AutoX seems to bring less and less fun-factor 2 me, is it just me ??? Options

[Pilot]

I had a Big Wheel in 1977  (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/thumbup.gif)

(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v468/pimpmaro/funny/bigwheel.jpg)
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[bruecksteve]

We do worker changes on the fly with 6 run groups.

[Crazy Canuck]

I had a Big Wheel in 1977  (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/thumbup.gif)

(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v468/pimpmaro/funny/bigwheel.jpg)
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(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif) so true... maybe that's why it's so funny.

[LT4Firehawk]

The first "speed" events I ever got involved in was drag racing. I thought: "Man, what a blast! I can't imagine anything more fun." Then someone invited me to an autox (back in 97), and I thought it was even more fun, but not enough to make me give up drag racing. Then, I went to the national f-body event in 98 and got to do drag racing, autox, and open track. Once I got done with my first open track session I was hooked. I knew it was all over for me doing much more drag racing or autox. 13 seconds of straight line, or even 60 seconds of dodging cones just can't compete with 15-20 minute open track sessions. Plus by the time you really add it all up, for each open track day (usually costing $100) I get a total of 1 to 1.5 hours of track time. Even if an autox has 8 runs at 60 seconds a run, that's only 8 minutes of run time for at least $25. Plus, it may just be me, but I feel one of the reason open track events are much more fun is you can't always drive that perfect line. Yes, it's a blast to have a clear track and be able to focus on being perfect, but it's also a lot of fun when there are people in front or behine you, and you have to deal with passing and being passed, and then finding the best line when you may be out of position. Then you add in the political BS, and classification issues, and autox just makes absolutely no sense to me.

Anyway, while I still drag race a few times a year just to keep those skills fresh, I don't think I've been to an autox in at least 3 or 4 years. If I ever do decide to go to an autox again it will be a Porsche club event, where the courses are usually a little more high speed and where there isn't as much political/classification BS.

[Houston]

I'm new to this board and I have only autocrossed for two years, but I have a little different perspective.
I decided at age 49 that I wanted to autocross. Drag racing is fun and I still do it, but going straight has it's limits. Breaking stuff happens a lot more drag racing too.
Sam really helped me set up my car and his advice has been great. I went to a couple of Evolution schools and that was a good start.
My first autocross was a disaster! It was on a relatively small piece of concrete and the course was confusing for a novice. It had double backs and looked like a sea of cones. I DNF'd every run and didn't know what I had done wrong. No one helped me and I almost quit. I hung in and got to know some people who helped me. I started to get better.
The next year, I ran with a small SCCA club near my home for a year in ESP and actually won the season long ESP championship. Honestly, there wasn't much competition. I ran a couple of events with the Tarheel Sports Car Club and got my @$$ kicked badly in ESP. But, the people were great and very helpful. I went to a couple of club novice schools and got better.
A couple of mods make my car illegal in ESP, so I'm running SM this year with the Tarheel club. I know that I wouldn't be competitive in some clubs or at a national event. But, I've won the first three events (mainly because I have a better car! Thanks Sam) and would be competitive in ESP.
Tarheel has some great sites and the events are very well run. They have just raised the entry number to 130 and we still usually get 5 runs in. This weekend we have a two day event at an old airport with old, but grippy concrete. I love to make 60 to 70 second runs with top speeds of 60 to 65 mph! Sure, we have some smaller sites that Miata guys love, but that's OK.
I think how well the events are run and how laid back the members are makes a huge difference in how much fun it is.
I get teased some about having a loud, redneck Camaro, but it is all in fun. I also have to change my exhaust tips to one's filled with steel wool to get me below 100 dbs.
I do one thing that has made autocrossing very fulfilling, but I know most won't be comfortable doing this. I always have a younger guy as a co-driver, who pays for half of the race tires. Last year I picked a guy who I thought could drive and by the end of the year, he was beating me. Youth has it's advantages! This year he and his dad are autocrossing his WS6. I have a new co-driver this year.
My daily driver is an 87 BMW 325e and yes it is really slow - 121 HP. My 22 year old daughter drives it and we try to get a novice to co-drive with her. They never win in STS, but it is a great way to learn. The only mods are Koni Sports, springs and sway bars.
We travel together, stay in hotels together when necessary and help each other a lot. It is great to help younger people get into the sport. I love watching my co driver get better in my SS and pick up a lot watching him on the course.
I've brought 5 young people into autocrossing and plan to bring 2 more in every year. I'm not 100% altruistic. I like the help unloading the car, unhooking the tire trailer and changing the tires. I like getting into the car with warmed up tires when I go second. The Tarheel club lets us ride with each other. I like getting a look at the track at speed too. My young teamates like a coach in the car.
Maybe I will get tired of autocrossing too eventually. But, I think I will always enjoy helping others get into the sport.

[trackbird]

Welcome Houston (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/thumbup.gif) .

Pimpmaro was a drag racer until about a month ago. He has been shown the light (maybe he's part moth..... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif) ) and just ran his first event (which didn't go so well due to technical issues, but we put him out in my car to make a few runs after his broke). It's fun to see them climb out of a car after their first ride along (he looked like the Enzyte dude) and after the first event is even better. I still think I'm going to progress to track time/hpde or AV8SS as time goes on (maybe soon....see my "Track car" thread), but I am trying to run the season for the SM2 championship this year.

[rpoz-29]

Hey Houston, come on up and run with VMSC sometime. Just wait until we're running VMP, and I'm the OD. Ocober 30, this year.

[jensend]

Autocrossed for about 3 seasons with the NNJR region of the SCCA. They have a core of great people and offer at least 6 runs even with more than 100 cars per event. However, the politics of SCCA National and the limited "track" time couldn't compete with the fun of Open Track events. Trackmasters ( the group I usually run with, offers 2hrs. track time for students and 5 hrs. track time for their Open Track group daily. Add the higher speeds, G-forces, and risk/reward factor and Autox just can't compare. I occasionally visit and help out at an autox, but rarely go to the trouble of prepping the car for a full event. My oldest son will take the Camaro to an autox event if his car isn't ready, but that's because his track car is still not finished with its motor upgrade. I jokingly compare autox to adolescent sex: a lot of action and sweat that's over almost before it gets good. The only thing I really miss are some of the good people I met autoxing.

[RedHardSupra]

I went to an autocross event once. I got ~130 SECONDS of tracktime and a sunburn.
I was only a passenger in a G-stock car, the ride was insanely fun, and I get sunburned when i do HPDE too, but 130 seconds AND you have to work? I just gone done with a track weekend which was rudly interrupted with overheating issues, huge rain, and crashes, and I still got to do about 100miles/2hrs+ of tracktime! bang per sunburn ratio just isn't there (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

long live opentracking!

[Bald54]

I've also been responsible for getting a lot of younger people interested in autocrossing. Several of my son's high school friends have become involved in the sport. I've actually had a few of them co drive my car. On a few occasions some of the parents were hesitant about letting their kids compete. After convincing one of the parents to allow their son to drive, the parent then also became active in the sport.

I feel strongly that autocrossing is the best teacher of car control out there for a young driver. It's a blast for them and they actually learn something that might save their life someday.

[jensend]

Steve- I agree that autox can teach younger drivers useful car control skills, and I've encouraged both my sons to try it. On the other hand, I taught both my sons to drive using the visual skills and terminology from open track and can definitely see that they apply it to advantage driving in traffic and at highway speeds. In a sense, both sports are probably necessary training for beginning drivers who want to have the skills to be safe on public roads. We live in southern NJ and my boys have to use the tourist-laden Garden State Parkway on a daily basis. Any non-crisis-based experience they can get is of benefit. However, I harbor a secret pride that my oldest asked for track school as a high school graduation gift. Wondering if the younger one will do the same in a week or so.

[Pilot]

Welcome Houston (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/thumbup.gif) .

Pimpmaro was a drag racer until about a month ago. He has been shown the light (maybe he's part moth..... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif) ) and just ran his first event (which didn't go so well due to technical issues, but we put him out in my car to make a few runs after his broke).

To quote the movie Rush Hour, "You Plick!"

It's fun to see them climb out of a car after their first ride along (he looked like the Enzyte dude) and after the first event is even better. I still think I'm going to progress to track time/hpde or AV8SS as time goes on (maybe soon....see my "Track car" thread), but I am trying to run the season for the SM2 championship this year.

Amen to that! Now that I've got my "broke" unbroken, maybe I'll be in a position to actually LEARN something this season! BTW, if you get that damn track car, you better let me work on it! You can always be the Mustang Crew Chief, but if you get to be driver of this 3rd gen, I get to be Crew Chef! ("The Chef's? Who are the Chefs?!" "Great Googlymoogly!") Make that the crew chief. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[DanKeen]

I had a Big Wheel in 1977  (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/thumbup.gif)

(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v468/pimpmaro/funny/bigwheel.jpg)
(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/thumbup.gif)

Yah know what's funny? I remember now that when I was playing in Big Wheels, I always got pissed that I couldn't accelerate hard and turn at the same time, as the front wheel would just spin. I guess I've always been a RWD guy.

[DanKeen]

And to add something useful to this thread...

As Aaron knows, I was rather competitive in the Glen Region. I had a lot of fun trying to beat him, even though he was on R's (blah blah old R's blah). It was a great community - I had lots of friends - and we'd get 6-9 runs at each event.

I moved out to SF, and I decided not to autocross anymore. Why? With 300 people at each event, you get 3 runs. It's more expensive. People don't seem as friendly, but that could just be a side effect of having such a large crowd. And the lot is eight times the size of anything we had near the Glen.

That last point doesn't sound so bad, until you realize that all my autocrossing experience was in first gear, sliding and dancing the car around cones. You start driving in second (and third! at AAX events) and find that the car behaves entirely differently, and you're dog slow.

I figured if I was going to have to learn a new skill set, I might as well "graduate" on to track driving. I had done one event at WGI, and it was the most fun I ever had, so I figured I'd try it again. What do you know, it still is! Thunderhill was awesome. So, while it's more per weekend, it's far less per driving time... you don't have to work the event (I know, I'm lazy)... and my car feels much more at home than it ever did in autocross.

Just my 0.03 about why I stopped autocrossing.