Autocrossing with a learner's permit

My son Tommy and I will be autocrossing the 325is tomorrow in Geneva Florida.

Turns out the SCCA will let a kid with a learner's permit run if his parent or an instructor are in the car.

Sure makes autocrossing simple again, as we will both drive the same car and I don't need to drag the kart to the events anymore.

Assuming tomorrow goes well, it looks like the kart is for sale if anyone is interested.

Hey, sounds good.

edit All the more reason my sister will be mad at me when my neice turns 16 in 3 years , beside Hali has already said that she wants uncle Brian to teach her to drive

That's pretty sweet.

I often think that should be required of kids these days.

I'm glad to hear that. I know I autocrossed with my learner's permit, but they never actually checked it so I didn't know if we were completely legal or not at the time. Dad and I would run our 83 Tercel against each other. Some of the most fun I ever had with him! I usually beat him by .5sec, but that was most likely due to the 100lb weight difference.

Now you tell me!
Actually that's good information to know! We are currently prepping a kart for my twin 14 year old sons to run this year, while I will run my Civic. I think it will be worth it though, as they will be able to run this year and most of next before they'll be able to get a learners permit. I'm hoping that this will help them to build on the skills they've developed with their off road karts, and help prepare them for driving a car.

My son's only 9 months old so I have a while before he can drive but I've already told my wife that I want to take him autocross racing as part of learning to drive.

PHeller wrote: That's pretty sweet. I often think that should be required of kids these days.

Ya wouldn't that realy make a lot of sense? Maybe there would be more good drivers then.

applause

I think it's an awesome idea to give kids at/beyond the limit of adhesion seat time before sending them loose on the streets. Sadly, we had yet another multiple fatality accident in Atlanta last week that was the result of a 16 year old driver crossing the median on I75. The 'driving test' in our state is pathetic.

I took my son out when he turned 16 and got his license.

We'd practiced in parking lots around, just to teach him to drive, not autocross and he was having trouble with shifting.

He'd ridden with me before so had the idea and was stoked about the idea of autocrossing so 2 weeks after he got his license we were autocrossing. He was scared at first and he spun a few times, but he solved his shifting issues. I rode with him about half the time and he went on his own the rest.

The Miata didn't have ABS so he learned about locking them up.

He was actually quite fast since he didn't know his limits. It took him weeks to get the smile off his face.

That's bizarre. I took my daughter to a local even last fall (16, on her provisional) and they would only let her ride in somebody else's car, not mine.

Does anybody know what class a bone stock 325is with street tires runs in? (answers by 7 am tomorrow would be best.)

D Stock. 3 Series, 6 cyl. (non-M) NOC

Thanks a lot. We're on our way.

Aaron and Ryan must run one season of autocross when they get their licenses. After that if they don’t want to continue that’s their choice. I feel they will learn a ton about what you can and can’t do in a car in that season and should make them better drivers.

Our local region of SCCA wont let you autocross on a permit. Tim, if you read this can you point me in the direction of the rule? Something I can print out and take with me to our first event.

Good Luck Tommy!!!!

sanyarcosean: I would suggest talking with your local region before the event. At the event they are already busy and you may not get the best results.

The rules state:

"4. DRIVERS 4.1 DRIVER’S CREDENTIALS A. Drivers must possess a currently valid automobile driver’s license. Any underage driver who has the legal authority (license or permit) to operate an automobile with restrictions on a public road may compete in a Stock, Street Touring, or Street Prepared class at Regional events, as long as the restrictions of the driving license or permit are met. If those restrictions require a passenger, and the Region allows passengers, that passenger must be either the driver’s parent or legal guardian or an approved instructor. That instructor must be approved by both the event chairman and the event Solo Safety Steward on a case-by-case basis. He/she must have the written permission of the driver’s parent/legal guardian (signed at the event) to ride as a passenger, and the restrictions imposed by the underage driver’s state must allow the instructor to ride as a passenger. Drivers must be SCCA members"

However regions can also add their own rules about who is eligible to that so they may have restricted learners permits at the local level. What region are you?

"4.2 EVENT ENTRY Entry into all SCCA Solo events is limited to those individuals meeting the mandatory sections of the SR. Additional entry requirements follow. A. Regional Events Requirements are determined by the Region organizing committee."

Also for competing minors they need the signature from both parents or guardians on the minor waiver form unless one parent has sole custody.

It went great, and we both had a great time. I was only 8 seconds behind Dad on a 1 min. Course. Of course, I had to run in Novice class.

By the way: Winston tires are the hot setup, even better than Baldini racing slicks.

I wish my parents would take me autocrossing but on the other hand I would love a 325is

Did your dad let you ride with him so you could get a better feel for the line and learn to read the course better?

Yes.

Way to go. Back in Ohio most of the autocrossing parents would have the kids run on their permit. They learned so much on car control. They were not scared in a quick decision situation. It has also helped with kids getting to drive carts at autocrosses to teach them to read a course. Much easier in a car the first few times and not staring at a sea of cones.

So how is that new Geneva site? Can't wait to try it myself; it sounds awesome from the descriptions I've heard so far.

Congrats on your first event in a full size car! With all your karting experience, I expect you to be going very fast in short order.

Way to go Tommy!

I don't have kids of my own, but I've taken my niece to a couple of autocrosses, and she soaked it right up. Driving ability for young folks FTW.

jstein77 wrote: So how is that new Geneva site? Can't wait to try it myself; it sounds awesome from the descriptions I've heard so far. Congrats on your first event in a full size car! With all your karting experience, I expect you to be going very fast in short order.

The Geneva site is my new favorite in the central Florida area. Smooth, fresh-ish asphalt, big enough for ~60 second courses.

Tommy's E30 looked great on course. I'm curious to see the novice class results...

jstein77 wrote: So how is that new Geneva site? Can't wait to try it myself; it sounds awesome from the descriptions I've heard so far.

Where more specifically is it? I may have to make a trip down from G'ville.

It's in Geneva, near the junction of 46 and 426.

Per