Summer of AutoX

Now that the rain has settled in and I am officially married it is time for a post about my summer AutoX adventures.

Parked

Why AutoX

AutoX is a type of racing which involves driving around a smaller track defined by cones, usually in a large parking lot, with a goal of setting the best time. It is a fun alternative to track days with a lower barrier of entry both financially and technically. The maximum speeds, though vary depending on the course, are lower than what you can reach on the track. Because of this tire and break wear is reduced and a smaller track means a lower event fee. Another defining feature of AutoX is that is is a volunteering event for all the drivers. During the breaks between setting your best time of the day, you are expected to work an assignment entrusted to you by the organizers. Assignemnts vary from corner work, grid control to timing. Each assignment presents a unique opportunity to learn something new about the sport and help other people have a great time at the event. I personally enjoy this operational approach since I like to help people and engage in the event in a more meaningful and giving way. Cone assignment are most commonly assigned to novices and it is a great opportunity to see more experienced drivers up close and rant about why a Honda K series engine is better or worse than the H series.

Maps

Driving experience at AutoX is vastly different from a track day. Some people assume that a smaller track and lower speeds require less skill to be good… This cannot be farther from the truth. A smaller track means more frequent changes in driver input. Corners are closer to each other so there is never a fully idle moment of pressing the pedal to the metal and waiting for the straigt to end. Lower speeds also mean more frequent gear changes and the importance of your car’s top speed is greatly reduced. At an AutoX you can find a beat up civic or a yaris performing better than 3 series. This is a lot more common than you would think. Because of these reasons AutoX is a great opportunity to become a better driver at a lower cost and risk to yourself and your car.

Turn Far

Last important benefit for me is that AutoX makes it a lot easier to involve friends. Despite my love for cars, I do not have many friends who are as enthusiastic about cars and racing as I am. AutoX however greatly reduces the barrier of entry to people who are not convinced that they will enjoy racing. At my last event in August, I had a close friend of mine, Liam, join in co-driving Spicy for the day. This made for a very fun friends’ activity and I really enjoyed helping him learn manual and see him race three days after our first “lesson”. Here is a photo of him rocking a number 56 on the track.

Liam 56

Why Speedy Goat

Something you notice is that all the events I have participated in so far have been with Speedy Goat. The main reason for that is that when looking at my first event it was very clear to me that Speedy Goat provides coaching for novice drivers. When starting anything new I love to get advice and mentorship on what mistakes I am making and how to improve. Speedy Goat provides that opportunity with a community of experienced and very friendly volunteer coaches who will join you in your car for one or more sessions to help you improve and gain confidence. This has been a big highlight for me along with a very friendly and fun community at large. If you are looking to attend your first AutoX or track day, I would highly recommend giving Speedy Goat a chance.

Coaching

What’s next

Moving forward I will continue to work on Spicy and keep improving my driving skills. The time has come to learn heel-toe downshifts.

The car doesn’t need to be perfect. It needs to be fun.