I don't remember it being quite so difficult in years past
I've been pretty well out of circulation in autocrossing for the last few years, focusing instead on wheel to wheel racing. Today's festivities were a real treat - it's so nice to see that Tarheel still puts on a flawlessly run event. 90 or so second course, four runs, out the door by 4PM? Sounds good to me.
I've come to the decision that, for me anyway, autocrossing well is more difficult than driving on a racetrack well. None of this "I'll get it back on the next lap" stuff, you need to bring it RIGHT NOW or you're sunk.
The course today, I'll admit...at first, I hated its one most unconventional feature - called "the onion ring." And it drove like just that - go out to the "skidpad" part of the traditional Laurinburg course, and drive in a circle, and come back out from whence you came. By the end of the day I did come to recognize that while not my favorite, it was certainly a good test of patience and particularly of looking ahead.
As for me, my fastest time was a DNF, at a 93.something. I don't think the DNF was particularly "to the good" lap time wise, maybe half a second, so I'm somewhat pleased with it, being on cheap street tires with a mystery alignment. I'm cautiously optimistic that between fancy pants shocks, an alignment, and 245/275 Hoosiers, the car should be "right there" for A Stock. I remain thrilled with the decision to purchase an S2000 - think of a Miata with another 100hp, wide tires and a power top, and you get the picture.
Which reminds me..."The Battle" is shaping up nicely already! Mitch is fast right out of the box in his Boxster, and Keith laid down a stinking fast 89.something to take the class today. Not bad for a guy who was complaining to me the other day that he's "never figured out how to drive the STI fast." Well Keith, you've been real fast in everything I've seen you drive, for what, ten years or so? And today was no exception. Please stick around for the season. Rick would have been right there had he not corded one of his *impossibly* old Hoosiers...04s! I shudder to think how fast he's going to be on fresh tires. We even had a novice show up and show a lot of speed in a street-tired STI.
Clearly, I've got my work cut out for me. As much as I hated to see the Petersons break a balljoint on the CS Miata, maybe it means Eric will have to codrive with me some more, so I can get my learn on. Even just having him take some runs at the test and tune and chatting away from events, I've learned a lot from him already. Eric, I'll leave the keys in it for you, and I'll make an extra "1" magnetic.
Something else I've come to realize with this year's A Stock championship is that not only are there a lot of good drivers in good cars, there's just a lot of quality people, period. The whole gang of drivers in A Stock this year are great people. I couldn't dream of driving with a better group of folks. If you're in the process of purchasing a new autocross ride - get an A Stock car! We're going to have a blast. We all want to win of course, but there's no egos, no attitudes, no secrets...it's really cool.
I hereby announce that come hell or high water, the car WILL be on Hoosiers for the next event. Credit score be damned!
Anyway, I'd forgotten how much fun autocrossing is. I'm even more amped for the season now than I was before. Thanks to everyone that made the event happen.
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