My first Autocross - what to expect?

I'm finally going to do my first autocross this Saturday, at Lime Rock, in my bone-stock 1997 2.5L Boxster. Any veteran cone dodgers have any advice for a first-timer?

If you're confused, just ask. Almost everyone is friendly and your first time can be a bit confusing with tech and course walk and all that. Get there a bit early, introduce yourself to someone and ask. It makes the day a lot less stressful.
Other than that, get a ride along (or five) if at all possible before driving. The course looks one way while walking, and another while driving. One of the things experience gives you is the ability to translate between the two, ride alongs help this a LOT when you're new.
Bring sunscreen. Bring water. Bring tape for numbers. Remember that even though there will be serious people taking this very seriously, we're all just kids playing with cars, and it's fun.
Have a good time.

the standard, is find the guy/gal with the biggest hat … then ask any questions you might have … there could very well be a "novice co-orinator" that you will be directed to … first thing you do when you get there (assuming it's open already) is go to reg.

ask them who you need to find to help out with you on site prep … lots of clubs are requiring you to have you numbers and class designators on the car before taking it to tech (another reason to go to reg, first) …

but MAINLY go expecting to be overwhelmed, and PLEASE try to have fun … and come back

Plan on getting confused/lost on course. Figuring out what to do when looking at a sea of cones is kind of like learning a new language. Don't sweat it. Don't plan on being fast. Go, have fun, don't take it too serious, and don't be that guy, especially that guy with a Porsche. Walk the course if you can!!

Don't worry about the times,you'll most likely be slow.It takes a few events to start getting the hang of processing the cones coming at you and how to miss them.

Remember to look ahead,something I struggle with still after a couple decades of dodging the suckers.

My old region had a nice novice video on their getting started page:

http://cincyscca.com/autocross/getting-started/

Ask questions, have fun, bring water and sunscreen and snacks/lunch in case there isn't a vendor there. It's horrible being hungry and working the course for 90+min.

Edit: and don't hit/run over the timing equipment.

99% chance you'll get lost first run. 70% chance second run. Don't be afraid to ask a veteran for a ride-along. My first event sitting at the line I was nervous as berkeley and no clue where I was going. The SOLO chairman asked if I would like him to ride along with me the next time and I said YES...

Sun screen, water, snacks (I like to keep a Cliff bar in my side pocket for between run pick-me-up). Definitely walk the course alone and the novice walk. And have lots of fun, that's the whole point. I make new friends every event.

the fastest route is the shortest distance. resist the urge to take a corner wide and fast, when tight and slow is probably faster.

Things not to do

Brag about getting FTD because: Porsche/talent/whatever

Underestimate the ugly beater

Tip the safety steward (although nobody has ever tried, sigh)

Have attitude

Be pushy

So in summation: have fun, be cool, enjoy the camaraderie, learn something new, get addicted and come back regularly.

When you get to second gear, stay there.

Also, Lime Rock autocross isn't regular autocross. It's more like hot laps on a big go-kart track.

1. Walk the course. As many times as you can, walk the course. And as you walk, crouch down at a few points and see what the cones will look like from a low-slung car. Standing puts you much higher than you will be when driving. Walk until you can close your eyes and go through the course in your mind. Knowledge of where to go is the best thing you can do as a novice.

2. Walk the course with the people in the big hats or the novice coordinator or someone who looks like they are contemplating each corner. There is usually a group here and there discussing their line through the course. Ask if you can tag along and just listen to their thought process. You'll pick up thing like "I'm going to enter the optional slalom to the left first, so I finish on the right and have a better angle on that next corner." Don't worry about getting the perfect line, just pick up some pointers about where you should be braking early or running wide. And ask to ride along with someone before your first run. DO THIS. You will get a better look at the course and see it at speed.

3. On your first run, you goal is not to set FTD. Your goal is to not to go off course, not get lost, and take the shortest distance possible. That means stay tight to the cones even if you are going a little slower. You can always find places to add speed over a few runs, but running wide, plowing and understeering or tail-sliding around the course teaches you nothing about what you should be doing. The BEST thing you can do is take a co-driver and have them show you the course! Once you get it, you will be OK. If you can't figure it out on your own, you might burn 2-3 runs trying to learn it. TAKE A CO-DRIVER ON YOUR FIRST RUN.

4. Subsequent runs should be spent trying to improve your times incrementally. Forget the person in the Evo on 20" wide Hoosiers...you will not beat them. Work on beating your last time only. You should come off each run and be able to name one place where you can go a little faster, cut a little closer or brake a little later. To do this, watch the other cars run and listen close to your car. On street tires, a little squeal is about right, howl is bad. Ask other drivers about tire pressures and adjust to balance the car and grip where you need it. Think about the places where the wheel is hard over, and you are wanting to turn, but the car is just screeching and taking its time. You are too fast through that corner. Or places where you lift and then just wait for the car to slow. You should be on the gas, then hard on the brakes. Again, watch the other cars, especially brake lights. The runs that look slow, are the fast ones. The ones with a lot of squeal and smoke, are not.

5. HAVE FUN! This is better than sitting in a cubicle.

My first autoX was a blast. I was astonished by the amount of butterflies I had going on considering I was 41 years old sitting at the wheel of a wagon. Ended up finishing DFL and had a truly great (and humbling) time.

First rule of autocross: bring sunscreen and water!!!!

Expect to have a good time. Don't get to caught up on times, as we are all slow our first few events. Don't be afraid to ask questions, or better yet, buddy up with a veteran and shadow them for the day.

And walk the course a lot. The basic rule of thumb is to walk it enough until you can drive the entire course in your head.

You'll enjoy it!

Also watch the fat guys in Miatas. Especially the ones with big hats.

As Woody said. Not your typical sea of cones autocross.

Not sure I can add anything that wasnt already said. I started earlier this year. My biggest regret was not bringing a hat the first time.

I had an instructor ride with me for a run and I rode with him for a run, it was fantastic free advice and it made me faster, like by seconds.

Check the weather, maybe throw in an umbrella if rain, folding chair if sunny.

Talk to people. Ive met all kinds of people this year, but so far no shiny happy people.

When you're working on cone duty, watch the cars. See who does what and who is fastest. Also, talk to the others working with you, they have great stories/advice, but dont turn your back on the cars.

And watch the schedule for next year. If they offer an autox school, go to it.

I would say have fun, but theres no way you wont have fun!

Look ahead. Farther. No, farther. If you think you are looking ahead enough, try looking even farther. The farther you can look ahead the less surprised you'll be when you get to the next obstacle and you are more likely to have your car in the correct position.

lots of good points touched on. look ahead, well beyond the next upcoming gate or cone. slow and smooth is fast. you may push hard and get frustrated you're not picking up time and then be surprised when you gain a second by slowing down.

i'd still consider myself a novice. i would sit in grid and repeat these items to myself out loud to focus on them.

I pulled DFL my first time, and parked on my 5th run after filling the lot with blue smoke and making multiple gauges do bad things.

I went to my second event with the goal of "not DFL"

Have someone ride with you on the first run or two. Move the seat closer to the steering wheel than you think you need to. Wear a hat, a real hat, not a ball cap, maybe bring a golf umbrella, put sunscreen on early and often.

Be prepared to feel like you're slow. Don't let that get to you however, just ask a lot of questions, listen carefully, find some experienced guys to chat with/gather advice from, and try to enjoy yourself. Also, don't be like Bob Costas and leave without working your assignment.

flatlander937 wrote: Also watch the fat guys in Miatas. Especially the ones with big hats.

I'm not going.

Let me leave this right here :

http://bangshift.com/bangshiftapex/anyone-can-race-autocross-first-time-ever/

I went autocrossing for the first time ever this year. I co-drove something with WAY more power than I should have, I sucked compared to everyone else, but man, was it a GREAT time! Just focus on how to make yourself better throughout the day, open your ears and eyes, and make sure to ask questions to the instructors or other people that have been doing it for a while. Work your work assignment with a smile, and watch what others do. Go for ride-alongs if you can, and make sure to walk the course in the morning to get a feel for it. I went exactly once and now I'm hooked for life. Considering you have the right car, and you're reading this on this forum, I think you will be too.

Be prepared to feel like those tires that are so sticky on the street have very little grip on track.

Be prepared to have some fun, and meet some kick ass people.