[Shotimes] AutoCross the SHO Results

[Techpriest]

Several people asked me how I did racing the SHO my first real weekend.  I
said I did not know, since I did not get my time-slip nor see anyone else's.
Got the newsletter today and it has published results.

I made four official runs, and a 5th run that did not count.  It seems I was
one of only 2 cars that heat that did not have to do a re-run.  Cones kept
blowing over, "Welcome to Kansas!".  I just kept following the others and
nobody noticed I was not supposed to be in line again so I got to take a
"Fun Run" that did not count.  I have come up with a way to keep track of
laps in my car so as not to repeat that mistake.  Here are my times...

79.226	73.332	71.641	70.610	(68.4??)

They have me listed in STO class in the published results.  STO is Street
Touring Other for cars that do not fit in STS class.  I swear the tech guy
said I was going in STS, Street Touring Sedan.  I thought I should be in G
Stock, but he told STS was best for me since everyone is on street tires.
That sounds good to me, I was not wanting to buy race tires.  I have gone
back and read up on STS in the rulebook and it says, "...include all
coupes/sedans with a minimum of four seats and four seat belts, that are
non-sports car based with a maximum engine displacement of 3.1 liters, are
normally aspirated;..."  That sure sounds like my class, heck it sounds like
my car was designed FOR that class.  Not only do I like what I can do to my
car in that class, I like what other can't do to theirs.  It really looks
like I can be competitive without having to fork out a ton or cash, or ruin
my car's daily driveability.  Looking at STS I see all the cars in it are
from the G Class, again the SHO fits right in.

But back to STO, where I came in last.  In order of finish best to worst
this was my class...
Corvette, Plymouth Road Runner, Mitsubishi Eclipse Turbo, Pontiac Trans Am,
Mustang Cobra, Taurus SHO.  I am not sure if I should laugh or be proud.
Either it was a mistake, or those guys sure do respect the mighty SHO!  I
will ask this weekend and see if I can't get put back into the proper class.
I can not find anything in the rulebook that should keep me out of STS.

In STS there were 5 other cars.  Stick my results in there and I would have
taken 5th out of 6, beating out a Nissan 240SX.  The guy that took 4th was
only .121 seconds ahead of me.  Count my Fun Run and that would have put me
in second in STS!  No, the Fun Run does not count and had everyone got one
more lap I am sure others would have done better as well.  What it does tell
me though is I am not way off base with car or driver.  The Neon in STS was
very modified and the driver had been racing it for three years, his
official time was .713 seconds ahead of mine.

The newsletter also confirms what I thought, I did not hit a single cone all
day, or get a single DNF.  That makes me feel good.

Now I am excited!  My biggest fear was that the SHO simply would not have
anyone to race against.  Nobody ran in GS, which is where I thought I was
headed.  STS looks to be a blast!  I am eager to see how much my performance
tires help.  Even 1 second off my official time would have put me in third
in STS.  All this in a 17 year old car I paid $1500 for.  These cars are
very under-rated, but you all know that already.

Thanks for all the help!  I need to list ShoTimes as one of my sponsors,
right after D&D Towing :)

89 MTX SHO "TEKPRST"