Re: AUTOX Has won me over.

[trnsfrma@ix.netcom.com (Shawn C. Meze)]

At 03:08 PM 5/19/97 -0400, you wrote:
>Dan...I know exactly what you mean!
>     I have a couple of friends who got into SCCA solo 2 racing just this
>year. I'd been to an autoX or two and thought it was cool. I'd been wanted
>to do an autoX eversince I got my licsense, but my dad wouldn't let me.
>So now that I'm at college, 1800mi away from the parents, I decided to
>give it a try.


Thats too bad, if my son ever decides to pulls his head out of his bunghole, 
he will be allowed to race ONLY at the Autox. Its the best place to get it out 
of your system and learn a new sport. It also will make him a better driver. 
(the premise being he will be more able to handle a sudden manuver to avoid an 
incident.) Then again, he will be 17 soon and hes not showing any signs of 
actual "tugging" efforts.... When I hear a "POP", then he can drive! 


>----SNIP----
>     Then on Sunday there was a realy autoX.  After rotating my tires and
>adjusting the pressure, I was ready to go!  I got put in E Stock (ESN)
>along with a couple Honda CRX's and some Neons.  I was talking with some
>guys in my class before the race and they pointed out that 2 of the cars
>I'd be racing against had won regionals or something the year before.
>DAMN, there went my hopes of placing.  My runs were respectable,
>considering street tires.

Bob Smith from Ohio won E-stock in 96' with a Celica. 95 was won by Erik 
Streinieks from Florida in a Neon. An interesting note, E-stock from 86' to 
92' was all won by a VW! 
I say to anybody who is entering their first race, or the first season for the 
matter, "dont go out to win, you will be sadly dissapointed". Like anything, 
it takes time and if your lucky, somebody who is pretty good at racing will be 
willing to take you under his or her wing and give you a huge head start on 
"being fast" on the autox course. (Right Mannix?) 

This is my 3rd season and im just know getting a good understanding of whats 
going on with my car and even tho I think I drive it faster than anybody, I 
know I still make alot of mistakes while im on the course. 

When I walk the course, I can pick out the best line or like last sunday, pick 
out a few lines that will be fast. Then I get in my car and start driving and 
everything is comming up SO fast, I forget half of what I wanted to do. I've 
got so many things going through my head, right now, the only thing that i've 
gotten down pretty good is to look far enough ahead and running a clean run 
each time. (No cones) 

I still blow car placement on the track, I still tend to be lead footed 
instead of being a little softer on the throttle comming out of the corners 
and I still dont quite brake early enough on those off camber turns. (Right 
Mike?)  But the point is, after all, to have fun (Which I had plenty of that 
sunday!) Practice driving (which I did) keep a good mental focus while on the 
course (Im getting really good at that! <ZONE> ) And most of all, enjoy the 
crap out of driving a Scirocco really fast!!  (BTDT)


>FUNRUNS- I'm not sure if other regions have this.  Once the competition is
>over, you pay $2 per lap and have fun, not worrying about the cones too
>much.  


Man, your region is kinda greedy! We pay $1 and our course was a long one, my 
best of the day was a 97.2XX time! (Wore my ass out too! Thats alot of 
driving, 35 turns in all! ) 


>Well, the first guy out is a novice in a BMW 318 Coupe on BFG R/1
>slicks.  The course starts out witha fast slalom...so he takes off,
>pushing really hard.  Towards the end of the slalom he starts to get
>sideways, overcorrects, up on 2 wheels, up on the passenger side, flip
>once, twice, lands shiny side down. Everyone watching gives out a
>collective "oh SHIT!" and runs out to the car.  We were able to drag the
>dirver out, he was a little shaken up, a couple of cuts and bruises, but
>otherwise ok.  The car on the other hand was in dire need of some body
>work...like a new roof.  I have pictures!!  

BFG R1's are DOT tires, not slicks. (FYI) 
Dang! Why is it that roll overs are becomming more common? Ive not seen one 
myself but this is about the 5th one I've heard of this year. As i've gone on 
before, id really like to have seen the track conditions where he rolled it. 
Some surfaces shouldnt be raced on, usually those places that are pretty bad 
get put on a straight as to avoid any kind of mishapps. Id like to question 
the safety of the track and the club that set it up. I dunno, it could have 
been one of those "Racing deals" but its just not something that should happen 
in an autox. 


>So that was my exciting weekend, how about you?


I had a great time! I got a little sunburnt, broke another swaybar bracket, 
got my ass chewed out for what, im not quite sure of yet and finished 3rd in 
DSP. I thought there were gona be some list members show up there on sunday 
but I guess not. 
The track was really FAST!! It was definately a HP track in alot of areas and 
in other places it was a suspension track. Sadly for me, I dont have much HP 
and without the full use of the rear swaybar, I was pretty limited to how fast 
I could go. I dont think I could of beaten the winner of DSP, but I think I 
could have given the 2nd place Spitfire a better run for his money. I make no 
excuses, I drove my best and I finished 3rd out of 6 cars. I had a good day! 



Shawn
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