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In Reply to: Sadly, I was at a wedding all weekend, boo hoo posted by Mike Zamarocy on June 05, 2000 at 01:28:36:
In roadracing, however, I think it is much harder to get to the point where you're really pushing the car and yourself to the same limit as you can in auto-x. The required roadrace speeds are so high that your brain goes into self-preservation mode and governs your activity. At just below the limit roadracing feels like a fast mountain road drive, with a few scary bits. But, after now riding along in some fast cars, with way better drivers, what I'm finding is they are just as busy as an auto-x'r, at speeds 3-4 times as fast! I think it takes way longer to get to that point, and requires you tame your own survival instincts to get there (somehow the idea of messing up at 160 mph just makes my skin crawl). At race speeds, roadrace cars are at the limit of adhesion at almost every point of the track. These guys are full-on, just like auto-x. Two elements that also enter the picture are (excluding traffic): 1.) Roadracing is done lap after lap, so you can develop a pace that can help you go even faster (further pushing the limits) as the race progresses 2.) Because roadraces are done over many laps, rather than single passes, endurance becomes a serious issue, both physical and mental. Of course in auto-x, you've got to think quickly and be fast with very little input....
I believe they both offer a great deal of challenge and have a lot of respect for those that do well in either. Further, I think they both are the most exciting and most interesting forms of racing. Turning left and right, negotiating a variety of turning conditions, with various radiuses and combinations. Circle tracks and drag strips juts don't hold a candle to the twisty stuff!
What a gas! I am hooked, now I just have to find the venue to pursue. Auto-x (Solo 2), Road course (Solo 1), BMW CCA club racing, SCCA club racing, maybe go-karts (cheap and fast).... Auto-x has one huge advantage in that it requires no roll bar or other major safety mods. Roadracing requires safety mods to the car, and is way harder on equipment over time. Also, a mistake in an auto-x wipes out a string of cones and you feel silly. A mistake on most road courses can destroy a car, if not mess you up. But the speed is so intense! Decisions, decisions....
In the meantime, gotta keep learning and driving. Next is the private gig at Buttonwillow on June 12 that Jordan A. is running. This is going to be a great experience! Until I feel confident that I really know what I'm doing, I don't need to make any decisions about competition.
: And I am not crying about the wedding, but because I missed this event!
: Good you guys had FUN! But now Kevin, you HAVE learned that an AutoX is harder than a track event :) On the track, the turns are more high speed, smoother, and you can get a rhythum going when doing laps. At an AutoX, as you said, you SEEN DA LIGHT as far as the tail goes! Go in too hot - understeer, let off the throttle too fast and hard to compensate - sudden and massive oversteer. I still have yet to master this (as well as the gas pedal being an ON/OFF switch, ha ha).
: Mr M is coming along, that is for sure! He got hooked by just one event - the Ultimate Street Car Challenge awhile back, and has been having FUN ever since! Can't wait till I can see him at a track event with that AWESOME car of his! But I think he would get even better times with GeForce KD's or RE71's on his car.
: As for the mods, yep - the springs would pop you out of SS class. We don't get to play with all the "goodies" in stock class, but then so do the others as well in stock. I just wish that they made the "R" tires into a separate class instead of the street tires being so.
: As for the RX3, I am SURE that was Tom Berry! He is ass kicking in that car at the Nationals! He also has his kids racing Go-Karts in AutoX as well - a real FAMILY affair!
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