Is anyone sick of the process of autocross?
 

I love to autox. I love to run the car hard and I also love to meet new people at the event. Maybe it's because of where I live and I have limited time for motorsports activity with family commitments now, but the process of doing three hours work assignment for 4 minutes of seat time is getting really old at some of these large events. Are there any clubs that don't require work assignments and still have competitive events? I know some of the smaller clubs work like that, but they are usually not competitive unless you are going for top times and I am sure they are harder to do in Nor CA. I am about to throw in my towel and turn into a track day nerd, at least I know one day of track will kill my urge for a month.

One trackday a month won't kill your urge. It will just made it worse. Trust me. :D

100%, I was an autocrosser for about 4 years, did one track day and that's all she wrote.


100% again, just not worth it for the seat time, its a shame, because of the fun. I would still be doing it every weekend, even if I had to pay more, not to work. I learned a lot of car control from autocross

That is the natural progression of this addiction :) It really sucks to shag cones here in Texas while getting cooked in a parking lot. (The UK guys will get a giggle out of that)

My point exactly. Nor CA might have 70-90s weather all the time, but the sun gets hot. I am too old to be standing out in the sun getting baked to watch a couple $hit bucket running around. I might still do a couple more events here and there, but I am pretty sure I am done on a full time basis going forward.

:( I love to photograph other members but that is diffcult to do. I can't take pics without a fulltime spotter (if I am in the infield). I also like to catch rides with more experienced peepz. yeah, hard to do that too without running around like an idiot... :(

I dont know where you live in cali, but last year at auto club speedway in fontana the auto cross is alittle more but you dont have to corner work. they have specific people doing it. That was last year though... so you can maybe email the event chair for more info.

OK dude. You must have gone to SCCA at Crows? Get with the program and head down to Marina for UFO, Lotus club event or AAS. I never have worked much over an hour. Also if you're not happy with working course get smart and volunteer for trailer, tech inspection etc. Also Marina rarely gets over 70 degrees.

LPR PCA has all day format where you can have as many as 15 runs! You work a little more but you get way more runs than any club around. You dont need to be a member with any of these clubs to run with them.

I usually do UFO and AAS.

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And you're going to be in for rude surprise this winter.:p Contrary to popular belief It gets cold here. I have driven in snow to AX events on my A6's. LOL!

And I can assure you that with AAS you will struggle to get into top 25 in a street car.

stop autocrossing and go hpde days, time attacks, etc! if ur in norcal u got plenty of tracks or come down to socal !!

Yeah Jesus Christ guys I was shocked to hear you just autocross.. 4 minutes at a time isn't pushing you or your car. Stop selling yourself short in parking lots. There are meets aplenty if you want to do that...

4 min if you're lucky!

Stop autox, and start doing real track driving.

I will probably hit the smaller club like Shamu said, f SCCA. I never had fun at their events with the exception of the national. Even that, I will probably do one every month or two. I will definitely do more track days. I need to hit Laguna Seca, plan is to do that in November. If Sears Point opens up in October, I will probably do one too.

The process of autox it's self is dumb, let me pay, and on top of paying let me be forced to work, and not only am I working even though I paid, I am a couple feet from a car who's pushing its limits with no safety barrier around me.

Well, a lot of negative stuff here...

But anyway, I pay my $40 and I stand out there and prop up cones, but I also do 10-15 runs, and the club I run with doesn't set up stupid 40-45 second courses... they're 90+ second courses, so it's usually 15-20 minutes total seat time for $40 bucks and I'm rarely there all day.

HPDEs are expensive and (call me a pussy) the insurance for each one adds up fast as well. I refuse to put the car on the track without an AVIP (Agreed Value Insurance Policy) for the event.

Autocrosses, worst i'm gonna do is fck up a bumper with a nasty cone hit or break something mechanically... that, I can deal with. Kissing a wall or getting into a roll-over without a policy to replace the car... I can't.

Just to clarify, I LOVE LOVE LOVE HPDE's, but they aren't something I can justify doing 1-2 times a month or on a whim like an Autocross event. That's all I am saying.

:icon18: :iagree:

Both HPDE and autocross have their pluses and minuses. HPDE is much more expensive, requires more safety gear usually, burns through consumables at higher rate, breaks things more often, exposes you to risk of dying or totaling your car, can void warranties, isnt insurable unless you buy track insurance usually takes full day commitment. Benefits are lots of seat time and no work.

Autocross is cheap, not many risks, lower consumable costs, doesnt take much of a time commitment usually. Downsides are working and very limited seat time.

I tend to mix it up. Hillclimbs, Autocross and Trackdays. That way limit wear and tear, limit potential damage (LOL! yeah that really worked out well) keeps each event fresh and exciting.

^^^^

Word.

And dude, ditch the SCCA events. Look for your local Porsche or BMW club as a good starting point.

lol, I know first hand someone that got ran over working the cones during autoX and helivac!

@ insurance comment, I've seen a c6z06 crash at a autox course, and it was thousands and thousands of dollars to fix.

I got tired of it aswell, last time I did it I raced for less then 5 minutes and worked for 3hrs. Its true about track time there is no going back after that.

I don't race anywhere that there's anything to run in to... You can also get into a lot more trouble with 500+ HP, just sayin. haha

^ the car ran into a course worker.

Well that's an IQ test that comes along with AX that you don't have to worry about at HPDE.

Naw I started on track and didn't go back after I started ax. Drove few years and then tried ax and stopped going to track for awhile due to expenses involved

Hillclimbs are my favorite as you take your lawn chair out under a tree and watch fast cars scream by for work and there isn't anything close to ripping up mountain road at 100 mph.

2nd That. I ran with PCA san diego last year and running with different clubs and locations here in CT, they have the most seat time in auto x. Also the smaller groups/ clubs dont have any of the stupid rules of SCCA. My first two AX i diddnt work because there was so many people at the event at qualicom stadium:). but where i live now one club does 30 min jobs and the other is an hr. Or you do AX at a track and they provide workers over having to pay alittle more.

I live in San Diego and I've had my limit with the SCCA. I got so frustrated with their lack of organization, little cliques, and their "X" runs that only prolong your work time and sitting in line waiting to go. And don't get me started on those damn kids in go-carts that I had to stand out there for. How about their parents stand there in the blazing heat! So, I changed up to track days and have been loving it.
And on another note, SCCA won't let me autocross my SRT Grand Cherokee, but PCA will! I'll probably end up taking that beast to the track too.

It's actually one of the reason why I hate autox. I can't stand watching $hitbuckets running around taking up my time. Nothing worse than a car putting out 110db going 30mph and hitting everything in sight.

I almost never work course...so it goes quick for me. I run, pack the trailer up, and walk around as Safety and go home when the heat is done. The clubs outside of SCCA and it's subsidiary club (Autocrossers Inc) in this region aren't much good. SCCA/AI are the only clubs that can afford to rent lots worth running on around here.

AutoX blows, go to the track and have real fun!

Just stick to track.

u can auto x on the nissan meet Sept 8 while we run the real man's track ROFL!

Well depending on where you live track time is alot of money. here in CT lime rock is over $300, NHMS is $250. SOCAL(where i used to live)- willow springs- $150, button willow $100

Auto X- $35

So i choose to pick my battles. Next year when i have made the proper track prep mods. I will probably make two or three track events. Watkins glen, NJMSP, POCONO north, are all to far to drive down. Auto x is anywhere from an hour hour and a half tops.

I guess its all on how much your willing to spend and how much time you can make for this expensive but more addicting than meth hobby is. I just do what makes me happy, and right now auto x makes me happy and I think of it as a skill builder before i take it to the next level so i dont crash my silky black Z.

Pittsburgh International Raceway HPDE. If you are in Group 1 (Beginner)or Group 2 (starting to get fast. Me. :D ). It's $185.00, and you run in the morning. If you are in Group 3 (the crazy fast). It's $175.00, and you run in the afternoon.

strange, faster group should run in the morning for faster lap times!!

I thought it was weird that they don't just alternate groups all day...

That too!!!

The instructors run in the afternoon with their cars. Plus you're dealing with the morning dew too. Let the slow guys dry the track. LOL

in CA I have done 5 25 min session road courses for $60, $100, etc. I would never pay $300 for a track entry unless it was like super lap battle or some exception!

That's typical northeast price, one of the reason I can give up autox for cheap track days!!

Do you guys have out door gokarting tracks out there?

That's another thing I find a lot of fun, out door tracks that are arrive and drive (kart rentals) that are $100 for about an hour of seat time, I always find them a lot of fun!