Newbie with Questions

[chipgrafx]

First... greetings to any and all that respond. I'm looking forward to having some really good times, meeting new people and learning more about my driving and my car.

1) I drive a MINI Cooper S with a new SC pulley (15%) and an intake. Suspension, exhaust & tires are completely stock but I will be adding a rear sway bar in March. What class does this put me in?

2) Recommendations for a good/reputable shop to get a helmet?

3) Are there any upcoming novice schools/classes/events?

Thanks for any and all inputs and opinions. :)

[RandyC]

Welcome.

1. I am not sure. :) I think nothing else you have done or plan to do matters beyond the SC Pulley. The pulley alone takes you out of stock and into some class. I am sure someone else will fill in the correct class. Or you can run SU.

2. Two local race shops are C2 Motorsports and Dave Turner Motorsports.

3. I think we will see one this spring. In the meantime, just attend the next championship event for the best chance of learning this sport.

[woodrufj]

1. SM is the lowest class you can enter, mostly the fault of the pully. It will be fast, but being new, any class with experianced drivers will seem way fast.

Jay W
505/287 Dakota

[cshodges]

Oddly enough, the pulley, intake, and rear sway are all things that aren't allowed in stock classes, but there are things you can do to the exhaust, suspension, and tires and still be stock.

Don't worry about how competitive your car is your first year out, though. Run in a championship event, enter as a novice, and ask for an instructor. Running in the prepared/modified classes is actually and advantage here, as the stock classes tend to run in the morning and it's harder to find an instructor -- our rules prevent instructors from helping you out before they do their own runs or they're disqualified. There are more instructors in the afternoon that are done and eager to help.

Our practices are geared more for members than for newcomers. Your best bet is actually the championship events. We do novice course walks in the morning, provide instructors, etc. at champ events.

[Pervis]

Our practices are well attended by members, true. The are not really "geared" for them though. Seat time is just that. Practices are your best bet as they give you more seat time that the Championships for your money. There may not be an emphasis on instruction but there are many willing to guide you if you ask.



Where is that darn spell checker icon ? ! ? ! ?

[MX5bob]

Our practices are well attended by members, true. The are not really "geared" for them though.

You mean new members, right? :D

[Roostie]

The top concerns of newbies are always, "what class will my car be in," and "what mods should I make." The answer to both question is, don't worry about these things unless and until you decide you are dedicated to this sport.

You won't beat stiff competition in any class until you have considerable experience, and there's no point in picking your modifications based on SCCA rules unless you intend to be a loyal SCCA competitor. Come run with us a bunch of times and see if you like it before worrying about such things.

Getting to the track early enough (to prep your car, tech it, and walk the course a couple times) is much more important for a novice than the things a novice is naturally inclined to worry about.

[chipgrafx]

As much as I appreciate everyone's input (and I'm sure it's more a generalization of all newbies) but I make no mention of "what mods should I make." Regardless of whether I run on Sunday or any other race days, the mods I mentioned are already in my car and the sway bar is getting installed, SCCA or not. The decisions I have made to modify my car were made before I gave serious thought to autocrossing.

As far as me (or any newbie) wanting to know what class they will run in... well that's a completely fair and legitimate "worry." I've done a little research on my own to try and figure out what class my car falls into but having no experience with SCCA rules and having never participated in an event I was unable to determine this on my own. This message board would be the next logical place for me to ask, since nearly everyone on here is already involved. And due to the reputation of the MINI I figured there would probably be someone on here that would have a similar setup to mine and would be able to tell me what class I would run in. And besides all that, what if I was planning on getting something done to my car but it would bump me into the next class and I didn't want that? I wouldn't know without asking, right?

[froggy47]

www.sccaforums.com

post under rules & classing

somebody will take a shot at it.

:)

[frosty]

In my limited experience, I don't think I've seen a Mini run locally. Granted, with only one dealership (and way up in Escondido), it's hardly a surprise you don't see many of them here in San Diego.

[wolfgang]

In my limited experience, I don't think I've seen a Mini run locally. Granted, with only one dealership (and way up in Escondido), it's hardly a surprise you don't see many of them here in San Diego.


Saw many mini's at the beginning of last year, then they seemed to disappear. As I recall some turned decent times. Maybe they all come out with the BMW club when they are at the Q...........

[frosty]

Saw many mini's at the beginning of last year, then they seemed to disappear. As I recall some turned decent times. Maybe they all come out with the BMW club when they are at the Q...........

It's quite possible. I didn't start until November so what I've seen is very limited.

[woodrufj]

In my limited experience, I don't think I've seen a Mini run locally. Granted, with only one dealership (and way up in Escondido), it's hardly a surprise you don't see many of them here in San Diego.
There will be mini's a plenty here in 2 weeks.

Jay W
505/287 Dakota

[cshodges]

Saw a couple of classic Mini's at an event last year. 10" rims and all. First time I ever saw a car spin a 360 without leaving the course. :)

[frosty]

First time I ever saw a car spin a 360 without leaving the course. :)

Hahahahahahaa:rolleyes: