Last week, I drove my C5 in my first ever Autocross event. The Corvette club in recently joined has a road racing group. Their first event of this year was an Autocross event at Tire Rack South Bend Indiana.

The car is completely stock from top to bottom. The club leader said not to worry about making any mods to the car in perpetration for the event. He said to just being the car and have fun. So, other than the typical outing gear, it was me and the car. The event organizers had helmets to use for first timers like me. I paid my entry fee and received my car number (#6). We arrived early enough to walk the track and discuss corner entries and track put points. Walking the track with people who have driven before is extremely helpful. Next, taping my car number on both sides of the car, fitting the helmet, and wanting for technical inspection of the cars. The tech inspection was interesting in that they made me remove anything what was not tied down inside the cabin and in the rear deck area. Though I understand why, I was not prepared for that. Our group had a little camp-out area where we all dumped out various items not allowed in the cars for the Autocross.

Now, it is time to line up for my turn around the course. We were three abreast, waiting to be directed to the timing gate. Anticipating this bucket list event, my mouth was dry and my hands were wet. I told the guy at the timing gate that this was my first time, so he would be mindful to send off the car behind me with enough room for a noob to make it around the track. The timing marshal gives me the start flag, and I am off. The first cones were a four turn slaloms ending in a tight left hand turn to a short straight to a medium speed right, left chicane. The remainder of the course were various long and short turns.

My first time was in the 56ish. My last time of the day was 50.147 (My target was 49ish). I discovered that the car is a great performer and has lots more capability that my first time Autocross skills are able to manage. I also discovered that this is some amazing fun. I cannot stress just how great it feels to drive the car hard and not get ticketed for speeding or reckless driving. It is a kick-*** blast. Although I did not feel brave enough to turn off the traction control, I learned what the car can do and where my limits are relative to what the car can do. If you have any opportunity to try this, you must do it. I cannot wait for the next event. I am shopping for a Helmet and a GoPro camera.

 

Sweet!

Traction control is your friend. You could try competitive driving mode but TC off would be sketchy.

 

Thanks for posting this analogy. Trying to get people in our Vet club to give autocross a try at the Tire Rack. Of our 100 plus members, only 6 to 10 show up for our events at the Tire Rack, unreal. You some up what it's all about. The Tire Rack has their 2017 schedule posted, look up North Shore Corvette Club and feel free to join us. Had to cancel the April 29 date, people thought to early. Could probably set up the 1st Annual Corvette Forum Autocross on that date if there were enough interest, not sure if i can get the timing gear though and would have to talk to Luke. How many people show up for Windy City?

 

Sounds like you did it right. You went out to have fun in an environment that was safe and surrounded by like minded people. Another way to improve and learn is ask to ride along with an experienced driver so you can see and hear what they are doing with the car. Don't expect conversation from the driver you will listen to what the car is telling you.

 

Going to WATCH my first one next week in Columbia MD.

 

The first few times run with all the nannies on. It will make you concentrate on being smooth. When you start pushing the limits then go to Competitive mode for a few events. After you can run in CM without activating the nannies, it is time to run with AH/TC off. With everything turned off, you times will go down if you advance your skill set in smaller increments. After that anytime it is cooler than 50 deg. or any moisture on the ground run in Competitive Mode.

 

Last year was my first year autoXing in my C5. I was just like you and showed up completely stock for test & tune. I was hooked after my first run. I joined the SCCA and I run in their events. A club officer guided me towards an EVO school that I attended and it pushed me WAY ahead of the curve as far as skill level compared to figuring it out on my own, plus the people in my region are over the top friendly and helpful in every way!!

I can say the one change that will make the biggest difference is going to BF Goodrich Rival S tires. They are 200 treadwear and will take 5 seconds off your times if you get the urge to want to improve, plus the handling is far superior. I never once lost the C5 in a corner with those tires...they can handle most of the power you can throw at them with the right pressure front & rear. I learned right off the bat to drive with all the nannies turned off...you feel the car better and learn the limits without their help. Actually the nannies inhibit your times.

I made over 150 runs last year and pretty quick it felt like I wanted more power than the C5 provided, so I bought a C6 Z06 and it's what I'm using this year. I'm really into it, so both of my cars are modded to the full extent allowed for the class I run in. The power of that Z in a corner is unbelievable!!! I think autoX plus an occasional trip to the drag strip (hopefully this year) will satisfy my adrenaline brain quite well in a safe environment. It's so addicting and so much fun!!

 

Glad you had fun! I can't wait to run my new to me C5 in a few weeks. I've been autocrossing and have been very competitive (locally) since 2011 but this will be a whole new thing for me. A Corvette and an RSX are much different animals..... (Get crossed up in a front-driver? Floor it and point the front wheels where you want to go! I don't suspect that'll work too well with 375ft lbs and RWD...)

Now, If only I could find some 200TW tires...... In the 18million threads on this forum about tires I still haven't found any Rivals, ZIIs, etc in non-Z06 sizes for stock rims. :crazy2

EDIT: for those of you thinking you might like to try autocross but are a bit unsure- show up at a local event. Autocrossers are the nicest people you'll find and most of us gladly take passengers! We love newbies and will answer all your questions no matter how seemingly dumb. Chances are we've all asked it at some point. Also, don't worry about looking like a goof out there. Honk the horn in a corner? Turn on the windshield wipers during a run? Yep, we've all done that stuff too. You'll be amazed how FAST it'll feel even if in reality you don't break 60mph.

For anyone around NW Pennsylvania- http://www.mbrscca.com/
-our 2017 schedule is posted.

 

We were a mixed group. There was a guy with a Shelby Mustang. Others were from Chicago Cross Roads, and Windy City. From Cross Roads Corvette Club (a group consisting of more than 100 members), there were 6 members in attendance.

I think people just don't know what Autocross is. Maybe they confuse it with Motocross, which is a motor cycle event on dirt tracks. Or Rallycross, which is a bunch of cars bumping into each other on a twisty track. Both have possibility of damage to ones car or person. Autocross, as I discovered, is very safe. My car has not a single scratch. When telling my friend what I was going to do, my friend made statements about the damage to my car that showed his misconceptions about Autocross. My friend came out to watch the event. Afterwards, my friend came away thinking he might want to try Autocross. So, many people have misconceptions about the sport. Education is needed here.

 

Hay, I did that. I turned on my washers and wipers on my first run. On my third and forth run I completely missed a cone at the same point on the course, and got DNF for those two runs. Who cares! I had a major blast. By the end of the day, I had improved my times by seconds. I call that progress.

 

Keep at it. Learn the car and you'll be more comfortable pushing it. I run in Competitive mode 99% of the time but that might change once I order my new tires. If you're really interested in being competitive, the Bridgestone RE-71Rs are the #1 tire for autocrossers right now. I'm about to order a set this week, just got to pull the trigger. I've done a ton of runs with my Hankook Ventus V12s (came on the car from previous owner) but I quickly found that THAT is your bottleneck. I'm constantly 2-3 seconds behind the leader in CAM-S and AS and I'm hoping that these tires will push me over that edge.

What class did you race in? I like CAM-S because it's a little more relaxed and you can have a few mods. I don't think I can run in AS due to the aftermarket intake and maybe the short throw. I haven't looked at the class specs in a while to remember why since I swapped over to CAM.

Most importantly, have fun!

 

The 71R's are great tires and that's what I run on the C6Z...I've noticed they get hotter quicker than the Rival S, but this car is clearly outrunning the C5, so that might be why, and it's cornering like a beast...those tires just won't let go, it's awesome..you will love them!! Your intake and short throw puts you out of AS. I wish I had a short throw, and I will next year along with headers and a cam when the C6Z goes from AS to CAM-S. I love the CAM classes and I hope they get bigger, but in my region, they are all CAM-C...Stangs and Camaros.

 

Awesome!!!

I Have to do this

 

What scares me about racing my Corvette is my insurance doesn't cover it, they consider it "off road". Does anybody else's insurance tell them that?

 

Lololol. It's autocross. Worst case you hit a few cones unless you REALLY don't know how to let off the gas on some courses built around obstacles and curbs. There's rules to keep the course like, 20 or 30 feet away from them and from the barriers, and most course designs try to make the fast parts away from these places.
Tracking is a different animal.

 

Off road? Sounds like confusion with Motocross, which is an off road motorcycle event.

 

Does sound like you had a blast - that's what it's all about.

 

This years there is the Bloomington Gold event is at the speedway in Indianapolis. There will be an Autocross course. It is short but maybe fun. 5 runs will be 25 bucks. They will have helmets available.

 

I grew up In Bloomington. In the 70's they used to have a Corvette show every year in the fair grounds. I had a '69 mustang with rust. I never realized what I was missing out on. Corvette folks rock!

 

Good point and everyone should be aware of this. While the risk is very low with a sanctioned autocross (I can only speak for SCCA but I'm sure others have course design rules) most, if not all, standard market auto policies will exclude this. Always read your policy.