[HealeyRick]

Just learning the course can be daunting for some of the more complex ones. Study a diagram if they have one. When you walk the course, visualize how it would appear from behind the wheel. Focus on what sides of the cones to pass on and how to enter the gates. At least on your first run, concentrate on finishing the course without errors instead of your speed. You can build up speed later when you get familiar with the course.

Don't expect to be competitive the first few times out. You're going to hit cones, miss gates and probably learn how to spin your car out, too, but that's part of the learning process.

Although I've autocrossed my bugeye Sprite a lot over the years, I took my V8 Healey out for the first time last month and after increasing my speeds over the runs I got on it a bit early coming out of the last turn onto the straight and promptly did a 360 to the delight of the crowd. Always something new to learn.