New to this.

[Zlatko]

Hey guys, i was reffered this forum by someone else who is interested in Solo 2 events.

I just bought a Porsche 944 recently and thought id like to try this stuff in the summer :P

I just wanna know the basics, where to apply..what does my car have to have..do i have to have any safety gear..

Just want some general info..i dont even know what the difference between solo 1 and solo 2..:confused:

Basically..im a total newb...dont hurt me :( ;)

[finboy]

welcome man..

first click

http://www.soloontario.com/so-experience.asp

you can read about solo I there...

for the parking lot stuff

click the solo II section

grab a cup of tea.. and start reading.. once you've got a handle on the basics...

post your questions on the board.. kinda hard to get in the mood right now.. unless you go try the wosca winter series

http://www.wosca.com/Event_info/WinterSeries2004.htm

anyhow.. check it out

[Marsh]

Well I'll start with the quick and simple answers. You're car doesn't need any safety equipment beyond what it came with. i.e.: You need 3 point seat belts. You will also need a Snell M95 or better helmet. Most clubs, however, do offer loaner helmets for newbies. That way you can try a couple of events to see if you like it before investing in a new helmet. (Never buy used helmets).

You don't NEED to do any applications or pre-registartion. Almost all the series around allow competitors to simply show up the day of the event. If you do this for your first event, be sure to arrive early. You will have lots of questions and the organizers will have lots to do. So if you're early that gives lots of time to get help.

Car preperation will vary with the car, but basically you just want to make sure that all your maintainance issues are taken care of. Have lots of oil in the engine. Make sure the brakes are 100%. Anything that would be a question mark at a safety check is a big time no-no at the track. The only special thing you should do for solo is bump your air pressure up. An extra 10psi is a good guidline. Once you get to the event, ask an experienced competitor to show you how to adjust your tire pressures (ie marking the tires etc.).

As for the differences between solo-1 and solo-2:

Solo-2 is the more entry level sport. Courses are made temporarilly with traffic cones on a larged paved area (usually a parking lot). This is also known as Autoslalom, or Autocross in the US. The course is different every time and there is no practice. Competitors are allowed to walk the course in the morning. There are then typically 5 runs and your single best run time scores. Speeds are typically around 60km/h with top speeds around 80 km/h. The emphasis is on car control, not outright speed.

Solo-1 is the same basic competition concept of one car at a time racing against the clock, however it is held on permanent race courses, such as Shannonville and Toronto Motorsports Park. A heat consists of a warm-up or "out-lap", followed by 3 timed hot laps and then a cool down or "in-lap". I forget how many of these heats you get in a day (I think it's 3)? Your best single lap time (one hot lap) counts. Typicall average speeds at Ontario tracks are around 100 km/h, with top speeds anywhere from 120 km/h - 200 km/h (it veries a great deal with a cars power, my Prelude never gets much over 140).