Autocross is a good entry level motorsport. It has great competition and social aspects. You can spend as little or as much as you want and still have a blast. The challenge is to “get it right” with no practice in only 4-5 attempts which isn’t easy. I’ve enjoyed it very much, met a lot of great people, and wouldn't trade the experience for anything. When it’s all said and done, it’s just 3 minutes of driving. Without the social aspect, I’d never do another autocross.
For HPDE there maybe nothing to “win”, but like Matt said, passing much faster cars is very gratifying. Passing a Miata when you’re driving a Vette is no big deal. Passing a Vette when you’re driving a Miata certainly is to driver of the Miata. Catching and passing a Cobra with a Cavalier is far from boring. I will admit that I “looked” better in the lower groups by passing more cars. Once you move up the ladder it isn’t nearly as easy (ask Ryan) making even more gratifying when it happens. The challenge is to “get it right” lap after lap with consistency. Unless you’re Mr. Schumacher that isn’t easy either. I’ve never been “bored” on track, and IMO if you are, you’re either really good (like bowling a 300 EVERY game) or aren’t doing something right.
Different people have different views which are great. Carl said he was bored driving foot to the floor, but I am not. There’s no throttle modulation in most corners in a Cavalier. The only time there is modulation is when I’m fighting the understeer condition of my FWD. Driving the Holton CSP Miata with its mad-tite grip in AX isn’t nearly as difficult as the Cavalier is on track. It’s still quite a challenge to get the turns right with limited grip in my car which I find to be very enjoyable.
Now for rallycross, at present I can find no downside. There is lots of competition (unless you’re Kevin Allen) it’s fun, cheap, and requires little to no preparation time. It has the same social aspect as autocross, but a bit more laid back. If you have a suitable car, it’s hard to beat the cost vs. fun factor. If you don’t have a car, for less than the cost of one set of V700s you can buy one. We only paid $400 for the General Lei and he’s still a top contender after 3 years of 4 plus drivers per event of abuse.
Sometimes is nice to not have to choose. This year I ran a full AX, RX, and HPDE season. The wife could care less how much it costs, but she doesn’t like me being away from home so much. HPDE’s take up whole weekends not just a day and that isn’t cutting it with the boss. Each form of motorsport has it pros and cons. In the past I didn’t have to choose, so I could deal with either of each and it didn’t really matter. Enter 2007 and sadly, time to choose.
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I didn't have to wait till the session was over to figure who and if I was faster than someone. I believe that if you can run in an HPDE and not try to pass the car in front of you and find it boring, you need to expend your efforts in another form of motorsport.
