2015 Autocross Solo Guide
Chapter 2: Car Prep, General & Event
Chapter 2: Car Prep, General & Event
Chapter 2 - Car Prep, General, & Event
Car Prep
Luckily enough, we are good in the area of car prep. Both the NA & the NB will be fine for now and we can decide later for the NA whether or not we want bumpstops. If I had to guesstimate, I'd say the NA will probably give up 1.5-2s to the NB, given the tire & bumpstop situation. IF both cars were on same tires, bumpstops etc., I'd say it's a 1s difference, a little less if the course is more technical, a little more if more power is involved. If it's giving up less than 1.5s with same driver, I'd be inclined to leave it alone (not add bumpstops) because balance even without must be pretty decent.
The region does something called 'annual tech' early in March - you bring the car to a location, probably Gateway, and they tech it a little more strictly than usual, you sign a waiver etc., and then no more tech inspections for the year. Just one less thing to worry about. I'll leave pulling the mats out up to you guys (I don't anymore), but I'd leave the spare & tools at home.
The only other thing I can think of is an alignment. It may not be a bad idea just because the cars are so old, probably haven't been aligned for a really long time, etc. It will make a big difference in how the car feels. Again, I leave that up to you. I can get my guy to do it to the specs we request ("race" alignments) for $60/car, or we can try it on our own. We just need to max camber & 0 the toe. Whichever way we do it, I think it's pretty crucial that we do.
EVENT DAY
Arrive early
Ask co-owner 1 about this one. I'll have an exact time of when to arrive soon, and for co-owner 1 it'll depend on his work assignment, but right now I'm gravitating to around 8am. This should give you enough time to get settled and walk the course. For any Champaign events you guys want to attend with me, we should def split a hotel the night before - I normally go the morning of, and it can be brutal.
Know the Course
This will be one of the most important things to do, period. Minimum number of walks should be two, especially for novices. The more you walk, the more familiar you will be when you're driving the course. Less 'sea of cones'/'I'm lost' effect. You'll be focused less on where you are and where to go and more on how & how fast to go. If you can manage it, walk 3 times. I think at nationals events I walk the course about ten times, after hours upon hours of studying the image of the line lol. Later in the season you might feel more comfortable with 2. I still usually walk the course 3 times. First is usually a chatty, general walk. Second is less chat and more about what line to take. Third is a brisk focused walk. Something like that - it's different for everyone.
EVENT
General
General
You guys are lucky in the sense that you will be able to push each other. Just knowing the fact that the other guy went half a second quicker lets you know the car has it in it, and that you can push harder. Here's how I'd like to split up the runs for general events, at least to begin with: First 3 runs together and/or with me riding along, last 2 runs on your own. First 3 to give you an accelerated familiarity with the course, last two for speed & competition. For a car like the Miata, light, low torque, no ABS, 150-170 lbs is a big deal, should help with your raw times. Also, one of you will be faster than the other - it'll make you guys start pushing the car harder, get more familiar with the car's limits, etc. Test n Tunes, etc. are a different story.
Also, get to know a few people, especially if there are any in your class in the same heat. Ride along when possible, watch their technique. Try to get a feel for who the competitive ones are that don't want to give ride alongs, and who don't care all that much.
Video & Data
We will be taking a lot of video & data recordings this year. Normally I record every run. We can use my point & shoot or something else if you guys want. Post-event video review is always a great way to see how you drove from a 3rd person perspective, what you're doing behind the wheel, what line you're taking compared to the other. Doubly useful since you guys will be in the same car. We'll try pinpoint who picked up time where, etc. I also have a data acquisition system we can use, though I personally haven't found much utility from it.
Next Chapter: Driving Techniques - Seat Time & Looking Ahead
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