Autocross novice? What you need to know.
Jack Brittain
March/April 2002 Zeitung
I needed the fleece jacket I pulled on as I approached the group of strangers unloading equipment, setting up tables, and sipping coffee. It was a cold Spring morning, May 14, 2000. The sky a delicate blue, the sun still below the eastern horizon. The E Center parking lot was deserted except for a couple of figures setting hundreds of orange cones in a seemingly random array.
"Anything I can do to help?" I needed something to justify my presence in this group busily getting ready for the Mother's Day Autocross.
"Sure. We need to start marking the cones." The person I would be helping was Cory, one of the unacknowledged stalwarts who always show up early to do the grunt work necessary to make autocrossing possible. Marking the cones involved taking a piece of sidewalk chalk and tracing the corners of the hundreds of cones that defined the autocross course.
As I walked from cone to cone, stooping to mark one after another, others were using push brooms to remove debris, a couple of people were testing the electronic timing gear, and a canopy was going up that would shade the timing table, the nerve center of the operation. In the parking area, an eclectic collection of Porsches assembled one by one, 911s, turbos, a 944, a 356, a 914, and a couple of Boxsters.
Pits, E-Center
(photo by Jack Brittain)I had owned my Boxster S for four months. During the 21 months I waited for it, I had read a great deal about Porsche history. As I finished marking the course, many of the milestones in that history were lined up before me. The lineage was readily apparent. The eloquence of the engineering would soon become an inescapable conclusion on the autocross track amid the roar of engines, squeal of tires, stink of brakes, and compression of suspensions. Once the cars were in motion, it was apparent Porsches are a breed in their own right, a species unrelated to mere cars.
(photo by Alexander Brittain)I had read about autocross on a couple of internet discussion boards, so when I received the IRPCA announcement, I decided it was a great opportunity to come out and watch the action, figure out what it was all about, and decide if I wanted to participate.
As I approached the timing table, the hub of activity at every autocross, I was "discovered" by Kevin, the rally master. "Heh, you're new. Glad to have you out. Like the Boxster." Silently wondering how he knew which of the twenty cars in the lot was mine, I explained I was just an observer. "Like hell you are. Get over there and pay your registration, grab a helmet, and get your butt ready to run." (I later discovered this was Kevin being polite.) I protested my intention, and the next thing I knew I was putting a number on my windshield with shoe polish and trying on helmets.
(photo by Jack Brittain)The timing table is the control center for the autocross. The event master is communicating with course workers by radio. The times are electronically recorded and then posted on a white board so the drivers can monitor their times.
Fortunately, my run group was second, so I was at least able to watch about 15 cars run before I found myself lined up. Adam was my instructor for my first run. The starter waved the green flag and I was on the course, arms flailing, tires squealing, 26 turns in 78 seconds, and it was over. Adam offered his one piece of advice before leaping out of the car, "You'll do fine." And so I would.
After my second season, I think I can claim proficiency. I am not one of the masters, but I am to the point where I can analyze the course, make corrections to my own driving, and I am in the chase, even if I am unlikely to ever be the fastest car on the course. And I cannot imagine owning a Porsche and not autocrossing. Not only is it more fun than you have had since that night in the backseat of a Buick a four decades ago, it is also a great way to truly know the abilities of your car.
(photo by Jack Brittain)Here is what you need to know as an autocross rookie so you, too, can find out just how thrilling it is to spend a Sunday morning sliding through turns, rocketing down short straights, and discovering just how fast those Porsche brakes can bring you to a stop.
What is an autocross? An autocross is a timed competition on a short racing course, one car running at a time. The objective is to complete the course in the least amount of time. The participating cars are classed, so the competition is between cars of similar ability, which generally means running against cars with similar horsepower and equipment. The "course" is defined by orange traffic cones set up in a large parking lot. Autocross courses have lots of turns, are run in first and second gears, and a single run will take between 50 and 90 seconds, depending on course length. Speeds rarely exceed 50 mph, and most of the time you are traveling between 20 mph and 40 mph. Given the number of turns you will execute, you are very busy and moving fast.
How much does it cost? The cost is $15 to participate, $25 if two drivers share the same car. IRPCA has several husband/wife teams that share the same car, a couple of father/son teams, and occasionally someone will share a car with a friend. Women run in separate classes, and relatively few participate, so it is always great to see more women involved. Those that give autocrossing a try frequently discover they really love the experience and become part of the dedicated corps of drivers who show up for every event. This, by the way, was how Kevin knew which car was mine: once you are hooked, you know the cars that are out at every event, and most people get hooked.
Wendover Grid
(photo by Jack Brittain)What is the drill? The first car is generally on the course at 10:00 am, and we are generally finished and ready to clean up at approximately 2:00 pm. The participating drivers are assigned to two run groups, typically designated red and blue and identified by a colored dot on the top corner of the car's windshield. One group of drivers work as course marshals, ensuring safe operating conditions and resetting displaced cones, while the other group drives the course. The cars that are running line up in no particular order in the area designated as the starting grid. When it is your turn to run, the starter will wave you into the starting box, which is about six feet back from the electric eye that starts the timing. The starter will check to make sure your seatbelt is fastened, you are wearing a helmet (the Club has loaner helmets), report your car number to the timer, confirm the course is clear, ask you to confirm you are ready, then give you the green flag. The timing of your run begins when your car rolls through the timing line, so you can take a second to focus down the course before leaving the starting line. Each driver in the first run group completes three course runs, then the run groups switch roles, the first group of drivers now working the course. The run groups switch again after the second group completes three runs, then one more time so that each driver has six runs by the end of the day.
Is autocross bad for my car? You will probably accelerate the wear on your tires, especially the shoulder blocks, because of the hard cornering you are doing on the course. But this wear is minimal for a single event. You will likely not stop at one event, but at that point tire wear ceases to be a worry, you are just having too much fun. Because the speeds are moderate, you are not putting unusual stresses on the suspension, brakes, or drive train. You will probably bump the rev limiter, but this is why the car has a rev limiter, to prevent damage. Otherwise, the acceleration is no more severe than what you experience entering a freeway. You will hit a cone at some point - a two second time penalty for every cone you hit - but they are a pliable vinyl and do not cause any car damage. It is possible to act really stupid and do something like spin into a curb, but such extraordinarily poor judgement is more typical of Mustang owners than Porsche owners. The Club is insured against damage to the facility, but damage to your car is your responsibility.
(photo by Alexander Brittain)What equipment do I need to participate? A Porsche. The car needs to be in good running order, and all components must be firmly and securely mounted, including items like the spare tire and battery. Your car is inspected prior to running to ensure it is in good mechanical condition, the wheels are firmly attached, and nothing is loose in the interior that might fly around the cockpit. You will need to remove any floormats that might jam under the pedals, tools and other loose equipment from the trunk(s), and your spare tire if it is not firmly anchored to the car. These items are placed in the parking area while you are running the event. The Club provides loaner helmets in various sizes.
Can I have a passenger? No passengers are allowed except designated instructors. Spectators are welcome. My wife sometimes brings my two boys, ages 9 and 6. They really get a kick out of watching and know many of the drivers. They like having their own stop watch to monitor run times, including mine. The four hours these events typically run is a little long for non-participants. I suggest spectators arrive at about 11:30 am to ensure they can watch the second set of runs.
How do I prepare? Your goal for the first time out is to have fun. And you will. A few simple preparations will help you get the most out of your first outing.
1) Show up at least an hour early (9:00 am) so you can walk the course several times. What is obvious while walking can become a "sea of cones" when you are at speed. Plus, you want to be able to drive the course defined by the cones rather than driving cone-to-cone, a recipe for getting lost in a hurry. Get an experienced driver to walk with you and point out things like slalom entries, offset gates, boxes, and decreasing radius turns, course elements that are confusing when you approach them at speed. You will use your first three runs to thoroughly understand the course, but you will not be able to take advantage of these three opportunities if you cannot find your way around the course. Walk the course a minimum of three times.
Davis County Fairgrounds
(photo by Jack Brittain)Walking the course before the runs begin.
2) Bring water, a hat, and wear sunscreen. It is a long time out in the sun, and it is often hot around midday. A portable chair also sometimes comes in handy when you are working the course, as is some portable shade in the form of an umbrella.
3) Leave loose cockpit items and unnecessary tools at home. You can stow small items like a tire gauge, garage door opener, and a cell phone in a tote bag in the parking lot. If you are worried about losing it. leave it at home.Big items, like the babyseat are probably better left at home. Your glovebox and side pockets must be empty when you are on the course.
(photo by Jack Brittain)You need to take all the loose items out of the car, including the trunks, before your car is inspected. Best to leave as much "junk" at home as you can. Remove floor mats (they can slide under the brake) and put any small items in the passenger compartment in a tote bag in the pit area.
4) Optional: Add 4-5 pounds of pressure to your street tires, making sure you do not exceed the manufacturer's recommended maximum pressure. Additional pressure stiffens the sidewall, which helps keep the full tread on the ground and minimizes the tendency for the tire to roll onto the sidewall during hard cornering. This is not an important consideration your first time out, but it is worth doing if you have an opportunity.
(photo by Jack Brittain)5) Optional: It is okay to show up at 8:50 am, register, and walk the course. I highly recommend arriving at 7:30 am and helping with the set up. First, it is a good way to get to know the people behind the scenes, the doers. It is good to be one of these people. Second, I find it very relaxing to work on the set up and see the course emerge. If I drive up at the last minute and see the course set, I get very tense and feel rushed registering and walking the course, a feeling that carries over into my runs. Third, activities like sweeping the course - my favorite - force me to take my time going over the course. This is when I notice details like slopes, curve geometry, visual cues, and other specifics that give me a better understanding of course challenges. Sometimes I have issues like babysitting, so I just have to deal with being tense and rushed. When I can arrive early, I always have a better day on the course.
Is there lots more to know about autocross? Yes, but nothing that is important to know when you are getting started. Eventually, you will want to make adjustments to your tire pressures to alter the handling characteristics of the car, possibly get a competition alignment, maybe invest in "sticky" tires, and you will probably invest in a helmet, harness, driving shoes, and maybe driving lessons. But none of these are necessary to have fun, which is ultimately why everyone is out with their car. There is competition, but the atmosphere is not competitive. Everyone is willing to share tips, instructors will give you rides, and you will get to know a lot of great Porsche people.
(photo by Jack Brittain)Starter, Jennifer Klonizos, monitors the car on the course while husband, Nick, waits for the green flag. Individuals sharing a car are in different run groups, so one works the course while the other drives.
IRPCA autocross is an amateur endeavor staffed by dedicated volunteers. The course is temporarily defined by cones set out in a parking lot, existing only for a few hours of one day. But none of these things - the volunteers, the parking lot, or your status as a novice - means the challenges of a 140 degree hairpin, four gate slalom, esses into a increasing radius sweeper, or straight that ends in a 90 degree box are less real. When the starter waves you to the start line and you look down the course at the opening sequence, you will know just how real the challenges are. Look down at the Porsche crest on the steering wheel, rev the engine a couple of times, and relax your shoulders. When the starter's green flag drops, it's showtime.
(click to enlarge)
(photos by Michael VanTyne)
