NTAXS Winter Autocross, 1/25/2014, Dallas Raceway

[jrj512]

The North Texas Autocross Series (NTAXS) is hosting our annual Winter Autocross event on Saturday, January 25th, 2014 at Dallas Raceway in Crandall, TX.

The entry fee is $30 per person and you must pre-register at http://www.dlbracing.com starting Friday, January 10th. There is no on-site registration. The event is limited to 65 drivers, so sign up early. Please join us for a great day of racing and fun.

The event will be cancelled if any of the following occur:

- Less than 34 people have signed up by 9 AM CST on Thursday, January 23rd.
- At 9 AM CST on Thursday, January 23rd, the weather forecast for the event date calls for inclement conditions. In general, we will be looking for less than a 30% chance of rain and a high temperature greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Event cancellation will result in refunding each participant's money. Otherwise, standard cancellation rules apply.

You get eight runs at NTAXS events, so you will make four runs in the AM session and four runs in the PM session.

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Check-in, Registration, and mandatory Tech Inspection
(You must arrive in time to have check in and pass tech inspection prior to 9 AM)
8:15 AM – 9:30 AM Course open for walking
9:15 AM Novice Meeting (mandatory if new to NTAXS events)
9:30 AM Drivers Meeting (mandatory for all)
9:45 AM First car out
(Lunch and course-walk break between morning and afternoon heats totaling approximately one hour.)

Car Classing is based on engine size:
- Class 1/1R is for engines under 2.3 liters, except Honda S2000 and Lotus
Elise/Exige.
- Class 2/2R is for engines over 2.2 liters, but under 4.0 liters, plus Honda S2000.
- Class 3/3R is for engines over 3.9 liters, plus Lotus Elise/Exige.
- Class S2000 is only for Honda S2000 on street tires.
- Class X/XR is an open class for any engine displacement and induction.

Rotary engine multiplies displacement by 2.0. Usage of forced induction multiplies displacement by 1.5. (This is in addition to the rotary multiplier, if applicable.) Tires with a wear rating under 140 must use the R class.

View the rules and additional information at http://www.ntaxs.com.

Contact me at jrj512 at dfwmx5 dot com for more information.

Find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ntaxs .

[jrj512]

For Winter Autocrosses, we use different courses for the AM and PM runs. The courses will be changed during the lunch break and participants will be told at the commencement of the lunch break when the course will be reopened for walking. We will also announce when the course will be closed for walking in order for us to begin the second half of the event. The course will be open to walk for at least 30 minutes. Your event performance will be based on a sum of your best time from the morning runs and your best time from the afternoon runs.

[blackzx3_13]

IN. . . .When registration opens

[S2K_MoZo]

I hope I can get my car ready by then :)

[TxCoyote]

Unfortunately I'm out. I'll be in Daytona. JJ, you need to stop scheduling this the weekend of the 24

[CosmosMpower]

Should be there to try out the new chariot.

[mtrx804]

This a good event for beginners? By beginner... 1st time

[cone-cerned]

Yes. Any event is a good event to begin your autocross adventure. Let the people know you are new to autocross and don't be afraid to ask questions.

[mtrx804]

Yeah. I've read tons on miata.net and SCCA page, but like most people nervous about trying something new. Ill be registering tomorrow for it.

[OZMDD]

Novices are welcome. The best thing to do is show up early, watch what others do and ask about things your don't understand or find confusing. Above all, accept whatever help is offered. Lots of novices want to jump right into driving the course, then get lost and possibly embarrassed. Get in the back of the grid line, ask for ride alongs and try to have an instructor ride with you on your first run or two. You'll get the hang of it pretty quick, then you'll realize how many little things you need to get right to be genuinely fast.

Also, while there will be some well-developed cars out there going very fast, don't fall into the trap of thinking you need to buy parts for your car to go faster. All of the fastest drivers out there will be nearly-as-fast even if they were driving a bone stock econo box. Novices often equate "fast" with car prep, but its all about tuning the driver, then worry about dialing in the car later.

[TxCoyote]

Also, while there will be some well-developed cars out there going very fast, don't fall into the trap of thinking you need to buy parts for your car to go faster. All of the fastest drivers out there will be nearly-as-fast even if they were driving a bone stock econo box. Novices often equate "fast" with car prep, but its all about tuning the driver, then worry about dialing in the car later.

Excellent advice!

[mtrx804]

Also, while there will be some well-developed cars out there going very fast, don't fall into the trap of thinking you need to buy parts for your car to go faster. All of the fastest drivers out there will be nearly-as-fast even if they were driving a bone stock econo box. Novices often equate "fast" with car prep, but its all about tuning the driver, then worry about dialing in the car later.

Yeah, driving this car in general will be different. It was actually set up as a autocross car with previous owner.Its loaded with sways, roll bar, aftermarkert shocks/springs, light weight rims, and torsen.

Honestly today was my first day to drive it on the street.

[tailchaser]

If it's set up as an autox car, you can probably make your first trip out a whole lot less intimidating by REMOVING your rear sway bar before your first drive. If you're not sure how, bring a 12mm wrench (or is it 14) and have someone help you remove one endlink on site. This *will* make it easier for you to concentrate on the course and *may* make the car faster once you have experience.

[mtrx804]

Yeah, I have removed that and the endlinks. Im the one who swapped out the open diff for the Torsen (from a 95) because it was torn up. The bar wouldn't fit on the new rear end easily.

[neirbot]

...show up early, watch what others do and ask about things your don't understand or find confusing...accept whatever help is offered...ask for ride alongs and try to have an instructor ride with you...don't fall into the trap of thinking you need to buy parts for your car to go faster...

All of this is great advice and spot-on, coming from a guy who just started last year. I was able to get to SCCA, NTAXS, and ER events and found everyone to be very helpful and welcoming. Each event made me want for more. Unfortunately my previous mods puts me into STR, but I don't consider it to be a well-developed car. My biggest handicap is me, not the car (although I do plan to get new tires and a tune).

If it's set up as an autox car, you can probably make your first trip out a whole lot less intimidating by REMOVING your rear sway bar before your first drive. If you're not sure how, bring a 12mm wrench (or is it 14) and have someone help you remove one endlink on site. This *will* make it easier for you to concentrate on the course and *may* make the car faster once you have experience.

Yup, I did this and it made a big difference.

[Robert]

Already at 19 entries

[BMcCann]

In!

[OZMDD]

Tailchaser, go play in class 2 where the NC belongs!

[mtrx804]

Already at 19 entries

22 now, I signed up at about midnight last night there was already 12 ahead of me. :O

[CosmosMpower]

23 now