Autocross Performance Handbook (Motorbooks Workshop)

Autocross competition is open to just about anyone with a helmet, a car, and the desire to race against the clock. Aimed at racers competing in street cars, Autocross Performance Handbook covers everything from choosing the best class and car to tuning, modifying, and racing that car.

Author Richard Newton, a longtime autocross racer and ASE-certified Master Technician, details all you need to know to prep and modify your car for autocross success. He also discusses autocross rules and racing techniques, emphasizing driving skills and smart modifications over big budgets and raw horsepower.

Featuring helpful full-color illustrations and photographs, Autocross Performance Handbook focuses on each of your car’s subsystems—including engine, suspension, wheels and tires, and brakes—optimizing all for improved racecourse performance. Whether you’re an autocross regular or new to the sport, Autocross Performance Handbook is the guide to help you better your time at the track.

For autocross drivers who race the cars they drive every day, this handbook covers everything from choosing the best class and car to tuning, modifying, and racing that car.

Richard Newton is an ASE-certified Master Technician who spent 15 years in the automotive service industry before becoming an automotive magazine editor and freelance writer. He has written five books to date, including Corvette C5 Performance Projects, 101 Projects for Your Corvette and Ultimate Garage Handbook. He currently resides in Bonita Springs, Florida.

Aimed at all those autocross drivers who race the cars they drive every day, this thorough and easy-to-follow handbook covers everything from choosing the best class and car for competing to tuning, modifying, and racing that car. Richard Newton, an ASE-certified Master Technician, discusses the rule book and driving techniques used in autocross events. He focuses on car subsystems, including engine, suspension, wheels and tires, and brakes, among others. The book includes drawings of course set-ups, as well as a complete reference appendix.

Author Richard Newton, a longtime autocross racer and ASE-certified Master Technician, details all you need to know to prep and modify your car for autocross success. He also discusses autocross rules and racing techniques, emphasizing driving skills and smart modifications over big budgets and raw horsepower.

Featuring helpful full-color illustrations and photographs, Autocross Performance Handbook focuses on each of your car’s subsystems—including engine, suspension, wheels and tires, and brakes—optimizing all for improved racecourse performance. Whether you’re an autocross regular or new to the sport, Autocross Performance Handbook is the guide to help you better your time at the track.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Section I                     Autocross Events

                                                Your First Event

                                                            Arrive Early

                                                            When You Arrive

                                                            Once the Event Starts

                                                The Course Walk

                                                High Speed Autocross

                                                            High-Speed Events and Track Days

                                                            Safety Requirements

                                                            Licensing for High-Speed Autocross

                                                            Typical Event Format

                                                            Hillclimbs

                                                            Section II                    Classes and Choices

                                                Some Class Strategies

                                                            Buy a Winning Car

                                                            Pick a Class for Winning

                                                            Forget About this Class Nonsense

The SCCA Classes

                                                            Stock Category

                                                            Street Touring Category

                                                            Street Prepared Category

Street Modified Category

                                                            Prepared Category

Modified Category

                                                How Fast Are the Classes?

                                                The BMW Classing System

                                                Porsche Club of America Classification Section III      Tuning and Modification

                                                Tires

                                                Tire Pressures

                                                Wheels                                                 Alignment

                                                Sway Bars

                                                Shocking Facts

                                                            Adjusting Your Shocks

                                                Chassis Braces

                                                Brakes

                                                Exhaust

                                                Interior

                                                Quick Hints

  Section IV       Driving Your Car

                                                Five Basic Rules

                                                The Basics of Driving

                                                            Proper Seating Position

                                                            Steering Techniques

                                                            Heel and Toe

                                                The Circle of Traction

                                                Braking

                                                Turns

                                                Finding the Line

                                                            The Basic 90-Degree Turn

                                                            The Late Apex Turn

                                                            Decreasing Radius Turns

                                                            Hairpin Turns

Slow Turns

                                                            Slaloms

                                                Putting It All Together

                                                            Linking the Turns

                                                            Focus

                                                Refinements

Shifting

Braking

How Much Traction Do I Have?

How Much Power Do I Have?

How Fast Is This Turn?

Is My Car’s Handling Really Neutral?

Do I Like to Slide My Car?

                                                Back to the Basics

                                                            Set the Suspension During Braking

                                                            Beginning the Turn

                                                            Always Hit the Apex

                                                            Always Look for the Next Apex

                                                            Driving Is Important Section V                    Glossary

                                                Basic Terms

                                                A Few Final Things to Remember

                                                Comparison of SCCA Permitted Modifications

                                                Basic Cone Arrangements

Cone Rules