Trys_Hard

Been lots of discussion of Autox vs RR on the SoCal SERCA list on the convention topic. I have been relatively vocal in it myself. Since there are more autocrossers here, most have been RR off the list in SoCal, I am going to cross post my last comment on the subject to see what you people think? Am I right?

Its just for discussion.

Every time this topic comes up it becomes heated and turns into a
mugging of the autocrossers because most of the SE-R autocrossers
have given up on this list anyway or just keep their mouths shut
because they've been there and done that already(put me there). This
list has become the personal message board for the SOW gang. Now
lots of good stuff does happen on this list but you have to filter it
all the time. I actually kind of like it and even with Boonie's,
Terrin's, and CAG's off color comments included it gives that hommie
feeling, except when I'm being mugged for all the wrong reasons.

My posts have never been that autocrossing is better than road
racing. If you read back you will find that I usually only post
opportunities for SERCA members to autocross. RR and AX don't have
to be mutually exclusive. In fact AX's happen so often that you can
usually do quite a bit of both if you want and many I mean many
dedicated autox'rs RR quite frequently, at HDPE's and SOLO1's which
is considered Autocrossing but is more like HDPE's but timed. In
fact we are trying to get the SOLO I program restarted.

But the people who get serious about the each sport have different
types of personalities. Now I'm talking about SCCA Solo II and the
Track day types not the SE-R Cup drivers, or other WW types as they
are different in their own way. This is just my observations over
the last three years but Autox'rs tend to be more intense and detail
oriented and more into measured goals, and tangible results that put
everything into it's nice neat place. Our events are much more
structured, they happen every month, there are large numbers of
drivers often 250 plus. There are national level events happening all
the time, it's Big Time Like Racing but on a lower scale of
commitment for some.

Oh yeah we are competitive, not in your normal sense, but in a sick
sort of way. You will hear many autocrossers say they are just
looking for improvement, but you won't hear that from the serious
types, we hate losing by even .001sec. Losing is losing and if you
don't come in first what's the point.

This leads to the intensity level. We dig the high octane short
duration intense concentration of an autocross run. If you road
raced with the same level of concentration required to make the
perfect autox run you would wear out very quickly. At the top levels
of RR this is nescessary also but once again in spurts not for your
entire competitive time on the track. I personally have a short
attention span, I can never complete the endurance courses in Gran
Turismo, I keep losing my concentration once I get out front and end
up doing something stupid.

Unfortunately this takes a lot of time, and serious autocrossers are
often spending hours at the site for just a few minutes of track time.

But for everyone one of those people (and we are very thankful for
them) there are 10 drivers who come out, walk the course go to
breakfast, come back work their 45 min session and get their runs,
pick up their trophy from the previous event, talk to their friends
they see every month for a while, and then go home, usually just a
couple of fun hours once a month with some spice thrown in. For most
this is the attraction of Autocross, its the competition and the
friends you make. That's probably why Clay hasn't autocrossed here
much in SoCal because that connection he made with his family was
missing in the big regions. Unfortunate, but he just didn't meet the
right people, hopefully he'll give it another chance.

The track day only people, like most of the SoCal SERCA members are
less structured, and more car oriented. Naturally since this is
about SE-R's (even those SPEC V's I suppose) They are typically
younger or younger thinking, and like to get their fix's in large
doses but less frequently. You are more likely to hear them talk
about how fast their car was today rather than how fast they were.
Both types though will blame their car if they don't go fast! lol

I really can't say a lot more because I never have the time to go to
a track day. Competing at the National level is very time consuming
as is any structured form of competition. The track days almost
always conflict with autocross events in which I'm competing for year
end awards and because we have 4 of the Top Ten Drivers in the Nation
in my class (I'm not one of them nor is Matt) locally, I can't afford
to miss one event or practice.

But the point I've been trying to make, as is Matt in his own way, is
that Autox can be a viable alternative to track days to hone your
skills so that we you do get your track days in they will be even
better. Mike K even would agree that any time on the track is better
than no time and seat time no matter what type will make you better.

So for a $20 points card you get a number and the right to come out
to any of the 13 annual events and get some seat time for $20 per
event, and do the 12 other practice days held which give you even
more seat time or the three schools 1 ladies and two open. And if
you think this won't make you faster when you are out a SOW, I sorry
you are wrong and not thinking clearly.

One more thing, Mike K I disagree with you about which is better for
accident avoidance on the street. How often do you go 100 mph on the
street? If you do it often you are an idiot and likely to kill
someone else. Autocross speeds are limited to Hiway speeds which is
more typical to street driving and require precise, brake and
steering control. And when I mean steering control I mean putting
your car within 1" or less of the apex cone at 30 mph while setting
up for a cross turn. Just like braking and swerving in a real life
situation. To say otherwise is just delusional. If RR was better
why do all the Police driver training and other schools use autocross
type courses for teaching. Track Days are good for practice for
racing on a track, though any type of racing I feel is good
experience for the street, autocrossing by far is more applicable.

Sorry for the article, but I had too. I will continue to try get you
guys out to an autocross, and I plan on being there for the Track Day
at the convention and if you need some help I will do what I can.
Plus being the competitive SOB that I am, I want to show you what a
prepared STS SE-R can do and also a somewhat less prepared
autocrosser.