What is autocross? Essentially it is a course with cones where you aim for the fastest time – without going off course or hitting cones for penalties. It showcases precision driving with all sorts of turns and angles. I love how it both pushes the car, but also me as a driver!
So far, I have gone to five SCCA events with the Pan American region. I first competed on everything factory and have (very) slowly been improving and with much trial and error. Below are a couple tips that I have learned the hard way – I hope you can learn from my mistakes!
Look into the classes before modding your car
Consider if this is for fun as a hobby or to be competitive! The times are weighted differently depending on which class you are in. When I first started, I was classed as D Street. However, I kept making modifications to the 86 that would put me into a higher level class without realizing! I had put on a Verus front splitter, done a trunk swap with a wing, gotten 18’ wheels instead of the stock 17’, and bought a Robot Craftsman hood with a scoop. Now, quite frankly, I’m all over the place! The mods don’t make me competitive enough in the class they would put me in.
Connect with someone competitive
When I went to my first event, I was very intimidated and stuck to myself. I missed out on so much knowledge – so many people have years of experience filled with trial and error. Once I got a bit more comfortable with the crowd, I was able to ride in the passenger seat and see how others approached the course and had people sit in while I ran it to get their feedback. The other competitors have explained so much to me from treadwear to camber to how to best approach a turn. Take advantage of being around them and ask questions or even just silently observe!
Fast N Steady Media 
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