I think I might do an autocross event....

A

Aebous

Elite
 Okinawa
I was checking the Vegas region for SCCA,
http://lvrscca.org/?page_id=11
and saw that there is an event in Primm on March 22/23 and also one here at Nellis AFB on April 12th. So anyways, i'm nervous about preregistering.
I think by their rules the 03 Z is in the BS or CS class (stock of course) I'd love to be in the BS class, that just makes me smile. I figure this will kinda be like the desert run we did at the airport except more controlled.

So I guess (and yes too lazy to search-however I am reading up on the site) i wanna know some things to check.
I figure the obvious (part from reading the site an common sense)
Tires (air pressure, condition, lug nuts)
I have to empty the car of loose objects.
I figure a fluid check
Maybe throw my hands on most the parts of the engine and make sure they are secure.

What else?
What should I bring with me?
I see it says to air the tires up to 40psi. Should I wait till I'm there to do that and bring an air compressor with me?
What else should I worry about?

*edited for stock class and link*
 
I wouldn't bother doing too much but check the obvious things like brakes, fluids, tyres etc. Autocross is a relatively short event so the usual problems of circuit racing such as overheating brakes, tyre degredation and such shouldn't be a concern. One thing I noticed was the advised tyre pressure of 40 psi. This seems very extreme to me. On track days I set my pressures at 30 psi hot, this translates to about 25 cold. If my PS Cups get much above 31psi they start to disintegrate! Having said that your probably on different tyres and sizes and the event is short so this may not be such a concern but it still seems high to me.
 
Curtis - what size tires are you running for road track time? Are you using those pressures both front and back?

I had a very similar experience with my old Honda S2k out on the track and 32psi turned out to give much nicer grip and tire wear than the factory recommended 38psi. I tried running 32F and 35R (hot temps) last weekend on my 18" wheels and found it felt pretty greasy by the end of my sessions so I will likely be adjusting these pressures down next time I go out.
 
I ran in AS class last year with ST (street tires) as well. Make sure you get this straight before your runs are in.
 
AlanL said:
Curtis - what size tires are you running for road track time? Are you using those pressures both front and back?

I had a very similar experience with my old Honda S2k out on the track and 32psi turned out to give much nicer grip and tire wear than the factory recommended 38psi. I tried running 32F and 35R (hot temps) last weekend on my 18" wheels and found it felt pretty greasy by the end of my sessions so I will likely be adjusting these pressures down next time I go out.
Click to expand...

I'm using 235 or 245/35/19 front and 265 or 275/30/19 rears for road and track, I just switch tyres from Falken 452's on the road to Michelin Pilot Sport Cups on the track and I use 30psi hot on both front and rear. I usually run the car on the track for 5 laps then bring it in to adjust the pressures and keep checking them regularily throughout the day. As the track temprature increases or decreases so will your tyre pressures, other factors will have an effect too such as how hard your pushing the car and therfore how hard the tyres are working, that's why it's important to regularily check them. It's not just my car that runs this kind of pressure though. I'm quite involved in a lot of forms of motorsport and 30psi (hot) is fairly average throughout.
 
Thanks - I was bleeding down the pressure throughout the day as they got hotter but I was feeling like I wanted to be running a lot less as my target hot temp as the day wore on. I do carry a small compressor so I may try heading down to around 30-31 next time out and see what that feels like.

FWIW I am running Pilot Sport PS2s (not the cup version) on the OEM 18" rims.
 
I've only done it once but 40 psi sounds about right. I believe I ran 39 and 41 or 42 but can't remember for sure. We used chalk on the tires to to get the pressure up so you don't deform the tire enough to be driving on the sidewall. But more is not better. So we'd bleed out air as they heated up. Basically you want to run the lowest pressure possible for good traction, but high enough so that the tire doesn't flex on the turns (keeps you driving on the tread and not the sidewall).

Pump your tires up before the run. Don't be afraid to ask people for help. All in all I found everyone to be SUPER nice at the event.
 
Yeah currently i'm on Falken 452's (and will stay with them) my pressure is currently at 33/36 front/rears. I reckon I'll go buy an air compressor as I hate being dependent. I have 225/40ZR18 on fronts and 255/35ZR18 on the rears. I was thinking with the tires/track heating up to put the pressure at 36 all around and hope for the best. 40 did seem high to me, and I didn't even think about the pressure rising as I went around till a friend mentioned it.
Oh how many inch pounds is the lugs supposed to be torqued too? I normally do good an tight, but I figure my calibrated elbow will come into play :D
 
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