I showed up at the NCC BMW autocross in Manassas on 7/17 telling myself that I’d be happy so long as I stayed on course and improved my time each run. I’d never before been to an autocross. After seeing the course, I was pretty sure that just staying on course would be enough of an accomplishment. I showed up with a driving style finely honed in rush hour stop-and-go traffic, a few random go-kart experiences over the past 32 years, one Mazda Rev-It-Up and countless hours of seat time in front of my TV playing GT3 on my PS2. I had a friend take pictures. There’s one picture where it looks like I’m cruising down Sunset Strip wearing a helmet trying to pick up chicks. My left hand is at twelve o’clock and the right is nowhere to be seen. I’m guessing that my technique could be improved. I squished a sweaty loaner helmet onto my nugget, forgot to turn off my ASC (might have been a GOOD thing), overdrove a few corners, missed a gate on each of my first two runs, all the while doing my best bat-outta-hell impersonation.

The result: I placed second in PSS with a 52.2XX sec third run. John V beat me like I stole something… so did most of the modified drivers and a few other class winners. I was a little slower on my fourth run. Like I said, I missed a gate on each of my first two runs (Heat 1 was insane), but all of my runs were pretty consistent (52-53 second range). The gate I skipped on the first two runs actually made the next turn a little harder. All was dandy and I was stoked… until Monday morning.

As it turns out, I was lying. I’ll admit it - the truth is that I can’t stand losing at anything. I want to be fast. Check that, I need to be fast. I feel like I left a bunch of time out on the course and it’s killing me. I know that I wasn’t smooth. I know that I overdrove some corners. I know that my form is terrible. I know that there are things that I’m doing wrong that I don’t even realize. I figure that the vast majority of why I got beat is me – not my car. I’m obsessed with becoming a good autocrosser after just one event.

I wish I had been able to stick around, but I had to leave in the middle of Heat 2. Consequently, I missed most of the fast runs. I think I really need somebody fast to ride along with me. I also need to find somebody fast who wouldn’t mind a tagalong for a run or two. That, picking some brains during the breaks, and maybe the August 7 autocross school should help pacify my obsession. I got some good advice from the forum prior to the event, but didn’t end up talking to very many people from the forum once I got to the event. If they made everybody tattoo their internet alias/real name on their forehead, I might have done a better job. I now regret not setting up some ridealongs. I’ll definitely be back at the next autocross in late August, so I figured I start trying to convince one of you Jedi Masters that it would be a good idea to risk your life in my passenger seat or haul 190 pounds of dead weight around in yours. Any volunteers?

Chris P

haha, no ones going to read that.

:dunno sparknotes?

Hahahahaha! Another victim!

I was the one driving Glenn's silver E36 M3 with the SSR Comps on them (the one that was stickerless-not like Doby's) in the first half of the second heat. I vaguely remember your car. I'm not the fastest driver in the group-that goes to Glenn, Bud, Doby and John V for sure, but if you can't find them I'd be willing to take you along or ride along with you.

That is a very good time for your first time out!

I was pretty psyched about my time until I remembered that Glenn, Doby, Bud and Austin hadn't run yet. :laugh

Glad you enjoyed your first autox!!! Hope to see you out there more!

Jed. Watching how smooth your runs looked really made me realize how not smooth I was.

If you remember the Estoril M3/4 (last car in the second half of Heat 1), that was me.

Jed. Watching how smooth your runs looked really made me realize how not smooth I was.

If you remember the Estoril M3/4 (last car in the second half of Heat 1), that was me.

Thanks. Funny thing is that the last 2 autoxes I did, I ran hungover-having gone drinking the previous night and drove okay. I was supposed to meet Lactomaniac at the OM mall and he had to call me-"Oh crap! what time is it???"

Maybe that's my secret???? :az:

Okay, I remember the Estoril M3/4 now.

Jed. Watching how smooth your runs looked really made me realize how not smooth I was.

If you remember the Estoril M3/4 (last car in the second half of Heat 1), that was me.

Addicting isnt it? if you want to get better, there are also other autox's than BMW that you can attend. Although the CCA guys are by far the most to hang around.
There is going to be one at Rosecroft on august 1st.... registration is closed tho... waitlist for now.
AutoX school coming up?
A WDCR SCCA even in August 8th registration opens Sunday at 8:00pm on Sunday for that on autocrossers.org
There is also the BMW CCA autox in August
SAAB club is also hosting an autox through the SCCA also... dunno that date, or if its open registration.
I think you can plan on at leat two events per month, which is better.



well, here is the schedule.
August 1st - SESCA Pylon Python @ Rosecroft (waitlisted)
August 7th - BMW CCA autox school... not sure about this yet.. postponed?
August 8th - WDCR SCCA autox @ FedEx (registration opens Sunday @ 8:00pm on autocrossers.org)
August 15th - Washington Area SAAB club @ Rosecroft (can't register yet)
August 28th - BMW CCA autox @ Manassas Park H.S.
August 29th - Crossroadracing.com autox. @ Rosecroft (can't register yet)


There, that is one even every weekend next month. :D

Thanks. Funny thing is that the last 2 autoxes I did, I ran hungover-having gone drinking the previous night and drove okay. I was supposed to meet Lactomaniac at the OM mall and he had to call me-"Oh crap! what time is it???"

Maybe that's my secret???? :az:

Okay, I remember the Estoril M3/4 now.

Your reflexes are too fast for the cars, you need a hangover to dumb them down a little. :stickoutt

I was supposed to meet Lactomaniac at the OM mall and he had to call me-"Oh crap! what time is it???"

haha. dont worry about that, you gave me so much advice and i appreciate you riding with me :)

Any volunteers?

Chris P

I definitely will ride along with you. I have the only yellow E36 that competes, so just come find me... I'm usually walking around getting made fun of by Doby.

John

The NCC autocross school is canceled at this time unfortunately.

However, I am coordinating with Brian [Garfield] to set one or two weekday schools. If any of you are interested, e-mail me please.

The NCC autocross school is canceled at this time unfortunately.

:(

Gee thanks Chris ... make me feel like shit since I placed third behind you and it was your first time out :( ... calling yourself slow makes me feel even slower now :( ... that's okay though, I know it's the driver ... rafael ripped a 51.140 in his first time driving the car :help ... He thought he could get it into the low 50's high 49's with more seat time ...

IT's encouraging though ... just need to work more on the driver :)

Gee thanks Chris ... make me feel like shit since I placed third behind you and it was your first time out :( ... calling yourself slow makes me feel even slower now :( ... that's okay though, I know it's the driver ... rafael ripped a 51.140 in his first time driving the car :help ... He thought he could get it into the low 50's high 49's with more seat time ...

IT's encouraging though ... just need to work more on the driver :)

James-

Don't get down on yourself. I remember you drove pretty well at that Philly SCCA event at Ripken. This stuff is definitely not easy-after a couple of years, I just started getting smoother. I used to make the mistake of trying to go all out on each run. I don't know if this is an issue for you, but track time used to goof me up on the autox a lot.

Don't worry about Rafael outdriving you-he's got a lot of experience. You'll get there, man. :)

I'm usually walking around getting made fun of by Doby.


What? You too? I can't stand that guy's sense of humor!!!!! :mad:

I definitely will ride along with you. I have the only yellow E36 that competes, so just come find me... I'm usually walking around getting made fun of by Doby.

John

John and Jed, thanks for the offers. I'll try to catch up with you guys closer to the event, but I really appreciate the help. I can't wait for John to teach me how to drive on two wheels like the Duke Boys.

The NCC autocross school is canceled at this time unfortunately.

However, I am coordinating with Brian [Garfield] to set one or two weekday schools. If any of you are interested, e-mail me please.

:( Boo.


Gee thanks Chris ... make me feel like shit since I placed third behind you and it was your first time out :( ... calling yourself slow makes me feel even slower now :( ... that's okay though, I know it's the driver ... rafael ripped a 51.140 in his first time driving the car :help ... He thought he could get it into the low 50's high 49's with more seat time ...

IT's encouraging though ... just need to work more on the driver :)

James, was that you in the Phoenix Yellow E46 M3? I think I remember reading a thread of yours in the autox forum a while back about being frustrated about your progress. I'm just intensely self critical, moreso than anybody else could ever be towards me. It's how I derive motivation. If I went out and beat everybody by five seconds, I'd still be mad at myself that I didn't win by six with my eyes closed. That said, we both have a long way to go before we can keep John company at the top of PSS. He drives on half as many wheels and still beats us by three seconds. :eek:

That said, we both have a long way to go before we can keep John company at the top of PSS. He drives on half as many wheels and still beats us by three seconds. :eek:

I drive on stickies, and have "a couple" years more experience. Same with Raf.

No worries, if you guys stick with it you will all get very fast. Some people pick it up faster than others (coughDobyGlenncough)

John