My first AutoX!

So I will be doing my first autox event tomorrow. I've watched some youtube videos and whatnot, but any tips out there on how to have a successful day? Any common mistakes made by novices? Would love to hear some suggestions and I will post some photos tomorrow evening. I'll be driving my carrera 4 and I am very excited.

I assume you will have an instructor, listen to what he/she tells you. Look far ahead. Start slow, build up your speed over the day, as you learn. Don't expect to be very good your first time.

They will tell you to walk the course as many times as you can before the start. Being a novice, you will think you have it down after one or two walks. You won't. Don't worry about your times, just try to get a little better each time and enjoy yourself. It gets the adrenaline going and it's a lot of fun.

I tried autocross in a Corvette a long time ago. I couldn't figure out where to go on the course and got lost. I was talking to some frequent autocrossers in the Peachstate PCA and they said, yeah, that's pretty common... I've done some other competitive stuff (pistol competitions) since then and I agree that walking the course and memorizing it and visualizing your performance is critical. We have a saying in competitive shooting: "slow is smooth and smooth is fast"

Don't do it! Autocross is a gateway drug that starts many a good person down into ever more costly car preparation and more expensive kinds of racing! Before you know it, you'll have a dedicated track car or two... Just have fun, don't take it too seriously.

Thanks for the advice guys. Just checked in and the adrenaline is already going. I don�t have any crazy expectations as to performance. I�m just here for the fun of it. Thanks again.

Had a great day with PCA in Riverside. Felt amazing to be driving these cars the way they were designed to be driven. It took me a while until I felt comfortable really pushing it and the tarmac got hotter and hotter as the days went on. At the end I felt like Bambi on ice with my *** all over the place. Tons of fun.

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Action shot is much appreciated!

Looks like you had a great time.

Good stuff, Bob. This is why we drive what we drive - to feel the connection.

Excellent, and you survived! I think you can see how it gets addictive.... then on to big track for REAL fun! (Sounds like your tire pressures got way too high. You have to monitor them constantly, and adjust. I shoot for 32 psi hot.) Feel free to attend any of our AXs here in San Diego. They are the largest tracks in the country. You will not see AXs like this anywhere else. We have one every month. I'd be happy to instruct, if you'd like . I attend them all.

Thanks Cuda. Actually, I can't wait to try again.. I was thinking about tire pressures and I noticed other people fussing with their tires. To be honest, I wasn't sure whether to inflate more or deflate. Ultimately I just let my set up alone. There were enough other things to think about -- it was pretty overwhelming.

^^^ That's the same response I see from 99.6% of first timers. Welcome to the madness!