 AutoX seems to bring less and less fun-factor 2 me, is it just me ??? |
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 Jun 7 2005, 01:15 AM
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#21
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Senior Member  Group: Advanced Members Posts: 5,226 Joined: 24-December 03 From: Danville, CA, USA Member No.: 27  |
QUOTE (mitchntx @ Jun 6 2005, 17:49) The damage factor had (has) me very worried. But it's also the reason I chose CMC over SCCA or COMA ... I saw first hand how those boys don't cotton to rubbin' ... it was ugly ... ....actually a BIG reason I still stick with the SCCA...granted I have limited experience with NASA, but from my infrequent visits to their races, and hearing second hand....I would say SCCA in NorCal is the "less messy" choice....this EXCLUDES Spec Miata of course, which BY THEMSELVES tip the scale towards the SCCA....but stay away from those critters and you are usually OK.... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) |
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Jun 7 2005, 01:20 AM
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#22
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Chapter 11 Racing Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,166 Joined: 15-February 04 From: Houston, Republic of Texas Member No.: 207 |
QUOTE (ESPCamaro @ Jun 6 2005, 18:44) Honestly I wouldn't ever do anything but autoxing because of costs. you gotta learn Lonnie... The trick is to find someone to let you drive their car.... I wish I didn't leave my phone at work, I really wanted to make a phone call..... |
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Jun 7 2005, 01:57 AM
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#23
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Seeking round tuits Group: Advanced Members Posts: 5,522 Joined: 24-December 03 From: Kentucky Member No.: 33 |
I keep daydreamin' about getting a FF1600 for autocross in CM. I don't know if there's such a thing as open-tracking per se for an open wheel car, or just schools and racing.
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Jun 7 2005, 03:43 AM
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#24
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North of the border Group: Admin Posts: 2,307 Joined: 4-February 04 From: Montreal, CANADA Member No.: 177 |
it's not about the competition... I won't drive others cars.... for that, might as well get a Kart.
It's not as fun and rewarding as it used to be. The damage factor is something I have in mind... and some day, when $ permits, I'll build a track car that will make my SS look like it's stopped... have a few ideas in mind... some of which might come reality this winter. hint: less weight, more power(including power-mods on SS), better platform and better handling. There is one thing that I really like about my car is that it has become a beast and most people aren't able to drive it on a course and be consistent. All my freakin inputs are egg-shells... but I like it... it trains me to become a better pilote. |
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Jun 7 2005, 03:45 AM
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#25
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North of the border Group: Admin Posts: 2,307 Joined: 4-February 04 From: Montreal, CANADA Member No.: 177 |
to get more excitement, maybe I should try the Kevin approach: off-roading/drifting @ events. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif) :leaving:
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Jun 7 2005, 03:52 AM
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#26
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North of the border Group: Admin Posts: 2,307 Joined: 4-February 04 From: Montreal, CANADA Member No.: 177 |
QUOTE (Eugenio_SS @ Jun 6 2005, 23:45) to get more excitement, maybe I should try the Kevin approach: off-roading/drifting @ events. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif) :leaving: speaking of which... I did so this weekend, but remained on the road... the asphalt is the size of 18 football fields so impossible to get offroad. Whoever was smart to design the course put a bus stop just before the end, timing cell. Well it went flying as well as 10 cones, and the reflector... I broke the bloody jack holding the deflector in half... that thing is rated for 2tons only (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif) car had no damage. car =1, timing cell =0 |
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Jun 7 2005, 04:52 AM
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#27
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FRRAX Owner/Admin Group: Admin Posts: 15,432 Joined: 13-February 04 From: Ohio Member No.: 196 |
QUOTE (Eugenio_SS @ Jun 6 2005, 22:45) to get more excitement, maybe I should try the Kevin approach: off-roading/drifting @ events. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif) :leaving: Hauling butt through the grass at 70+ mph during an autocross is a little surreal. I'm used to staying on the hard surfaces (like Eugenio said), being in the grass with both feet in and going for quite a distance farther than the slides where you don't leave the surface is a different experience. If Absolute speed had just left his camera on..... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) |
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Jun 7 2005, 06:54 AM
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#28
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Advanced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 340 Joined: 6-February 04 From: Stockton, California Member No.: 181 |
I guess I am lucky as far as auto x goes. I can auto x with 5 different groups all within a hour and half drive from where I live. My favorite group is American Auto x Series. The courses are designed with bigger powerful American cars in mind. I have seen speeds hitting triple digits on some courses. The competition is good with many national champs running this series. The people are very laid back and friendly. We always get 5 runs, sometimes 6. Plus we run at an awesome site in Atwater Ca. The next event is the first weekend in July and I have heard the track will use the whole site. The place is huge.
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Jun 7 2005, 10:16 AM
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#29
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Zero brand loyalty Group: Advanced Members Posts: 645 Joined: 22-January 04 From: Merryland Member No.: 145 |
QUOTE (mitchntx @ Jun 6 2005, 17:49) I hear ... fear ... you Pat. The damage factor had (has) me very worried. But it's also the reason I chose CMC over SCCA or COMA ... I saw first hand how those boys don't cotton to rubbin' ... it was ugly ... I guess if you have a group that really, um, enforces "no rubbin'" then it's a whole lot better. In my incident, I spun (my bad) in a qualifying session without a car around me and the car died. I couldn't get it to re-start, couldn't get it to re-start. At this point, every body panel was still straight. Then some guy in a BMW -- despite a waving yellow flag -- got squirrely and thumped my rear quarter panel. I always figured any rubbin' would be during a race with cars fighting for position not as I sat dead in the water during qualifying. The best thing was the chief steward felt no need to talk to the driver who hit me. Waving yellow flag = drive at 10/10ths???? No I'm not bitter. Pat |
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Jun 7 2005, 10:33 AM
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#30
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Veteran Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 2,647 Joined: 23-December 03 From: Pittsburgh, PA Member No.: 14 |
Pat, I can't comment on your specific situation and what the other guy was thinking. I CAN say that the incident would have been taken up with the marshals in our NASA region and a penalty would have been assessed.
I have run 16 road races and I am only aware of 4 incidents of contact in my run group (Big Bore - Vettes, Vipers, Camaros, Mustangs, Firebird, ex-Winston Cup cars, etc.). Two of the incidents were "racing incidents" and I know that one was caused by a failed part, the car losing control and getting into the other guy. In on of the other incidents, the two drivers were called in, one driver was penalized for the points for the race and no permitted to have this event as one of his "drops". I think after 3 visits to the "shed", you are not allowed to run for a season or something aggressive like that. If it weren't that way, I wouldn't be running. |
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Jun 7 2005, 11:35 AM
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#31
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Nothing says 'I love you.' like a box of Hydroshoks Group: Moderators Posts: 5,284 Joined: 23-December 03 From: Granbury, TX Member No.: 4 |
QUOTE (98_1LE @ Jun 6 2005, 17:59) So how is the paint swapping in CMC going so far? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif) (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif) (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif) (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif) (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif) (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif) (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif) I think ya'all have me convinced to stick with open track, open road, texas mile, and the occasional autox. It all seems to be localized to a single participant <knock on wood> :leaving: Randy, I guess it's a regional thing ... |
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Jun 7 2005, 11:59 AM
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#32
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Seeking round tuits Group: Advanced Members Posts: 5,522 Joined: 24-December 03 From: Kentucky Member No.: 33 |
QUOTE (trackbird @ Jun 6 2005, 23:52) QUOTE (Eugenio_SS @ Jun 6 2005, 22:45) to get more excitement, maybe I should try the Kevin approach: off-roading/drifting @ events. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif) :leaving: Hauling butt through the grass at 70+ mph during an autocross is a little surreal. I'm used to staying on the hard surfaces (like Eugenio said), being in the grass with both feet in and going for quite a distance farther than the slides where you don't leave the surface is a different experience. I've done the high speed sideways slide through the grass and clay at an autocross. It was kind of fun, and I didn't hit anything. However, it took me at least an hour to get all the clay, rocks, and grass out of the tire bead so I could get it seated on the rim again (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Somehow the tire never lost pressure. Of course, that means the edge of my rim had dug into the hard clay, so a rollover wasn't far off .... |
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Jun 7 2005, 02:40 PM
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#33
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Advanced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 364 Joined: 6-January 04 From: Somewhere past redline Member No.: 101 |
I started autocrossing in 1978 and was instantly hooked. I used to run every weekend and during that time formed many friendships. I consider myself very competitive and usually have a tendency to take things to an extreme. The only problem with that is the burnout factor that comes into play.
In 84 I ran F/S in an 84 Z28. I made a full out effort that year and came up short. I'm a good driver but far from great. That year I won pretty much everything in CenDiv, including divisionals. At Nationals I got killed. Ended up 12th out of about 60 plus cars, but gave it my best shot. After you run Nationals pretty much everything else was just another event. After my son was born in 86 I ran a few years longer then pretty much gave up the sport, running maybe an event a year at the most. When my son started driving we both became interested again. I now like to run the local events where you get 6 to 8 runs and there is not alot of standing out on the pavement for hours at a time. I'm no where near as serious as I used to be, but probably having more fun. I'm still competitive and hate to get beat, but it's not that big a deal to me anymore. There are a few things that still piss me off. The people that brag how good they are or the ones that have a million excuses why they got beat. I also feel that DOT race tires are a negative. I also like to drive on them but am not thrilled with the expense or the process of changing them over all the time. At Nationals I drove my Goodyear street tires to Kansas, competed, and drove back home on them. Those were simpler times I guess. |
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Jun 7 2005, 04:23 PM
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#34
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Zero brand loyalty Group: Advanced Members Posts: 645 Joined: 22-January 04 From: Merryland Member No.: 145 |
QUOTE (KeithO @ Jun 7 2005, 04:33) Pat, I can't comment on your specific situation and what the other guy was thinking. I CAN say that the incident would have been taken up with the marshals in our NASA region and a penalty would have been assessed. This was a WDCR-SCCA race at Summit Point. I know Chris Cobetto, the NASA-Virginia director, has booted people for jackassery in the HPDE's so I'm guessing he does the same to people in the race groups (haven't heard of any race-specific incidents, though). Pat |
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Jun 8 2005, 10:27 PM
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#35
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Advanced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 620 Joined: 24-December 03 From: Chester, VA Member No.: 22 |
I started in 1975, and ran all over VA, and DC. Married in '77, and son's appeared in '81 and '83, so I slowed the pace a bit. Little League, association football, high school wrestling, football, band, track, cross country, and working shift work hurt it too. Both sons in college darn near killed it. One graduated in 2003, works in DC, for the moment, the other should graduate in 2006. He's had a rough time "finding" himself.
I think for me, the "big I, little you", theory I see around here has hurt the fun factor. These days, I enjoy the friends I still have that autocross, and I try to get better with the Camaro. My favorite automotive outlet will always be a fast set of offset gates, but I like doing the swap meet, car show thing as well. An AACA show is in Richmond this weekend, and the NSRA will be here in August. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/burnout.gif) |
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Jun 8 2005, 10:35 PM
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#36
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Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,015 Joined: 28-December 03 From: Texas Member No.: 55 |
I had a Big Wheel in 1977 (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/thumbup.gif)
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Jun 8 2005, 11:01 PM
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#37
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Really Old Corner Carver Group: Advanced Member Posts: 1,209 Joined: 24-December 03 From: Atlanta Ga Member No.: 21 |
I started in 1973 (yea.. really old), ran the Nationals in 1980. Ran until 1991 win I sold my car, sold my trailer and gave it up for a house and two kids. 12 years later I couldn't stand it any longer and started back and will never quit again.
I make 8 runs here in Atlanta, 4 class runs and 4 time only runs. This year it's in two very different vehicles, the F500, and whatever else I can. Sometimes it's my car, maybe someone else's, or now the MR2 we bought for Matthew. I only care how I PAX, the rest doesn't matter. We have lots of good competition around here (+200 at most events) and it's a pretty good way to judge how well you're doing. I'd say drive something different, very different and much faster. It'll put the excitement back into it!! |
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Jun 9 2005, 02:57 AM
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#38
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North of the border Group: Admin Posts: 2,307 Joined: 4-February 04 From: Montreal, CANADA Member No.: 177 |
damm... I started breathing in 1975... when you guys were already @ track.
I wish I could get to meet you guys... so much to learn from you guys. |
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Jun 9 2005, 06:19 AM
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#39
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Advanced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 620 Joined: 24-December 03 From: Chester, VA Member No.: 22 |
Our events have 4 runs, and our work schedule is odd, We usually have 100-125 cars, and run 4-25 car heats, with anything over 100 being absorbed into the other 4 heats. The work schedule is run 1st work 3rd, run 2nd work 4th, run 3rd work 1st, and run 4th work 2nd. So you'll be there for a good while. I love our competition, Rod McGeorge, Courney Courmier, Richard West, occasionally Mike and Diane Johnson, Tim Aro, even Karen, and Patrick from time to time. Eugenio_SS, I probably couldn't teach you anything you don't already know, except maybe how to autocross an H/S Vega. But I'm fun to goof off with! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
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Jun 9 2005, 11:37 AM
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#40
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Veteran Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 2,640 Joined: 25-December 03 From: Louisville, KY Member No.: 40 |
Rpo, that's exactly how our work schedule is setup. It allows us to do worker change on the fly without a break in the action.
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