My first autocross this weekend - a BCCA event

RTPenland · 09-07-2018, 02:24 PM

got my helmet - what else should I know - this event is hosted by the BMW car club of San Diego - I'm showing up with me car and my helmet (required) - what else should I know - what tips will you share??

Thanks!

COKen · 09-07-2018, 03:33 PM

Try to get someone to ride with you the first couple of runs. To start with it is more important to find the course than to go fast. Once you know your way around the course you can start trying to go faster. The best thing I was ever told was to "go slow in the slow places and fast in the fast places". If you try to go fast through the turns, you usually push and end up going slower. I'll stop there because you don't want a bunch of stuff to be thinking about while on the course. Just start with the basics and above all else have FUN!

BEAR-AvHistory · 09-07-2018, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTPenland

got my helmet - what else should I know - this event is hosted by the BMW car club of San Diego - I'm showing up with me car and my helmet (required) - what else should I know - what tips will you share??

Thanks!

RT

Have one of the car clubs better regular Auto-X drivers ride with you. Besure to walk the course as many times as you can.

Nothing in the trunk, car mats out. Take a chair, cold drinks etc. Relax & don't over drive it. Try to get better times each run you get. Its all about you don't worry about what anyone else is doing.

RTPenland · 09-07-2018, 09:03 PM

thanks guys! Really looking forward to it - appreciate the advice

Here4MT · 09-12-2018, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTPenland

thanks guys! Really looking forward to it - appreciate the advice

I just signed up for an SCCA event in Irvine with my new 340i. I can't wait! Let me know how your day goes and if you have any tips.

gds52 · 09-14-2018, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Here4MT

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTPenland

thanks guys! Really looking forward to it - appreciate the advice

I just signed up for an SCCA event in Irvine with my new 340i. I can't wait! Let me know how your day goes and if you have any tips.

Scca shd be fun. Here on east coast scca runs autocross at old Atlantic City airport and its fast. Speeds go upto 60-70mph

Digital_83 · 09-14-2018, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTPenland

got my helmet - what else should I know - this event is hosted by the BMW car club of San Diego - I'm showing up with me car and my helmet (required) - what else should I know - what tips will you share??

Thanks!

RT

You never know ..

https://www.amazon.com/H3R-Performan...1-8&ref=sr_1_8

KOWTOWN · 09-14-2018, 10:47 AM

A tip I got a long time ago was to make sure you have fun.

EDWYER · 09-14-2018, 08:43 PM

Walk the course multiple times. Listen to your instructor. Learn from your mistakes.
Look ahead to see how you want to get in and out of turns before they come. Drive the car hard don't be afraid to hit a few cones.

JG_Coupe88 · 09-14-2018, 08:44 PM

I'm a member here! I can't make it this month, busy every weekend then leaving country for a bit, but I'd help you out if I bump into you. The instructors (yellow shirts) usually willing to ride with you, they might even take the drivers seat if you let them and do one run, show you technique and then switch out. Just ask ask ask for tips man. Great group of people for the most part. Good job on deciding to drive your machine right.

KOWTOWN · 09-14-2018, 09:09 PM

Honestly, another thing you should bring is a cooler. Fill it full of snacks and waters. It is a LOT more tiring than you'd think it would be

MacklinUSOB · 09-15-2018, 06:00 PM

Decrease your tire pressure a few pounds and check your side walls after each run for excessive wear. F cars have practically zero camber up front and it makes it very easy to trash the tires on an auto X course. If you have run flats, be even more cautious.

RTPenland · 09-21-2018, 12:25 AM

thanks all for the tips - it was a kick in ass and can't wait to go back :-)

09-07-2018, 02:24 PM	#1
RTPenland Lieutenant 407 Rep 557 Posts Drives: Many BMWs Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: East & West Coasts iTrader: (0)	My first autocross this weekend - a BCCA event - what should I know? got my helmet - what else should I know - this event is hosted by the BMW car club of San Diego - I'm showing up with me car and my helmet (required) - what else should I know - what tips will you share?? Thanks! Attached Images Last edited by RTPenland; 08-03-2023 at 08:11 PM..
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09-07-2018, 03:33 PM	#2
COKen Lieutenant Colonel 981 Rep 1,560 Posts Drives: M Rster / Z4 M40i / X5 M50i Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	Try to get someone to ride with you the first couple of runs. To start with it is more important to find the course than to go fast. Once you know your way around the course you can start trying to go faster. The best thing I was ever told was to "go slow in the slow places and fast in the fast places". If you try to go fast through the turns, you usually push and end up going slower. I'll stop there because you don't want a bunch of stuff to be thinking about while on the course. Just start with the basics and above all else have FUN! __________________ 2002 M Roadster, Steel Gray Metailic, Gray Nappa Leather, HT, TC Kline DA Shocks & Camber Plates, w/H&R Springs, Stromung Exhaust, SSR Type C. Looking for new home. 2022 Z4 M40i, Misano Blue Metallic, Driver Asst Pkg, Prem Pkg 2023 X5 M50i, Phytonic Blue, Black Extended Merion Leather, Driving Asst Pro Pkg, Park Asst Pkg, Exec Pkg, Climate Comfort Pkg.
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09-07-2018, 09:03 PM	#4
RTPenland Lieutenant 407 Rep 557 Posts Drives: Many BMWs Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: East & West Coasts iTrader: (0)	thanks guys! Really looking forward to it - appreciate the advice
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09-14-2018, 10:47 AM	#8
KOWTOWN Private First Class 310 Rep 181 Posts Drives: 335i M sport Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Sacramento iTrader: (0)	A tip I got a long time ago was to make sure you have fun.
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09-14-2018, 08:43 PM	#9
EDWYER Yoda of mods 1670 Rep 3,004 Posts Drives: X5 RWD Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: NC iTrader: (40) Garage List 2015 X5 RWD [0.00] 2016 BMW M2 [10.00]	Walk the course multiple times. Listen to your instructor. Learn from your mistakes. Look ahead to see how you want to get in and out of turns before they come. Drive the car hard don't be afraid to hit a few cones. __________________ Current: 2020 Explorer ST (Agate Black Metallic), F15 SGM RWD F87 AW (retired) F30 SBM 316rwhp/440rwtq (retired) Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdwyerCLT YT: https://www.youtube.com/@DWYERGARAGE/videos
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09-14-2018, 08:44 PM	#10
JG_Coupe88 Second Lieutenant 256 Rep 245 Posts Drives: F10 M5, E36 M3 Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 BMW M3 [0.00]	I'm a member here! I can't make it this month, busy every weekend then leaving country for a bit, but I'd help you out if I bump into you. The instructors (yellow shirts) usually willing to ride with you, they might even take the drivers seat if you let them and do one run, show you technique and then switch out. Just ask ask ask for tips man. Great group of people for the most part. Good job on deciding to drive your machine right.
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09-14-2018, 09:09 PM	#11
KOWTOWN Private First Class 310 Rep 181 Posts Drives: 335i M sport Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Sacramento iTrader: (0)	Honestly, another thing you should bring is a cooler. Fill it full of snacks and waters. It is a LOT more tiring than you'd think it would be
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09-15-2018, 06:00 PM	#12
MacklinUSOB Captain 518 Rep 891 Posts Drives: f30 328i 6MT Sport Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0)	Decrease your tire pressure a few pounds and check your side walls after each run for excessive wear. F cars have practically zero camber up front and it makes it very easy to trash the tires on an auto X course. If you have run flats, be even more cautious. __________________ 328i RWD \| MW on CRed Slick Top \| 6MT \| BM3 \| MPE \| GPlus FMIC \| CSF Radiator \| Millway Street Camber Plates & Monoballs \| KW V2 6k/18k Swift Springs \| F80 LCA/TS \| SPL Bump Steer Kit \| APEX SM-10 \| R-S4 \| DS2500 \| RBF600 \| SS Lines \| Past: E36 328is & E38 740i
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09-21-2018, 12:25 AM	#13
RTPenland Lieutenant 407 Rep 557 Posts Drives: Many BMWs Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: East & West Coasts iTrader: (0)	thanks all for the tips - it was a kick in ass and can't wait to go back :-)
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