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SCCdVRG Information and FAQ |
Part One: Introduction and administration
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Part Two: About the club
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Part Three: About autocrossing
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Part Four: About SCCdVRG autocross
events
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Part Five: Additional information
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Part One: Introduction and administration |
Standard Disclaimers
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This is a list of Frequently Answered Questions,
FAQ for short, that attempts to answer questions
about Sports Car Club del Valle Rio Grande, and about autocrossing
in general. Any information you find
in this FAQ, or anywhere else on this web site, should be
taken as information alone. Any injury, loss, or anything
else that may happen to you as a result of acting on information
found in this FAQ, Sports Car Club del Valle Rio Grande and
its members completely disclaim. You have been warned.
That said for the lawyers, we can guarantee that, if you join
the club and come to some events, you'll have a great time.
That we can promise you.
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Who's responsible for this FAQ?
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This FAQ is a compilation of information, resources, and
suggestions from the membership of the Sports Car Club del
Valle Rio Grande. Suggestions for improvements to the FAQ
can be emailed to SCCdVRG.
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One great thing about Sports Car Club del Valle Rio Grande,
and about amateur motorsports in general, is that people
are
always willing to help out the newcomer. Check out our list
of links for information on
autocrossing and/or rallying. Or
contact
us just to chat.
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What if I find an error?
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If you find an error, in this FAQ or elsewhere on the Sports
Car Club del Valle Rio Grande web site, please email the
webmaster and we'll fix it straight away. Make sure to tell
us what's
wrong.
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Part Two: About the club
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The Sports Car Club del Valle Rio Grande is a Sports
Car Club of America (SCCA) affiliated club in northern
New Mexico. Our club holds autocrosses in Los Alamos and Santa
Fe and follows the format of SCCA
Solo II events. Our club is part of the Rio Grande region,
which is in the Rocky Mountain Division of SCCA. Formerly
part of Los Alamos National Laboratory's (LANL) Club1663,
it is now a community activity supported by LANL and Virtual
Los Alamos through the use of LANL parking lots and this
web page.
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How do I find out what is going on in the
club?
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SCCdVRG keeps in touch with its members through email and
monthly meetings (see below for meeting information). To join
the mailing list contact Paul
Brown.
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Members of SCCdVRG come from all walks of life with a shared
passion for racing cars in a safe and legal setting. Out
of
respect for the privacy of our club members, we only make
club directories available to members of SCCdVRG.
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When do you have meetings?
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The meeting nights are always the second Tuesday of the month.
On even numbered months (Feb., etc.) we meet at Mesa Public
Library in one of the upstairs meeting rooms. On odd numbered
months (Mar., etc.) we meet at Paul Brown's Garagemahal in
Pajarito Acres (101 Monte Rey North). Meetings are open to
any and all members and non-members and we always like to
see new faces!
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Part Three: About autocrossing
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What exactly is autocrossing?
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See the SCCA
website for a basic description of Solo II autocrossing.
SCCdVRG utilizes the Solo II format of autocrossing where
only one car is on the course at a time. You are racing against
the clock instead of "wheel to wheel" with
another car. Our courses usually run between 45-90 seconds
in duration
with speeds up to 65 mph (just like a good roller-coaster)
with drivers taking several timed runs. For more detailed
information see Kate
Hughes' Novice Handbook.
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What type of car do I need?
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Any type of car that is in safe running condition can be
autocrossed. We define safe running condition as a vehicle
with functioning brakes, engine, transmission, and a chassis
with no major structural damage. Vehicles with high-centers
of gravity are not allowed due to the potential for roll-over.
What this means is that most trucks and SUV's are not permitted
for safety reasons. However, people have successfully autocrossed
two-wheel drive trucks - if you have any doubts about your
vehicle, please contact
us before
attending an event.
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Will this damage my car?
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Here's where you should take another look
at the disclaimer in this FAQ. Autocrossing does,
by definition, test the limits of your ability to drive
a
car, and tests the limits of your car. Having said all that,
if your car is in good running condition, your car should
come out with some minimal tire, brake, and possibly clutch
wear. What does this mean? Autocrossing, while a low speed,
parking-lot event, is harder on a car than "normal" driving.
You will wear out tires, brakes, and clutches faster than
normal street driving. How much faster depends on too many
variable factors to give an estimate. Just be aware that
you
will be replacing tires, brakes, and clutches faster than
normal. Other parts tend to wear out too, but these parts
of a car usually only wear under regular, frequent autocrossing.
In fact, those who do wear out these other parts of their
car have usually upgraded them anyway.You should also consider
common sense while autocrossing at a SCCdVRG event. Abusing
a car is abusing a car, regardless of whether you are in
a parking lot or on the highway. For example, if you floor
the
accelerator and "sidestep" the clutch, you can expect to
wear your clutch, and probably your tires, prematurely. This
is
true no matter where you drive. So try to use good judgment
in driving your car, both on the street and at one of our
events. If you have any questions about this, feel free to
contact us.
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How will I be scored?
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Autocross scoring consists of the raw time for each autocross
run multiplied by an adjustment or PAX index to account
for
differences in cars with a time penalty assessed for each
cone knocked down. Also, no time is scored for a run that
does not follow the course, called a DNF (did not finish).
For example, a Yugo that runs a time of 60 seconds with
a
PAX index of 0.781 would have an adjusted time of 46.86 seconds.
A corvette Z-06 running the same course with a time of 55
seconds and a PAX index of 0.830 would have an adjusted time
of 45.65 seconds. A PAX index is assigned to each class
of
cars so that slower cars have a lower index than faster ones.
Classes are also available to account for modifications
and
upgrades to your car. We also have a novice class for first
timers. See the SCCA web page or a list
of Solo II classes for more information on what class
your car would fall into and what other cars are in that
class.
For more detailed
information see Kate
Hughes' Novice Handbook. Check out the current PAX
here.
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How do I start autocrossing?
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You can start autocrossing by checking the event
schedule for a time and location,
reading the following About
SCCdVRG Autocross Events FAQ, and showing up and having
a good time. See you there!
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Part Four: About SCCdVRG autocross
events |
General information about events
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Our schedule at the events goes like this:
- Gates open by 8:00 AM
- Registration goes from 8:00 to 9:00 AM. See Registration Information for additional information. After registration,
competitors are encouraged to get acquainted with the course.
See Tips for autocrossing for more information.
- Safety tech goes from 8:30 to 9:30 AM where club members
check that competitor's vehicles are in safe running order.
Our tech is only supposed to verify there are no obvious
safety problems. It's the competitor's job to ensure the
car is in good overall working order - don't
blame us if it breaks, because you've read the disclaimer.
- Gates close at 10:00 AM, followed by a driver's meeting.
The first car goes off around 10:00 (ideally).
- We typically divide the cars into two run groups (large
events may have more run groups) so that half of the competitors
are driving while the other half are working the course.
This means that while one group is driving (one car at a
time), the other group is safely picking up any cones that
the current driver has knocked down. Full information on
course worker requirements and assignments is announced
at the drivers meeting every morning, so attendance is mandatory.
- Events usually last until around 4:00 PM. See What
to bring to an autocross for more information.
- For more detailed information see Kate
Hughes' Novice Handbook.
Event fees are $25 for members (SCCA) and $30
for non-members. Local events held at the MSL
lot are $15
for both members and non-members. See the following SCCA
membership link for more information about SCCA membership.
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Registration Information
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You can either register for a local event in person the day of the event or online before the event. A local event excludes national and divisional events that require different registration (these events will have registration information as part of the event link).
| In Person Registration |
- This is a drop-in registration the day of the event
- Registration goes from 8:00 to 9:00 AM, with a late fee for those that register after 9:00 AM (usually $10)
- No entries are accepted after 10:00 AM
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| Online Registration |
- Register before the event through our registration form
- Only one event and driver per registration
- Online registration will close Thursday evening before the event for that event only
- Pay in person the day of the event
- If you can no longer make the event after registering, please use the cancellation form
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How to prepare your car for an autocross
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Before the event:
- The first thing is too make sure that your car is in safe
running order.
- Next make sure that your car has enough oil in it. Some
cars may starve for oil during hard cornering so it is a
good idea to bring an extra quart just in case.
- Finally, bring a tire gauge and make sure that your tires
have enough air in them. Autocrossing can ruin street tires
if they are not inflated to the proper pressure which is
around 40-45 psi for an event. Be aware that some cars may
require closer to 50 psi for street tires. Always check
and abide by the maximum rated pressure located on the side
of the tire. Be especially careful to use the right pressure
with a front wheel drive car (the front tires do everything).
- Please ask for help at an event if you need it!
At the event:
- You must remove or securely stow any loose items in your
car so that they do not fly around during your run.
- It is recommend to check the wear on your tires between
runs, until you have determined the optimum psi for your
tires.
After the event:
- Lower the pressure in your tires back to the recommended
psi. Higher psi's will cause tires to wear out faster
during
normal street driving.
Additional Notes:
- More advanced drivers often buy a special set of autocross
tires and rims to use for better performance and to save
their street tires. Please contact
us if you are interested.
- For more detailed
information see Kate
Hughes' Novice Handbook.
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What to bring to an autocross
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Most SCCdVRG events are run between the seasons of Spring
and Fall. This is New Mexico, and it can get hot and sunny
outside, so bring sun screen and plenty of water. Also bring
something to snack on since we usually do not allow enough
time to leave the autocross venue for lunch. Lots of people
also bring cameras so they can take pictures of the event.
No alcohol or drugs are allowed at any SCCdVRG event.
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Tips for autocrossing
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The toughest thing for most novices is "finding the course."
Your first time out, looking straight ahead often leaves you
confused as to where the turns are, what side to go in on,
and so forth. So then, a few pointers that help even the most
experienced autocrosser:
- Come early and walk around the course. The best way
to get a feel for the way a course is laid out is to go
through
it. And the earlier you come, the fewer people will be
walking, and the better you will see the course.
- Take it easy your first time through. You're new at this.
Worry about finding the course first, the speed will come
later. Remember, a slow time that counts is better than
a fast one that doesn't count.
- Take an experienced driver along with you. Novices are
encouraged to find experienced autocrossers to sit with
them while they drive the course. There are people in SCCdVRG
who have been autocrossing for many years, and can offer
good insight on how to get better. We're all friendly too,
so don't be shy.
- Enjoy yourself!
For more detailed information see Kate
Hughes' Novice Handbook.
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