how to get started

[Valleyboy]

Hi, everyone,

I'm planning on trying autoslalom this year, and was wondering how I could go about signing up, getting all the information I need etc. I'd like to sign up for the school, but I can't make it to the open house. any way I can do it online? Anything else I should know about signing up/ getting started?
Thanks!

[Tashko]

I believe you will be able to sign-up for the school online at the same time the open house begins. SPDA (http://spda-online.ca) is running the school this year. I'm just the club social guy so I'll direct one of the other execs here to post the details.

You don't have to join a club to compete in club events but usually you get a discount on the entry fee if you are a club member.

Some clubs that run an autoslalom series are:
HADA (http://www.hadamotorsport.com/)
TLMC (http://www.s94743584.onlinehome.us/html/2008_solo_ii_schedule.html)
MSOC (http://www.wiredmotorsports.com/pitl/pitl-info.html)
There's the F-body club and Corvette club also. I'm sure others will chime in.

Also, many clubs post their schedules in the Autoslalom Specific Forum so you can do a search in there for "schedule" and probably get the info.

If you want to compete in the Provincial Championship then you need to a be a member of a CASC club to register and there is a series entry fee which also gets you some swag.

Hope that helps.

p.s. A good club to look into is in my sig... ;)

[MazdaMatt]

Aside from the school... getting started is as easy as showing up. Seriously. I didn't know anything at all about autocross when I started. I bought a helmet and showed up to a HADA event in brampton. You don't even need to buy a helmet if you go to events hosted by a club that lends out spare helmets (HADA, for one).

Show up, follow the crowd to the sign-up table. Bring sun screen and some masking tape to put numbers on your windows. See you there!

[Burnsey]

Here's a link that covers of lot of good points:
http://www.tirerack.com/features/solo2/handbook.htm

As for signing up, keep you eyes peeled on this thread: http://www.casc.on.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=13592

And check the HADA site for on-line registration.

I would also suggest buying a helmet, rather than borrowing one of the loaners all the time. Maybe for the first event or two to see if you like it, but after that, it's nice to have your own.
Plenty of good prices out there, as most motorcycle shops are in spring-sale mode.
Note that you'll need a SNELL rated bucket for pretty much every series in this area. Anything with a SNELL "M" rating (either M2000 or M2005) should be fine. Unless you have a roll cage or roll bar, then you'll need a SNELL "SA" helmet.

Good luck!

[Jon04CTSV]

Take the school. I got started last year by doing that. It's much more fun that you could ever imagine. The people you meet are just great!

[Valleyboy]

awesome guys! Does anyone know of any local clubs in the sourthern ontario/niagara region?

[13inches]

Here's the "other" guide to getting started:

1) Make lots of space in your basement and/or garage. Within 2 seasons you will have extra tools, wheels, tires, and brake pads to store.

2) Forget any type of logical spending of your $. If you have an s/o, make sure you have a second bank account that he/she is unaware of.

3) Practice!!! Practice waking up at 6am after wrenching on the car until 3am, practice standing in the rain for 8+ hours, practice peeing in bushes in a headwind.

4) Buy shares in a company that makes quality sunblock.

5) Don't buy a Del Sol that's missing its bumpers.

[mikewolf]

2) Forget any type of logical spending of your $. If you have an s/o, make sure you have a second bank account that he/she is unaware of.
.

That is an important one. My wife thinks a new set of R's costs $200;)

[ShaneG]

wife walks into room::eek:

*Slams laptop screen down and whistles innocently*

:D :D :D

[MazdaMatt]

5) Don't buy a Del Sol that's missing its bumpers.

That's it... I'll see you at PITL, buddy!:mad:

[Burnsey]

Another GREAT read can be found here:

http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets.html

Sufficiently saracastic to be entertaining :D

[miataboi]

Another GREAT read can be found here:

http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets.html

Sufficiently saracastic to be entertaining :D

Who else here besides those of us that were at the '04 Cdn Nationals in Quebec / Sanair have actually ever seen Dennis Grant drive??

[-=DRIFT=-]

I'm from niagara, and the only series that is remotely close is PITL.
It was a blast last year, deff. going back again.
Winning my class had nothing to do with that either :)

[Guillermo]

Who else here besides those of us that were at the '04 Cdn Nationals in Quebec / Sanair have actually ever seen Dennis Grant drive??
I went to a SAE meeting in Windsor about 5 years ago or more where Dennis talked about car set up but more importantly the importance of driver development in preperation for the Engineering Student's SAE Formula competitions.
Anyways, Dennis lived/lives in Windsor and said he only competed in SCCA auto-x events, and that would explain why we didn't see him in Canada much.

[Tashko]

He won 2002 SCCA Nationals in Street Mod for both Solo and Pro-Solo. After that he was a mid-pack guy.
Maybe he should have spent more time on driver development than car tech...but I've never seen him drive so probably shouldn't say that. Oops, too late, I did.:p

[TalonDG]

Actually, I didn't win the 2002 National Championship; the car snap-spun on my first run on the North course and that kinda threw off my game.

I don't know if I'd call National-level wins in 2003, 2004, and 2005 as "mid pack" though... especially after BT joined the party....

I didn't do Canadian series because, frankly, the competition wasn't tough enough, the value for sponsors wasn't there, and Canadian events didn't pay where ProSolo did. I attended the 2003 CASC event when I was invited personally by the event organizer.

I'm glad some of you find the book useful. I'm trying to dump all my accumulated learnings before I leave for Afghanistan.

DG

[Guillermo]

I'm glad some of you find the book useful. I'm trying to dump all my accumulated learnings before I leave for Afghanistan.

DG
Your web book is great. It's nice to read good technical stuff written by fellow engineers, it's hard to find info like that elsewhere online.

What are you going to do in Afghanistan?

[Tashko]

Actually, I didn't win the 2002 National Championship; the car snap-spun on my first run on the North course and that kinda threw off my game.

I don't know if I'd call National-level wins in 2003, 2004, and 2005 as "mid pack" though... especially after BT joined the party....

...
DG

I thought I saw that you won in the SCCA results some time ago. I must've confused your Pro-Solo win. As for the "mid-pack" comment, I was referring to SCCA Nationals rather than tour events as I didn't spend too much time looking you up. :o
I just read your site every now and then, which is great information, and great that you are sharing with everybody.