The NOOB FAQ Thread

[Mr. Sociable]

So I'll admit I'm a n00b (at least at this point) when it comes to sanctioned racing (SCCA, NASA, etc) but really want to get involved. I've done some research on rallycross, autocross etc. but I'll admit that I'm a little nervous when it comes to showing up at some event never having done it before in a bone stock car (being being a porr student sucks). Is there a chance that this could be a FAQ/Getting involved for your first time thread for n00bs like me? I can't be the only one.


And if this is a bad idea, then this thread can be deleted.

[deadlydave]

Not a bad idea at all, this is the primary reason this section was created. Though I'm not an SCCA member yet, won't be till spring, I know a few things. I'll let Belladonna take a first crack at helping--she knows way more than me.

I definitely recommend watching an autocross or rallycross and asking questions while there. That's what I did when I attended my first one, and I was hooked instantly.

[MCarp22]

I'll admit that I'm a little nervous when it comes to showing up at some event never having done it before in a bone stock car

Heh, your car is nicer and probably faster than my "racecar" and I've been doing this going on 8 years now.

Check out the novice guide that a guy in my area wrote. You'll have to ignore some of the club specific stuff unless you happen to live in pittsburgh:

http://www.racepa.com/content/index.php?topic=1404.0

[pdawg]

Just do it. In my case our region has a noob day at the beginning of the year. Just Noobs with lots of seasoned veterans to ride along and teach. But people are willing to ride along any time and most people are open to you riding with them. Just go and have fun.
[my best Duval Impression]"I love the smell of racing fuel in the morning."[/my best Duval Impression]

[blueb3]

Best idea is to go to a local event, meet some folks, and don't be afraid to ask questions, or for a ride. Tell them you are curious about the sport and most of us welcome the chance to give a new person (or anyone for that matter) a ride. It usually gets them hooked, and that means more cars, more competition, more fun. What really got me going was when at a local rallycross one of the participants took me out on a couple fun runs around the track. I ran the next two events and placed pretty well (13 out of 30 both times, even beating out a WRX or two)

[ryu_haneda]

I went to an SCCA autocross first time this October. It was great fun, we met new people, and my wife and I got to ride along with one of the racers there.

Here's the link to my post here:
http://www.sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?t=7401

[Mr. Sociable]

Ok had my first event today and WOW! What a blast (even though I was in the bottom 5 I think ). I had a blast.


My question now is how to be more competitive in a certain class. I can either stay in H-Stock where I could add some Bilstein shocks and maybe some race rubber down the road (and possibly be semi-competitive) or go to STS where the options for modifications are more open but I would get raped by Civics (because they own that class. Thoughts?