Dennis already covered a lot of what I was going to say.
I will admit again (and this is for Eric the Knuckledragger) that I've had a
few Moments where I've thought "My Ghod, I've inflicted Dennis Grant on an
unsuspecting autocross world." But only a few. Dennis is a great friend and
he's brought a lot of energy, enthusiasm, and, yes, a degree of single-minded
devotion to the sport that is commendable. IMO, he's given back to the sport
far more than he's received. I've helped a few new folks along here and there,
Dennis has gone me quite a few better in that department.
The point, though, is that you have to take the new folks under-wing until they
get used to the whole concept of the sport. Because we *are* weird, relatively
speaking. Besides Mark Shehan dragging me out to my first event back in '93
(and it took him a couple years to get me out there), he also introduced me to
Gary Godula and Marcus Merideth, and a guy named Mike Burke, who has served in
some sort of novice-training capacity for as long as anyone (including Mike)
can remember took an interest in me -- just because I was new -- and how I was
doing. Mark and Gary and Marcus made sure I was brought into the social fold
as well -- the post-event dinner gatherings (Marcus and I's friendship was
cemented over a large pizza. While everyone else at the table was eating
"lite" salads and grilled chicken, the two big guys down at the end were
engaged in a serious feed), etc.
Sure, if there's a novice class, it helps. We in Detroit do a novice course
walk at every event. It helps. Some people "get it" without much effort --
their enthusiasm overcomes the weirdness of autocross. Others, though, it
takes that personal effort to encourage them to come back. In Detroit, it's a
mix of organized effort and several people who make it a point to Spot the
Novice and give 'em a hand on their own.
Jim Crider
Product Development Engineer
Engine Group
Metaldyne, Inc.
autojim@att.net (home)
jamescrider@metaldyne.com (work)
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