Getting My Car Ready and what should I expect.

[69chevy]

Hello i'm new to Autocross, I have known about it and have been recently been turned on to it by a friend and said i should try it so here i am i would just like to know what i should be ready for on my first time and what should i do to my car currently I have a 1969 Camaro with a 400 SBC with around 700hp know i now power isn't every thing in Autocross so I recently installed Hotchkis Tuned Shocks HPS 1000,Hellwig Anti Sway Bar, and BMR A-arms Lower and Upper.
So would there be anything else i would need to get started and what should i expect for my first time.

[Jeremy]

Read the novice tips section first and then see if you have any specific questions.
http://drivefast.org/novice-tips/

Welcome. Nice car.

[snookwheel]

Welcome to the addiction! It is really all about seat time at first, don't dump a bunch of $$ into your ride yet, just come and drive, the best value is improving the nut behind the wheel. There will be a lot of experienced folks at the event more than willing to ride with you and help you get started.

[69chevy]

Read the novice tips section first and then see if you have any specific questions.
http://drivefast.org/novice-tips/

Welcome. Nice car.

Thank you . I read the Tips and the recommended suspension and tires i was just wondering if there was anymore i should know

[Loren]

Sounds like the biggest thing you'll need to know is throttle control. You're going to want to make use of your 700 HP. Autocross courses don't often allow for that. You'll be accelerating out of corners, and you'll have to modulate your throttle to use as much power as you can... but not so much that you smoke the rear tires and do donuts.

As far as car setup goes... if your car doesn't allow that level of control, you may want to see what you can change to get it. In other words... if you have an "on/off" throttle... try to make it more progressive if you can. Cars with LOTS of power and poor mid-range throttle control can be a handful to autocross.

Aside from that, you just need to come try it. Your car will quickly tell you what it needs. And if you can't figure it out... just ask, some of our more experienced members can tell you how to "read" what your car is telling you.

[Jeremy]

This guy built a 67 for national level autocross. He is limited by class restrictions for some things like tire width, so that won't apply to you, but it's interesting to read

http://www.rhoadescamaro.com/build/

[69chevy]

Sounds like the biggest thing you'll need to know is throttle control. You're going to want to make use of your 700 HP. Autocross courses don't often allow for that. You'll be accelerating out of corners, and you'll have to modulate your throttle to use as much power as you can... but not so much that you smoke the rear tires and do donuts.

As far as car setup goes... if your car doesn't allow that level of control, you may want to see what you can change to get it. In other words... if you have an "on/off" throttle... try to make it more progressive if you can. Cars with LOTS of power and poor mid-range throttle control can be a handful to autocross.

Aside from that, you just need to come try it. Your car will quickly tell you what it needs. And if you can't figure it out... just ask, some of our more experienced members can tell you how to "read" what your car is telling you.

Yea that's the thing that i'm most afraid of is giving a little to much throttle and shooting off and hitting cones or spinning out and sitting there looking like a idiot. Is it possible to run the track as a test before the actual event like a practice run or such?

[BrandLoyal]

Yea that's the thing that i'm most afraid of is giving a little to much throttle and shooting off and hitting cones or spinning out and sitting there looking like a idiot.

Spinning out and hitting cones makes you famous...
Pay attention to the top right of the screen at about 43 seconds.

http://youtu.be/IhrQUVplAys

[Loren]

They're all practice runs!

Don't sweat it. Just be aware. If you spin, you spin... we expect that at some point, and often encourage new drivers to push the car hard enough to get there and get it out of their system just to get past the fear or intimidation of it happening.

If the back end steps out a little, you can usually ride it out. If it gets too far out, just don't try to be a hero. Foot off the gas, foot on the brake, clutch in. Get the car back under control and/or stopped, and then carry on. It's when people let the car get wildly out of control that they run into problems.

Sign up for a Late session, and come do some ride-alongs with other drivers in the Early session so that you have a little more familiarity with the course and what to expect. Then take an instructor with you when you go out. Unless you car is set up for no-compromises drag racing, you should do just fine!

[69chevy]

Lol @ the video.

I'll check out the those late sessions. Is there anything else I should be aware about?

[Loren]

Lol @ the video.

I'll check out the those late sessions. Is there anything else I should be aware about?

If you've read all the info on the website, read all of the event info on the registration page... not much more to know. Just remember to have fun!

[69chevy]

One more question. How fast do you think ill go through tires.

[Loren]

Too many variables to answer that question.

I've been autocrossing since 1995, almost always on street tires, and at least 12-14 events per year. Most of my tire wear comes from autocross, I only drive my car 6-10k miles per year. I go through a set of tires about every year. I'd say 8-15 months & 8-12k miles & 80-100 autocross runs is a pretty safe range for me.

But, if you've got monster HP that easily exceeds your grip and you can't keep your foot out of it... you might go through rear tires 2-3x as fast as I do. If your car doesn't have an alignment that is optimized for autocross, you could wear the outside edges of your tires out way before the rest of the tire is done. If you don't watch your tire pressures, if you overdrive your tires or lock up your brakes a lot and flat-spot your tires, etc, etc... lots of things can reduce the lifespan of your tires.

[Greg]

Welcome to the club! Come out to a event.. get rides.. ask questions..

[Native]

Lol @ the video.

I'll check out the those late sessions. Is there anything else I should be aware about?

Cones scuffs buff out.
Welcome!

[buddy bodean]

The '69 Camaro is horrible for autocross...give it to me.

[lddavis91]

LOL Ed.

My advice? Disconnect 4 spark plug wires and I only say that half jokingly. If you or your wife have a daily driver with dramatically less horsepower, start with that first. My car doesn't even have 500 hp and I've been doing this since '97 with "high powered" cars and still have a bit of trouble on occasion keeping the back end behind me and I've never driven anything with 700hp. Loren gives good advice, the most important thing in that car will be an ability for smooth throttle modulation, both mechanically with the car, and mentally with right foot control. You will be fine autocrossing this beast as long as you can precisely control the power delivery and if you get it wrong, most likely the worst thing that will happen is a spin into some cones. You don't NEED to do anything to the car, but if only for the sake of tire wear, you might want to at least make sure you have some negative camber in the front and if after a few events you think your gonna like it (and you most likely will) you can do something to get 2 or so degrees of negative camber you can significantly improve the front tire wear and handling.

Is this 700hp achieved without power adders? Is that at the wheels or crank?

[Loren]

If you or your wife have a daily driver with dramatically less horsepower, start with that first.

I was going to suggest this, as well... but I wasn't sure how it would be taken. It's always easier to learn in a car that is easier and more predictable to drive. And here's the part I shouldn't say: There's a solid chance that you'd be faster around the course in a well-behaved grocery getter than in an oversteering (and probably understeering) vintage muscle car. It's definitely something to consider.

Then, once you've wrapped your head around autocross, you can decide if it's worth modding the Camaro for this sport, or just accepting its shortcomings and enjoying it for what it is.

[twistedwankel]

http://www.floridacorvetteracing.com/

Go to one of these vette test and tunes at Brooksville Airport. You will have a blast. They will have a blast watching you.

Seriously one of the best places/clubs to initially sort out your car at speed. I'm sure some of those guys car top your HP numbers and still stay on the track.

Your's is one of my all time favorite cars.

Consider starting out in 2nd gear and leaving it there if possible. That's what alot of the CP guys do but they all run on Hoosier Full Race tires too.

[69chevy]

LOL Ed.

My advice? Disconnect 4 spark plug wires and I only say that half jokingly. If you or your wife have a daily driver with dramatically less horsepower, start with that first. My car doesn't even have 500 hp and I've been doing this since '97 with "high powered" cars and still have a bit of trouble on occasion keeping the back end behind me and I've never driven anything with 700hp. Loren gives good advice, the most important thing in that car will be an ability for smooth throttle modulation, both mechanically with the car, and mentally with right foot control. You will be fine autocrossing this beast as long as you can precisely control the power delivery and if you get it wrong, most likely the worst thing that will happen is a spin into some cones. You don't NEED to do anything to the car, but if only for the sake of tire wear, you might want to at least make sure you have some negative camber in the front and if after a few events you think your gonna like it (and you most likely will) you can do something to get 2 or so degrees of negative camber you can significantly improve the front tire wear and handling.

Is this 700hp achieved without power adders? Is that at the wheels or crank?

The 700hp is achevied without power adders (I used to have Nitrous hooked up not anymore) and yes it is at the wheels.

And really the other cars i have is 2013 terrain Denali a 2005 roush mustang which my brother ruined the tranny and a 69 GTO which i use for Drag so really the only car i can use is the Camaro unless you guys think a deanli would be a good car/SUV to do this in? . I was just looking for something to do in the Camaro instead of letting it sit and rot because i just finished restoring it.