OK, I am the happy owner of a 2000 SS. Problem is I really need to learn how to drive it properly. To that end I would like to participate in a SOLO AutoX. Since the car is a daily driver, ~350 miles per week, and I don't want to PO my wife too much I need to know if a two day AutoX school is going to destroy my tires/brakes/other stuff. I would like oppions because I have no idea what happens at one of these events.

FYI my tires are stock SS size BFG KDWS which have 400 AA A rating. As posted earlier someone said that AutoX doesn't kill tires as badly as open track but how much wear can I expect.

Any things I can do to prepare myself for School?

Thanks

 

I took the Evolution Performance Driving School (Phase 1) last June.

http://autocross.com/evolution/

I just looked, the car had 27 runs total for the day (sometimes the instructor drives, most of the time you drive).

Wear:
Tires - On street tires, I can get about 20-25 events out of them while also using my car as a daily driver (and occasional track date). These numbers are based on my experience with a treadwear of 320. Your 400's are harder and will wear longer.

Brakes - Yeah, the pads will wear more quickly, but we're not talking megabucks here. How fast your pads wear will be determined by the type of pads you use.

 

Wow, 400 treadwear tires should last about 50 years

 

You should have no problems at a two day event. I doubt you'll be able to tell that you even ran. As far as prep. goes; check fluids, and mechanics, fill gas tank, fill tires to max rating (listed on side of tire), get a good helmet, wear comfortable cotton clothes, go to the book store and get a book on high perfomance driving.........Go Have FUN!!

Miss anything???

 

Noticed the mention of FULL tank of gas for the event. I would have though 1/2 to 3/4 would be optimal. Do you all run full tanks?

 

I always run with a full tank of gas. I want the extra weight over the rear wheels and I don't want to risk starvation at the fuel pump inside the fuel tank.

 

I was at the end of a full day track event at Texas World Speedway, the fuel gage was low but not empty. On the last lap on the high banked oval part, the engine started to miss then bang! Busted the rings in two cylinders. No gas was aviable at the track.

 

Why did the rings go bad in 2 cylinders?

 

If there wasn't enough fuel for the cylinders than it could have detonated, blowing the ring lands.

 

OUCH!! I am glad I asked, that makes tires and brakes and etc. look really cheap. Oh well, I am on the waiting list so it may be a moot point.