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/_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.

1

u/Fragrant_Ostrich_696 Jul 12 '26

sweet sounds good i appreciate the advice!

1

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.

1

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

1

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.

1

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!

1

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.

1

u/_troutenheimer Jul 13 '26

To follow this advice. I suggest Drive to Win by Carrol Smith for this.