[vwturbo76]

I caught it and I caught it BAD!!!

I just ran my first SCCA autocross event yesterday and have never had so much fun in a car in my life!!!
All I have done to my car are neuspeed sport springs and bridgestone potenzas. But that put me up into the STS class. I didn't to too bad, especially for my first time out. I came in at 7th out of 21 novices and 35th out of 78 overall.

Heres some pics but I will try to download the video once my buddy is done editing it. I ran with 3 Jettas from my VW club ( www.hrdubs.com ) and did very well.

Sorry there are no action shots, I will try to find some from others that were there. BTW, I highly recommend this to anyone who has this available to them.....best $20 i ever spent on my car!!!

 

[NotAPreppie]

Isn't it a blast?

I've been tearing up GSN since April of this year (though I'm still getting creamed by Calaviers and Accents in HS [non-novice] ) and I still have to catch my breath after each run.

I got to ride along on a fun-run in a Corvette GranSport. Wow! Just Wow! I almost needed a new pair of shorts by the end of that run.

 

[vwturbo76]

Yeah man....i got a ride along in my buddies Evo VIII MR....incredible!!

I did pretty well.......but after my first run, my bud asked me to hold out my hands and I was shaking like a leaf!!!!!

I am a firm believer that it is mostly the driver....I beat minis and a 3000GT but got smacked by a stock focus and some other "not so fast" cars!!
I found out that I can do alot more to my car and still stay in STS.....so I will be doing either bilstiens or konis next!

 

[1.8Tttturbo]

just curious, what's involved to sign up for an event like this? yearly registration fees, instructor lessons, etc.?

 

[Gregor56]

http://www.autox4u.com/nnjr.htm 1.8Tturbo check that link for the NNJR schedule. We run at Englishtown. The fee for a non member is 40 bucks. We have an event comin up oct 22, if you wanted to go get in touch with me and I will help you out with your tire psi, instruction, and navigating tech and walking the course, etc.

 

[stealthx32]

Yeah, I've gotten the auto-x fever over the past couple weeks as well. 3 events in 4 weeks is a streak for me.

I've begun my campaign in STX and I've been faring quite well on a local level at least. Sway bars are finally in, which I've been wanting to do for a while. The LSD works wonderfully, and the car drifts much betta.

 

[scirocco78]

Yeah, I've gotten the auto-x fever over the past couple weeks as well. 3 events in 4 weeks is a streak for me.

I've begun my campaign in STX and I've been faring quite well on a local level at least. Sway bars are finally in, which I've been wanting to do for a while. The LSD works wonderfully, and the car drifts much betta.

Where are you these days?

 

[stealthx32]

I'm out in Pittsburgh for school. Nice thing is there's two tracks nearby that are somewhat cheap (BeaveRun and Nelson Ledges). Watkins Glen and Lime Rock are nice, but $250 trackdays aren't. BR is usually ~$150 and Nelsons is $120. :thumbup:

 

[vwturbo76]

Dude, my home town is about 15 minutes from nelson ledges!! I have been going there for years....just never raced there. I am going home on the 10th.......maybe we can hook up there for a track day.

 

[stealthx32]

Ah! Oct 21st through 23rd are all open track days. $120 each, $110/each if you do two, $100/each if you do all three!

 

[The Blue Blur]

You done us proud :thumbup:

 

[mfitz]

I caught it and I caught it BAD!!!

I just ran my first SCCA autocross event yesterday and have never had so much fun in a car in my life!!!

I am right there with you. With the chip in my car though, I have to enter as street modified, which is pretty funny considering I am running the stock suspension (softened up even further by 109,000 miles of use), stock steel wheels with stock street tires (195/65 R15 continental touring contact- not exactly the ideal auto-x tire).

BUT, until I pick up a little skill at finding something close to the correct line, I will likely hold off getting new equipment so that when I do, the difference will be noticeable and attributable to the changes.I figure I am in this for the long haul, so my absolute annihilation in my class every event won't bother me this year, or next.

I also refuse to give up my chip for daily driving, so i am stuck in SM unless i get a socketed ECU and extra stock chip, or else a programmable chip with a stock setting. None of this is worth the money to me right now at my current (lack of) skill level.

 

[stealthx32]

You'll actually be in DSP next year, since boost modification will be allowed. A little easier on you, but overall it'll still be pretty hard to be competitive. But hey, drive the car as it is, and move on to something else if you feel the need to get really competitive. The Passat taught me a buncha things that I wouldn't have learned any other way.

 

[mfitz]

You'll actually be in DSP next year, since boost modification will be allowed.

cool.:thumbup: I would love to eventually surprise a few integras and bmws.

 

[vwturbo76]

Hell.....I wooped up on cars that I never thought I would be able to. A good driver makes all the difference in the world.

 

[passatboy02]

Nice I cant wait til i get some stuff done to my passat and ill join you guys.

Miller

 

[mfitz]

Nice I cant wait til i get some stuff done to my passat and ill join you guys.

Miller

There is no real reason to wait, unless the "stuff done" you are talking about is repairs.Your first two events can be run in novice class, and then stock class if you haven't done any performance mods. It is just as fun to drive full out on crappy tires and suspension as it is on the good stuff, maybe even more fun.....

 

[Gregor56]

I am gonna second mfitz and go a step further. You need to learn about you and your driving skill level and driving style. A fast driver is a fast driver in whatever they are behind the wheel of. Starting out you should just focus on figuring out what pointer cones are procedure etc. The secondary focus will need to be you incrementally getting quicker via smoothness and picking and choosing where to be agressive and where not to. On a national level the toughest classes are the stock classes.

 

[passatboy02]

Well yesterday i started my project of replacing parts. The car is currently on jacks and i dropped the sway bars, wheels off waiting for new 18"s(recomment tires please), replacing springs and shocks/struts. Oil change and figuring out how to do tranny fluid change. Basic cleaning the interior too the last owner looks like they had a dog in the car. I should have everything done by Halloween juggling this, work, and school + money. I would probably start out in novice cause I have been driving mostly RWD cars my whole life. Havent tested the limits of the Passat yet. I know of an event in Allentown, PA this sunday but I wont be able to make it.

Miller

 

[vwturbo76]

Falkin Azenis rt615's.......those or the new hankook ventus rs2 z212's

When it comes to autocross, and you don't want race rubber, then those are whats working now!!