[xShiFTx]

So a little background.. I inherited an '02 Focus SE (SPI) bone stock with atx. I previously had a truck.

I've been out to one local autocross, just to watch, and am interested in getting involved. Is it going to be worth going out and participating in an autocross event? I guess I am worried about how competitive I would be.. Will an spi get blown out of the water by all the other cars? Am I going to look like a fool?

Also, how do you all get some practice in? I am interested in some tips on how I could get myself ready before I actually went out and participated in an event.

I tried reading "A novice guide to autocross" but the link was broken.

So what do you all think?

 

[WD40]

The "novice guide" link should be OK...
http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33797

As far as practice, you'll get none better than just going out and entering and competing in events.
It's MUCH safer that way, and you'll end up faster in the long run.
Most clubs are very open to helping novices out with clinics and ride-alongs.

Yes it is very much worth participating, so get out and do it! [thumb]

 

[xShiFTx]

Weird, everytime I click it I get errors that state "Invalid Thread specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator"

My account seems to have some major problems, surprised you can even see my original post because I sure can't.

 

[WD40]

Lemme look into it.
That is weird.

 

[S2]

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33797

The above link works for me, it should be accessable for everyone. Worst case Doug, just recreate the thread (cut/paste) and relink it accordingly.

 

[WD40]

xShiFTx;
Can you still not see the Novice Guide thread?
Or, are you saying you can't see your first post in this thread?

 

[xShiFTx]

I see neither. I clicked the link and got the famous "Invalid Thread specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator"

I've tried it from multiple computers even.

 

[WD40]

Well, here's your first post so the rest of the folks can see it:

So a little background.. I inherited an '02 Focus SE (SPI) bone stock with atx. I previously had a truck.

I've been out to one local autocross, just to watch, and am interested in getting involved. Is it going to be worth going out and participating in an autocross event? I guess I am worried about how competitive I would be.. Will an spi get blown out of the water by all the other cars? Am I going to look like a fool?

Also, how do you all get some practice in? I am interested in some tips on how I could get myself ready before I actually went out and participated in an event.

I tried reading "A novice guide to autocross" but the link was broken.

So what do you all think?

As far as the other thread, lemme see what I can do.

 

[focusedaddiction]

Why not go out there & just do it, lots of seat time is your best friend!!!
my wife races her ATX wagon and does pretty good. she usually beats a certain loud mouth in an eclipse..lol occationally a mustang or two!

 

[BradWhite]

Yep, it's worth it! I'm 50 years old and attended an Auto-X "school" a couple of months ago. Perhaps the club(s) in your area offer the same. Even if they don't I'm sure you'll find the other participants willing to help and answer your questions. I plan on attending every event when the 09 season begins.

It was a blast to get out there and run my car on the course. But more importantly to me was how much I learned, in only one day, about my car and myself. I feel that I'm already a better driver because of it. And I certainly have a lot more confidence in what my car is capable of.

Don't worry about being competitive, the courses are setup for driving skills - not excessive speed. I ran better times than a Lotus and a Corvette with my Focus!

If you want to worry about something, worry about getting addicted to it. [clap]

 

[lildudeinacar]

i am just worried that i am going to break something, thats why i shy away

 

[BradWhite]

You just get to learn more about your car when you fix it! [wrenchin] I have watched two different Auto-X events with over 250 cars in each. I have yet to see anyone break anything, though I'm sure it can happen.

 

[xShiFTx]

Went out this last weekend and ran with the local Porsche club, had a blast. Didn't get lost on the course once (This was my biggest fear, getting lost) and didn't hit a cone either. Beat a mustang and a few other slower Porsches, ended up only 1.5 seconds behind another first-timer that ran his Porsche GT3...

Overall I had fun and met some great people, looking for wheels and tires for next season and plan on running a full season for the SCCA

 

[wrc_fan]

As I've said before, every breakdown is an oppurtunity for a performance upgrade.

Really though, the only breakdowns I've seen this year were: An ancient fiero had a fuel leak (probably the most dangerous), a volvo turbo wagon (highly modded) blew a intake hose, and my own when my trubendz exhaust seperated at the center section,lol. Needless to say I had a local shop tack that section together.

Note all the cases above are with modified vehicles. There may be a little extra wear and tear on the drivetrain, but if you have fun driving your car, you probably don't worry about that.

 

[mikebontoft]

You just get to learn more about your car when you fix it! [wrenchin] I have watched two different Auto-X events with over 250 cars in each. I have yet to see anyone break anything, though I'm sure it can happen.

so far my SPI's been fine.. I took it over like 6 speed bumps (deserted area, and they're like those long flat speed bumps; my personal playground [hihi]) and off a two foot dirt jump (about half of the "course" is dirt), and luckily all I've suffered so far is a cracked bumper (and I did fix it [thumb]) when I did the jump and there was a rock that wasn't there before, and it sliced my bumper [gunfire]

auto-x sounds fun, and I'm getting the heel-toe method down, that's really fun actually [thumb]

 

[lildudeinacar]

Sounds good enough for me, and thats true, and its not like i dont know how to fix it, just lack of tools, lack of a garage.

 

[BradWhite]

It is a lot of fun, and better yet you really do learn a lot about you and your car. I had no clue my car was capable of handling the way it did before I ran it in the Auto-X school. After just one day (9 runs) I'm one hell of a lot more confident in my car and my driving then I ever would have been before.

And I know I have more to learn. My best time was 61 seconds (twice) and when an instructor drove my car he brought it across the line in 54 seconds.

There really is only one problem with Auto-X. Once you do it, you're addicted and you start looking at what you can do to improve your suspension. But all you really wind up doing is improving your car and making it a hell of lot more fun to drive.

 

[mikebontoft]

^^ hey there's nothing wrong with that! (minus the inevitable cash drain though...) []

 

[rnap_83]

I have been to one autocross with a friend and it looked like a blast. I just bought my first focus and plan on running it in connecticut next season. Cant wait!

 

[xShiFTx]

Just thought I'd do a little update.. I've done 4 autocross events and one track day since I last posted in here! I'm addicted and having a blast. Went and bought some 205/50-15 Kumho XS tires and a dedicated set of wheels. If anyone is interested I have played with pressures and 42 in the front and 45 in the rear have been most effective. The XS' have a super soft sidewall, and I rollover with anything less..

Next on the list is SVT shocks/struts, K&N Filter, higher performance brake pads, maybe a catback exhaust. (Racing H-stock in my local SCCA region)

My stock suspension makes for extreme body roll through corners.

Here are some picturess