Mike
PS I apologize if I'm not supposed to plug my little website here.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3
From: Seattle Area WA
As for auto-x being bad for cars:
I think this is a very shifty line to take.
Are tires screeching? Yes.
Are suspensions being loaded and unloaded. Yes.
At 20 years old is the rubber a little fragile... Yes
But lets look again, at
A) 20 YEARS OLD, for safety anything worn should be replaced anyway.
B) It is a sports car designed to take lateral stresses and high loads and you are a lot less like to injure a part of your car (or yourself) on a designed course than when you go out and get frisky on your own.
C)With an average lap time of 60 seconds. Brakes barely get worn (depending on skill/style of course). And you get that good old "italian tune up" everyone was just posting about.
I agree. Its not for show cars. But it will help you keep your car in proper condition which is expensive racing or not.
Guys, just don't get scared off by the thought of having to replace stuff. If you can't afford to drive hard, why drive a vette???
I think this is a very shifty line to take.
Are tires screeching? Yes.
Are suspensions being loaded and unloaded. Yes.
At 20 years old is the rubber a little fragile... Yes
But lets look again, at
A) 20 YEARS OLD, for safety anything worn should be replaced anyway.
B) It is a sports car designed to take lateral stresses and high loads and you are a lot less like to injure a part of your car (or yourself) on a designed course than when you go out and get frisky on your own.
C)With an average lap time of 60 seconds. Brakes barely get worn (depending on skill/style of course). And you get that good old "italian tune up" everyone was just posting about.
I agree. Its not for show cars. But it will help you keep your car in proper condition which is expensive racing or not.
Guys, just don't get scared off by the thought of having to replace stuff. If you can't afford to drive hard, why drive a vette???
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 434
Likes: 0
From: Santa Barbara Minnesota
If you can't afford to drive hard, why drive a vette?
Good post! I'll give you a good example .. 2 weeks ago my 700R4 transmission handgrenaded in a fast corner at Hollywood Park AutoCross. The fluid coated the rear tires and I spun immediately at about 60mph.
I'm just glad it happened in a parking lot with only rubber cones to hit, and not out on some mountain road where I fool around at times. Things go wrong all the time with my vette, but it is 18 years old. But there isn't really much else to go seriously wrong, now it's really a new custom 86 C4.
I'm just glad it happened in a parking lot with only rubber cones to hit, and not out on some mountain road where I fool around at times. Things go wrong all the time with my vette, but it is 18 years old. But there isn't really much else to go seriously wrong, now it's really a new custom 86 C4.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3
From: Seattle Area WA
Chaos, cool video.
One question though, how do you not slide!?!?
That is sooo dusty down there.
I need to get a roll bar to get some of my stuff on film. I took the gf's mom for a ride and went through the finish (2 gate slalom out of a decreasing radius 170* sweeper) spinning. Man, now she wants to get a vette and auto-x too!
One question though, how do you not slide!?!?
That is sooo dusty down there.
I need to get a roll bar to get some of my stuff on film. I took the gf's mom for a ride and went through the finish (2 gate slalom out of a decreasing radius 170* sweeper) spinning. Man, now she wants to get a vette and auto-x too!
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 799
Likes: 1
From: Fremont CA
Originally Posted by USAsOnlyWay
Chaos, cool video.
One question though, how do you not slide!?!?
One question though, how do you not slide!?!?
I just managed to keep the car pointed where *I* wanted. The gas pedal is my friend. 
That particullar site (a Police training lot) was REALLY dusty. Really easy to get the car out of shape. Usually autox's are on much cleaner stickier lots. Old concrete airfields are great venues.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 10
From: Lufkin Texas
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Originally Posted by mike_webb_tx
I am the Autocross Chair for a club in San Antonio, having won SM2 last year in a 1984 (although I had to run my street-tired 2000 for one event as SM2 to keep in the points).
Houston has a very strong SCCA contingent. Texas A&M has a non-club sponsored event regularly. Austin's SPOKES lost their venue for the unpteenth time as drifters and thugs are ruining the sport for everyone. I am sure that Dallas has an SCCA contingent.
A stock C4 Corvette runs B/Stock/Prepared/Modified depending on your mods. moutons.org prints an html of the SCCA rules. This class also includes the ZR1 which is almost a class-killer, but their limited production and low-mileage value make them difficult to compete regularly.
A stock C5 Corvette runs A/Stock/Prepared/Modified and the Z06 gets classed into Super Sport with their original rubber.
In a good autoX you rarely get out of 2nd gear, and hard downshifts are not expected; so the difference between running a manual or an automatic becomes less comparative. Me, I plugged in the full race shift kit and set my shifts at about 5500RPM. At 340RWD HP, I am the loudest **** on the track with that honking V8. Remember that your proud 1984 came with 205 screaming horses from the factory.
Stock is stock, must have GM RPO numbers. Street tires. You are allowed the breather and CAT-back exhaust improvements. You can plop down some $$$$ for wheels and DOT-class tires and still stay in class.
Prepared can run the ECU, a two-point camber brace, some aftermarket suspension, things like that; and liberal sticky tire policy.
SM2 covers non-stock engine, suspension and drivetrain modifications. The car must be street stickered with an interior and DOT tires. You can bolt in (not weld) a rollbar.
Mods are beyond SM2. Most of the time they're trailered as you can run race rubber.
The C4 is thinner and hits its peak torque at 200 less engine RPMS when compared the A-stock C5.
We found that C4's were more in an understeer, where the front wheels don't go where they are pointed. I run 40psi in front, 34-36psi (cold) in the rear. The C5 gets all complainy with the EMTS as they will build up so much heat and pressure it's not funny.
The most important detail in autoX is the driver, as PAX scoring is the final determinant of the event winner. For the Corvette, Street Prepared is the easiest to be competitive in, as your competition these days is the BMW 325. Get into SM2 like me and fight with 1,500-lb hondas and turbocharged miatas.
I think that Vettes only need really big brakes and really sticky tires. Adjustable suspension if you want to win at regionals. Since the top speed is usually 60MPH, the HP won't help you as much as torque will.
Also, good restraints help out as you don't use the steering wheel for support. I found a harness bar (not a suspension bar) for 99.00 and the 5 point kit is about 65.00.
The funny thing is that in atuoX, a "vette course" is the one with all the really tight turns as you can out-accelerate everything else on the track. You will spend more time slowing down 3,000+ lbs and lose more interia on lateral forces on the "faster" flowing course.
The secret to autoX is to look ahead. When you are approaching a maneuver, your head should be visibly pointed at the next maneuver. Take a gander at my personal site (http://mikes-vettes.freeservers.com/photo.html) and see me loooking literally out the side of the car on an approach. Do this consistently and you will be FAST FAST FAST.
Send me an email as I have a couple of little web sites around this very subject for more info.
Also, for Texas, look at dlbracing.com as they maintain a events listing for the entire state. Good luck, Mike
PS I apologize if I'm not supposed to plug my little website here.
Houston has a very strong SCCA contingent. Texas A&M has a non-club sponsored event regularly. Austin's SPOKES lost their venue for the unpteenth time as drifters and thugs are ruining the sport for everyone. I am sure that Dallas has an SCCA contingent.
A stock C4 Corvette runs B/Stock/Prepared/Modified depending on your mods. moutons.org prints an html of the SCCA rules. This class also includes the ZR1 which is almost a class-killer, but their limited production and low-mileage value make them difficult to compete regularly.
A stock C5 Corvette runs A/Stock/Prepared/Modified and the Z06 gets classed into Super Sport with their original rubber.
In a good autoX you rarely get out of 2nd gear, and hard downshifts are not expected; so the difference between running a manual or an automatic becomes less comparative. Me, I plugged in the full race shift kit and set my shifts at about 5500RPM. At 340RWD HP, I am the loudest **** on the track with that honking V8. Remember that your proud 1984 came with 205 screaming horses from the factory.
Stock is stock, must have GM RPO numbers. Street tires. You are allowed the breather and CAT-back exhaust improvements. You can plop down some $$$$ for wheels and DOT-class tires and still stay in class.
Prepared can run the ECU, a two-point camber brace, some aftermarket suspension, things like that; and liberal sticky tire policy.
SM2 covers non-stock engine, suspension and drivetrain modifications. The car must be street stickered with an interior and DOT tires. You can bolt in (not weld) a rollbar.
Mods are beyond SM2. Most of the time they're trailered as you can run race rubber.
The C4 is thinner and hits its peak torque at 200 less engine RPMS when compared the A-stock C5.
We found that C4's were more in an understeer, where the front wheels don't go where they are pointed. I run 40psi in front, 34-36psi (cold) in the rear. The C5 gets all complainy with the EMTS as they will build up so much heat and pressure it's not funny.
The most important detail in autoX is the driver, as PAX scoring is the final determinant of the event winner. For the Corvette, Street Prepared is the easiest to be competitive in, as your competition these days is the BMW 325. Get into SM2 like me and fight with 1,500-lb hondas and turbocharged miatas.
I think that Vettes only need really big brakes and really sticky tires. Adjustable suspension if you want to win at regionals. Since the top speed is usually 60MPH, the HP won't help you as much as torque will.
Also, good restraints help out as you don't use the steering wheel for support. I found a harness bar (not a suspension bar) for 99.00 and the 5 point kit is about 65.00.
The funny thing is that in atuoX, a "vette course" is the one with all the really tight turns as you can out-accelerate everything else on the track. You will spend more time slowing down 3,000+ lbs and lose more interia on lateral forces on the "faster" flowing course.
The secret to autoX is to look ahead. When you are approaching a maneuver, your head should be visibly pointed at the next maneuver. Take a gander at my personal site (http://mikes-vettes.freeservers.com/photo.html) and see me loooking literally out the side of the car on an approach. Do this consistently and you will be FAST FAST FAST.
Send me an email as I have a couple of little web sites around this very subject for more info.
Also, for Texas, look at dlbracing.com as they maintain a events listing for the entire state. Good luck, Mike
PS I apologize if I'm not supposed to plug my little website here.
That you that killed all those cones?? Looks fun!!! Any of this happening on Sundays??As Fridays and Saturdays demand my full attention at my business. I'm like 5 hours from San Antonio, so I may look into the Houston (1-1/2 hr away) scene.Thanks,
Dave
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3
From: Seattle Area WA
Doh! Yeah I saw you were sliding, I messed up typing. I meant to say, how do you not slide all the time!
But yeah, auto-x has definitly helped change my reflex's from stomp brakes when out of shape, to feather throttle to regain control!
(But sometimes its more fun to push a little too far too )
But yeah, auto-x has definitly helped change my reflex's from stomp brakes when out of shape, to feather throttle to regain control!
(But sometimes its more fun to push a little too far too
)
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 13,793
Likes: 0
From: St. Peters MO Sometimes you have to prove yourself by doing alot of killing or alot of dying...
Good info and site!!! My whole family lives in San Antonio TX and I plan to come down next summer with my Vette!!! I'll have to see about making it during one of the events and having some fun with the family around.
Drag racing got cancelled due to the weather... oh well... there's always next year. I'm really looking forward to more AutoX. I still can't believe that a factory stock car that is 8 years old can feel that planted and predictable!!! I'm hooked!!!
Thank You Route 66 for a wonderful first time experience!!! I'll be back next year!!!
Drag racing got cancelled due to the weather... oh well... there's always next year. I'm really looking forward to more AutoX. I still can't believe that a factory stock car that is 8 years old can feel that planted and predictable!!! I'm hooked!!!
Thank You Route 66 for a wonderful first time experience!!! I'll be back next year!!!
Drifting
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 1,324
Likes: 18
From: St. Peters MO
Originally Posted by kwik_ta
Thank You Route 66 for a wonderful first time experience!!! I'll be back next year!!!
If your lookin' for a club to join in the O'Fallon area, you know where to go
Tom, Governor, Route 66 Corvette Club