<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Son Of Skyline:
If you're new to racing, then don't count out those cones just yet!
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Yes, I totally agree. You'd be amazed at how many top road racers started out in Solo. Neal Sapp, Jeff Altenburg, John Heinrecy, and lots more. And these three continue to return to solo many times a year (I worked timing with Heinrecy a few weeks ago at a solo).
I personally can say that the first time I put my car on a road course was after 4 full seasons of autocross. I wasn't intimidated at all by the track, the speeds, or my own car. I felt totally in control of the car at all times. I could hit apexes, brake smoothly, and never came close to losing control. And yes, I was fast, too. =)
I do about 20 autocrosses a year, but have only been on a road course twice. This year's convention I was one of the fastest cars in my group (advanced, but not instructors) despite having the least prepared car out there, just a stock 200. I was passing cars with full suspensions and engine work. But those drivers hadn't done as much autocross, nor had enough track experience to make up for it.
Autocross is cheap and very abundant. You can run an autocross for $15 an event (cheap!).
Get as much seat time as you can and never accept losing no matter what the competition is driving or may have done to their car. Autocross is at least 80% driver skill, only 20% car.
After a while autocrossing (at least 10-20 events), you'll feel more comfortable about spending thousands of dollars to road race or rally.
BTW, are you a student? Do you know how much it costs to Rally? Each Pro Rally costs about $3K-$8K per event after adding up all the costs (car, entry, crew, hotel, etc..). Club Rally is probably only 1/2 that.
-Larry MacLeod
'96 SE-R in ES
[This message has been edited by SERCA96 (edited 09-28-2001).]