Another retarded move on my part

[ArthurS]

Well thanks to both of you for the tips. I never have used the e-brake yet in the wrx, but I will be sure not to use ever in a stiuation like that. Yes I am still running stock tires. I have only had this car for a month and a half, so haven't switched them out yet. (Thats also why this accident sucks, I hadn't even registered the car before it happened... )

I think that one day I will take it out to a empty parking lot and just test the hell out of it. I did that with my last car. I had a 87 supra.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by ArthurS

I think that one day I will take it out to a empty parking lot and just test the hell out of it. I did that with my last car. I had a 87 supra.

Go to an autocross!! Some autocross clubs even have a "driving school" day specifically for that purpose!

[ArthurS]

I'd like to do that. Should I wait for the new rims and tires? Are there any autocross's in this area?

God, I must sound like such a newbie to all of this. I nevr have owned a car that I have wanted to do so much to. My Supra I had in highschool, so I didn't treat it like I should have.

Well, thanks for always helping me with me with my questions.

[khail19]

Instead of covering your bumper up with a front lip, paint it flat black, and paint the rest of the car to match. Or maybe camo? Or maybe I'll go away now. They do autocross at the Stead airport, and I believe the season starts in April, with the first session being the driving school. I'm going for sure, we should plan on making a meet on that day and all go together. That would be cool.

Khail

[MattR]

Yeah, I'm planning on going this year, We should definately go together, (safety in numbers) I'm definately a nOOb when it comes to autocrossing.

[ArthurS]

That would be cool. Just gatta know when they are coming up and all. Maybe by then my car will be a little better then stock.

Any suggestions on the wheels? Are Prodrive P-7's alright? I was looking around and those seemed to be pretty good for the price. I want something heavy and strong, since the rim one of my old cars got cracked hitting a curb.

[ArthurS]

By the summer, I would like to have new 17" wheels, nice all-season high performance tires, and new brake system, tinted windows, and of course the Vishnu Stage Sub-Zero or Stage Zero, and Maybe if I still have any cash left, a protorque torqu converter.

This list should take me till summer, and should be able to suck up all my money. Very later on, ill worry about suspension upgrades.

I don't if getting these things are in the right order, but my focus right now is on my bumper. Then, ill probably get my windows tinted. These 2 things are going to be fairly cheap and a nice way to start everything out, in my opinion.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by MattR

Yeah, I'm planning on going this year, We should definately go together, (safety in numbers) I'm definately a nOOb when it comes to autocrossing.

The best thing about autocrosses is that everyone's usually really friendly, especially to noobs. 'Course, I'm never been out to the Stead autocrosses (that's SCCA right?). All my autocrosses were with NASA in Monterey, the Cobra Car Club in Monterey and Sacramento, and with the American Autocross series in Sacramento.

I hear the SCCA events are a little more competitive, since thats a national league and doing well at the Regional level can lead to Nationals. The clubs I've raced with are usually *very* laid back... never once saw or heard of someone protesting.

Either way, if you're not competitive (and you won't be your first time out... shit, I've been doing this for like 3 years and I'm still slow!) people will usually go out of their way to help you learn. If we all go together, then we can do some ride-alongs to help everyone get a feel for driving fast in small spaces.

Oh, BTW: the number 1 thing you can do to help your times, LOOK AHEAD. Even after being told this, I still found it hard not to concentrate on the turn I was in, rather than look ahead to the next turn. The 2nd thing: SLOW DOWN. You're way faster if you slow down a little more than you need to rather than go too fast.

A good example what this guy who had a supercharged NSX. It was his 1st autocross, and after watching a bunch of people in Neons and Hondas turn 46 second laps, this guy figured he'd easily smoke them. Well, 1st lap out, he was driving like a maniac, way too fast, and spun twice... next lap, he didn't spin, but spent so much time just saving the car from spins, he had a 1:02 lap. Finally, his 3rd lap was very conservative, wasn't even squeeling the tires, and he turned a 48. Someone musta finally told him to SLOW DOWN!

Starting with a "slow" car is usually the way to go when getting into autocrossing. Now the WRX isn't exactly "slow", but if you leave the stock tires on, and have stock suspension, you can treat it that way. I learned to autocross in my '95 Thunderbird LX. 200hp, 4000lbs, and soft suspension. The car was a bit of a pig, but it was still a huge rush to drive it. A WRX on stock tires it a bit faster than that, but if you intentionally try to drive smooth laps rather than fast laps, you'll learn alot. The next step after that is to get some good tires, 17x7.5 seems to be the best size (unless you can go wider with rolled fenders, but then you're out of the lower classes that have a max tire width of 7.5").

Okay, now I'm just rambling...

[sperry]

I split the autocross tires conversation into it's own thread in the Technical Chat Forum since we're getting some good reference info there.

[ArthurS]

good idea.