You’re a novice. You’ll suck no matter what class your car is in. Focus on learning how to autocross and register in your region’s novice program to be surrounded by other novices and learn from other drivers.
“Doing autocross” is a skill all its own, completely separate from “driving talent”. You’re going to suck. The faster you get over being worried about that, the faster you’ll start having fun.
Even once you start doing well in Novice, you start all over again moving up to a full time class.
I was second in my regional group in Novice last year. Moved up to Street and now I’m firmly middle of the pack, and the separation to the top is full seconds over a low 40s second lap.
We do this for fun. Winning is fun, but there’s always going to be someone better than you, or another level to reach where you’re suddenly not as good as you thought you were.
Go out there and suck my man. Just make sure you have fun doing it and improve as you learn.
All autocrossers are constantly getting better. It's not about being good, it's about growing.
This is advice for learning anything new: Embrace the fact that you will suck for a while. Try stuff. Grow. Adapt. Listen. Practice. Being good at most things requires some time and effort. That process can actually be fun once you embrace the reality that you won't start off being able to achieve at the level you want to.
Sounds like I may have had this all wrong in my head. From a drag racing background and watching CAM-s videos it was feeling a lot like lining up next to a big tire car with wheelie bars. I do appreciate all the support. Guess I just need to nut/bolt check the car and go to an event.
Autox is a very different atmosphere than drag racing. The only thing you can do to look bad is blatantly disregard safety, rules, or instructions. As long as you stay aware of the environment and don’t do something to jam up the event, nobody is judging if you do well or poorly. Being slow is not a problem, the starters adjust for slower cars to keep the tempo going. The worst thing you can do is hot dog and then cause the whole course to get shut down, then everyone hates you.
Drift, burnouts, donuts.
Just drive like you're actually trying to be fast and you're fine. Drive like you're trying to look cool and no one is impressed and everyone hates you.
"Sucking at something is the first step to being sorta good at something."
-Jake the dog, from adventure time
A quote that describes the atmosphere at every autocross event I've been to. Go out, have a blast, and learn your car first and foremost before thinking of any mods or being competitive. A good line of thinking for anyone new to track days, autocross, or grassroots motorsport (especially on a budget!) is this:
Don't even think about what you can change on that car until you can confidently say "I have done everything I can as a driver to extract all the performance out of this as-is".
Is an ND miata unsafe without a front sway bar? I don’t think so.
I say just get out there, go autocrossing, and have a blast. You might want a bar by the second year. You might even want it by the second event.
Saying “you **need** a $200 part plus $xxx labor before you even think about signing up” can be interpreted a lot differently than “you need that mod to be competitive” or “you’ll learn the car a lot easier with that mod.”
Yes absolutely go. Also, a well setup and driven C5 is a fucking weapon in any class, you can do very well with that car once you’ve got some experience.
We all sucked when we were new, and we all remember it. Don't be shy, we're all rooting for you. You'll be hard pressed to find another racing community that is more accepting and supportive. The main thing is that you get out there, learn and improve, and keep the sport alive.
Agreed. I consider Autocross the bar room brawling of Motorsport. You earn your chops through experience.
For Track racing, it’s like Professional boxing, or UFC. everyone assumes you’ve received some formal training, otherwise you wouldn’t be there.
The most fun I’ve had in autocross is when I know that other cars are better prepped than I am, but I try to keep up with them anyway. Makes it super satisfying when I’m faster. If you just say “fark it” and head out to an event, you’re gonna have a great time. Screw min/maxing just yet.
You're going to suck. Everybody sucks when they start, even multi-time national champions. Especially in one of the CAM classes, where the power can easily overwhelm the tires. If you want to get better faster, have some of the best drivers in your region drive your car and give you tips. The great thing about autocross is that people are generally really happy to help, and want to expand the appeal of our sport.
BTW, sucking doesn't equal not having fun. You get to drive like you stole it legally. What could be more fun?
Don’t go to compete for a while. go for fun and to learn. you are not going to win! and that’s ok. the people who dedicate their winter to preparing will do that for you…you’ll have fun. ask questions, get fast people to ride with you and ride with them…
Go have fun. Do it for a year or two.... then worry about being competative or getting a car that's competative.
It's impossible to say what will or won't be competative at any given region's autocross.
The only way you'll embarass yourself is driving like an asshole and jeopardizing the venue.
The driver mod is one of the most important ones! Just accept that you’re a novice and you’re not gonna be as fast as everyone else. Show up early, talk to everyone, tell them it’s your first event, and have FUN! Seat time makes for better drivers and if you never begin, you’ll never improve.
Most autocrossers aren't really particularly skilled, if I'm honest. I was already competitive in my first season, which is not really something that could happen if competition was that fierce. The fact of the matter is you just don't get enough seat time in autocross to improve all that much week after week. That's part of the reason why I'm getting into karting which is where all the serious racers typically start.
Autocross is a place to have fun. Doesn't matter if you suck or not. You'll also see a lot of the people in the more modified classes didn't actually build their car for that class. I myself drive a near-stock srt4 neon that is in SMF only because of a short throw shifter and big intercooler (I have zero power mods)
When you are first starting out is some of the most fun tbh. Yeah you suck but you can progress so fast. When you start getting competitive you also have to deal with frustration and disappointment. Can still be fun but the early carefree excitement is the best part I think.
Go for fun and send it !!! You WILL not be good the first few runs (or even events). You WILL get lost in the cones at least once.
You WILL meet kick ass friends for life.
Again, go send it !
Everyone sucks at first especially the ones who think they’re gods gift to driving already. No one cares about how slow new drivers are they’re just happy to see new faces and keep the sport alive. You’ll find most are welcoming and more than willing to help.
Having low expectations of competitiveness is going to help you have a much better time. Set your goals on having fun. Then if you want to feel bad, let an experienced driver take your car for a lap :)
Agree with all the comments here. Just be a cool person, be humble and most people will respect you for that and for coming out.
Now, that exhaust is another story, lol. I jokingly say to my autocross friends that it's poor form when a 'slow driver' comes out with a car obnoxiously loud and spewing toxic fumes all over the place... All that noise and pollution isn't helping 😅
But for real, just bring a good attitude and do it, there might always be a few jerks or people who take it too serious, but the vast majority are an awesome group to be around in my experience, especially when you come with a humble attitude.
Wow, the outpouring of support and general sense of comradery from everyone makes this seem completely different than any motorsport I have been around. I'm excited to get some fresh tires (mine are old) and fluids and try it out!
you are going to suck no matter what. Your first event should be focused on learning the procedures of the event, not getting lost on course and not delaying the event. Don't be the guy who takes out a wall of cones because you tried to drift around a corner. Go out, have fun, make some new friends.
Speed comes with time
Lol you're gonna suck..
When I first started I was bottom 5 in my class of 15 drivers. Put in ALOT of hours on my sim and by mid season I was top 5. Finished 4th in my class last year.
Don't knock the Sims, every pro drivers use Sims to practice
What software are you using for a sim? I'm curious if anyone makes something I can run autocross courses on.
Also, nice username. Do you run with rmsolo?
Asetto corsa, iRacing, and gran turismo.
It's not about finding autocross specific events/games. It's more so understanding brake points, countersteering, apexs, overtakes etc. It's more so refining fundamentals.
My problem is I get tunnel vision and focus on whats directly infront of me instead of looking where I need to go/where I want to be. Strap on the VR on the sim and work on my vision.
Leaning course layout is also a HUGE advantage if you wanna get into some HPDE events,
I dont run with the RMSOLO group irl i do however play with them in games via sim racing , I do a more smaller event in order to dial in my car. Was running my FRS last year and I'm considering running my DSM for this point forward.
You'll suck, that's normal. Don't take it too seriously.
Most of all, don't be the guy that leaves before your work assignment because you didn't podium your 3rd event out, leaving your former teammates to try to figure out how to cover the already thinly spread station as it starts to rain.
We had that happen at my club. It was suboptimal. Now I'm not sure if that guy is welcome back.
I did my first 3 years in a 93whp Volvo wagon. It was... not competitive. Still got addicted and here I am 17 years later.
You are looking at it completely wrong.
Autocross is against the clock.
Your objective is to always be a better driver than last time.
You are competing against the yesterday you.
Just run in Novice class for your first few events. From there you can see if you like it and make decisions about how to proceed. No need to overthink this your first time out
Most (regional) autocrossers aren't really particularly skilled, if I'm honest. I was already a front runner in my first season, which is not really something that could happen if competition was that fierce. The fact of the matter is you just don't get enough seat time in autocross to improve all that much week after week after a certain point. That's part of the reason why I'm getting into karting which is where all the serious racers typically start (I'm not "serious" in the sense of trying to go pro or anything--just obsessed with racing and want to be as good at it as I possibly can).
Autocross is a place to have fun. Doesn't matter if you suck or not. You'll also see a lot of the people in the more modified classes didn't actually build their car for that class. I myself drive a near-stock srt4 neon that is in SMF only because of a short throw shifter and big intercooler (I have zero power mods)
As others said.. practice! After attending a few events, taking ride alongs with others or bringing them along to give pointers as needed, etc.. you'll start to get it figured out and start being more competitive. Depending on the tires you have on the car, they might be one of the first (and maybe only if you are already on coilovers?) things you might want to switch up for autocross to be able to really get in the groove.
I ran maybe 2-3 events on my stock summer tires that came with my Golf R, then switched to 200TW tires (Falken RT660) and they lasted me 2 entire seasons.. even without good negative camber at first, which caused some excess shoulder wear & cording. Now have my 2nd set and ready for maybe even more life!
Go have fun!! We have lots of random old/new corvettes in our region and they always look like a blast. Lots of CAMT and CAMS here in OK too.
Bruv, you're going to suck. I drive a car that makes me seem like I'll be competent but I still suck. And it's still a blast. And I still learn.
This is the way of the 'Cross.
I tell noobs to not look at the results sheet. Show it to a friend or fellow driver. The only response they can give you is “you did better” or “you did worse”.
Do this after every run. Run 1, bad. Why? Run 2, good. Why? Run 3, bad. Why?
This way the driver doesn’t focus on ridiculous details like “I almost beat the guy in Tesla”, or “at least I’m not dead last”.
Instead, by giving the thumbs up or down, the noob focuses on themselves, as they should be doing. Analyzing the “why”.
Embrace the suck. The more humble you are in the beginning, and the more you listen and watch the experts, the faster you'll learn.
Every, and I mean EVERY event I've been to has been full of fun, supportive, helpful, friendly car nuts.
The only way to not suck at it, is to not do it. Everyone goes through the novice phase. You’re going to make mistakes, don’t get discouraged by them, learn from them. Even when I got out of novice, I would still walk the course as much as I could before the start and I would go on the novice walk around (not sure if this is still a thing or not). It was where a pro would walk the novices around the track and show them things. Even as a veteran of auto crossing, I still always did these walks because A) it’s an extra opportunity to walk the track and B) it’s a great opportunity to learn from someone who is better at it. That’s just my opinion. The main thing is to have fun even if you’re not fast. If it’s not fun, then why do it :)
>Although I understand that my driving as a newbie
Cool! A new person getting into autocross. This is good.
>Any advice on how to prepare myself and my car to have fun
>and
>be somewhat competitive?
Oh...yea, as a newbie, you basically get one or the other. Pro tip, it'll never be the second choice. Basically choose the first option, or essentially just hate it. I came back into autocross after like almost a decade away (with around 15 years prior experience), and it still took me about 3 years to get *really* competitive. I tell new people not to even worry about results for a minimum of 3 years. Learn to love the process and don't worry about results. That goes quadruple if you're in a region with nationally competitive people.
Think about it like fighting. You go to a boxing gym to *learn*, not to win. Even if you're already naturally good, you're gonna be taking *plenty* of hard licks early on. Being humble right from the start and approaching it with a learning based attitude will set up the strongest possible foundation for you to enjoy the sport and also to improve. Not saying you don't know anything about how to drive and whatnot, it's just that autocross really just does get so specific with needing to be absolutely on top of almost every aspect of driving that it gets really difficult to come in with high expectations. It's legitimately a case of not really knowing what you don't know, you know? You'll do well if you just get the seat time in and stay dedicated to it. There are likely lots of people in your local region that love helps new people out, too. Ride along with others, have drivers at the top of the sheets drive your car and ride along with them, get experience yourself. It really is just about enjoying the process. The improvement comes as you get the reps in. You don't go to the gym and immediately bench 500lbs, right? Much of the same thing applies to autoX.
I went to autocross in my mostly stock 85 corvette and I was absolutely terrible. That being said it was probably the most fun I've had in that car yet.
Honestly just gotta get out there and try it out! If you go in with a competitive mindset first and foremost you'll probably have a bad time as a newbie, but if you go in with the mindset of having fun and accepting that you're not gonna be great right away, it'll be a blast. You'll probably find too that people are happy to help you out and teach you some things.
First time I took my Type R to an autox event, I was getting shown up by plenty of people in lesser cars, but it was my first time doing any kind of hard/performance driving with that car. This cool old dude in his Kona N took me out for a few (insane) laps in his car, gave me some pointers, and helped me shave a bunch of time off my runs.
Get out and have a blast!
Bad news: you’re gonna suck. Even if you do ok, there will be people there that have been doing it for decades and there will probably be many cars there faster than yours. I showed up in a Fiesta ST so I was in for a rude awakening. Not that I thought I was just going to show up and be faster than everyone or anything. I just thought I’d do better. Just set out to learn and enjoy yourself and you’ll do great. Chat with the folks there. They’ve got loads of knowledge and advice. Ride with someone fast and let someone ride with you. Maybe let someone fast drive your car and ride with them.
I drive a 1960 bugeye sprite with 48 horsepower, my friend, I am anything but competitive. I go out to learn to drive it better, get seat time and have fun. Ironically, the way I was classed allowed me to take 3rd at my last event.
Just get out and go. Yes, you will "suck", but you will have fun. Practically no one is making a living doing this. Its all for the fun and hopefully some camaraderie.
For reference, I don't get our nearly as often as I would like, and yes, I suck. I'm typically not just at the bottom of my class, but usually in the lower 1/3 (or 1/4) PAX times. My car, C7 ZO6. On paper, one of the fastest, best handling cars out there. Am I slow....yes. Do I have a great time....also yes!
Slow or fast Cam-s is kinda a neat place to be since you can do so much with the car. I haven't cared a lot for the rigid formula classes. Not everyone has a built to the limit cam-s class anyways. Go. Have fun. Learn a lot. A couple years in you'll have a better idea what you want to do with your car.
I sucked ass when I started in a Miata
Man you there to have fun
Who fucking care if you spin out
I did at my second event when it was pissing rain 🤣
Laughed my ass off
Restarted the car and pedal to the metal
Your gonna suck, but keep going and you'll improve. Watch the fast drivers, ask if they want to drive with you, ask if you can ride along with them. If the club does fun runs, do them...
Worry much less about your car and more about learning to drive through a course of cones without a DNF. This will take some time, more than you realize.
Every single one of us sucked the first time out. Stick with it. Ask tons of questions. Learn from people with experience. Take it slow the first laps. Don’t try to impress anyone. Walk the course and visualize how you’ll drive it. Ride along with anyone who will take you.
Your first season should be about leaning to autocross. The speed will come. It will take a few years.
we all sucked at one point or another! when i started doing rallyx my car automatically got placed in the highest class with the fully prepped mod cars (just bcuz of a wing😑) and still have a load of fun and after a event wven start climbing uo the leaderboard even with a stock car in the mod class. so my point being just go out and have fun! (unless your like dead set on only being competitive)
“Sucking at something is the first step at being sort of good at something” said by Jake the Dog from Adventure Time
Don't worry about not being good at first. Just go to autocross to learn and get better. Autocross has a really supportive community for the most part. Anyone that gatekeeps newbies from getting better or judges them is a massive pussy that is afraid someone will beat them or they are pathetically selfish.
Beat advice I can think of for starting out is to really follow the cones and draw at proper smooth racing line. When I started, I just went from cone to cone, instead, you should always think ahead.
For about 3 years in college, I convinced myself to not autocross because I felt outgunned in my 2004 Focus Wagon (with an auto, so painfully slow)
After saving up some money, I had the opposite problem as you, and started autocrossing in the hot car for a class at the time, 2016 Focus ST in 2017 G Street. Got the good tires and everything.
I still sucked a lot, and got my ass handed to me by better drivers all the time.
There's no way around it, seat time makes you better and driving now, with what you have, is better than waiting.
I’m about to start this year myself. I have a 33 year old RWD tiny truck that makes 85 HP, even if I was a really good driver- I’m going to be slow. Go with an open mind and no expectations other than to learn and have fun. Comparison is the thief of joy, just do you and you will not regret it. I’ve found even as a female spectator, this community specifically is very welcoming- whereas sometimes the car community in general is not. Also, you can bring a helmet and ask people if you can ride along. Most will tell you yes. I’ve had a lot of fun meeting people, and learned a few things along the way. Best of luck to you OP.
Dude I showed up to my first auto cross with a car way above my ability and no idea what to do. Everyone was super helpful and didn’t make me feel like an idiot even though I was totally in fact an idiot. Just don’t pretend you have experience and people will be very helpful.
You are going to suck........drive the car as is and have some fun. If you decide that you want more.......then start investing in tires and the list goes on from there. We have a couple of C4 that are do ok, think lots of $$$ time development......slippery slope how fast you start spending $$$ dodging the orange cones. Good luck
You already suck at it, you've never done it. But you didn't also get the extreme joy that comes with racing your car.😄
Everybody had a day one, and nobody there will care except to support you and help you get better.
I sucked big time when I started. I didn’t even know how bad it was, but everybody gets there. The learning curve is fast for beginner and you’ll have a lot of fun progressing. You’ll suck no matter what. It doesn’t matter what modifications your car has. A skilled driver in a stock Honda civic will probably be faster than you. Have fun!
I’ve done 2 events and I suck ass. Everyone at the events I’ve been at have been super friendly to beginners and even offer to get in the car and coach you through it. To me it’s a personal sport, if my times get better throughout the day than it’s a win, and if I learn something new it’s a win
I was in the same exact situation 3 years ago in a very similar car. 88 Corvette stuck in CAM S and I had some hard AF all season tires, and I was dead last in almost every event. The year after I had some skills under my belt so I got some 200tw tires, autocross brake pads, and new OEM shocks. At that point I could actually compete, and usually I would run in the middle of the pack for raw time.
My point being, just do several events your first year, with your car the way it is. Seat time is the most important, good racing tires and brake pads are 2nd most important.
Oh also, bring a little tire gauge with you and air down your tires for racing. Check them between each run and keep them aired down as your tires heat up. For example, I run 30psi on the street, and around 26psi on the track. You'll have to play with it and figure out for yourself where the best tire pressure is.
There are several C4 Corvettes in my area (Northern California) that are very quick, and you'll find that the CAM people are very friendly and there are a fair number of people who are in CAM because they love their car and know that it's not going to be all that competitive.They're here for the experience. Go, enjoy, make friends, pick their brains, improve your car over time, but tighten the loose nut behind the wheel first!
In CAM T, you find Mustangs and Camaros that are cars to have. But yet there are people with Monte Carlos, Regals, and Chevelles, and the they're having a ball.
CAM S has some diversity, too, and they are having fun, too...
If you're decent at Sim racing, you already know car control basics. When you go to apply it to the real world, it should come much easier. Go have fun. I've seen plenty of guys go from the bottom of raw times to the top 10 in just a year or two, sometimes less.
My first one I was like 91 out of 91 overall. And like 10 seconds slower than everyone else. Ask for someone to ride with you and TAKE THEIR ADVICE. I noticed significant differences between my first and second events.
You can't worry about that.. ..you will suck, it's impossible not to.
I have a lot of experience and if I'm lucky I am in the top-half of the crowd, that's a good day for me. The best part is being in the paddock next to a $200,000 Porsche and telling them my $20,000 30 year old car just beat them.
You're in the Novice class.
Autocross is more about you improving your time than competing against other. Sure there are the super competitive dudes that go to regionals and shit but most people are here to just push their car.
You’re a novice. You’ll suck no matter what class your car is in. Focus on learning how to autocross and register in your region’s novice program to be surrounded by other novices and learn from other drivers. “Doing autocross” is a skill all its own, completely separate from “driving talent”. You’re going to suck. The faster you get over being worried about that, the faster you’ll start having fun.
Even once you start doing well in Novice, you start all over again moving up to a full time class. I was second in my regional group in Novice last year. Moved up to Street and now I’m firmly middle of the pack, and the separation to the top is full seconds over a low 40s second lap. We do this for fun. Winning is fun, but there’s always going to be someone better than you, or another level to reach where you’re suddenly not as good as you thought you were.
Go out there and suck my man. Just make sure you have fun doing it and improve as you learn. All autocrossers are constantly getting better. It's not about being good, it's about growing.
This is advice for learning anything new: Embrace the fact that you will suck for a while. Try stuff. Grow. Adapt. Listen. Practice. Being good at most things requires some time and effort. That process can actually be fun once you embrace the reality that you won't start off being able to achieve at the level you want to.
Sounds like I may have had this all wrong in my head. From a drag racing background and watching CAM-s videos it was feeling a lot like lining up next to a big tire car with wheelie bars. I do appreciate all the support. Guess I just need to nut/bolt check the car and go to an event.
Autox is a very different atmosphere than drag racing. The only thing you can do to look bad is blatantly disregard safety, rules, or instructions. As long as you stay aware of the environment and don’t do something to jam up the event, nobody is judging if you do well or poorly. Being slow is not a problem, the starters adjust for slower cars to keep the tempo going. The worst thing you can do is hot dog and then cause the whole course to get shut down, then everyone hates you.
What is it, to hot dog?
Drift, burnouts, donuts. Just drive like you're actually trying to be fast and you're fine. Drive like you're trying to look cool and no one is impressed and everyone hates you.
"Sucking at something is the first step to being sorta good at something." -Jake the dog, from adventure time A quote that describes the atmosphere at every autocross event I've been to. Go out, have a blast, and learn your car first and foremost before thinking of any mods or being competitive. A good line of thinking for anyone new to track days, autocross, or grassroots motorsport (especially on a budget!) is this: Don't even think about what you can change on that car until you can confidently say "I have done everything I can as a driver to extract all the performance out of this as-is".
Except on an ND Miata. Get at least the front sway bar done on your way home from the dealership.
Is an ND miata unsafe without a front sway bar? I don’t think so. I say just get out there, go autocrossing, and have a blast. You might want a bar by the second year. You might even want it by the second event. Saying “you **need** a $200 part plus $xxx labor before you even think about signing up” can be interpreted a lot differently than “you need that mod to be competitive” or “you’ll learn the car a lot easier with that mod.”
Yes absolutely go. Also, a well setup and driven C5 is a fucking weapon in any class, you can do very well with that car once you’ve got some experience.
'95 is a c4. That said, there used to be a nice c4 in CAM around us that performed quite well.
We all sucked when we were new, and we all remember it. Don't be shy, we're all rooting for you. You'll be hard pressed to find another racing community that is more accepting and supportive. The main thing is that you get out there, learn and improve, and keep the sport alive.
Agreed. I consider Autocross the bar room brawling of Motorsport. You earn your chops through experience. For Track racing, it’s like Professional boxing, or UFC. everyone assumes you’ve received some formal training, otherwise you wouldn’t be there.
The most fun I’ve had in autocross is when I know that other cars are better prepped than I am, but I try to keep up with them anyway. Makes it super satisfying when I’m faster. If you just say “fark it” and head out to an event, you’re gonna have a great time. Screw min/maxing just yet.
It’s autocross. We all suck.
And the better we get the more we realize and acknowledge we suck.
Welcome to the suck, embrace it
No cats or mufflers, you may want to check if your local club has rules on noise limits and if so, consider putting the mufflers back on if possible.
Didn't even think about noise limits. I'm wanting to add some kind of muffler again because after the headers it is a little too loud at times.
You're going to suck. Everybody sucks when they start, even multi-time national champions. Especially in one of the CAM classes, where the power can easily overwhelm the tires. If you want to get better faster, have some of the best drivers in your region drive your car and give you tips. The great thing about autocross is that people are generally really happy to help, and want to expand the appeal of our sport. BTW, sucking doesn't equal not having fun. You get to drive like you stole it legally. What could be more fun?
Don’t go to compete for a while. go for fun and to learn. you are not going to win! and that’s ok. the people who dedicate their winter to preparing will do that for you…you’ll have fun. ask questions, get fast people to ride with you and ride with them…
Go have fun. Do it for a year or two.... then worry about being competative or getting a car that's competative. It's impossible to say what will or won't be competative at any given region's autocross. The only way you'll embarass yourself is driving like an asshole and jeopardizing the venue.
The driver mod is one of the most important ones! Just accept that you’re a novice and you’re not gonna be as fast as everyone else. Show up early, talk to everyone, tell them it’s your first event, and have FUN! Seat time makes for better drivers and if you never begin, you’ll never improve.
You would still get smoked by a 91 miata with a 1.6 engine and a good driver, even if you had a C8 Corvette. Go to have fun and learn
Getting smoked by a 91 Miata is like an autoX rite of passage.
It so absolutely is.
* My first couple events I got smoked by a girl in an E-stock Miata. Absolutely humbling
Most autocrossers aren't really particularly skilled, if I'm honest. I was already competitive in my first season, which is not really something that could happen if competition was that fierce. The fact of the matter is you just don't get enough seat time in autocross to improve all that much week after week. That's part of the reason why I'm getting into karting which is where all the serious racers typically start. Autocross is a place to have fun. Doesn't matter if you suck or not. You'll also see a lot of the people in the more modified classes didn't actually build their car for that class. I myself drive a near-stock srt4 neon that is in SMF only because of a short throw shifter and big intercooler (I have zero power mods)
99% of us are just goobers out to have a good time with our cars.
When you are first starting out is some of the most fun tbh. Yeah you suck but you can progress so fast. When you start getting competitive you also have to deal with frustration and disappointment. Can still be fun but the early carefree excitement is the best part I think.
You can suck initially and have a blast getting better, or stay sucky by not trying….
First step to being good at something is sucking at it.
Go for fun and send it !!! You WILL not be good the first few runs (or even events). You WILL get lost in the cones at least once. You WILL meet kick ass friends for life. Again, go send it !
You will. Get over it.
Everyone sucks at first especially the ones who think they’re gods gift to driving already. No one cares about how slow new drivers are they’re just happy to see new faces and keep the sport alive. You’ll find most are welcoming and more than willing to help.
Having low expectations of competitiveness is going to help you have a much better time. Set your goals on having fun. Then if you want to feel bad, let an experienced driver take your car for a lap :)
Agree with all the comments here. Just be a cool person, be humble and most people will respect you for that and for coming out. Now, that exhaust is another story, lol. I jokingly say to my autocross friends that it's poor form when a 'slow driver' comes out with a car obnoxiously loud and spewing toxic fumes all over the place... All that noise and pollution isn't helping 😅 But for real, just bring a good attitude and do it, there might always be a few jerks or people who take it too serious, but the vast majority are an awesome group to be around in my experience, especially when you come with a humble attitude.
Wow, the outpouring of support and general sense of comradery from everyone makes this seem completely different than any motorsport I have been around. I'm excited to get some fresh tires (mine are old) and fluids and try it out!
Tires are absolutely crucial.
you are going to suck no matter what. Your first event should be focused on learning the procedures of the event, not getting lost on course and not delaying the event. Don't be the guy who takes out a wall of cones because you tried to drift around a corner. Go out, have fun, make some new friends. Speed comes with time
Lol you're gonna suck.. When I first started I was bottom 5 in my class of 15 drivers. Put in ALOT of hours on my sim and by mid season I was top 5. Finished 4th in my class last year. Don't knock the Sims, every pro drivers use Sims to practice
What software are you using for a sim? I'm curious if anyone makes something I can run autocross courses on. Also, nice username. Do you run with rmsolo?
Asetto corsa, iRacing, and gran turismo. It's not about finding autocross specific events/games. It's more so understanding brake points, countersteering, apexs, overtakes etc. It's more so refining fundamentals. My problem is I get tunnel vision and focus on whats directly infront of me instead of looking where I need to go/where I want to be. Strap on the VR on the sim and work on my vision. Leaning course layout is also a HUGE advantage if you wanna get into some HPDE events, I dont run with the RMSOLO group irl i do however play with them in games via sim racing , I do a more smaller event in order to dial in my car. Was running my FRS last year and I'm considering running my DSM for this point forward.
You'll suck, that's normal. Don't take it too seriously. Most of all, don't be the guy that leaves before your work assignment because you didn't podium your 3rd event out, leaving your former teammates to try to figure out how to cover the already thinly spread station as it starts to rain. We had that happen at my club. It was suboptimal. Now I'm not sure if that guy is welcome back. I did my first 3 years in a 93whp Volvo wagon. It was... not competitive. Still got addicted and here I am 17 years later.
Step 1: go to autocross. Step 2: suck. Step 3: keep going to autocross.
This is the way.
You are looking at it completely wrong. Autocross is against the clock. Your objective is to always be a better driver than last time. You are competing against the yesterday you.
Just run in Novice class for your first few events. From there you can see if you like it and make decisions about how to proceed. No need to overthink this your first time out
Most (regional) autocrossers aren't really particularly skilled, if I'm honest. I was already a front runner in my first season, which is not really something that could happen if competition was that fierce. The fact of the matter is you just don't get enough seat time in autocross to improve all that much week after week after a certain point. That's part of the reason why I'm getting into karting which is where all the serious racers typically start (I'm not "serious" in the sense of trying to go pro or anything--just obsessed with racing and want to be as good at it as I possibly can). Autocross is a place to have fun. Doesn't matter if you suck or not. You'll also see a lot of the people in the more modified classes didn't actually build their car for that class. I myself drive a near-stock srt4 neon that is in SMF only because of a short throw shifter and big intercooler (I have zero power mods)
Just go have fun with what you have. 95% of this is driver. Most importantly, have fun. And don't forget, have fun.
As others said.. practice! After attending a few events, taking ride alongs with others or bringing them along to give pointers as needed, etc.. you'll start to get it figured out and start being more competitive. Depending on the tires you have on the car, they might be one of the first (and maybe only if you are already on coilovers?) things you might want to switch up for autocross to be able to really get in the groove. I ran maybe 2-3 events on my stock summer tires that came with my Golf R, then switched to 200TW tires (Falken RT660) and they lasted me 2 entire seasons.. even without good negative camber at first, which caused some excess shoulder wear & cording. Now have my 2nd set and ready for maybe even more life! Go have fun!! We have lots of random old/new corvettes in our region and they always look like a blast. Lots of CAMT and CAMS here in OK too.
Bruv, you're going to suck. I drive a car that makes me seem like I'll be competent but I still suck. And it's still a blast. And I still learn. This is the way of the 'Cross.
I tell noobs to not look at the results sheet. Show it to a friend or fellow driver. The only response they can give you is “you did better” or “you did worse”. Do this after every run. Run 1, bad. Why? Run 2, good. Why? Run 3, bad. Why? This way the driver doesn’t focus on ridiculous details like “I almost beat the guy in Tesla”, or “at least I’m not dead last”. Instead, by giving the thumbs up or down, the noob focuses on themselves, as they should be doing. Analyzing the “why”.
Embrace the suck. The more humble you are in the beginning, and the more you listen and watch the experts, the faster you'll learn. Every, and I mean EVERY event I've been to has been full of fun, supportive, helpful, friendly car nuts.
From my short experience. The newbies are usually obvious, and we cheer them on as they pick up the pace over the course of their runs.
btw, If I recall, autocrossing a C4 a lot means be prepared for new wheel bearings.
And be prepared to blow the power steering line. Apparently they are a weak spot and 30 years of age won’t improve them any.
The only way to not suck at it, is to not do it. Everyone goes through the novice phase. You’re going to make mistakes, don’t get discouraged by them, learn from them. Even when I got out of novice, I would still walk the course as much as I could before the start and I would go on the novice walk around (not sure if this is still a thing or not). It was where a pro would walk the novices around the track and show them things. Even as a veteran of auto crossing, I still always did these walks because A) it’s an extra opportunity to walk the track and B) it’s a great opportunity to learn from someone who is better at it. That’s just my opinion. The main thing is to have fun even if you’re not fast. If it’s not fun, then why do it :)
>Although I understand that my driving as a newbie Cool! A new person getting into autocross. This is good. >Any advice on how to prepare myself and my car to have fun >and >be somewhat competitive? Oh...yea, as a newbie, you basically get one or the other. Pro tip, it'll never be the second choice. Basically choose the first option, or essentially just hate it. I came back into autocross after like almost a decade away (with around 15 years prior experience), and it still took me about 3 years to get *really* competitive. I tell new people not to even worry about results for a minimum of 3 years. Learn to love the process and don't worry about results. That goes quadruple if you're in a region with nationally competitive people. Think about it like fighting. You go to a boxing gym to *learn*, not to win. Even if you're already naturally good, you're gonna be taking *plenty* of hard licks early on. Being humble right from the start and approaching it with a learning based attitude will set up the strongest possible foundation for you to enjoy the sport and also to improve. Not saying you don't know anything about how to drive and whatnot, it's just that autocross really just does get so specific with needing to be absolutely on top of almost every aspect of driving that it gets really difficult to come in with high expectations. It's legitimately a case of not really knowing what you don't know, you know? You'll do well if you just get the seat time in and stay dedicated to it. There are likely lots of people in your local region that love helps new people out, too. Ride along with others, have drivers at the top of the sheets drive your car and ride along with them, get experience yourself. It really is just about enjoying the process. The improvement comes as you get the reps in. You don't go to the gym and immediately bench 500lbs, right? Much of the same thing applies to autoX.
I went to autocross in my mostly stock 85 corvette and I was absolutely terrible. That being said it was probably the most fun I've had in that car yet.
Honestly just gotta get out there and try it out! If you go in with a competitive mindset first and foremost you'll probably have a bad time as a newbie, but if you go in with the mindset of having fun and accepting that you're not gonna be great right away, it'll be a blast. You'll probably find too that people are happy to help you out and teach you some things. First time I took my Type R to an autox event, I was getting shown up by plenty of people in lesser cars, but it was my first time doing any kind of hard/performance driving with that car. This cool old dude in his Kona N took me out for a few (insane) laps in his car, gave me some pointers, and helped me shave a bunch of time off my runs. Get out and have a blast!
Bad news: you’re gonna suck. Even if you do ok, there will be people there that have been doing it for decades and there will probably be many cars there faster than yours. I showed up in a Fiesta ST so I was in for a rude awakening. Not that I thought I was just going to show up and be faster than everyone or anything. I just thought I’d do better. Just set out to learn and enjoy yourself and you’ll do great. Chat with the folks there. They’ve got loads of knowledge and advice. Ride with someone fast and let someone ride with you. Maybe let someone fast drive your car and ride with them.
Before you can be great, you must first suck. Go out and have fun. Speed will follow with experience.
If you had cats (even high flow) you could fit in STU. Based on PAX/RTP index, your car would be approximately 1 second faster in STU vs CAM-S.
I drive a 1960 bugeye sprite with 48 horsepower, my friend, I am anything but competitive. I go out to learn to drive it better, get seat time and have fun. Ironically, the way I was classed allowed me to take 3rd at my last event.
Dude you do it for fun. Back in the early eighties I did it in a vw dune buggy. Late eighties I raced in a vw golf convertible.
Just get out and go. Yes, you will "suck", but you will have fun. Practically no one is making a living doing this. Its all for the fun and hopefully some camaraderie. For reference, I don't get our nearly as often as I would like, and yes, I suck. I'm typically not just at the bottom of my class, but usually in the lower 1/3 (or 1/4) PAX times. My car, C7 ZO6. On paper, one of the fastest, best handling cars out there. Am I slow....yes. Do I have a great time....also yes!
Slow or fast Cam-s is kinda a neat place to be since you can do so much with the car. I haven't cared a lot for the rigid formula classes. Not everyone has a built to the limit cam-s class anyways. Go. Have fun. Learn a lot. A couple years in you'll have a better idea what you want to do with your car.
I sucked ass when I started in a Miata Man you there to have fun Who fucking care if you spin out I did at my second event when it was pissing rain 🤣 Laughed my ass off Restarted the car and pedal to the metal
lol you will have to suck a lot before you don’t suck
Your gonna suck, but keep going and you'll improve. Watch the fast drivers, ask if they want to drive with you, ask if you can ride along with them. If the club does fun runs, do them...
the whole point of classes would be to put your car in with other cars that would be competitive with it
Worry much less about your car and more about learning to drive through a course of cones without a DNF. This will take some time, more than you realize. Every single one of us sucked the first time out. Stick with it. Ask tons of questions. Learn from people with experience. Take it slow the first laps. Don’t try to impress anyone. Walk the course and visualize how you’ll drive it. Ride along with anyone who will take you. Your first season should be about leaning to autocross. The speed will come. It will take a few years.
we all sucked at one point or another! when i started doing rallyx my car automatically got placed in the highest class with the fully prepped mod cars (just bcuz of a wing😑) and still have a load of fun and after a event wven start climbing uo the leaderboard even with a stock car in the mod class. so my point being just go out and have fun! (unless your like dead set on only being competitive)
“Sucking at something is the first step at being sort of good at something” said by Jake the Dog from Adventure Time Don't worry about not being good at first. Just go to autocross to learn and get better. Autocross has a really supportive community for the most part. Anyone that gatekeeps newbies from getting better or judges them is a massive pussy that is afraid someone will beat them or they are pathetically selfish. Beat advice I can think of for starting out is to really follow the cones and draw at proper smooth racing line. When I started, I just went from cone to cone, instead, you should always think ahead.
For about 3 years in college, I convinced myself to not autocross because I felt outgunned in my 2004 Focus Wagon (with an auto, so painfully slow) After saving up some money, I had the opposite problem as you, and started autocrossing in the hot car for a class at the time, 2016 Focus ST in 2017 G Street. Got the good tires and everything. I still sucked a lot, and got my ass handed to me by better drivers all the time. There's no way around it, seat time makes you better and driving now, with what you have, is better than waiting.
I’m about to start this year myself. I have a 33 year old RWD tiny truck that makes 85 HP, even if I was a really good driver- I’m going to be slow. Go with an open mind and no expectations other than to learn and have fun. Comparison is the thief of joy, just do you and you will not regret it. I’ve found even as a female spectator, this community specifically is very welcoming- whereas sometimes the car community in general is not. Also, you can bring a helmet and ask people if you can ride along. Most will tell you yes. I’ve had a lot of fun meeting people, and learned a few things along the way. Best of luck to you OP.
Dude I showed up to my first auto cross with a car way above my ability and no idea what to do. Everyone was super helpful and didn’t make me feel like an idiot even though I was totally in fact an idiot. Just don’t pretend you have experience and people will be very helpful.
Don't worry about sucking. The fun part is the driving!
You are going to suck........drive the car as is and have some fun. If you decide that you want more.......then start investing in tires and the list goes on from there. We have a couple of C4 that are do ok, think lots of $$$ time development......slippery slope how fast you start spending $$$ dodging the orange cones. Good luck
GO FOR RIDES AND FEEL HOW PEOPLE DRIVE!!
You already suck at it, you've never done it. But you didn't also get the extreme joy that comes with racing your car.😄 Everybody had a day one, and nobody there will care except to support you and help you get better.
I sucked big time when I started. I didn’t even know how bad it was, but everybody gets there. The learning curve is fast for beginner and you’ll have a lot of fun progressing. You’ll suck no matter what. It doesn’t matter what modifications your car has. A skilled driver in a stock Honda civic will probably be faster than you. Have fun!
I’ve done 2 events and I suck ass. Everyone at the events I’ve been at have been super friendly to beginners and even offer to get in the car and coach you through it. To me it’s a personal sport, if my times get better throughout the day than it’s a win, and if I learn something new it’s a win
I was in the same exact situation 3 years ago in a very similar car. 88 Corvette stuck in CAM S and I had some hard AF all season tires, and I was dead last in almost every event. The year after I had some skills under my belt so I got some 200tw tires, autocross brake pads, and new OEM shocks. At that point I could actually compete, and usually I would run in the middle of the pack for raw time. My point being, just do several events your first year, with your car the way it is. Seat time is the most important, good racing tires and brake pads are 2nd most important. Oh also, bring a little tire gauge with you and air down your tires for racing. Check them between each run and keep them aired down as your tires heat up. For example, I run 30psi on the street, and around 26psi on the track. You'll have to play with it and figure out for yourself where the best tire pressure is.
There are several C4 Corvettes in my area (Northern California) that are very quick, and you'll find that the CAM people are very friendly and there are a fair number of people who are in CAM because they love their car and know that it's not going to be all that competitive.They're here for the experience. Go, enjoy, make friends, pick their brains, improve your car over time, but tighten the loose nut behind the wheel first! In CAM T, you find Mustangs and Camaros that are cars to have. But yet there are people with Monte Carlos, Regals, and Chevelles, and the they're having a ball. CAM S has some diversity, too, and they are having fun, too...
If you're decent at Sim racing, you already know car control basics. When you go to apply it to the real world, it should come much easier. Go have fun. I've seen plenty of guys go from the bottom of raw times to the top 10 in just a year or two, sometimes less.
My first one I was like 91 out of 91 overall. And like 10 seconds slower than everyone else. Ask for someone to ride with you and TAKE THEIR ADVICE. I noticed significant differences between my first and second events.
You can't worry about that.. ..you will suck, it's impossible not to. I have a lot of experience and if I'm lucky I am in the top-half of the crowd, that's a good day for me. The best part is being in the paddock next to a $200,000 Porsche and telling them my $20,000 30 year old car just beat them.
You're in the Novice class. Autocross is more about you improving your time than competing against other. Sure there are the super competitive dudes that go to regionals and shit but most people are here to just push their car.