Today was my first Solo cross event.
I've been driving on roads for over 20 years and consider my self a compliment driver. I have never had a wreck. Only avoided them. ( sometimes just barely)

I say that because I was beaten in my own car by my friend Chris that has banged and torn up every car he has ever owned. (His first time racing too.) And I practically dragged him there. He was two places above me in the c street prepared novice class. I was dead last... for the day.
I had been expecting to do much better than I did. I have driven and owned this car for 8 years. recently i completely rebuilt the suspension. I know my car intimately. Not that I have had sex with my car but you get the idea.

I also thought that working the track the first of three groups, and driving the last, that I would gain knowledge of the course by watching the other drivers. Well, what i saw and what was happening in the car were different. The course looked faster than what you could drive it. The parking lot was coming apart, wet, cold and gritty.
I would under steer in the sharp corners but Chris would oversteer.

I was over confident in both me and my car. I did not have time to fully test it before running the new suspension and brake setup. I literally had it back together yesterday at 5:00.

However, I had a great time. so did Chris. I made a few new connections and possibly some new friends too. I got to play with one of my toys. And to top it off. My wife enjoyed herself too despite the cold and wind.
It was a really good day!

 

Borrowed cars are always faster. I bet your familiarity with your car made you over drive the course. Slow down going into the turns and you'll go faster.

You are doomed to standing on hot parking lots on Sundays for a few minutes fun, Enjoy!

 

"Not that I have had sex with my car but you get the idea. " Hilarious. You know what they say, It's not how fast you drive, its how you drive fast.

 

True, it does seem easier to win in somebody else's car. Probably, as stated, you are just much more careful with a new ride. But then there's the opposite too. I let a friend drive my car once, and he swore up and down that it handled like ****. I ran the following group and won the class, beating his times by a very large margin. But I also beat him in his car on the same day.

Here's a link to an article I'm putting together on autocrossing RX7s: http://www.iwankel.com/index.php?opt...tid=4&id=10#26 It isn't finished, and might never be, but there may be a few gems in there for you.

Welcome to your new addiction.








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