Auto X questions

[A4Chica]

Hey guys,

So my husband put a little bug in my ear the other night. He said that I should look into Auto X, that he thinks that I'd be good at it & that I'd enjoy it. I've never even considered it before he said that, but now I am. What's it like? Do you get practice sessions ahead of time? Thoughts?

[bob12312357]

The A4 with a stock suspension is gonna get destroyed,even with the sport package. Probably any Audi for that matter. My MR2 SC on the other hand raped people.lol

[Goped220]

I have done many auto cross on my stock suspension and it was fine. I have struts and spring and it was fine. then I went coilovers and it was great. Autocross is awesome and yes you do get 1 or 2 practice runs and you can walk the course also track days are fun.

[BangHatch]

AutoX is great!
Make sure you check your oil (and other fluids) before doing it though..
If you've never done it, try walking the course with someone with experience for tips..
Although autoxing may place additional stress on the stock suspension, it will not get destroyed... It's great for learning the limits of you and your car; and helps you learn how to react to what your car is doing...

Also, always look AHEAD.. :)

[bob12312357]

AutoX is great!
Make sure you check your oil (and other fluids) before doing it though..
If you've never done it, try walking the course with someone with experience for tips..
Although autoxing may place additional stress on the stock suspension, it will not get destroyed... It's great for learning the limits of you and your car; and helps you learn how to react to what your car is doing...

Also, always look AHEAD.. :)

No the suspension won't get destroyed,but you will. A 4000lb wet car,vs a 2400lb wet Miata,Mr2,240,etc... doesn't stand a chance auto-X. The Audi is gonna be posting a much bigger time diffrence,the tighter the course is simply on weight alone. On a road course where the speeds are higher the Audi will do pretty damn well. Auto-X in the Audi is good for fun,bad if your lookin to be takin names.

[millerracer]

no matter what suspension or car you have, you will have a great time coming to grips with your limitations behind the wheel.

I would go to a couple - maybe enter a few with your car in a stock class... and just enjoy. If you feel the competitive bug coming, then you can start deciding what to do to your car or if you want to get a dedicated one.

Also look in to some local HPDE events - where you can drive your car on a real racetrack with an instructor lead and follow. More track time for sure!

[A4Chica]

Thank you Miller, Bang & Goped, you understand what I'm after. I'm not looking to be the fastest, I just want to have fun & learn a little about driving my car a bit better. I think that I will go to a couple first just to observe though, that's a good idea.

[Audiboy]

Try to bum some rides instead of spectating. You'll be able to feel the what the sport is all about that way. If anything, it will help you improve your everyday alertness and become a better defensive driver against potholes, drivers not paying attention or anything that may cause you an accident. You'll also learn the limits of your car.

Here in the Nor Cal region, a few of us AZer's come out regularly. Albeit only my wife and I AutoX in an Audi. Everyone else that used to come out with their Audis have more dedicated AutoX rides now. Most of them pull up with trailers [:D] A stock A4 with a really good driver does fairly well. A modded A4 even a lot better.

[johnouellette]

No the suspension won't get destroyed,but you will. A 4000lb wet car,vs a 2400lb wet Miata,Mr2,240,etc... doesn't stand a chance auto-X.

it's broken up into classes, and you will never race any of those cars...ever. Even though I'm not in classes that would have to race against those cars you listed, I do put down better times than they do. AWD is a good thing.

autoX is a blast and you will love. Hopefully your car is bone stock which it sounds like it is. Make sure you enter as a novice! You'll get a guided walk thru of the course(usually from the course designer) and you'll also race with other novices.

scca autox is all about having fun and enjoying driving. If you do it once you'll be hooked! Don't worry about how you finish, most people are just there to have fun with their cars like you.

[Coderedpl]

Thank you Miller, Bang & Goped, you understand what I'm after. I'm not looking to be the fastest, I just want to have fun & learn a little about driving my car a bit better. I think that I will go to a couple first just to observe though, that's a good idea.

You should attend Auto-X school at Waterfest.
That's when my brother had his first time on Auto-X (sport suspension package B6 A4)
You get a lot of runs, the instructor drives your car to see how it is, then you drive with instructor, then alone. They teach you what to do, where to brake and similar things.
He had fun even though it was an educational auto-x.
OR if you dont want to participate then if you manage to get in early you can swing by and see how its done. Its fun watching it aswell. Auto-X school was on a saturday i think and the actual one was the next day. SO you have the option to going to school and the actual event to beat time with rules and everything. You have to pay seperately though.

Good luck!