Went to first AutoX yesterday.. Now i'm hooked!!!

[StuttgartNut]

Well, my experience in my first autox event... We had about 40 cars and a huge parking lot at the yakima sundome.. So we all got to have 5 runs and then another 2 after for fun runs for whoever stayed.. )

I would have to say this was a great experience.. My first time there and a P owner said get someone who knows alot to go with ya the first time.. So i did. I went over to the oldest most experienced driver there was.. His name was Vern... What a blast. He was driving his 914, built 2.7 with rear fenders that were molded round and smooth.. what a blast. He said we used to be very into LA area poc.. Anyone know this guy? He's very cool and knows his stuff..

Anyway we went around once, first good corner and the tires are screaching, rear end feeling light.. He's smiling ,i'm smiling.. This course had 3rd gear run too.. But we were done and he said " well looks like ya dont need me at all"... I took that quitepersonal coming from a guy who has been driving for twice my age(19)orlonger..

So felt real good. Had a 911 guy mess with tire pressures. Got it dialed in and actually for the first time i took 1ST PLACE in class for the day... yipppeee.

I took a friend with me who is a fan of big power cars.. well after watching a 944s2 with slicks beat a z06 with slicks.... 10k vs. 70k or whatever.... he was like wow that 944 just beat that vette.. im like yeh... And the fastest of the day was a rs america.. smoked a 700hp vette, the z06, couple other nice cars... Just goesto show ya those american things get on there and get smoked by 1/2 the hp cars..

Well so i took the 1st place. wore some tires down a lil.. Talked to a bunch of good guys, went in a few cool cars..(Vern's 914) Got to test the limits of the sc. Came out of this hooked and wanting more.. learned alot. so was very pleased for spening a measily 20 bux to go have fun for a day..


Who else is now hooked after there first autox?

[Early_S_Man]

Well, I was hooked after the first one, too ... back in '69, at the same age you are, now!!! Great way to meet a bunch of people with similar interests, and lots of great cars to talk about ... the fun just keeps on getting better!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

[MarkY]

I also went to my first autocross about a month ago. I'd rather watch paint dry.



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1988 black on black Coupe
www.cheaterswayside.com/911/gallery.asp?sort=0&userid=339

[sander]

Hey Mark,

Out of curiosity, what happened at that race that soured you on autocrosses in general?

And was this a PCA or SCCA race (or someone else entirely)?

Have you done Time Trials or DEs in the past?

Again, I'm just curious...

[J P Stein]

I recently attended an SCCA autoX at the PIR
(Portland) pro pits.

Autocross is "Driver Intensive", thus comparisons between cars is difficult.
Driving talent (of which, apparently, I have none) is a major determing factor.

To give credit where it is due, a fella with
a new Z06 Vette just flat smoked every other production "type" car there. He also took TTOD by beating open wheel cars. A few other Vettes there wallowed around as slowly as I, but a few others were well driven and fast.

OK, so I too won my class.....sometimes it's nice to have an oddball car with no competition.(F prepared)

I am hooked and will be back with some decent tires, but still, no talent.

JPIII (Team NARP)

[Superman]

It's worse than crack cocaine, heroin and cigarettes. There is no other place besides a race track where it's legal to behave like that. And there's no other place as safe, either. At any rate, for $20 they let you charge around cones as hard as you want and you can make clouds of tire smoke and there are no handcuffs or citations involved. Pinch me.

Oh, and it's absolutely true that the car makes little difference compared to the driver. We usually have two or three (the same two or three) really good drivers at each autocross. I am told that watching their feet while they're driving is a kick. Good drivers have ten feet, they say.

I'm not going to name names but we see some pretty impressive driving exhibitions each time. One guy (yes, it's Greg Fordahl) can usually coax the rear engined car (various different cars) around the final 180 degree turn while accelerating in a controlled slide missing the 20 or so cones lining both sides. It is poetry in motion. And you should have seen him drive the stripped, tubbed 2.9 liter 4-cylinder 914 beast last summer. It hurt my back and sides just watching.

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'83 SC

[Randy W]

Greg Fordahl is indeed a master talent to which we all aspire to. AutoX is a blast and has so many nuances that after awhile you realize that the more you know, the more there is to know. By the way, Randy Pobst started with autocrossing and look at where he is today!

Randy W