The Official 370Z Autocross Thread

[kbc749]

Hey guys/girls

My first ever AutoX competition will be this Sunday in Nebraska. I am signed up for the starting line school as part of a sponsorship from the SCCA to the motorsports team, part of this school is entrance into the AutoX event on Sunday.

I have read about 25 of the pages from this post, some in the front side, some in the back.

does anybody have a solid list of tips for a first timer that are Z specific? like a summary of the things you've learned, dos and don'ts etc.

Thanks!

KBC749

[zpower86]

Originally Posted by kbc749

does anybody have a solid list of tips for a first timer that are Z specific? like a summary of the things you've learned, dos and don'ts etc.

KBC749

Z specific tips. I assume you will be running in B Street. I would advise running a higher tire pressure in the front so the tires don't roll over or skip. I run 38-39 PSI in the front, and 32-33 in the rear when hot. So you might start the day with 37f/32r, then monitor the pressure after each run to stay around 38/33. Don't floor it abruptly when exiting a fast corner...most of the time you'll want to roll on the throttle. A better way to say this might be, don't give it 100% throttle unless you're driving in a straight line. I usually start with about 35% full tank of gas (per my OBD-II reader). At the starting line, I'll rev the engine to about 3000 rpm, lift, then as the revs drop to 2500 rpm, then I drop the clutch and roll on the throttle simultaneously. Try to shift from 1st to 2nd gear close to redline (giving you the fastest acceleration), unless that requires shifting IN a turn -- these cars are tough enough to get smooth in a straight line, let alone in a curve.So it's better to shift early and keep the car settled as you enter the first corner.

General autocross tips. Walk the course 3 times at least (requires arriving early). As you're walking it, think about where you'll be looking when you're at that spot during your run. This will help you recognize where you are when you're at speed. Smooth is fast, yes maybe, but that doesn't mean you can't turn the wheel fast (for example, in a tight/offset slalom). Try to get rides with fast drivers in similar cars.