My First Autocross.

[LandQuail]

Well, I finally put my money where my mouth is today. I and my trusty Subaru STi competed in a SCCA Solo 2 event at the parking lot of the dubiously named War Memorial Stadium - and this is the best part - I Got Paid To Do It. The newspaper I work for sent me, and I wrote a feature story about it.

In truth, though, there was only one car racing in my class, a C-4 Corvette driven by a 60-year old. He drove it very well, but on a tight course it was outmatched. I did, however, post faster times than a 350Z, three RX-8's, and a few race-prepared cars.

Most importantly, I didn't knock over any cones, which wasn't easy while fighting tons of understeer.

So, in short, I rule.

[taz_rocks_miami]

Originally Posted by LandQuail

Well, I finally put my money where my mouth is today. I and my trusty Subaru STi competed in a SCCA Solo 2 event at the parking lot of the dubiously named War Memorial Stadium - and this is the best part - I Got Paid To Do It. The newspaper I work for sent me, and I wrote a feature story about it.

In truth, though, there was only one car racing in my class, a C-4 Corvette driven by a 60-year old. He drove it very well, but on a tight course it was outmatched. I did, however, post faster times than a 350Z, three RX-8's, and a few race-prepared cars.

Most importantly, I didn't knock over any cones, which wasn't easy while fighting tons of understeer.

So, in short, I rule.

Congrats, SCCA Solo events are a lot of fun. I've never competed but went to a few in years past.

Any pics of you on the course? How about a link to your article?

[cmcpokey]

i aim to be competeing for my first time in august. they hold them the first sunday of every month local here. i just have duty that day, so i will need to swap days so i can go. my tires are also just about shot, so i guess that will be their death knell.

i woudl also love to read your story about it.

[Quiggs]

Sounds like you had a good time.

I like watching autocross. I may give it a try next weekend at WaterFest in New Jersey.

[mattmacklind]

Isn't understeer crazy? Its like you think you know what it is and then you autocross and you REALLY know what it is. On my first auto-x, I felt like my car was sliding aorund on casters. I needed some more air in the tires and I actualy needed to slow down to speed up, if you know what I mean. Plan to continue doing it?

[IWantAnAudiRS6]

Nicely done, old son

Tempted to get an Evo now? No understeer there...

[LandQuail]

You can go to www.thecabin.net and jump through the hoops of becoming a member (free) to read the article, should anybody want to. I wrote it in about an hour after standing in the hot Arkansas sun all day, so it kind of sucks, but hey, you can't knock one over the wall every time you step up to the plate. The editor gave it the rather silly headline "live the dream - drive fast legally." You might want to check out all the interesting shit happening at the local public school system while you're there... no, wait, you won't.

One guy there was... What was his name? ... ... Something Grady. Anyway, he was on the BMC factory race team and drove an MGB at the 12-hours of Sebring in 1967. He set the fastest time of the day at the autocross in a wacky-racers 80's Civic.

He told a long story that ended with him going behind a hangar to piss before the 12-hour race, and saw Graham Hill leaning up against the metal wall and puking. He said that it was nerves.

How's that for odd? Graham Hill, one of the finest ever, puking before a race due to nerves? The old addage "don't meet your heroes" definitely does not apply here. It's good to know that even the gods of motorsport get a little queazy sometimes.

Here's a picture of me making a stupid face while trying to handle one of the faster left/right transitions without spinning.
(Note the vintage 2004 "Kerry-Edwards: A Stronger America" sticker on the back window. I'm hoping that any day now it'll turn chic, like the classic "Ross for Boss" stickers that you occasionally see clinging stubbornly to the bumpers of 82 Corollas)