[LandQuail]

Another thing that can't hurt is that an Elan is about five feet wide. That would have to take the kinks out of a few sections.

The course I raced on was incredibly tight. I never got out of second gear.

I don't know whether or not the Elan is the giant killer this guy said it is, but it is an interesting little car. The guy let me get into the driver's seat, and warned me not to put any weight on either the door, or the window frame, as both were fiberglass (even the door hinges.) Colin Chapman was a weight-saving fiend.

Also, the car had the most precise, positive shift action of any I've ever seen. Better than a NSX or S2000. It really was just like a rifle bolt, with a throw of four or five inches between the gears.

The guy said that power oversteer was possible, but only just, and the energy to pitch the car in under braking and brutal power "spike" needed to break the tail loose just lost time. He also said that the car was quiet and "tranquil" through the course, whereas more powerful cars usually can't get through without wheelspin or other "theatrics."

Dude said that he "ran the competiton off" about three years ago and "killed the class."

That's A-Stock. There's no ceiling for horsepower or weight, and any unmodified car can run. He did say that he got beaten one time by a Mini Cooper (original) running semi-track tires. (whatever the **** those might be.)

Oh, and I wouldn't want him to replace his mouth with anything like money if I was around. My autocrossing method is to bludgeon the course to death with my STi. I can't get the car to be as nimble as I'd like, due to understeer. A set of sway bars would help, but right now I don't have the cash.