Track Racing OR AutoX?

[JDMTyler3326]

I am just about done my CRX finally and I can't wait to drive it. I really want to get into some driving sport with it and learn my car. It is my Daily Driver but it's built to be a race car haha.

Info on CRX:
-90 CRX SI
-D16z6 swap with mods lol
-roll bar/cage
-5 point harness
-gutted

I want to get into Track Racing but some people have told me to get into autoX first? What do you guys think?

[rickeo]

Auto-X it first. With the mod list, however, you'll probably end up in a class you can't compete it without a lot of practice.

No matter what you decide to do, your absolute next mod is going to be in some performance driving instruction. No mod will make you faster then that. Period.

[JDMTyler3326]

Originally Posted by rickeo

Auto-X it first. With the mod list, however, you'll probably end up in a class you can't compete it without a lot of practice.

No matter what you decide to do, your absolute next mod is going to be in some performance driving instruction. No mod will make you faster then that. Period.

Will I be able to drive in the class at least? Or with my mods and driving skills will not let me?

I don't want to compete in anything yet, I really want to get some seat time and use this car for what its built for.

[rickeo]

Of course you can drive in it, just don't expect to be competitive in it.

Auto-X's are great for quick seat time and for CHEAP. An HPDE is going to be considerably more expensive but you also get a ton more seat time. Then again, its also quite a bit harder on your car. Just wait till you start going through a set a brake pads in a weekend.

[TalonTsi97]

Auto-X first, based on the car and your driving experience.

[Got Insulin?]

Track days and the prep needed for them can get expensive quickly, and they employ two different styles of driving. Go AutoX and see how you like it. Safety equipment usually doesn't bump your class, but things like sway bars and suspension bits will.

[Chris B.]

In the long run, track days are much cheaper per minute of seat time than most AutoX events. However, it wouldn't hurt to do AutoX too and get good instruction during those autoX events.

For example, track days can be as low as $1.60 per minute of track time just in event fees. A SCCA AutoX is about $10 per minute of seat time just in event fees. When you include wear & tear and track day insurance, track days are still cheaper per minute than most AutoX events. Usually a CRX is an inexpensive car to run at a HPDE.

[igo4bmx]

is it a certified roll cage?

[SHOdude]

You always have the option of buying some slicks and running at maple grove or atco, AutoX seems to be the safest route for a DD.

[JB'sLGT]

AutoX and track days are two completely different beasts. Entry fees for AutoX are way more budget friendly than HPDEs. You can complete about 3/4 of a full season of AutoX for the cost of 1 HPDE, meaning you'll get your racing fix monthly.

South Jersey SCCA autoxes usually feature 6+ runs. Last event we got in 7, but the aim is 8. The courses vary in size from 60 seconds to 90 seconds (with no repeats...we race at a large airport). Our next event is April 15th and we're very novice friendly: http://www.tristatetuners.com/forum/...d.php?t=118834

[quattroguy]

Did both for years and have to vote for DE. It is more money, but you get several sessions of multiple laps to learn. Blow turn 2 exit and you have a bunch more shots at it immediately. Not one shot every 45 minutes. And you get an instructor with you in the car to help. If you had a rwd car I would also suggest a good kart track, like LVGP. Not sure how much transfers from karts to FWD though. Since I drive an MR2 it is very similar, just no turbo!

[BLSOHRD]

Do both man. Get with auto-x first and maybe smaller track events (hpde and pdx stuff) and build yourself up from there.

Also you didn't mention...but I hope you have spent just as much time and money on suspension as everything else on the car. That's more key than most of your **** on it.

[Nick 95 6sp]

Unless you are specifically interested in seriously pursuing auto-x I would go right into HPDE track days and learn through that route.

[oneday]

An autocross is <$50 to do...so it's not a big waste of cash or time to try it once. That said, if you want to pursue a "track racing" hobby, find a group to do an HPDE with. There are plenty to choose from in the area.

My biggest concern for you getting on track is your safety gear. Specifically the "rollbar/cage"and 5-pt harness. A harness must be installed a specific way with specific hardware. A rollbar is not the same as a cage, so you need to determine which you have, then you need to know if your rollbar/cage will need to meet certain criteria to be considered track worthy.

Now, not to crush you after you (from the sounds of it) personally built your CRX...but...you say you built it "to be a race car haha"...did you build it to fit any set of rules or class? Or do you mean you built it to be a fun to drive track toy that just goes out and turns laps at a race track during HPDEs? A "track toy" doesn't need to meet any performance criteria (only safety) while a "race car haha" needs to be built to a strict rule set for a given class (which your "swap with mods lol" will put you into a class you probably won't be competitive in unless you really extract every bit of performance from it).

You will need to research the rules for whatever club you choose to run with. I suggest you get familiar with the General Competition Rules (GCR) for both the SCCA and NASA as they are the to dominant sanctioning bodies--and if your car meets one GCR it will probably meet the other and any other club's guidelines.

Whatever your personal goals are (and your ultimate goals for your car), it does sound like you should get to an HPDE and an AutoX to see if either suits your car and/or driving style before you spend too much more money/time on your car.

[Chris B.]

You could always join us for the TST track day.
http://www.tristatetuners.com/forum/...d.php?t=122439

[CleanNeon98]

They are totally different. I've only done autocross and it was a BLAST. I can't wait to get on the road course this year. Autocross youll have the free option of an instructor for ride along. Track day, at least the first, is mandatory I believe. You'll learn a lot either way you go, I'd try autocross first, you can really push your car with consequence of only hitting a cone in most cases.

[Khellen]

Originally Posted by JDMTyler3326

I am just about done my CRX finally and I can't wait to drive it. I really want to get into some driving sport with it and learn my car. It is my Daily Driver but it's built to be a race car haha.

Info on CRX:
-90 CRX SI
-D16z6 swap with mods lol
-roll bar/cage
-5 point harness
-gutted

I want to get into Track Racing but some people have told me to get into autoX first? What do you guys think?

AutoX's are $50 and HPDE events are usually in the $200's. Most people your age can't afford to drop $200+ on a track day event more then maybe once a year. That doesn't leave a lot of time for "experience".

I'd stick with doing local autoX's as you start out Tyler. It's a lot of fun and it won't break your bank. You'll learn a lot about setting up your car, driving your car, and you'll meet tons of people with similar cars.

I just started a little over a year ago and love it so far. Give it a try!

[tristatesentra]

I would just do autoX.its fun I ran it at etown a couple of years back,it was a learning expirience but fun

[Scapegoat]

what people fail to mention about auto cross...

it's boring... it's ****ing boring. you spend the entire day there... that sounds like fun? well, it's not! Unless by fun you mean spending 4-6 hours out in the sun watching other people race for a few minutes at a time while maybe chasing after a cone or 10. All that for maybe 20 minutes of track time.

Maybe if you were going to take it seriously and want to see your name nationally in some autox publication, and you're going to chase after autocross events, it might be worth it then... it might even be fun (or downright tedious). And has Chris mentioned, it's ****ing expensive per minute of track time. in fact, it'd be expensive if it was free. I don't know about you, but i don't want to waste an entire day standing around in the heat doing diddly squat.

don't get me wrong... i've autocrossed both of my cars... to get a feel for them right after i purchased them. am i frank hart? no, i just have a better understanding of my car and how horribly it nose dives into turns.

So you might not be able to hit up an HPDE every weekend, or maybe you can if you've got the monies... but your day will be better spent (2-4 hours driving time!), you'll learn more (if you've got an instructor), and i guarantee you'll have a ton of fun. Oh, and you don't have to worry about anyone else's ****.

racing is expensive, more so if you're serious about it.

do an auto cross and drive your car to the limit of your ability so you know where you stand in a relatively safe venue (just don't kill anyone else) and then hit the tracks.

[Elliott18t]

Originally Posted by Scapegoat

what people fail to mention about auto cross...

it's boring... it's ****ing boring. you spend the entire day there... that sounds like fun? well, it's not! Unless by fun you mean spending 4-6 hours out in the sun watching other people race for a few minutes at a time while maybe chasing after a cone or 10. All that for maybe 20 minutes of track time.

Maybe if you were going to take it seriously and want to see your name nationally in some autox publication, and you're going to chase after autocross events, it might be worth it then... it might even be fun (or downright tedious). And has Chris mentioned, it's ****ing expensive per minute of track time. in fact, it'd be expensive if it was free. I don't know about you, but i don't want to waste an entire day standing around in the heat doing diddly squat.

don't get me wrong... i've autocrossed both of my cars... to get a feel for them right after i purchased them. am i frank hart? no, i just have a better understanding of my car and how horribly it nose dives into turns.

So you might not be able to hit up an HPDE every weekend, or maybe you can if you've got the monies... but your day will be better spent (2-4 hours driving time!), you'll learn more (if you've got an instructor), and i guarantee you'll have a ton of fun. Oh, and you don't have to worry about anyone else's ****.

racing is expensive, more so if you're serious about it.

do an auto cross and drive your car to the limit of your ability so you know where you stand in a relatively safe venue (just don't kill anyone else) and then hit the tracks.

Ive been to Autox many times and don't find it boring.. then half the time I am taking pictures. as a lazy weekend hobby, yeah it can get pretty boring but once you become competitive you start to have fun. My friend mark's Mustang runs in the SM class with a bunch of evo's. Him and alex placed 3rd and 4th against two other guys in first and second (driving the same EVO). (http://phillyscca.com/solo2/results/2012/SO032511.shtml)

That said, I can see how it could be really boring for some people.