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Glasgow University Motor-Sport Club
Glasgow University Motor-Sport Club
Autotests
Autotesting - like being a ned driving round the McDonalds car park, only with cones in the way... Not really. Autotesting is all about car control and precision driving (think ‘The Italian Job’, and yes, having a small and nimble car does help)
The basics then are simple - drive the right route fast, keep in 1st (or reverse) gear, make sure your handbrake is tight and don't worry too much about the tyres. You'll be able to compete in a local event for £5-£15, and a British Championship event for around £25. (plus a very small amount of fuel and a variable amount of tyres)
Memorising the route is your first obstacle - I don't know anyone who hasn't at least once stopped part way through a test completely confused. That's why we all walk the course - it looks daft, particularly when walking backwards, but it's worth it to be sure where you're going on all your runs! It's worth considering where you want the car to be whilst doing this, as well as just which gates (pairs of cones/posts) you need to go through.
In your first autotest, you'll probably find handbrake turns, J turns and the like a little tricky. It's therefore hugely important to have a go first to get your confidence up, if you're planning on using these manoeuvres (you won't actually need them, but they do make it more fun!). Finding an empty car park to learn these manoeuvres before the day would be a hugely bad idea, especially if it was in a rural location where no-one was ever likely to notice you, so of course I couldn't recommend doing this in any way shape or form. Make sure when you do get an opportunity to practice these manoeuvres that you pick a sealed surface or go relatively easy to avoid catching a rut and rolling, and turn to the right to avoid rolling your car. Make sure you don't hit anything like a kerb buried in the snow which, I've been reliably informed, is a bad idea and will, at the same time as making you look daft, bend pretty much every part of your suspension as
it rolls your car. If you're looking for help to learn these techniques, some local autotests will allow you to practice beforehand, and more experienced autotesters will always lend a hand - you can always enter "production car" class, where you get to take a passenger with you, if you can persuade anyone to be that daft.
Many people come along and take part with little use of the handbrake, and all tests are driveable without using any handbrake (if you get your lines right), just perhaps not as quickly - there are usually prizes for novices so don't be too scared of not being up with the big boys!
If you are planning on handbraking round every post, bring gaffer tape, and if you can find one, a steering aid that attaches to your wheel to give you full control with one hand (while the other changes gear and operates the handbrake!). The gaffer tape is useful both for any makeshift repairs and to cover any sharp edges on the steering aid, and convert your handbrake to a "competition" "fly-off" item. This is done by pushing the button down and taping over it, and avoids the potential embarrassment of trying your first handbrake turn only to slowly grind to a halt from not releasing the ratchet properly.
it rolls your car. If you're looking for help to learn these techniques, some local autotests will allow you to practice beforehand, and more experienced autotesters will always lend a hand - you can always enter "production car" class, where you get to take a passenger with you, if you can persuade anyone to be that daft.
Many people come along and take part with little use of the handbrake, and all tests are driveable without using any handbrake (if you get your lines right), just perhaps not as quickly - there are usually prizes for novices so don't be too scared of not being up with the big boys!
If you are planning on handbraking round every post, bring gaffer tape, and if you can find one, a steering aid that attaches to your wheel to give you full control with one hand (while the other changes gear and operates the handbrake!). The gaffer tape is useful both for any makeshift repairs and to cover any sharp edges on the steering aid, and convert your handbrake to a "competition" "fly-off" item. This is done by pushing the button down and taping over it, and avoids the potential embarrassment of trying your first handbrake turn only to slowly grind to a halt from not releasing the ratchet properly.
Tips on tyres!
It's a good idea to have a spare set of wheels once you become confident doing handbrake turns etc., as tyres on some surfaces will last for 1-2 autotests before you see canvas, and you don't want to be wearing away expensive tyres, or driving home down the M8 on bald tyres in the rain. Scrapyards are a good source of spare wheels and tyres, you should expect to find them for about £10 each. Don't worry about getting the best brand - hard rubber "ditchfinder" tyres come into their own when it saves you trips to the scrappy, and these are usually the cheapest nastiest tyres available. Have a good look for ones with plenty of tread on, though!
Pump your tyres up hard to reduce the wear - don't worry too much about grip, especially to start with.
Tips on cars:
Don't worry too much about what car you use. Power steering is helpful, but not essential, as is a good handbrake (finding out if the rear wheels will lock up when there's a brick wall 5 feet in front of you is never a good idea.). Whilst some people compete in "specials" - fully stripped out cars modified especially for autotesting, sometimes with the roof removed - at a local level you can do very well in any roadworthy car. Generally speaking, the smaller the better.
Speeds are generally low (you'll very rarely get out of 1st gear), so power isn't that important.
If you have rear wheel drive, it will be more of a challenge to begin with, but everyone will get a good laugh each time you do an extra pirouette.
If you have rear wheel drive, it will be more of a challenge to begin with, but everyone will get a good laugh each time you do an extra pirouette.
Finally, remember that the most important thing in motorsport is to have fun, so don't spend too long contemplating handbrake leverage ratios, grip coefficients or tyre pressures, just give it a go and have fun!
