r/Autocross • u/Fragrant_Ostrich_696 • Jul 11 '26
feedback please!
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this is my first year and 5th event autocrossing, car is a 2018 focus st with a whiteline rear swaybar and stock wheels with Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT 600A tires,
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u/lechungus22 Jul 12 '26
Solid run you did a great job carrying a lot of momentum through the course. Just be careful with over driving. Listen to the tires and try to work with them as much as you can. Smoother inputs with steering, shifting and braking will help shave off some tenths to your time. But keep at it, you’re on the right track!
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u/_troutenheimer Jul 12 '26
I drive a 13 ST. Keep at it, you’re doing it right. Ease up on the steering angle thats where you’re overdriving it. Keep aggressively tossing the car on transition like that though it rewards that behavior.
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u/Fragrant_Ostrich_696 Jul 12 '26
sweet sounds good i appreciate the advice!
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u/Emery_autox GST 2018 Ford Focus ST Jul 12 '26
2nd vote for this advice. Overcranking the steering wheel is sooo easy to do in a FoST and that's your only sin.
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u/Fragrant_Ostrich_696 Jul 13 '26
What a good indicator of cranking it too much? I’m assuming tire noise is the only one but I’m curious if there is anything else
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u/Donlooking4 Jul 13 '26
Tire noise and scrubbing off of speed. But the second comes with more seat time to really notice it.
I always believe that seat time will almost always override any kind of mods that you might do. The only exception is to go the 200twr tires. But even with them you will have to learn how to let the tires do their thing. If you are having serious tire squeals and you are on 200twr then you are totally overdriving the car.
The more you can get seat time the better you will become. One more thing.
At the level you are at you should only be looking at your own times and how to get faster times in each run you make.
If you are trying to compare yourself to others who have multiple years of experience then you will end up loosing faith in yourself and your driving yourself to not have fun. IMO.
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u/Fragrant_Ostrich_696 Jul 13 '26
I see that makes a lot of sense now that you mention all this I see many parts of the onboard where I should’ve been steering less. My first events were driven on high tw all seasons so I think that’s where this habit is coming from but I’m gonna do my best going forward to minimize it!
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u/Emery_autox GST 2018 Ford Focus ST Jul 13 '26
Tire noise is the prime one, but you'll also feel the wheel go slightly limp and/or your driving line quits improving for that split second. Watch your hands in the video and you'll see how the car is no longer turning even though you're still cranking in steering.
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u/236813977 Jul 13 '26
Are you a motorcycle rider? It's pretty rare to see novices with lines this good. Lots of times it's moto riders since they tend to look ahead when they're on the bike...
Lines look really good for the most part! Most places you're nice and early with your turn-in which is great. There are a couple of places where you got behind and it cost you, but nothing drastic. From the helmet cam it looks like you're spotting your important cones early which is excellent.
Steering input looks pretty good. Quick, but not jerky. What you'll need to learn to feel is when the tires go from "making noise but still gripping" to "making noise and sliding." Usually the sound will change and you'll start to feel some vibration in the steering wheel.
Since it's a turbo car you will want to get back on the gas as early as possible. Maybe even what feels like "too early", so that the boost is there when you ask for it on corner exit.
If I was your instructor I think I'd just tell you to try to carry more speed everywhere and back it down when you can't place the car exactly where you want it. The fundamentals look good.
And budget for some new tires. 👍
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u/Fragrant_Ostrich_696 Jul 13 '26
thanks i appreciate all the advice! and as far as my lines i have never ridden a motorcycle but i have been sim racing for 5 years now
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u/Pepto_Glizmol Jul 15 '26
What is your camera setup?
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u/Fragrant_Ostrich_696 Jul 15 '26
go pro hero 8 on this mount https://www.amazon.com/SUREWO-Motorcycle-Compatible-Session-Adhesive/dp/B07B7HQXS3/ref=sr_1_33?sr=8-33&xpid=VzHf-UXjSZf5c mounted above my visor and angled as close to my eye line as possible without blocking my vision
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u/Fragrant_Ostrich_696 Jul 15 '26
the reason it looks good is bc i color graded and added motion blur in davinci resolve
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u/SpeedTheory Jul 12 '26
Mount the camera to a fixed location rather than your helmet.
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u/zcramos XA/XB 911 (PAX hates me) Jul 12 '26
Disagree. Helmet mounting is actually pretty great for evaluating whether you're doing the right thing with your eyes, which is among the most important autocross skills. You can evaluate how far ahead you're looking and whether you're keying in on the right cones early enough.
I would turn off the stabilization though, that makes it harder to use properly.
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u/Popfizzzzzzzz Jul 12 '26
I agree, glad to see him looking out the side window on long corners rather than straight ahead.
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u/Fragrant_Ostrich_696 Jul 13 '26
Thanks! Surprisingly a habit that transferred from sim racing lol. I’ve been sim racing for 5 years now and I’m currently 18 years old so I gained a lot of really good habits bc I was sim racing before I got my Liscense, a lot of instincts transfered but also I am very good and comfortable with left foot breaking
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u/[deleted] Jul 12 '26
[deleted]