Need help selecting mode on ZL1 for Autocross!

[camarovigoa]

I have my first autocross event this weekend and was wondering what mode to put it in and if it really matters for the autocross im not sure im usually always on the drag strip! LOL! So any help would be very appreciated! http://www.camaro5.com/forums/attach...1&d=1396413235

[Gen52SS]

All traction controls OFF. I usually run all the courses in Sport (auto) in second gear. Have fun

[camarovigoa]

Originally Posted by Gen52SS

All traction controls OFF. I usually run all the courses in Sport (auto) in second gear. Have fun

Cool! Thank you!

[i2disturbedSS]

I'm not sure what mode but leave everything on @ first then when you know the course turn off TC. My first event I was told second gear.

[camarovigoa]

Originally Posted by i2disturbedSS

I'm not sure what mode but leave everything on @ first then when you know the course turn off TC. My first event I was told second gear.

Yeah that's fair I have three runs to get my best time so I might as well learn it and see how hard I'll be able to push it!

[Stephen12ZL1]

PTM 5 with car in 2nd...most autocrosses limit speed to 50ish so no need to ever shift...keep inputs smooth. You will find the ZL1 will feel huge on the course. A miata would feel like the right size. Visibility sucks in a Camaro so it makes it more difficult. Have fun!

[camarovigoa]

Originally Posted by Stephen12ZL1

PTM 5 with car in 2nd...most autocrosses limit speed to 50ish so no need to ever shift...keep inputs smooth. You will find the ZL1 will feel huge on the course. A miata would feel like the right size. Visibility sucks in a Camaro so it makes it more difficult. Have fun!

AWESOME!!! Thanks buddy!!! You the man!!!

[JDP Sales]

Seating position is very important as well. You want to move the seat forward and tilt it a little forward as well depending on how you sit normally. You want your wrists to be able to rest easily on the top of the steering wheel without stretching to be sure you have a full range of motion. Keep both hands on the wheel. Like the others said, get into second and pretty much leave it there. Walk the course as many times as you can (preferably with someone who knows what they are doing) and take in all you can. Most importantly; have fun!

Best regards,

Tyler
888-308-6007

[camarovigoa]

Originally Posted by JDP Tyler

Seating position is very important as well. You want to move the seat forward and tilt it a little forward as well depending on how you sit normally. You want your wrists to be able to rest easily on the top of the steering wheel without stretching to be sure you have a full range of motion. Keep both hands on the wheel. Like the others said, get into second and pretty much leave it there. Walk the course as many times as you can (preferably with someone who knows what they are doing) and take in all you can. Most importantly; have fun!

Best regards,

Tyler
888-308-6007

Great advice!! Thank you Tyler!!! I'm short so I'm always super close to the steering wheel but I can get closer!

[Stephen12ZL1]

tire pressure needs to be at 35 psi or so as the course is so short the pressure can't build like a road course. Stock Goodyears suck at the autocross...no time to build heat. Michelin Super Sports or softer compound would be much better. Keep your eyes up and walk the course as JDP stated. All of that goes "out the window" when you are driving around the cones...LOL! As a spectator, it is great entertainment to watch the gurus smoothly carve the course and the beginners kill the cones. I need to make more time to autocross as it is a great time.

[camarovigoa]

Originally Posted by Stephen12ZL1

tire pressure needs to be at 35 psi or so as the course is so short the pressure can't build like a road course. Stock Goodyears suck at the autocross...no time to build heat. Michelin Super Sports or softer compound would be much better. Keep your eyes up and walk the course as JDP stated. All of that goes "out the window" when you are driving around the cones...LOL! As a spectator, it is great entertainment to watch the gurus smoothly carve the course and the beginners kill the cones. I need to make more time to autocross as it is a great time.

I'm doing a triathlon so it's drag strip, speed stop and autocross I can't change tires between events so I was gonna leave my front forgelines on and put my back Welds with the Mickey Thompson et street radials..

[Stephen12ZL1]

Originally Posted by camarovigoa

I'm doing a triathlon so it's drag strip, speed stop and autocross I can't change tires between events so I was gonna leave my front forgelines on and put my back Welds with the Mickey Thompson et street radials..

Drag radials have to be better than stockers so go for it. Front forgelines sounds good. Triathlon sounds spectacular!

[camarovigoa]

Originally Posted by Stephen12ZL1

Drag radials have to be better than stockers so go for it. Front forgelines sounds good. Triathlon sounds spectacular!

Fair enough! It's for the Super Chevy Show! Super Chevy Magazines does the triathlon there should be one near you! You'd probably kill it!

[Todd in Vancouver]

That is very Good advice from Tyler so do make sure to follow. My experience was a little different regarding suspension settings but I'll tell it anyway. It was raining and wet when I went to my first Autocross in my ZL so I went on my runs in wet mode. With the TC in wet it kept the suspension soft which allowed weight transfer and doesn't allow any overpowering of traction. I found this very helpful while I learned the course and got use to the feedback from the car.

It was my experience that there is a lot going during the AutoX and as I was learning having the "nannies" in full on mode allowed me to concentrate on my driving, hand position, weight transfer, hitting the apex and corner exit properly and learning to drive a better line. I would just like to mention that when you are learning, as I am doing, it was very helpful to not have to concentrate on the power and traction issues that are present with getting a ZL1 around the AutoX track.
I may be wrong, being a newby at this, but my approach is to get the basics down and build a solid foundation of skills and I will unleash the beast of a ZL when I'm more skilled .

FYI, I set my tires at 28psi and by the end of the day I had picked up a little over 10mph and went from pulling .6G's to .8G's on a very short tight AutoX. Was lots of fun and I'm out for our season opener this Saturday.