Auto cross

[brocklanders]

I'm thinking about doing the Houston BMWCCA auto cross this weekend. Do I need to take a helmet or anything else?

[fcman]

I would bring a helmet if you have one, also a small cooler with plenty of water and maybe some snacks, sunscreen and a hat (the bigger the better) and a tire pressure sensor. Also take everything that isn't strapped down out of your car before you leave the house.

[JimD]

I take a torque wrench because our SC BMWCCA wants us to torque our wheels before going on the track. Helmets need a rating that is by year but they allow certificates back a few years - you need to know what is OK in the way of helmets. But our club has loaners if you don't have one or have one that they don't like. We also have parking places for between sessions where you can pile up loose things from your car. So I bring my compressor that I normally have in the trunk and the tool roll I normally carry - a little bit of "stuff". A way to adjust tire pressure may be handy but people share.

I think the other advice is good, don't show up with your car full of stuff because you're going to be asked to remove it. You don't want things flying around while you are driving.

Expect to have fun.

[zx10guy]

When I was autocrossing a few years ago, my car had BBS wheels and they made me take off the small cap that covered the lug nuts.

Every thing that has been said is good advice. I would also add, make sure you get there before your heat. You don't want to miss the course walk through and allow time for the tech inspection.

[JimD]

Even better than a walk through is a ride through. Our autocrosses are at the BMW performance center and an instructor or two is present. They pull out M cars and give rides through the course. If you have a later heat or before your second session, it really helps to go through at speed with somebody who knows what they are doing.

So if there is any ride with or instructor riding with you opportunities I would go for it.

But you don't need to "win" to have fun - at least I don't. I am a mid to slower finisher but I push to improve from my time. I'm hoping now that I am off run-flats I will see further improvement but I may not. It will still be fun.

[zx10guy]

Ride throughs were not possible with the autocrossing events I did. Just too many people to get through the course.

[128Convertibleguy]

Originally Posted by brocklanders

I'm thinking about doing the Houston BMWCCA auto cross this weekend. Do I need to take a helmet or anything else?

Autocrosses almost always have loaner helmets, but, if you have you own, take it.

Assuming from your post you've never done this....

Courses are often amazingly hard to remember. Study the map. Walk the course if you can.

On your first run concentrate more on following the course than going really fast. The number of people who go off course on all three runs of their first autocross is dismayingly large.

Have fun.

[brocklanders]

Thanks guys, I have a motorcycle helmet I guess I'll take that and my air pump. I've never driven a car on a road course so I'm going to try to drive as smooth as possible. Hopefully I can get in I didn't pre register because I'm not sure what class I fall in, either way I'm going to go and check it out.

[JimD]

Originally Posted by brocklanders

Thanks guys, I have a motorcycle helmet I guess I'll take that and my air pump. I've never driven a car on a road course so I'm going to try to drive as smooth as possible. Hopefully I can get in I didn't pre register because I'm not sure what class I fall in, either way I'm going to go and check it out.

Our club requires a snell rating, 2005 was the oldest allowed last time I did it. Motorcycle helmets may not carry a snell rating. There are snell 2010 helmets out and there will be 2015 helmets soon if there aren't already. The padding ages affecting the protection so older helmets are gradually phased out of competition use.

[fcman]

Originally Posted by 128Convertibleguy

Autocrosses almost always have loaner helmets, but, if you have you own, take it.

Assuming from your post you've never done this....

Courses are often amazingly hard to remember. Study the map. Walk the course if you can.

On your first run concentrate more on following the course than going really fast. The number of people who go off course on all three runs of their first autocross is dismayingly large.

Have fun.

Had a novice in a 135 spin and slam into a metal stairway a couple events ago. Definitely don't push too hard too early.

[JimD]

We had a guy put a nice M roadster into a guard rail once. I think for most of us we need to keep the stability control at least partially on. It might slow us a little but it also protects our not inconsiderable investment in our vehicles. I put it in the "in between" mode. It allows a little but not a lot of tire slippage. I think it is like M mode in a M car. I got cross wise on the track at M school while running in M mode. So you aren't bullet proof. But I didn't spin. In my car, I've never gotten sidways. If you see the stability symbol, it is a good clue you're pushing too hard.

[Converted1]

If you can't draw the course on a sheet of paper after the walk through, you will likely go off course for the entire event.

You need to memorize it, and view it from optimum driving positions as often as possible during the walk thought.

Have a great time and get ready to learn what your car feels like at the limits of adhesion below 40mph.

[knc]

Most of this advice in this thread is good.

Motorcycle helmets work for SCCA events to my knowledge as long as it is an M2000 rated helmet or newer, I don't know that this necessarily apply to BMWCCA events as I have an SA rated helmet so never had issue.

Houston Police Academy is not my favorite place because the figure 8 area of the course does not have a bunch of run off as most autox pads that are fully in a parking lot or skid pad.

As someone who autocrossed on and off for 5 years, my recommendation is to walk the course twice, take it easy on the first run, and leave on traction control fully enabled until you are comfortable. The goal, as with any performance driving, is to understand how to make it easiest for your car to go around the track.

Have fun and be alert.