My experience is that AutoX is "it" as long as you haven't done anything on a real track.

There are a few guys who will beleive AX is the end-all. They like the short intense competition. That is totally cool with me.

Once a person does an open track event, AX will typically seem tame. The duty cycle of work (picking cones) to play also is a negative for AX (but needed for the whole event to work).

Open track is the coolest thing - until you race wheel-to-wheel. At that point lapping seems pointless :-)

I was addicted to track days until I started Spec Miata racing. Not that I won't track the Camaro, but I don't do it much. With the exception of Motorstate and Optima Faceoff, I have not autocrossed in almost 7 years.

You pretty much hit the painful AX thing on the head Mark. It is good for newbies to learn car control. Once you have some basic car control, AX is a complete waste of a weekend day IMHO. Soooooo boooooooring. It is cheaper to buy a ticket to an amusement park as you still get the joy of waiting in line for an hour to get a 38 second really fast ride on roller coasters (that are likely faster overall frankly) and you don't have all the pain of maintaining and burning $$ on fixing a car, tires, gas, etc.

Many of the AX guys, when I really press 'em, come back to an idea that at 60 mph if they loose it they feel they have more chance of catching it and coming out better than at 120 mph on a long sweeper... so I think it is that fear and lack of ability that keeps AX going. Fine by me, and I would prefer fearful and slower people not be on the track when I am on it, so AX certainly has its place, but I agree, not my cup-o-tea.

'Course, if I had it my way everyone would have to run a lap like Top Gear does with celebs, in a simple, provided car, but have to beat a specific and reasonably fast time just to get their driver's license. Half of the Top Gear celeb board should have their licenses revoked until they learn car control and how to actually drive = different topic :lol: That is what AX would be good for :thumbsup:

Wow......you guys must run with clubs full of asses......


I've been auto-crossing with Oregon region of the SCCA for about 10 years now. I love track days too but the expense is too great for Me in this economy. The cost of fuel and registration on a track day covers the entry fee for Me and My wife for an entire season of Autocross. The courses We set up around here are usually 45-60 seconds and can be almost 1 1/2 miles long and we usually get 6 runs. I get two seasons out of a set of tires and the rest of the vehicle wear is negligible. But beyond the relative limited drive time the friends and camaraderie with the "regulars" in the club is priceless.

The difference in lapping and actually competing is huge for Me as well. I've won three regional championships in three different classes, one national tour event and I'm usually in the top third in the Oregon region club which has five national champions as members.

If your bored autocrossing you need to learn to drive faster.

Mark, it sounds like the Detroit area club is very unorganized and could handle some more dedicated people.

Remember the SCCA at that level is all volunteer. If you don't like the way things are going but still want to be involved, get more involved. Become a member of Your local Solo Committee.

I can see those of you who are lucky enough to have real exciting tracks near by like Blackhawk farms, Road America, Willow springs, Infinion etc...that track days would be that much more enticing. Portland International Raceway is fun but flat and 12 turns......gets a little boring after a while. The autocross course is different every time and keeps it fresh.

I will be at the Milwaukee mile on Monday . I run with the Midwest Council guys . They call it HSAX . Its run on real road courses .
Blackhawk , Autobahn , no cones :unibrow: You get three (3) lap practice sessions and guarenteed three timed sessions , usually 5-6
A have a 86 C4. Its compettive ...the kicker is I have just over 6k in it
Thats including the cost of the car ,
125 .00i s typical cost of a day A Class for just about any car

Sounds like time attack......

http://redlinetimeattack.com/ti/rl/index.html

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_...0174_large.jpg

Scott picked my car to feature this month. :lateral:

https://lateral-g.net/members/stielow/

I cracked up at this :thumbsup:

Stielow

Very cool! Love this build! So it's Salsa Red...that's a great color! :thumbsup:

Cheers to that :cheers:

One of the finest examples of a serious well thought out Pro Touring car!
Can't wait to see it live one day, hopefully at a track.