Tips for a first time autocrosser?

[Nocturnal LE]

Specific to stock 3.0L Supra on…

automatic Vs manual mode?
Sport Vs normal mode?
tire pressure? NE Ohio supposed to be 67 deg and 60% chance of rain

thanks ! Looking forward to it !

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[B58_ hwAyaq]

While I’ve yet to autocross with this platform (but have lots of time on my other platform), I’d be willing to bet the more experienced Autocrossers here would say auto, sport mode, traction off, and seat time…and keep your eyes up looking ahead.

Everything else that’s “needed” will come with experience.

 

[type-964]

While I’ve yet to autocross with this platform (but have lots of time on my other platform), I’d be willing to bet the more experienced Autocrossers here would say auto, sport mode, traction off, and seat time…and keep your eyes up looking ahead.

Everything else that’s “needed” will come with experience.

+1

The auto is brilliant at autocross. Start with “traction mode” (single press), and turn it all off after you get a feel for things.

Traction mode is pretty permissive but will still kill some of the rotation you want if you carry too much speed into a tight corner - it will understeer a bit instead of rotating on throttle.

 

[Dannyvandelft]

Specific to stock 3.0L Supra on…

automatic Vs manual mode?
Sport Vs normal mode?
tire pressure? NE Ohio supposed to be 67 deg and 60% chance of rain

thanks ! Looking forward to it !

You going to Dragway 42?

Leave the nannies on. The car has a lot of power and torque and you can easily upset the car and lose it. And at Dragway 42 trees aren't that far away.
Stick it in manual, most of the course, if not all will be done in 2nd and 3rd.

Only "mod" that would help right from the start is an alignment. Beyond that all you need is seat time.

 

[Elektro]

breathe, relax
in the morning read the course until it's all in your head. don't just stroll.
- particularly distances and angles
drive the whole course, not one corner at a time
don't worry about the car too much your first time
you will make mistakes and that's ok
have fun and make friends

 

[Traxion]

This is my first season as well and I've gotten about 60 runs so far. Leave the car in automatic. My first tip is use Individual Sport Mode and have everything set to sport except the engine. Set the engine to normal. This will help you learn the car first and learn better habits. As mentioned above, the car is extremely easy to upset and lose grip, spin the wheels, etc and that tolerance gets even easier to upset with engine in Sport Mode. Advanced driving skills and being able to handle it will come with seat time. The biggest 3 things are:

1. Roll onto the throttle when exiting turns, aka don't floor it (this is learned much easier in normal mode since sport mode makes it a lot more twitchy)
2. Brake in a straight line. Turn after releasing the brake. For learning, any element that you might want to break during because you think you're going to fast, you can execute with the right entry speed and maintenance throttle instead
3. Learn the drive line - walk through the course with someone experienced who can show you where to enter and exit turns

Other helpful things, have an instructor or experienced member ride in your car and see how you drive first for feedback. Then ask to ride along with experience drivers. I don't recommend riding along with the fastest guys, they will drive so much differently that you won't learn anything. The people running the events are all extremely helpful and everyone loves to talk about cars and enjoying driving them. I've been running with 3 different autocross groups in my area and my experience will all of them has been great as far as personal and attendees go.

 

[Nocturnal LE]

Thanks for all the tips. I think I’ll leave traction control all on, put it in sport individual (engine to normal). Not sure if I should keep it in 2nd or 3rd gear the whole time, or automatic. Maybe I’ll give both a try

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