BMW CCA Golden Gate Chapter autox - Sept 12 @ Great America

[nordique14]

Originally Posted by radiantm3

Thanks for the info guys. One thing that worries me about autocrossing is knowing which cones you have to go through next. Is it pretty easy to figure out when you are actually driving or is track memorization extremely important? I've watched a few helmet/in car cams on youtube and some setups just look like random cones everywhere. I'd be the guy that makes up his own path.

There will be a course walk through in the morning. The cones also have specific meaning. A cone with a pointer cones (cone on its side pointing at the upright cone) will indicate an apex cone. Pointer cones also indicate which direction to go. If a pointer cone is pointing right then go to the right of the cone.

Keep in mind too that the course is no where near as long as a track. By the 2nd or 3rd time through you will know where to go. You can catch rides with other drivers before you run (assuming you are not in the first run group). That will help you know the course.

We also have driver coaches who will ride with you and help you with when you to turn and brake. I can guarantee you that the thing they will tell you most is "look ahead". If you are looking straight ahead then the corners will always surprise you and you will be in trouble. If you are looking ahead then you will see the corner coming up and you will instinctively adjust your speed for the type of corner. Looking ahead sounds easy but is the most difficult thing to do. We are so used to staring at the bumper of the car in front of us that looking ahead seems strange. Next time you are on a winding road, look at the next corner instead of the corner you are currently in. It will 1) seem weird and 2) will have the effect of "slowing things down". You will take the corners faster and smoother.

[1ToBeOn2Wheels]

Glad to see the new venue (Great America Aux Lot). I can't go this coming month, but the next month or any thereafter makes it a lot more convenient than going down to Marina.

[radiantm3]

Event is getting close! I'm pretty excited. Does anyone know if there will be a way to adjust tire pressure there or should I make sure to do that before I arrive? What do you guys recommend for the 1? From what I've read, 40 all around is a good starting point. Thanks in advanced.

[mechanicalmagic]

Originally Posted by radiantm3

Does anyone know if there will be a way to adjust tire pressure there or should I make sure to do that before I arrive? What do you guys recommend for the 1? From what I've read, 40 all around is a good starting point.

No public air source. Most folks air up before, or use tank/12V compressors/rechargable. I air up the night before.

I am at 40 PSI, on the runflats. IF the surface is hot, then tires will heat up, and you might want to check the pressure after a couple runs.

Driving skill is much more important than air pressure.

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by mechanicalmagic

No public air source. Most folks air up before, or use tank/12V compressors/rechargable. I air up the night before.

I am at 40 PSI, on the runflats. IF the surface is hot, then tires will heat up, and you might want to check the pressure after a couple runs.

Driving skill is much more important than air pressure.

Yea I'm not worrying about the details, but whatever I can do to prepare before will be better than going there completely clueless.

[ichiban]

See you all there today. oh and if anyone can be two extra lawn chairs, that'd be great TIA

[ichiban]

Here are my pix from the day.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1chiban...ted=3914155632

I'll go through it later to get the good shots. too lazy atm.

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by ichiban

Here are my pix from the day.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1chiban...ted=3914155632

I'll go through it later to get the good shots. too lazy atm.

Nice! Thanks for getting some shots of me. Too bad I was working during your run, otherwise I would have taken some of your run. I'm sure someone took some though.

[radiantm3]

Here are some photos from the 2nd and 4th groups: http://www.flickr.com/photos/radiant...604516/detail/

[ichiban]

good stuff. I need a telephoto lens -_-

[ichiban]

It was nice seeing everyone out there yesterday. I'm definitely hooked now, whose going to the Oct 11th one? I know I am.

[nordique14]

great shots. thanks for snapping some pics.

Hopefully results will be posted later today. Nice to meet some fellow 1addicts!

I will be at Marina on Oct 11. I am always there. There is a Car Control clinic the day before if anyone wants to make it a back-to-back car weekend.

[nordique14]

BTW, you guys have done some nice work on your cars. I might have to break down and finally buy the performance steering wheel. Very trick.

Also, the carbon fiber rear diffuser looks good in pics but looks way better in person. I have to go see if my bank account can handle some new purchases.

[ichiban]

signed up for the 10/11 autocross. aye, I'm trying to juggle photography and autocrossing, so i think im going to put all cosmetic mods on hold until later. Just gonna have money for tires, and maybe a tune in the future. I got H&R Sport springs sitting in the garage waiting to be installed tho. The bad thing is since i'm at 49, the springs will put me in to class A. Do you guys think they'll make a big difference.

[nordique14]

Originally Posted by ichiban

signed up for the 10/11 autocross. aye, I'm trying to juggle photography and autocrossing, so i think im going to put all cosmetic mods on hold until later. Just gonna have money for tires, and maybe a tune in the future. I got H&R Sport springs sitting in the garage waiting to be installed tho. The bad thing is since i'm at 49, the springs will put me in to class A. Do you guys think they'll make a big difference.

H&R springs will help. Are they worth the points to bump you into A class? Unlikely. The classification is setup to be simple, so all springs are worth the same points. Ideally we would assign points based on the new spring rate or % change in spring rate over stock. As you can imagine that would be difficult as we would have to know the spring rates for all springs on the market. Not very likely. The H&R springs are not that much stiffer than stock to be worth the points assigned for a spring change.

But, keep in mind that each year the classification is refined. Mod points may be changed and class cutoffs may be modified (as they were last year). So being at the top of a class this year may mean you are at the bottom of a class next year or vice versa. Hard to say.

I tell people that unless you are building a dedicated autox car, just mod you car they way you want and it will classify where it does. Assuming the car is also your daily driver you spend much more time with it on the street than at the autox. So build it for the street and then take it out to the autox to have fun and learn how it handles. I went down the mod-the-car-based-on-the-autox-classification-rules road with my old car. While it made for a nice autox car, it made me miserable the rest of the time.

[aarong_m3]

Ok Matt i will be at the Oct 11th AutoX this time.

[ichiban]

swt aarong, are you going to bring the 2002?

[ichiban]

Originally Posted by nordique14

H&R springs will help. Are they worth the points to bump you into A class? Unlikely. The classification is setup to be simple, so all springs are worth the same points. Ideally we would assign points based on the new spring rate or % change in spring rate over stock. As you can imagine that would be difficult as we would have to know the spring rates for all springs on the market. Not very likely. The H&R springs are not that much stiffer than stock to be worth the points assigned for a spring change.

But, keep in mind that each year the classification is refined. Mod points may be changed and class cutoffs may be modified (as they were last year). So being at the top of a class this year may mean you are at the bottom of a class next year or vice versa. Hard to say.

I tell people that unless you are building a dedicated autox car, just mod you car they way you want and it will classify where it does. Assuming the car is also your daily driver you spend much more time with it on the street than at the autox. So build it for the street and then take it out to the autox to have fun and learn how it handles. I went down the mod-the-car-based-on-the-autox-classification-rules road with my old car. While it made for a nice autox car, it made me miserable the rest of the time.

thx for the advice, that makes a lot of sense.

[aarong_m3]

I wish....i need new suspension for it. I'll try to get it ready for next yr. Are you going to be at the Oct 11th one?

Originally Posted by ichiban

swt aarong, are you going to bring the 2002?

[ichiban]

Originally Posted by aarong_m3

I wish....i need new suspension for it. I'll try to get it ready for next yr. Are you going to be at the Oct 11th one?

yup, sure will.