Date: Sun, 03 Oct 1999 21:33:50 -0600
From: Chris Tutor wrote:
<< Just a short note to all the folks on here who encouraged me to just
get out there and try it once.
Lots of fun! I made lots of gearhead friends this weekend, almost wore
off a set of street tires and had a blast! >>
As we knew you would. If you like to drive fast, there is not much better for
this low of cost.
<< But what ya'll failed to tell me was actually how difficult autocross
is. Damn. Took me a run or two just to get the hang of the course. To
tell you the truth, I gave DNF a bad name. >>
Well, some of us did try to say it was hard without discouraging you. I have
alot of people ask about getting started, and they all want to do car
upgrades before they go. As you have learned, you could be in a perfectly set
up car and still come in dead last your first time out, and it is not that
you are a bad driver. Autocross requires some very strange skills that you
don't get without trying it. What I try to tell people is spend you money and
time going to events instead of working on the car. Then the car will be a
stable element as you learn to drive it closer to the limit until you can run
each run without hitting any cones and getting no DNF's. Our street tire
class has been our biggest and is perfect for people wanting to get into it.
After you can get through the course clean, then you can decide if you want
to go race tires, tune the car within stock rules, or buy or more competitive
car. The thing to remember is the driver has more to do with it than anything
to do with the car.
<<1 Regardless, though, I had fun. >>
And that is the best part of it all. As you get faster you will have even
more fun, and the competitors will be there to help you out all the way. Some
of the best friends are the ones you are running against and trying to beat.
If you get so serious that you will make enemies to win, then you should go
road racing (sorry) In autocross, I like to think everyone is cheering on
each other. When I get beat (it happens alot) I always congradulate the
winner, but I also try to get better to beat him next time.
Keep having fun.
Gary M.
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