Autocrossers - Help me get faster!

[JStockton]

Had our first points solo yesterday. Help me get faster, please.

Let me start by saying I am not impressed in the slightest with the way I drove, that is why I am looking for some help, I know there are some good drivers in here.

I took everyone's advice and moved my hands down to as close to 9 and 3 as I can get. Feels fine. Yes I know I need to quit moving around so much in the car, so I will work on that.

As far as the car, I need to pull the front liners out and roll the fenders a touch, as the tires are rubbing pretty bad, you can hear it at the turnaround, which I think mentally that makes me slow down.. Plus I need to fasten the passenger seat belt as I think that is the tink ting sound as it hits the roll bar.

Here are two videos, the first is what I think looks like a decent run. I ran a 58.834

The second is what I think is a horrible run but was my best time, I can see in the video the shift light is coming on a lot more, so I must have been running faster, at the start I forgot to let out on the clutch after I shifted to 2nd, you can see me looking around WTF? (pro move) and at the turn around I had the car completely side ways.

Now how does that work? worst run - best time.. that tells me I can pick up at least a few more seconds? No?

On another note - what is everyone's thoughts on unhooking the rear sway? Or should I just keep driving it like this and work on driving.

Run 4


Best run

[Fastguy]

Looks decent overall, but you need to turn just a little bit earlier as you get faster. In the slower sections, you were turning fine, but as your speed increased you started turning late.

[VatorMan]

BTW-=Nice Spring Mountain jacket-I have one just like it.

Ok-# 1. Your take off and shifting sucks. Now that is out of the way-

Way too much steering input-especially in that tight hairpin turn. I didn't hear your tires, so you are not going fast enough. You should be on the edge of friction. The way your head was moving suggests some suspension modifications would help with the amount of body roll.

[Nemesis]

Since I don't autox I can't give any advice specific to that discipline. I can offer this, however:

You still look really cramped in the car. If you can move your seat back at all, do it. Possibly get a racing seat. Kirkey makes seats with no padding.
Take a car control class that will use a wet skidpad. You'll get a decent understanding of how to manage the weight of the car.
Most importantly, spend as much time as you can with trusted instructors. Ask the folks at timing & scoring to suggest someone. And also remember that most people don't know what they're doing either, so well intentioned advice in the paddock is not always good advice.

[JStockton]

Originally Posted by VatorMan

BTW-=Nice Spring Mountain jacket-I have one just like it.

Ok-# 1. Your take off and shifting sucks. Now that is out of the way-

Way too much steering input-especially in that tight hairpin turn. I didn't hear your tires, so you are not going fast enough. You should be on the edge of friction. The way your head was moving suggests some suspension modifications would help with the amount of body roll.

Shifting does suck..

the clutch could use a little work, poor car has 138K miles on it...

Spring Mountain was fun, that is what made me buy the Miata..


I noticed that when I get to going faster the rear becomes pretty loose. I lean towards wanting it loose. but might disconnect the rear sway for one run.

[JStockton]

Originally Posted by Drew M

Since I don't autox I can't give any advice specific to that discipline. I can offer this, however:

You still look really cramped in the car. If you can move your seat back at all, do it. Possibly get a racing seat. Kirkey makes seats with no padding.
Take a car control class that will use a wet skidpad. You'll get a decent understanding of how to manage the weight of the car.
Most importantly, spend as much time as you can with trusted instructors. Ask the folks at timing & scoring to suggest someone. And also remember that most people don't know what they're doing either, so well intentioned advice in the paddock is not always good advice.

Thanks Drew, I think you are right, I am way to cramped in there, on the way home I slide the seat back about 2-3 inches and thought, now why the hell am I not doing this when I drive the course?

[JStockton]

Originally Posted by Fastguy

Looks decent overall, but you need to turn just a little bit earlier as you get faster. In the slower sections, you were turning fine, but as your speed increased you started turning late.

Thanks - I didn't hit one cone in all 5 runs, so that tells me I am not going fast enough and not getting close enough to the cones.

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by JStockton

Thanks Drew, I think you are right, I am way to cramped in there, on the way home I slide the seat back about 2-3 inches and thought, now why the hell am I not doing this when I drive the course?

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by JStockton

On another note - what is everyone's thoughts on unhooking the rear sway? Or should I just keep driving it like this and work on driving.

I overlooked this the first time. Get a little more comfortable in the car and then try it. At the very least, you'll see how changes to the setup effect the car.

[Datawiz]

Your slalom speeds look painfully slow. Miata's are really nimble and should be able to go several miles per hour faster in those sections. Slaloms are the toughest element to master, and I'm far from a master.

Any chance you can get one of the local hot shoes to take you for a run in either your car or theirs? Riding with others, especially in your own car is the best way to get faster.

[island14]

I can't view your videos with my slow internet here tonight but do offer this as a suggestion..

Haul your car over to see Vator, Datawiz, or Drew, (whoever is closest) sometime and rent a track somewhere for a day.

I'm guessing all would offer to spend a day with you practicing as long as they get some laps also.

Once you get the basics... it will just be about getting lots of laps in for practice..

Another option is one of those high priced drivers schools, and from what I hear you can learn quite a bit from them like Skip Barber ect, but think you would get equal quality instruction and more one on one from the guys above to get you started.

Learning how to set up your car to handle is a whole new chapter...

[JStockton]

Originally Posted by datawiz

Your slalom speeds look painfully slow. Miata's are really nimble and should be able to go several miles per hour faster in those sections. Slaloms are the toughest element to master, and I'm far from a master.

Any chance you can get one of the local hot shoes to take you for a run in either your car or theirs? Riding with others, especially in your own car is the best way to get faster.

I rode with a guy at the test and tune, he posted a 52 yesterday so he is 6 seconds faster. He really lets the back end dance in his car, likes it loose, but seemed very in control. he rode with me in my car and basically said don't change anything to the car just get some seat time.

I do think I can go faster as I didn't hit one cone, I figure if you don't at least hit one cone for one run you are not going fast enough.

This is just my second time out in the car and the fender rub was annoying as hell, so I think that slowed me down just mentally. And I had a pop coming from some front component.

I have about a month to get ready for the next event, so I am going to go back over the front end and roll the fenders.

But yes, I was slow.. I was pretty disappointed.

[Datawiz]

Originally Posted by JStockton

I rode with a guy at the test and tune, he posted a 52 yesterday so he is 6 seconds faster. He really lets the back end dance in his car, likes it loose, but seemed very in control. he rode with me in my car and basically said don't change anything to the car just get some seat time.

I do think I can go faster as I didn't hit one cone, I figure if you don't at least hit one cone for one run you are not going fast enough.

This is just my second time out in the car and the fender rub was annoying as hell, so I think that slowed me down just mentally. And I had a pop coming from some front component.

I have about a month to get ready for the next event, so I am going to go back over the front end and roll the fenders.

But yes, I was slow.. I was pretty disappointed.

No replacement for seat time that's for sure. Miata's are tail happy, but are incredibly easy to control when the back end comes out, so don't be afraid of it. Just like not hitting cones, if you never spin, you'll never find the limit of your car. It's part of the learning process for sure.

[Fastguy]

Mental hurdles are tough to conquer. I know exactly what you mean with the seatbelt. If I have a loose belt clanking on the rollbar, it drives me nuts and distracts me.
Before any run, I make sure I am where I want to be in the car, then I take three very deep breaths. It helps me get mentally set to go. If you aren't hitting cones, you aren't close enough or going fast enough. I have not taken my rear bar out yet but I have guys who swear by that.

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by JStockton

On another note - what is everyone's thoughts on unhooking the rear sway? Or should I just keep driving it like this and work on driving.

Are you seeing oversteer or understeer? Removing the rear bar will reduce oversteer (add understeer).

The guy sitting about 5 feet from me right now is a pretty experienced AutoX'er in a modified Miata. I can't see the videos at work to be specific to yours, but he said his rear bar is gone and it is MUCH better like that.

[JStockton]

Originally Posted by datawiz

No replacement for seat time that's for sure. Miata's are tail happy, but are incredibly easy to control when the back end comes out, so don't be afraid of it. Just like not hitting cones, if you never spin, you'll never find the limit of your car. It's part of the learning process for sure.

Originally Posted by Fastguy

Mental hurdles are tough to conquer. I know exactly what you mean with the seatbelt. If I have a loose belt clanking on the rollbar, it drives me nuts and distracts me.
Before any run, I make sure I am where I want to be in the car, then I take three very deep breaths. It helps me get mentally set to go. If you aren't hitting cones, you aren't close enough or going fast enough. I have not taken my rear bar out yet but I have guys who swear by that.

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

Are you seeing oversteer or understeer? Removing the rear bar will reduce oversteer (add understeer).

The guy sitting about 5 feet from me right now is a pretty experienced AutoX'er in a modified Miata. I can't see the videos at work to be specific to yours, but he said his rear bar is gone and it is MUCH better like that.

Thanks for all the replies, Everyone is hitting on the same point, I need to find the limit of the car and that means drive faster, once I can do that consistently I might jockey with the rear sway bar.

I'll spend the next couple of weeks going over the front end, bump up the timing and then see where I am at.

Part of me is some what babying the car as I did have the whole thing apart, not that I don't trust myself, you just have to put a few miles on it to make sure the parts are all working well together.

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by JStockton

Part of me is some what babying the car as I did have the whole thing apart, not that I don't trust myself, you just have to put a few miles on it to make sure the parts are all working well together.

That's the entire point of my upcoming trip to Bowling Green with my car. Nothing hurt by taking a few "easy" laps to get things sorted.

[Dave]

Drive faster. More gas. Brakes only slow you down.

[RxCritical]

I wish I could offer you something in addition to the above. I've been doing it for 4 years and I still suck.
See below video from a week ago for evidence. My buddy Brian has some good advice right at the very beginning.

GOPR0068 - YouTube

[island14]

K...

Here is how you do it..

You got to get mad at it!

He is a little slow on take off since it had to be push started, but shows you how to do it with attitude when he slams his steering wheel off at the end of his qualifying laps

YouTube