THSCC Forums

If there were no trophies?

No official paxed results calculated?

What if the times weren't even officially recorded, just displayed on the timer when you crossed the finish line?

Are you here to prove that you're better than somebody else, or to have fun, socialize with other crazy people & improve your driving?

Inquiring mind wants to know...



edit - I'm having problems with the poll, because I'm a freaking NOOB!

absolutely... no doubt about it. I'd probably do it even if there wasn't a timer. The thrill is still there. - AB

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

Without a doubt I would still do it, those aren't the things that make it fun to me. However, in regards to the timing, I do enjoy being competitive, and even if not against others, I like to know I am improving.

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Stephen Westerfield
2009 Infiniti M35 | 2007 Honda Fit Sport | 2005 Ford Mustang GT |2000 GMC Sierra |1992 Acura Integra LS | Super Westerfield Bros Acura Integra

No, I don't care about trophies I have two closets full of them from swimming. But Yes, it is about beating other people, I'm very competative I can't help it. I would go elsewhere if results weren't published.

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2006 Civic Si - #24 HS for 2015

2005 GMC Sierra
1991 318is Garage Ornament

Yup, me too. The only reason I'd voluntarily stop auto-xing is if time and finances allowed me to attend more driving schools. Until then, I'll still be dodging cones on some airport runway.

With auto-x I get to have my cake and eat it too. I get to watch cool cars run, talk to similarly car-addicted people, AND I get to drive as fast as I'm willing to go for about $20. If I only auto-x'd for the driving, I'd have quit after the first year or so. For those of us who are more marginal drivers, the drive to trophy is still there, but not quite as vital to sticking with the sport.

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Tom Freeman
'98 M3/4/5 | '93 Spec3 325i | '12 TSX sport wagon | '03 Tahoe
Team Silver Bullets '91 240SX

Hmmm...

No trophies? Not a killer.
No pax? I've ignored pax for a long time with no ill effects.
No recorded times? I'll go somewhere else. Half the fun for me is watching others time and seeing how I'm doing against them. And, yes, I am here to prove I'm better - AKA "competition". Without that I'll go do donuts in the K-mart parking lot or enjoy one my spirited saturday morning backroads drives.

I'm with Phil and Rob on this one. I am competitive, and it turns out that I autocross pretty well (unlike most other endeavors I've tried in life). If every event were simply a 4 or 5 run test and tune, with no other motivation I would look elsewhere.

If there is a timer, people will compare times, the natural extension to that is to award trophies, or recognized the people that happen to run superior times.

If I just want to drive for the hell of it I can do track schools or go to the mountains and have just as much fun, and also spend less money per mile.

Scott

Let see, I would much rather win my class at a points even vs. a non-points event. Why? I guess I am assuming that everyone is trying just that little bit harder when it is for points, trophy, bragging rights, etc. So that victory would feel that much better.

So, while I would do it regardless, I would rather it be with times recorded, etc. Otherwise, why not just drive crazy on the streets or an empty parking lot (not that I suggest anyone should do that).

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Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
2013 Honda Fit Sport
2015 Honda Fit EX
http://motorsport.zyyz.com
Money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.

If the runs are timed and the time is displayed, all you have to do if you miss seeing somebody's time is go up and ask him. (If he's not a bastard, he'll be honest. ) Unless you just want to beat people, and not meet them...

In this sport, it's easy to do both!

I'm a very competitive person so I autox to compete in something. The "competition" for me is a lot of the fun. The driving is an absolute blast and I love it, but sometimes, the competition ends up being more fun. Having a mix of both makes it even better.

I had a great time driving w/o a timer at the laurinburg school. I had a great time driving the STi in sandford (even though my times were pointless as I was on street tires in PRO class). But I also have a kickass time competing. I love events where you win or lose by thousandths of a second.

If we had events w/o pax or a timer I would be there a couple of times. But w/o the competition it would get boring after a bit. If I want to just drive, like scott said, I would hit a track day or some back roads. To me the actual "trophy" doesn't matter, but its the fact that you finished in xx spot that makes it a competition.

-Tom

"Friendly competition" is what it's all about for me. Meeting new friends, competing against them, and congratulating them when they kick your butt is a lot of fun.

I think I'd still attend because there aren't many venues to drive fast (legally) for $20. When people get together and a clock is running or some sort of "score" is being kept there will always be competition. We aren't getting paid, but having a piece of wood to brag about is nice. Not necessary, but nice anyway.

I got my butt kicked for two seasons before I ever got a trophy, but I still had a blast. I've made lots of friends and learned a lot I didn't know about cars and racing dynamics. You don't have to win to enjoy the sport.

With all that said, I'll repeat what a friend told me when I was younger who kicked my butt in EVERY sport we played together. When I would say "oh was just playing for fun" he would respond "if you aren't going to play to when then don't play". Now I try as hard as I can to win, but even if I don't I still have fun.

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Vincent Keene
'06 Ford Mustang GT (track rat)
'15 Dodge Charger R/T (yeah, it's got a HEMI!)
'07 Ford Fusion SE (205,000 miles and counting)
'98 Chevy Z-24 (retired)
'93 Acura Integra (Team SWB 24HOL Car)

Personally I don't think timing and scoring will ever go away - it just might not be "official". If somebody in the bus doesn't do it, somebody in a lawnchair eventually will - it's human nature to measure yourself up and keep statistics on how you do in comparison to others, especially for those of us that are fairly new to this and have a lot to learn.

I think placing and even trophies define the competition, though I would be ok with LESS trophies (PAX Maybe?). I totally agree that the competition is what fuels many people, and without that competition, I would be much less likely to push my car within an inch of its life to get that better time. $.02 from a fairly NOOB.

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Dustin Fredrickson
-- I'm a nobody --

I could do without the trophies, but AUTOCROSS IS TIMING AND SCORING! If we were just driving around for fun why do it it a parking lot?

I would be happy with far fewer classes similar to the night series with just street tire and open class. No trophies needed at the event but an end of year trophy might be something nice to work towards.

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'91 Miata STS2 project
'96 328i Sport Pkg

"An unexamined life is not worth living."
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)

This sort of sum's up my sentiment regarding timing & scoring. Without the tools of evaluation how can one fully examine one's performance? Knowing what you have left on the table helps the preparation for the next move. I have seen some quite spectacular handling moves from some competitors which looked fast, but the clock just didn't agree. On the other hand I have seen what looked like slow, boring driving that was just downright quick. (turn arounds come to mind)
As for trophies, they make good conversation starters at work or at home. When people ask how I spend my time, I show them all of the trophies I gathered over the past 15 years (after blowing the dust off of the last one) and let them know I'm still in the hunt. Yeah, NOW I can say that I am not interested in the trophies, but there was a time that the trophy ment a great deal to me. I think I have achieved a higher plane of driving conciousness. I'm not winning as much anymore because the bar has been raised substantially in this club. There are so many drivers now who are really national level drivers (in my opinion). Now if I, or anyone else, want a trophy, it must be worked for.
Bottom line, would I race without trophies? What do you think I'm doing now? Heck, most of us autocross without trophies.

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1998 BMW Z3
1987 BMW 325is
2000 BMW
1996 F250 Turbo Diesel