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If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. Results 1 to 8 of 8 Thread: First Timer Thread Tools Show Printable Version Display Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode 10-02-2012, 09:47 AM #1 SethC94 View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries Small pockets, Big ideas Join Date Aug 2012 Location Tracy CA Posts 483 Thanks  26 Thanks  20 Thanked in19 Posts Total Contributions For
SethC94     $ 0.00 First Timer I want to take my Mr2 to the autocross, just wondering what kind of requirements I will need. permits, equipment...ect I'm definitely not going to be doing anything crazy because my mr2 is also my transportation so i plan on not breaking anything.
Also, Im in Tracy CA, the closest place is SF right? Reply With Quote 10-02-2012, 04:18 PM #2 mr2boost View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries MK. II RACING Join Date Sep 2005 Location Bartlett, TN Posts 424 Thanks  0 Thanks  44 Thanked in37 Posts Total Contributions For
mr2boost     $ 0.00 Well, I am not sure about your location, but only thing you need to AX is a driver's license & money to pay to run. Your car should be in good condition (no big fluid leaks - drips are ok), battery fully secured & all loose items out of the car including all floor mats (you don't want the floor mats getting slung up under your pedals). Having a good helmet is nice, even though most places will have some loaners, I personally don't like sharing a helmet. Most (SCCA & NASA) require Snell 2000 or above rating (helmet can't be over 15 years old) & just DOT rating is not good enough, it must have the sticker in it stating the rating.

Other than that look at this post I made in another thread.

This is how it normally goes out at the AX.
Before hand go to scca.com & go to the Solo section & open up the rule book & make sure what class your car is in (IF YOU are going to an SCCA AX - NASA & other organizations have different classing & ALMOST ALL can help you at the AX). Buy some painters tape to place your class letters & number (you chose a 1 or 2 digit number) on your car (or you can buy some magnetic numbers & letters, WE USUALLY have some painters tape at our local events, your local folks may have some too). Make sure your car can pass tech (in the rule book) & get all the fluids topped off & everything in good working condition (no big leaks & driving well), air up your tires & get all loose items out of the car & trunk, especially make sure your battery is secured in place AND all your lug nuts are on. Then drive out to the AX on morning of. If the desk is set up at the entrance get signed in & get an arm band (signing in makes sure you are covered on the insurance should you get hurt - does NOT cover your car). Then find a nice area to park in the paddock area. Remove any loose items from your car (floor mats, cell phones, radar detectors, cups, cans, etc...) & set them down in your paddock area. Walk over to the SCCA trailer (or where they are checking folks in & getting your money) & get a tech sheet (you can print off a tech sheet from some of the local scca websites if you want to & they have them available). Make sure your car is in good condition & ready for tech, then pull your car over to the tech inspection station (sign may be set up that says TECH) & you will see cars lining up. Make sure you have your helmet in your car (if no helmet there are loaners sometimes available but check with your local AX group) & put your tech sheet under the windshield wiper. Once the inspector techs your car park your car back in your paddock area & then take your tech sheet to the SCCA trailer (HQ area) & PAY your $$$. Then listen up for the call to walk the course. Walk through it several times. They will then call for a drivers meeting, assign run group & work stations (yes, if you run you work - but it is fun!). Then when over they will announce the class winners & other information. Just be patient, don't drive fast in the paddock or grid areas (only on the course), & you will have a blast!

Just know that it you loose control & run over the timing equipment at the start or finish you will be DQ'ed & your day is done, period (your local may be different on this). Other than that killing cones is okay, but they cost you a 2 second penalty for each cone.


If you are not a member of the SCCA you can purchase a membership at the SCCA trailer & that days AX is USUALLY free. Also if you are under 25 years of age there is a much reduced fee for membership in the SCCA. Other organizations are about the same or a little different.

If you would like to join the SCCA by using the main web site (scca.com) & using a credit card you can post on the site that you were referred by a current member & get a $15 discount.

Here is a good read before you AX too, I found it VERY HELPFUL!
Solo II Novice Handbook

Hope this helps!

Note that other organizations like PCA or BMW Club will just write a number on your windshield with polish unless a whole bunch of cars show up, then they may use painters tape.

Daniel "THE RAPTOR" 1991 Crimson Red Turbo
SCCA Mid South Region Solo Safety Steward / MSR 2009, 2010 ASP Champion & 2010 MSR Worker of the Year / MSR 2011 BSP Champion (Moved back to ASP for 2012) Also associated with NASA now # 44 ASP (SCCA) # 44 NXD (NASA) Reply With Quote The Following User Says Thank You to mr2boost For This Useful Post: SethC94 (10-02-2012) 10-02-2012, 11:18 PM #3 SethC94 View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries Small pockets, Big ideas Join Date Aug 2012 Location Tracy CA Posts 483 Thanks  26 Thanks  20 Thanked in19 Posts Total Contributions For
SethC94     $ 0.00 Thanks. I guess that pretty much sums up this thread Reply With Quote 10-04-2012, 09:20 AM #4 redmistertwo View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries Cage Fighter Join Date Sep 2012 Location NYC Posts 282 Thanks  3 Thanks  4 Thanked in4 Posts Total Contributions For
redmistertwo     $ 0.00 yeah mr2boost has been a great help, i went for the first time and its 99% exactly what he said. Reply With Quote 10-12-2012, 04:17 PM #5 toyotaspeed90 View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries No Skills Join Date Jun 2006 Location Bellingham, WA Posts 3,406 Thanks  1 Thanks  215 Thanked in205 Posts Total Contributions For
toyotaspeed90     $ 0.00 A few things from my standpoint (been a course designer, safety steward, autocross chief, tech/car check, and I'm the VP of the club):

#1) arrive early. Not 10 minutes early. If they say "arrive between 7am and 8am" arrive at 7am. You want to get your course walks in.

#2) prepare for the weather. Not just your car, but you. Hot day? Bring a hat or sunblock, sunglasses. Almost all auto-x events that you run in you also WORK in. If you're new, most likely you will be a cone chaser.

#3) get a course map and WALK THE COURSE over and over and over. Not until you can see the course can you stop. You don't want to be "that" guy who revs their overly powerful turbo'd motor at the start only to find out 50 ft in you have no idea where you're going. There's a term called "a sea of cones" and it happens to a LOT of people. Don't watch the gates you're going through or about to go through, watch 3, 4 or more gates ahead. Learning to drive in yoru peripheral will become 2nd nature.

#4) Have your car ready for tech. Each club differs in exactly how the flow from tech to grid works... but when you arrive clear your car out. Clear it out of everything loose. the night before - check to make sure you have enough coolant, enough oil, you don't need an oil change 'right around the corner', that your tires have an acceptable amount of tread, that your battery is secure, your throttle snaps back appropriately (if throttle by wire, no concern there), and even give your wheels a good shake to make sure you don't hear anything (like loose wheel bearings).

#5) make sure you are able to learn some of the rules before going the first time. Our club has a hard time finding venues and because of that we have specific rules. For instance if your exhaust exceeds the legal limit (and yes, we have a meter) you're out for the day. Also... at our club... if you hit the timing equipment (from $30 to $700 each piece) you bought it.

#6.... be prepared, have fun, and BE SAFE Reply With Quote 04-23-2013, 10:19 AM #6 WebWalker View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries No Skills Join Date Mar 2013 Location Burlington, MA Posts 30 Thanks  0 Thanks  1 Thanked in1 Post Total Contributions For
WebWalker     $ 0.00 This is an old post, but I would suggest something that has not been posted. Invest in a small compressed air container and fill it up before you go onsite. Then look closely at the sides of your tires. Most of them have a ^ mark around the sides of them. Get a piece of chalk and mark the tire at all these points from the tread surface to well past the ^. After your first run look to see how much chalk has rubbed off. This will indicate how much you should raise or lower your tire pressure. If correct, the chalk should be rubbed off right to the top of the ^. This will take a while to get right, but so many people overlook this simple trick and it will really help with the overall tire performance.

Also I would STRONGLY suggest you look into your local club to see if they have an instruction event. This is worth its weight in gold IMO. Most people have no idea how to really drive, turn and stop their car. IMO this is the single best thing you can do to bond with your car.

Also be friendly with other drivers, ask if you can ride with them, unless they are insane competitive, most of the time they are happy to have you ride shotgun and if they know what they are doing it can be a big help to see what is possible if you push it.

The other suggestion I have is really work on slowing down. Anyone can mash the go pedal, but the fast drivers are masters of the brakes. Also, most of the time, you should be on the gas or on the break, if you are doing anything else you are loosing time.

Finally while on the course, have fun. Push it a little bit, maybe even spin. It will teach you more than you can imagine, just make sure you are not being an ass and keep corner workers and the time clocks in mind when making any decision as you are going to really hate yourself if you kill a clock and you should always consider the safety of workers over any attempt to gain time. Reply With Quote The Following User Says Thank You to WebWalker For This Useful Post: SethC94 (04-24-2013) 04-24-2013, 07:55 PM #7 SethC94 View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries Small pockets, Big ideas Join Date Aug 2012 Location Tracy CA Posts 483 Thanks  26 Thanks  20 Thanked in19 Posts Total Contributions For
SethC94     $ 0.00 Thanks. This actually going to be an instructional course. A family friend of ours has been doing auto x for some odd years in his miatas. The first day is the instructional and the second is the actual event. its on the weekend of the 3rd. Im just trying to not bust anything on my car between now and then Reply With Quote 04-25-2013, 10:59 AM #8 WebWalker View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries No Skills Join Date Mar 2013 Location Burlington, MA Posts 30 Thanks  0 Thanks  1 Thanked in1 Post Total Contributions For
WebWalker     $ 0.00 I would also spend some Google and brain time learning about the traction circle. Fairly simple, but realize if you go outside the circle, you are going to have to go way back in to regain grip. It is better to be at 80-90% then to try to push it over the edge. Funny thing is most of the time, fast drivers look and sound kinda slow on the track.

Best of luck!

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