Any tips for first autocross?

[Shawn Anderson]

I am going to my first autocross next sunday, I am taking my 13 Mustang gt. A friend is being a man and taking his 71 camaro. Any tips?

[milner351]

1. HAVE A BLAST!

2:

do you have a spare set of wheels and tires? How good are the brakes?

If you're running stock everything - I would put it in first or second gear and leave it there at least your first lap or two, don't worry about shifting.

You MAY find lowering your tire pressure a few psi is helpful - but don't go crazy with it - as you may end up rolling a tire far enough to break the bead or mess up a rim.

[Shawn Anderson]

It is all stock but, but has the track with the brembo brakes and 19" wheels and Pzero tires (7,500 or so miles).

[pdub]

It is all stock but, but has the track with the brembo brakes and 19" wheels and Pzero tires (7,500 or so miles).

I did autocross one single time when I was a kid in the 65 VW bug with major HP and recap tires and no brakes to speak of. That was a cone killing expedition but it was fun.

I can't WAIT to hear about this in the rig you've got. Yeah, I need to get addicted to something else by encouragement. Land speed's okay, runnng on a big road course is life-changing addictive.....uh-oh - autocross? I simply can't wait to hear how much fun that is with a ride that will do it.

[squirrel]

Interesting about the tire pressure...my wife was advised to bring the pressure way up to help prevent rounding off the corners of the tires (street tires).

I'm planning to go to an autocross soon, possibly in a couple weeks, I've been too busy for the past several months.

[BBR]

Go fast.

[Barry Donovan]

treat it like a rwd on a winter travel.
little deflate in the back, suspension in control.

some make their cars slide like a drifter. I never did figure if that was a gain or showing off.

[htrdharley]

1st gear, straight brake, dont look at the gauge cluster, be smooth. Slow is fast. Dont over brake or brake late. Set up for the corner and drive through.

[Dan Barlow]

Let half the air out of your buddys rear tires.

[pdub]

Let half the air out of your buddys rear tires.

I can already tell that I shouldn't try autocross, because if I let the air out of the tires for scientific/strategic purposes, there I'd be with half-flat tires for the drive down the interstate back home. I have a bicycle pump....and no upper body stamina. Have you ever tried to pump up a car tire with a bicycle pump?

[squirrel]

They sell little 12v compressors for twenty bucks...

[pdub]

They sell little 12v compressors for twenty bucks...

I bought a fancy one that plugs in the wall with like a two-gallon tank at Tony Depot for about 80 bucks and it leaks a seive. It won't hold pressure, it won't even MAKE pressue. Made in China.

Never mind, didn't mean to derail Shawn's thread. Sorry Shawn. Keep us informed, blow-by-blow. I wanna know. Autocross.

[Shawn Anderson]

I bought a fancy one that plugs in the wall with like a two-gallon tank at Tony Depot for about 80 bucks and it leaks a seive. It won't hold pressure, it won't even MAKE pressue. Made in China.

Never mind, didn't mean to derail Shawn's thread. Sorry Shawn. Keep us informed, blow-by-blow. I wanna know. Autocross.

No harm, no derail

I hope to take some video

[pdub]

No harm, no derail

I hope to take some video

Oh please oh please do. In car, out of car. Yeah.

[milner351]

Shawn I wouldn't go below 28psi - and you may in fact find that you do best with 35 or 36 - and since it's your first time out - I'll shut up - just run the tire pressure where the sticker on the door jamb says to - I'll shut up now.

HAVE FUN!