Stupid Question??
12-29-2007, 05:13 PM
#5
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12-29-2007, 05:22 PM
#6
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For the ****-definition types: Autocross is defined as a slow-speed precision driving competition. For the SCCA, speeds for the fastest stock and street prepared cars should not generally go above 65mph.
That all being said, the most scared I have been in a car was at an Autocross.. in a Honda.. slaloming at 94mph. Hitting more than 190 at Daytona didn't scare me that much. Speed, gears and mph are realitive.
Then we can go on and talk about the list of pro drivers who have come up through autocross.. (and many of the guys listed on the "whos fast" thread on this very forum..)
Jon K
12-29-2007, 05:29 PM
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I dont think he ever gets down to 2nd, or maybe in and out of the pits.
He spends more time in 5th gear close to red line then most of us. Something about Pocono Long course, eating Vipers and Ferrari's before lunch time
12-29-2007, 06:07 PM
#8
Safety Car
12-29-2007, 07:03 PM
#9
Instructor
Low Speed as defined by the NCCC is 80mph or less. The SCCA doesn't have a Low/High speed AutoX. Most National level SCCA events are 70ish or less.
And take it from somebody who ran Stock Cars and Open Wheels for 5 years, it's a lot harder than it looks and takes a lot of skill to be good at it.
And take it from somebody who ran Stock Cars and Open Wheels for 5 years, it's a lot harder than it looks and takes a lot of skill to be good at it.
12-29-2007, 07:30 PM
#10
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12-29-2007, 07:32 PM
#11
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Low Speed as defined by the NCCC is 80mph or less. The SCCA doesn't have a Low/High speed AutoX. Most National level SCCA events are 70ish or less.
And take it from somebody who ran Stock Cars and Open Wheels for 5 years, it's a lot harder than it looks and takes a lot of skill to be good at it.
And take it from somebody who ran Stock Cars and Open Wheels for 5 years, it's a lot harder than it looks and takes a lot of skill to be good at it.
12-29-2007, 07:36 PM
#12
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Low Speed as defined by the NCCC is 80mph or less. The SCCA doesn't have a Low/High speed AutoX. Most National level SCCA events are 70ish or less.
And take it from somebody who ran Stock Cars and Open Wheels for 5 years, it's a lot harder than it looks and takes a lot of skill to be good at it.
And take it from somebody who ran Stock Cars and Open Wheels for 5 years, it's a lot harder than it looks and takes a lot of skill to be good at it.
12-29-2007, 08:43 PM
#14
Safety Car
According to your profile your name is Justin. Justin has been a popular male name for less than 30 years. Odds are in my favor therefore that John has been traveling at high rates of speed, on land or water, for greater than 30 years - or your age.
That was the bet as stated in the above post. Friendly bet.
Now, if I was betting against an unknown driver that would be a different story with different odds.
12-29-2007, 11:50 PM
#15
Melting Slicks
..................
12-30-2007, 12:45 AM
#16
Burning Brakes
why so angry??? i can out run just about anyone on a track but cant even remember outside, inside, around,then inside ,outside,,,, long enuf to get through the cones let alone do it fast..
Last edited by TRACKMAN2; 12-30-2007 at 12:50 AM.
:
12-30-2007, 06:56 AM
#18
Le Mans Master
Pueblo.. I am guessing.. the back side isn't much faster than an autocross
For the ****-definition types: Autocross is defined as a slow-speed precision driving competition. For the SCCA, speeds for the fastest stock and street prepared cars should not generally go above 65mph.
That all being said, the most scared I have been in a car was at an Autocross.. in a Honda.. slaloming at 94mph. Hitting more than 190 at Daytona didn't scare me that much. Speed, gears and mph are realitive.
Then we can go on and talk about the list of pro drivers who have come up through autocross.. (and many of the guys listed on the "whos fast" thread on this very forum..)
Jon K
For the ****-definition types: Autocross is defined as a slow-speed precision driving competition. For the SCCA, speeds for the fastest stock and street prepared cars should not generally go above 65mph.
That all being said, the most scared I have been in a car was at an Autocross.. in a Honda.. slaloming at 94mph. Hitting more than 190 at Daytona didn't scare me that much. Speed, gears and mph are realitive.
Then we can go on and talk about the list of pro drivers who have come up through autocross.. (and many of the guys listed on the "whos fast" thread on this very forum..)
Jon K
The only downside I see is the seat time is almost always limited to 3-5 runs a day - but it is cheaper than track events - normally. I rarely autoX anymore - I also rarely drag race anymore either -
Jon scared, right
12-30-2007, 09:03 AM
#19
Team Owner
Hopefully not a reflection on the people here but the few times I've been to an Auto-X the people there are a bit...different?
They seem to be a strange group here in Michigan...lot of arguing, whining, complaining and general insanity at the few events I went to.
The people kept me from going back, not the events themselves.
My absolute favorite and hilarious 'race' story was when I went to an Auto-X not too far from the house. There was a guy there, HUGE chip on his shoulder about his new super duper go kart he just bought. Of course he had all the stuff on looked like he was ready to hop in an F1 car and go beat everyones records.
I don't know exactly what the deal was or if there is somekind of unlimited class but it was a 500cc, or so he said, kart. Guy never had been in one on a track.
He turns the first corner and its about a 75ft straightaway. Nails the gas, gets through a gear and the acceleration was phenomenal. I've owned a 700hp car before and don't think it accelerated like this thing did....he about crapped himself, totally forgot to turn and went blasting through the cones at the end of the straight and on for another 350 ft before he realized what had happened. It was priceless.
Auto-X are here is very cliquey. Your expect to know everything there is to know.
A guy I used to work with, no longer with us thankfully, I think he is a climate control engineer for Ford now. Guy was a complete tool...at this very safe auto-X after donning his gloves, cleaning off his tires NHRA style at the starting line, then promptly stalling the car
Before that however Spectrewerks brought a customers car up there. C5, all the bells and whistles. They pull in and start to drive through the lot, not where near the track area. Nothing is labeled, no signs and they are tooling around at about 3mph looking where to go. The same guy as above jumps out in front of the car, burger in hand and starts screaming at them that they are going the wrong way. Mouth full of food and making a complete fool of himself. The guys in the C5 were decent, just looking where to park, they also showed an amazing amount of restraint.
I had enough at that point and went home, that was in 2003.
They seem to be a strange group here in Michigan...lot of arguing, whining, complaining and general insanity at the few events I went to.
The people kept me from going back, not the events themselves.
My absolute favorite and hilarious 'race' story was when I went to an Auto-X not too far from the house. There was a guy there, HUGE chip on his shoulder about his new super duper go kart he just bought. Of course he had all the stuff on looked like he was ready to hop in an F1 car and go beat everyones records.
I don't know exactly what the deal was or if there is somekind of unlimited class but it was a 500cc, or so he said, kart. Guy never had been in one on a track.
He turns the first corner and its about a 75ft straightaway. Nails the gas, gets through a gear and the acceleration was phenomenal. I've owned a 700hp car before and don't think it accelerated like this thing did....he about crapped himself, totally forgot to turn and went blasting through the cones at the end of the straight and on for another 350 ft before he realized what had happened. It was priceless.
Auto-X are here is very cliquey. Your expect to know everything there is to know.
A guy I used to work with, no longer with us thankfully, I think he is a climate control engineer for Ford now. Guy was a complete tool...at this very safe auto-X after donning his gloves, cleaning off his tires NHRA style at the starting line, then promptly stalling the car
Before that however Spectrewerks brought a customers car up there. C5, all the bells and whistles. They pull in and start to drive through the lot, not where near the track area. Nothing is labeled, no signs and they are tooling around at about 3mph looking where to go. The same guy as above jumps out in front of the car, burger in hand and starts screaming at them that they are going the wrong way. Mouth full of food and making a complete fool of himself. The guys in the C5 were decent, just looking where to park, they also showed an amazing amount of restraint.
I had enough at that point and went home, that was in 2003.
12-30-2007, 10:22 AM
#20
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Autocross teaches you many good things about car handling and stiction. As Jon says it can also get you scared when you spin it towards a light pole. It is lessons easily applied to road racing.
The only downside I see is the seat time is almost always limited to 3-5 runs a day - but it is cheaper than track events - normally. I rarely autoX anymore - I also rarely drag race anymore either -
Jon scared, right
The only downside I see is the seat time is almost always limited to 3-5 runs a day - but it is cheaper than track events - normally. I rarely autoX anymore - I also rarely drag race anymore either -
Jon scared, right
I was running 110' spaced slaloms and offsets in the mid 90s.. the finish was a set of stair stepped gates where I was sliding through the chute in a car with no cage at 94mph..
Interestingly enough, an SCCA national tour autocross there was protested for being "too fast" and the protest was upheld.
As far as the limited SeatTime thing.. that's actually one of the things I like about it. No place will teach you to be ready faster and get things right as early as autocrossing. I feel like in my few pro experiences with limited practice time, and certainly One Lap of America, my autocrossing helps out in spades.
Hopefully not a reflection on the people here but the few times I've been to an Auto-X the people there are a bit...different?
They seem to be a strange group here in Michigan...lot of arguing, whining, complaining and general insanity at the few events I went to.
The people kept me from going back, not the events themselves......
Auto-X are here is very cliquey. Your expect to know everything there is to know.
They seem to be a strange group here in Michigan...lot of arguing, whining, complaining and general insanity at the few events I went to.
The people kept me from going back, not the events themselves......
Auto-X are here is very cliquey. Your expect to know everything there is to know.
In South Carolina, we assign people to help walk a novice through the day, we give a relaxed atmosphere, run a pro class for the "fast guys" so that the guys without the experience and top equipment can still fight for class wins. We can't put our finger on it, but we don't have the clique-type issues. (And as a byproduct, we have a lot of girls that autocross with us.. 20 out of 100 of our regulars are girls that run each event, compete for championships, etc..)
When I go to out of region events with strong cliques, I just do the right thing - focus on beating them by as much as possible. Events with good guys - North New Jersey region comes to mind - I usually end up working timing or helping with course design..
Jon K