Autocrossing a Beetle

[Hudsondog]

I liked the '12 Beetle when I first drove it last fall. But I love the Beetle after a few autocrosses! So far, I've driven in three of the four Philly region autocrosses this season...with three more to go!

This weekend, I met (and worked with) a fellow Lounge chatter driving his Audi S4, among many other people. If you get the chance, find an autocross, meet some people, and have fun! If you can, meet us at the next Philly region event!

Here's some raw footage of the Beetle taking on this weekend's course in Dover, Delaware: http://youtu.be/V5d6RUEOJr8

Do you race? What have you taken from autocrossing?

[FourPointOh]

I mean, you can take anything autocrossing as long as its a car. I do about 2-3 a year with my R53, last event I did was at a private driving school, not an SCCA event. However, I had the fourth fastest time out of 15 cars, and I was second fastest on street tires

[RacingManiac]

Nice vid! I started doing autox after I got the GTI last year and I had a ton of fun doing it, though I can't say I am terribly competitive...

[Aonarch]

The beetles wider track should make it faster at autos than the GTI. Also the beetle comes with slightly wider rubber.

[Air-over-water]

I mean, you can take anything autocrossing as long as its a car.

I have seen pickups, SUVs and motorcycles at autocrosses.
Or were you using the term car to refer to all land based vehicles?

[subgraphic]

[bigev007]

Good for you! I started auto-x'ing my Civic Hybrid, and wish more people would bring "boring" cars so I'd have more times in my range.
vid of me--> http://youtu.be/44IzPh5ku24

[silverspeedbuggy]

So. Much. Want.

[Hudsondog]

Good for you! I started auto-x'ing my Civic Hybrid, and wish more people would bring "boring" cars so I'd have more times in my range.
vid of me--> http://youtu.be/44IzPh5ku24

The Civic Hybrid is H-Stock? I wanted to race my Suzuki Swift GT (HS) a few years ago, but it failed to pass inspection due to a rust problem. The Beetle is great fun to drive and race.

Since I last raced (five-ish years ago), they added a "street tire" group to the stock classes. I chose to race in the G-Stock class which allows some changes in tires...and everyone else, it seems, swaps their tires for these races. It's put me at a disadvantage, but I'm still within striking distance of the leaders of the class. Now about those racing tires....

[The Kilted Yaksman]

I have seen pickups, SUVs and motorcycles at autocrosses.
Or were you using the term car to refer to all land based vehicles?

I've never seen a motorcycle, but I have seen diesel Jettas, Crown Vics, and even a 1986 turbo Toyota truck that was very quick.

[Pf3il]

The beetles wider track should make it faster at autos than the GTI. Also the beetle comes with slightly wider rubber.

slower, actually. a narrower car has to move less to get through a slalom.

[972SLOW]

Philly region autocrosses this season...

Enter the pagoda hill climb this weekend. You will enjoy it.

[bigev007]

The Civic Hybrid is H-Stock? I wanted to race my Suzuki Swift GT (HS) a few years ago, but it failed to pass inspection due to a rust problem. The Beetle is great fun to drive and race.

Since I last raced (five-ish years ago), they added a "street tire" group to the stock classes. I chose to race in the G-Stock class which allows some changes in tires...and everyone else, it seems, swaps their tires for these races. It's put me at a disadvantage, but I'm still within striking distance of the leaders of the class. Now about those racing tires....

Yup, it is in HS. Same as an EX. I'm part of a smaller group, and nobody seems to bother with r-compunds in the lower classes. I wore my stock tires so badly in 8 runs that I am using worn out snows for the rest of the year. Good to learn, and since I drive 40k miles a year I need to get another (3rd) set of wheels/tires for autocross. Which may not happen any time soon.

[Air and water do mix]

I once autocrossed my '66 VW Double-cab pickup. Yes, it was still stock in the suspension department. 50 lb. reduction boxes at the end of each axle (and axles that spin backwards) make it - ahem - "challenging" but quite entertaining. (I only ran it one time, as I didn't want to tump over onto my side) I have a good friend with an '80 Triumph TR8 and since he popped a cone on his first round I still razz him about my time being better than his.

If it sat an inch or so higher, I could've been very competitive, as the cones on the slalom were rather short. The rules state that at least 2 wheels need to be on the correct side of the slalom and it needs to remain upright in the box after the run. If I had cleared them I could've accelerated all the way down the slalom in a straight line without knocking any of them over, substantially reducing my time!

[Eskimio]

Noob question inspired by this thread: Where should I go to see dates for autocross events and what are the requirements? Just a helmet & a running vehicle? The Dover, Delaware video sparked my interest because I live in North Wilmington, didn't know there were auto-x events so nearby!

[Air and water do mix]

I've never seen a motorcycle, but I have seen diesel Jettas, Crown Vics, and even a 1986 turbo Toyota truck that was very quick.

I once saw a kart at the autocross. He was quick in parts, but due to the straight axles he would spin it on really tight turns!

[Aw614]

The 2012 beetle uses 8in wheels as opposed to 7.5 like the mk6 gti does?

Noob question inspired by this thread: Where should I go to see dates for autocross events and what are the requirements? Just a helmet & a running vehicle? The Dover, Delaware video sparked my interest because I live in North Wilmington, didn't know there were auto-x events so nearby!

you might be able to get away with just using a loaner helmet and see from there if you want to continue on autox'ing.

[RacingManiac]

Probably some local board is your best bet. Or find out your local SCCA people which typically might be more organized. Generally all you need at the minimum is a car and helmet. If your car is not stock you might look into rule book from SCCA(generally used, though not exclusively) to see what your modification did to move you in other class.

[Air and water do mix]

Noob question inspired by this thread: Where should I go to see dates for autocross events and what are the requirements? Just a helmet & a running vehicle? The Dover, Delaware video sparked my interest because I live in North Wilmington, didn't know there were auto-x events so nearby!

You'll have to pass tech inspection, so the car can't be a rusty heap, the battery has to be tied down securely and tires/wheel bearings/suspension must be good. Some events have tighter inspections than others, so that will vary to an extent.

Many clubs will loan a helmet to you as well.

Good luck!

[G0to60]

I used to do a few autox events a year but haven't in a while. They are a blast and you meet some neat people. Here's a pic of my Corrado at an event years ago in Spokane. Good times.

[Pf3il]

Noob question inspired by this thread: Where should I go to see dates for autocross events and what are the requirements? Just a helmet & a running vehicle? The Dover, Delaware video sparked my interest because I live in North Wilmington, didn't know there were auto-x events so nearby!

www.autox4u.com

[Roadkilled78]

I chose to race in the G-Stock class which allows some changes in tires...and everyone else, it seems, swaps their tires for these races. It's put me at a disadvantage, but I'm still within striking distance of the leaders of the class. Now about those racing tires....

Striking distance? Striking distance?

Which 3 of the remaining 6 events are you planning to attend? I'll run one in GS on street tires. In a '97 Probe or a '94 Accord wagon...on snows. Your choice.

[Eskimio]

The 2012 beetle uses 8in wheels as opposed to 7.5 like the mk6 gti does?

you might be able to get away with just using a loaner helmet and see from there if you want to continue on autox'ing.

Probably some local board is your best bet. Or find out your local SCCA people which typically might be more organized. Generally all you need at the minimum is a car and helmet. If your car is not stock you might look into rule book from SCCA(generally used, though not exclusively) to see what your modification did to move you in other class.

You'll have to pass tech inspection, so the car can't be a rusty heap, the battery has to be tied down securely and tires/wheel bearings/suspension must be good. Some events have tighter inspections than others, so that will vary to an extent.

Many clubs will loan a helmet to you as well.

Good luck!

www.autox4u.com

You guys are the best!

Also, car would be a stock '98 GTI VR6 5-speed. I wouldn't want to auto-x her until I figured out my second-gear grinding issue because that would be a pain to baby when on the track...

[Roadkilled78]

On many autocross courses, you shift to 2nd and leave it there. So while I'm not advocating breaking your car, you could give it a try, baby the 1-2 shift, and still have a ton of fun.

[Air and water do mix]

You guys are the best!

Also, car would be a stock '98 GTI VR6 5-speed. I wouldn't want to auto-x her until I figured out my second-gear grinding issue because that would be a pain to baby when on the track...

Glad to help. I autocrossed my '97 GTI VR6 "Driver's edition" that was supposed to have tighter suspension and whatnot. The springs are soft and the stock tires were Goodyear Eagle GAs. When they called about customer satisfaction after buying it new they asked if I had any complaints. I said "Yeah, the tires. They're awful." She wasn't surprised in the least that I said that and told me she's heard that one several times. A guy with a Neon ACR told me that GA stood for "God Awful".

Other than that and the nose-heavy aspect of the car, it was great. A good autocrosser it is not, though. It was still fun, but it steered like a cow. I had to use about 50 lb. of air in the back tires to correct it as much as I could, but stickier tires would have been much, much better.

Now have at it, man!

[Hudsondog]

Enter the pagoda hill climb this weekend. You will enjoy it.

Would love to, but can't this weekend. There's a second hill climb up to the Pagoda in August. I might try that one!

[Hudsondog]

Noob question inspired by this thread: Where should I go to see dates for autocross events and what are the requirements? Just a helmet & a running vehicle? The Dover, Delaware video sparked my interest because I live in North Wilmington, didn't know there were auto-x events so nearby!

Philly region has loaner helmets, so only a car is necessary. Try the Philly region's SCCA website for the calendar. The next event in Dover is this weekend or next.

[phill0046]

Came for this, leaving happy

[Hudsondog]

Striking distance? Striking distance?

Which 3 of the remaining 6 events are you planning to attend? I'll run one in GS on street tires. In a '97 Probe or a '94 Accord wagon...on snows. Your choice.

I'll be at both races in July and one in September. I hope to have REAL tires by the July events.

[Aonarch]

Photoshop, but I have shocks and springs ordered, wheels, tires, exhaust, intake, gti brakes with hps pads, and a tune. I can't wait to get it on a track.

I don't care about class or times. I just want to have fun in it.

[G0to60]

I don't care about class or times. I just want to have fun in it.

That's the way I always looked at it. My Corrado was in G stock class which the first Mini Cooper S were in so it was really no contest. I held my own in the middle of the pack but the whole point was to have fun.

[PhilHVW]

This weekend, I met (and worked with) a fellow Lounge chatter driving his Audi S4, among many other people.

Nice talking to you there.

Now about those racing tires....

You said VW was buying the tires? Do you know which tires you're getting yet? Anything will be better than those all seasons you have now.

[Hudsondog]

Nice talking to you there.

Great to meet you! By the way, do you know where your keys are?

You said VW was buying the tires? Do you know which tires you're getting yet? Anything will be better than those all seasons you have now.

Don't know yet. But I should find out soon...or else these tires are going to wear through!

[Aonarch]

That's the way I always looked at it. My Corrado was in G stock class which the first Mini Cooper S were in so it was really no contest. I held my own in the middle of the pack but the whole point was to have fun.

I just went to Skip Barber and during the auto-x the instructor was like THIS ISN't A DRIFTING EVENT!!! To me it was. Free tires? Yup I'm going drifting.

[JLJetta]

I used to engage in auto-x. but then I slowly got bored. I found even club-days at road courses to be far more fun.