Feel the burn, My first AX Options

[peridotian]

So my 19 year old son and I will be trekking down to Marina on Sunday and I am nervous (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon8.gif) because:
1. I have never driven in an AX
2. Neither has my son and he has barely driven a stick
3. I do not have a helmet
4. My accelerator pedal sticks at WOT sometimes
5. I am sure that we will be the slowest car in the field

So as I am cleaning up and tuning the car Saturday, I will take the kid out for several runs around town and let him grind off a few more teeth on my tranny, check my battery hold down, and maybe buy a helmet.

Is there a prize for worst time (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif) of the day?

[lapuwali]

Certainly no reason to be nervous or anxious about having the lowest powered car, or having no experience. When I started autocrossing (mumble) years ago, I ran on stock street tires for most of the first year, and it took me a long time to even beat people several classes below me. Indeed, for much of the first year, my target was a guy in a nearly stock Chevy Sprint (who literally drove the wheels off it, breaking a hub in one event). Once I beat him once, I beat him regularly. Within a few events, I was winning in my own class. Within two seasons, I was winning regional titles.

Lots of practice, lots of advice from other friendly competitors, lots of watching others as I worked.

As for your son, have him just put it in second gear and leave it there. Not using first will not make enough difference to your time to risk grinding reverse. Unless the course is REALLY fast, you're not likely to need third, either.