AutoX manners?

Zachs240sx · 11-03-2005, 01:32 AM

im curious about driving techniques in autoX. i searched through several of the threads throughout the forum, and i have had a hard time finding info on wether or not drifting is allowed in autoX. i went to the SCCA site aswell still coming up with no good outlines on what to expect. if i have overlooked a link, or a possible page of the SCCA site, could someone please let me know? a friend and i are looking to start autoXing(my car and his miata), im just wanting to know some basis of race style before we go. i believe that in order to become an actual sport driver, you should aprecciate both grip and drift as a whole. so either way, i would love to go and get some seat time. so if anyone can help out, that would be awesome.

thanks alot

**thagr81_us** · 11-03-2005, 11:55 AM

It is not allowed... My buddy with S15 SRed Zenki got booted from running for drifting through the turns. Just apex as close to the cones as possible without hitting them. And use out-in-out and make sure you are setup for the next turn. With some practice you should be good. But everyone has their own technique. Setup a practice course in a parking lot with PERMISSION and practice and have someone time you to see which technique works better for ya. Good luck and welcome to the sport.

tyrodtom · 11-03-2005, 12:11 PM

whatever works, of course if you knock down most of their cones you will be uninvited.

Zachs240sx · 11-03-2005, 07:31 PM

thanks alot guys. i was hoping that wouldnt seem to be a dumb question. i promise i researched it for a good while. i guess its becuase drifting is more of a show sport in the long run. either way, ill do the parking lot time, and see what happens. do either of you know a decent arrangement for the cones that i could set up in a parking lot?

thanks again!

Skipper5 · 11-04-2005, 08:19 PM

part of it will also depend on the size and competition level of the event. if you're running at a 200 car event they will be less receptive to your drift techniques. however if its a smaller 50-80 car event you may get more room to play. for example there is one drifter at my local events (~70 cars) and he is warmly welcomed as well as the occassional newb

you could always ask the event coordinator too.

PS: autocross is addicting. be careful

Skipper5 · 11-04-2005, 08:24 PM

see above. ^^^

Zachs240sx · 11-04-2005, 08:48 PM

im sure it is addictive. im really pumped about it. i just wanted to get some advice before jumping into it.

thanks again everyone

black95se · 11-05-2005, 11:19 AM

look into PCA ( Porshe Club of America) there evets serve very well for seat and not as competive of an enviroment. Down here they are very easy going guys and do mind a little sliding either. Definatly get into auto X though man, it is a lot of fun and also legal ( at events), It really helps you feel out your car and figure out what it can do...good luck to ya

p.s. dont be scared to ask for advice or help, i have found that most of the auto X guys are kool as shit and are more than willing to give you pointers.

Zachs240sx · 11-05-2005, 07:27 PM

well they definetly makes me feel more comfortable about the whole thing. its good to know that the majority of them would rather help someone enter the sport, rather than make them feel uneasy and turn them away.

thanks alot

**thagr81_us** · 05-26-2006, 05:21 PM

If you want to practice auto-x... Setup up some cones and such and go for it with your own course and change it around everytime since no auto-x course is ever the same. Make sure you put a slalom section, a straight with chicanes in it, some complex corners such as (90 left followed immediately by another 90 left or 90 right), a couple of 180's, and at least one long sweeping turn. This should help you out with the basic track skills since most of these show up at least once or twice in ALL auto-x courses. Especially work on the slalom since it is generally the most difficult to master and get through with the least amount of time. Good luck man.

EDIT: I was already bored... So here ya go for a layout I ran awhile back just to give ya a basic idea...

esco · 07-08-2006, 01:06 AM

The idea of intentionally drifting at an auto-x contradicts the sport itself. The goal is to attain the fastest course time possible which technically through the laws of physics is impossible by drifting. In the grip world, breaking traction is a display of losing car control since it slows you down. The priority is to reach the maximum adhesion level of your tires to the point where they're about to break loose but won't. I'm not saying that pro auto-x'rs never slide but if they could go back and correct thier errors they would. If there is a habit of sliding, you may want to work on correcting that than to adapt it as a style. It isn't a winning style and it pisses of the guys that work so hard to put together the event promising the landlure that there will be a minimal amount of debri,tire marks and noise. It isn't so much that solo guys hate it but morso for the fact that it usually brings unwanted attention(fast and the furious drift newbs) and maintenance to the course. The philly region that i've run in is very leniant to sliding, if the person understands that it's not their priority and unintentional.

skydragoness · 07-21-2006, 11:11 AM

^What he said

I know that it is very hard to secure lots to autocross in in the northeast. Autocrossing and most motorsports besides Nascar are not accepted very well by the public in this region. So, respecting the rules and regulations are crucial in order for there to be another autocross.

Just ask the officials instead of going out there intentionally sliding. It would be the smart thing to do.

nismounlmtd · 07-21-2006, 06:53 PM

haha i went to a drift event with my one friend who was purchasing a wrx but didnt have it until the next day, so he had to use his s12 drift car. haha omg it was so funny seeing him drifting the whole course. he didnt hit one cone the whole day so they didnt kick him out.