5 THINGS YOU NEED FOR YOUR FIRST AUTOCROSS EVENT

[@davidd5424]

A video on applying the chalk and checking results would be cool. Signs of overinflated vs underinflated, and what a good contact patch looks like practically. Just an idea, great video, never thought of the sprayer.

[@STIzilla]

Good advice. A tip, I re-routed the water supply from the windshield sprayers to a set of misters angled at the tmic. Seems to help in the AZ heat. I use only distilled water (typically $1/gallon anywhere) mixed with isopropyl alcohol ($2 for two pints from Costco). I'd say half a pint of alcohol for each full reservoir. Obviously, the alcohol gives the cooling effect. So a tinge of alcohol in your sprayer should help.

[@BlakesGarage]

+STIzilla I like that idea thanks!

[@CGPacifica]

STIzilla I always thought that was a cool feature of the original STi. I wonder why they stopped doing that.

[@bryanmurphy26]

STIzilla Nice man. I've thought about doing that. Ended up doing a AEM water/meth kit instead though. Amazing how cool the intake manifold stays on the dyno. We didn't even have to let it cool down between pulls.

[@jamisongardner8139]

I'm in AZ as well. 17 WRX Owner. First car with a turbo. I have had the car a few weeks and I love it. I just wish I could upgrade to a better intercooler without voiding my warranty. (There is only 15k miles on the car) I am of the opinion that the stock TMIC is not adequate during these months of 105+. It will be part of my first round of modifications when I get closer to the end of the warranty. I am going to look into the rerouting that you did though. Thanks for the tip!

[@greasyoldtam7417]

All that stuff might be useful after you really get into AX, but for your FIRST autocross, all you need are a car and a helmet. Check with the organizer, some allow motorcycle or karting helmets, others don't.

[@SHWELL11]

Agreed.. None of that stuff is needed at all for your first event.

[@jessemedina4482]

My first autocross was yesterday. (89 Lincoln Mark 7 LSC) I was definitely rolling onto my sidewalls so good tip there. Also I saw a few cones get stuck under vehicles so I'll be prepared for that from now on.. 👍👍

[@thelucas1146]

I live in Ireland and it's very cheap here, I started with a 1.6 focus and got everything I needed for only €1100, here it's mainly on loose surfaces so it's very fun.

[@wrxnate2450]

Great topic! I would also suggest tape (for letters/numbers), registering online ahead of time (if available), & showing up as early as possible (so you can walk the course as much as possible). Otherwise great list! As soon as I saw that title I was like, why didn't I think of that!

[@BlakesGarage]

+WrxNate Good ideas Nate I may have to do a part two.

[@jaball77]

Pressure gauge, compressor, chalk, and oil are all a good idea, but noobs don't need to worry about a sprayer or temp gun. For your first event (hell, for your first SEASON) you don't need to worry about that crap. And in most cars you can't do anything about uneven temps anyway. The less to distract beginners the better!

[@WorldMechanics]

Great suggestions buddy! I always check by tire temperature and pressure to see it I need to do some adjusting. The Fiesta ST that I am building will be Auto Crossing soon

[@draperb1]

Great tips! I can't wait to try autocross. I need to finish my car first though. Jdm ej20g swap in a 93 legacy sedan.

[@antdo]

Some good tips. These could also be applied to any track day as well.

[@matbrown160]

Great video! I just moved to Sac from Washington and will be in this years AutoX events. hope to see you there brother!

[@rc3140]

Absolutely awesome show !!! Thanks for sharing ☕🍩cheers.

[@ruzzzlan]

Wait a minute... You're not humble mechanic.. nice beard tho

[@LilasTools]

I thought the same thing! Lol

[@SpencerHogg]

Genius, awesome vid bro hope you have a nice weekend

[@HyperBlueSTI]

U forgot to mention sunscreen I got backed my first time. there was absolutely 0 clouds that day screw work duty lol

[@BlakesGarage]

+HyperBlue STI Haha yeah you're correct very important.

[@lucky7s94]

Also, bring a tire plug kit. Had that happen. It put me out of other other events like burnout comp

[@lucky7s94]

I meant to mention the wheel key socket too. Don't misplace that weeks before you need it.

[@Driftbox29]

Love the IH shirt

[@michaelw.3972]

Great info and great video quality, thank you and keep it up.

[@BlakesGarage]

+M.wood0213 Thanks

[@WhiteWingSTI]

Solid advice!

[@TWRX_Chuck]

Hells yeah, I need to get back out to an autocross this year!

[@BlakesGarage]

+T-WRX Hell yeah you do Chuck!

[@ElForastero10287]

Jay! Sacramento all the way baby

[@shaneaintit2171]

Great vid, thanks for the tips!

[@lucasdrives]

Great video, nice list for sure.

[@InsectCharles]

Super helpful info, Thanks! Roughly what pressures do you like to run on your tires? Thanks again. Keep the awesome videos coming!

[@dthackattack]

It greatly depends on what tire you are running as they differ in ideal pressures based on a few variables: tire grip, sidewall stiffness, spring rate etc. With Hankook RS3s on a ~3000 lb car I ran about 35f/37r cold and would shoot for 36-37f/37-38r and with my newer RE71Rs I run ~2-3psi lower pressure. The easiest/simplest way, as Blake said, is to apply chalk and making sure teh tires only roll over to the raised triangle/pyramid thing on the sidewall

[@vladcostevlog]

good job. hello from Romania.

[@BlakesGarage]

+Vlad Coste Hello! Wow that pretty far away dome me. Thanks for watching!

[@WasteGateWarriors]

Great video man, nicely done!

[@BlakesGarage]

+WastegateWarriors Thanks!

[@JustinKelly]

I would love to participate in one for sure!

[@WorldMechanics]

It is so much fun. What kind of vehicle you plan on using?

[@JustinKelly]

World Mechanics My 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT lol. On Eibach springs and right now 17" NC Miata wheels and tires which are max summers. Check it out on my channel :)

[@Snailperformance]

Nice sticker placement on the water bottle ;)

[@BlakesGarage]

Thanks Travis!!

[@Snailperformance]

+Blake's Garage got my Shirt the other day as well.

[@BlakesGarage]

Snail Performance I saw that thanks for ordering one!

[@lifeofmike556]

Okay if you're spending the day at the track yeah bring this. But if you're going to make a few short runs at autocross just bring some oil and a helmet. Jesus this is complicated

[@OverkillEverything]

must get into this very soon.

[@BlakesGarage]

+GoProErthang If you can't make it this weekend we will have another one next month.

[@OverkillEverything]

Sounds good.

[@thomasrios3905]

How much is it to just do a weekend of auto cross and not get the membership?

[@stay_sick19]

Thomas Rios in my area, like $30-$40

[@garrettjohnsen]

Thomas Rios $15 for a weekend pass here.

[@ucarracer95]

depends on where you live and what club is putting on the event

[@yamaha94O]

It's been $40 for the snowcross events at Pittsburgh raceway. That's held by the track itself and not scca. Scca also holds events there too.

[@jacobhurtado7613]

super cool video again! i know this will come in handy once I start getting out to these events! also where did you get the Snail Performance sticker, does Travis sell them on the website?

[@BlakesGarage]

I got it from Travis. I think he sells them or he will give you one with a tune.

[@infamousjdp]

Lazerz! Great info! How much is an event like the Stockton one without SCCA membership? Or do you need to be a member to run?

[@BlakesGarage]

+infamousjdp temp membership I think it's like 20 bucks.

[@bmora8974]

+Blake's Garage nice scout i was always a fan

[@bmora8974]

+Blake's Garage also the back round is mint

[@markseven6046]

This was a great idea for a video. I've never done AutoX but I would like to at least once. I'm afraid I'll catch the bug though and then beat my car to shit every weekend. Lol.

[@dthackattack]

Good thing they don't have them every weekend... get out there

[@VeritasAmantesVocat]

Caution: Laser Radiation - Do Not Stare Into the Beam.

[@VeritasAmantesVocat]

Also, the website is .ORG not com :)

[@andrewhigdon8346]

What is a tmic?

[@FroztiProductions]

Where do I keep all this!?

[@PoorManMods]

i need to do autox asap

[@BlakesGarage]

+Poor Man Mods hell yeah you do!

[@PoorManMods]

there is an event near my house Sept 11, i think ill try to make, i ahve to decide which car i should take

[@BlakesGarage]

+Poor Man Mods The IS would be fun! You should go and get some footage!

[@PoorManMods]

yeah i think the IS would be best, its RWD and NA and pretty responsive. If i go ill film the shit out of it

[@toby3299]

Are you allowed to spectate or get ride alongs with other drivers at the autocross

[@BlakesGarage]

+Tobbion Simon Yes you are!

[@greasyoldtam7417]

Sometimes yes, usually no. If you just want to check it out, contact the organizer and volunteer to help. They always need help. If you are thinking about having your girl/boy/??/friend tag along to cheer you on, forget it, it is not a spectator sport.

[@TimurIskhodzhanov]

Depends on the club

[@omie1646]

Hey Blake I live in Sacramento and was wondering if you know a good and honest shop that can work on my 09 wrx and is not way over priced?

[@TheDynaGuy]

Omar Gutierrez pep boys

[@bulletclub4life]

this is for an overthinker...just hop in and go. lol

[@decodeddiesel]

You don't need this stuff for your first event. But once you start getting consistent it's a good idea to have all of this stuff.

[@Christobevii3]

Laser temperature gauges are a poor way to measure temperatures on tires.

[@ehpracing518]

This video was @ me haha

[@BlakesGarage]

+Eric Preciado It kinda was lol

[@BlakesGarage]

Oh, by the way. A few other guys and I will be running the second half of the day. We are leaving sac at 9AM. I'm running in SM group. If your car is stock it will run in BS.

[@ehpracing518]

+Blake's Garage something came up so I'll be going to Sunday's run ! I'll probably run the second half group as well

[@cibimbox9195]

but i can't fill much oil cuz it spill on my clutch lol

[@camopaint0707]

I couldn't focus, I'm too distracted by his epic beard.

[@MrEvilTag]

You dont need any of this for your first autocross. Maybe after your second or third and start really getting into it

[@nunyabizness7013]

you can just find an empty parking lot bring cones and have fun 😋

[@edlingja1]

Nunya Bizness And get sent to jail because you don't have a second driver with you, lose your license for at least 1 year (more like 5), face a maximum fine of $10,000, face extra tickets for road offences, the additional reckless driving charges above and beyond stunting/street racing mentioned earlier. Just so many reasons not to do that regularly. Maybe for a few minutes to a half hour on a DEAD lot. But chances are lots big enough to autox are in cities with sufficient police enforcement to prevent people from doing that specific thing.

[@TimurIskhodzhanov]

IR temperature probe to measure tire temps is a waste of time and money. If you've ever seen an IR onboard from an F1 car you'll see how quickly the surface of tires cools down. For a beginner, this is also yet another thing to overwhelm themselves with. If one needs to measure tire temps, a needle-style tire pyrometer will work a lot better.

[@zsquints]

holy shit i never thought of using a sprayer

[@BlakesGarage]

+Zachary Neal Yeah buddy!

[@alltimeproductions3749]

Autocross is lame rev your car in 1st and 2nd gear around some cones in a parking lot my Porsche is meant to go through the gears 3rd 4th 5th not just first and second around some cones maybe third

[@whatever210]

Funny because I do a Porsche autox events. Our lot is huge. We hit 90 sometimes. Autox will push you and your car in a different limit that’s drastically different then road racing

[@whatever210]

I bet your not even 10 seconds within the fastest car in autox that day in our atl region.

[@jimmccarthy6327]

dont lead in with "what's up" - I am watching this to learn - this lead in is a waste of electrons and my time

[@xRamRacing]

pfft I have to carry a quart of oil before I leave the house not even going to an Autocross event.

[@BlakesGarage]

+xRam LOL!!!