Autocross dying in enthusiast-rich area

On the upside I don't think the new stadium to move the chargers is going to happen super soon. The Q is a fun venue I like that it isn't flat but the chunking pavement kind of sucks

Storz wrote: I used to love autocross, but eventually standing around all day for 5 minutes of driving got old and I stopped doing it. I think the most fun I've had behind the wheel is doing a TSD Rally.

The last time I went it was over 100 degrees at 7PM (night autocross) I was in the last grouping when went I went my car overheated lol. Standing around in that heat for what was probably at least a couple hours running after cones was not fun.

All you people griping about the pro stadium lots. Our two venues are the worn out and gravelly parking lots of the local high school football stadiums.

Or maybe if you other states took football more seriously there's be a lot more venues open for you

Luke: I imagine that there's lots of motorsports where you live. You just need knobby tires to take part!

Storz wrote: I used to love autocross, but eventually standing around all day for 5 minutes of driving got old and I stopped doing it. I think the most fun I've had behind the wheel is doing a TSD Rally.

That's also the reason why a lot of people don't like SCCA type races and go with the privateers. Many of those involve so much driving that people stop because they are getting TOO much driving time. 10-20 runs are not uncommon in a properly setup AutoX (practice style).

Storz wrote: I used to love autocross, but eventually standing around all day for 5 minutes of driving got old and I stopped doing it.

This sums it up for me. It seems as AutoX has declined track days (and tracks) have increased. I hope to get to a track day later this year with one of my cars. I hope to never go to an autox again in any car, ever, even as a spectator.

aircooled wrote:

Storz wrote: I used to love autocross, but eventually standing around all day for 5 minutes of driving got old and I stopped doing it. I think the most fun I've had behind the wheel is doing a TSD Rally.

That's also the reason why a lot of people don't like SCCA type races and go with the privateers. Many of those involve so much driving that people stop because they are getting TOO much driving time. 10-20 runs are not uncommon in a properly setup AutoX (practice style).

These are the only kinds I like going to. Towards the end of the day you can almost just run and line right back up if you want since everyone is so tired and parked their cars.

B. Choate wrote: GGF's asphalt is more appropriate for Rallycross

so.....organize a rallycross?

If it ~is~ racing, why do people bitch about an hour drive for a 1/2 day event that's like $40 + tire wear? My kind of racing, which is generally agreed to be "racing" 'cause it's called "racing" entails between 1-1/3 to 8 hours drive to the track where one spends between 2 and 4 days on an event, and each costs an autocross season.

I thought that living in Oklahoam city left no options for autocross but our venue is pretty much guaranteed for a while. Guess we are lucky.

Fueled by Caffeine wrote: you should be so lucky that you live in such a motorsports centered area of the world. The race tracks and rallies held in CA are incredible. The off road ability is awesome.

California is huge. Just because all of these events are in the geographical area called "California" doesn't mean that anyone lives in a motorsports centered area here. The events and venues here are spread as thin as the east coast. We just don't cross a state boundary to get to them.

kanaric wrote: Ya they have Laguna Seca AND Thunderhill nearby. By me what do I have? Spring Mountain

Laguna Seca is as far from Thunderhill as you are from Willow Springs.

Spring Mountain is closer to you than any track is to Los Angeles.

I used to drive 1.5 hours each way to auto-x. By the time I got home it was a 13-14 hour day. All for less than 8 minutes of seat time.

I no longer auto-x.

I guess maybe I ought to join the PCA, they do a fair number of events around here and the ones I have met are pretty damn cool. Guy who rode with me the first time I ever autocrossed was there in a really ratty 914, and apparently has a Carrera GT. I will definitely get more out of a membership with those guys than the SCCA. I ought to get the 914 out more anyway

The autocross by me has the problem of running on practically zero budget, and having to choose between a track that's now too upscale for us (best we could do is split a $500/day charge with a karting group, and that's still over-budget) and trying to get the use of other locations which are disappearing (right now we're using an old sugar factory that's scheduled for demolition in a few months) or impossible to use (a garbage truck parking lot that's the biggest patch of pavement here aside from the airport...and is practically never available).

In reply to GameboyRMH:

In Philly, we don't have a budget problem, but we definitely have a venue problem. It's frustrating that in an area as large as the Philadelphia metro area, there are so few lots suitable for an autocross event.

Regardless how you feel about seat time and standing around, finding suitable venues for autocross is getting harder and harder, and it seems to be an issue nationally.

Maybe it's time for autotest events in the USA:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Rhz19ZrpZg

I always get a kick out of the end of this one.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/VJrEJb0HaeY

I quit a couple years ago.

Got tired of constantly having to fight for a venue to get the usual "10 minutes of driving".

Too many NIMBYs that scream about getting kids to stop street racing but dislike the solution to that problem.

Even when it's at an airport and the neighbours are ok with airport noise but not car noise.

Not even worth the trouble. Buy a motorcycle and have fun on any road.

I would never ride a bike on the street, it is bad enough in a miata

In reply to Toebra:

I see where the confusion is coming from. It's a common problem with Miata owners.

This is not a motorcycle:

THIS is a motorcycle:

Trans_Maro wrote: I quit a couple years ago. Got tired of constantly having to fight for a venue to get the usual "10 minutes of driving". Too many NIMBYs that scream about getting kids to stop street racing but dislike the solution to that problem. Even when it's at an airport and the neighbours are ok with airport noise but not car noise. Not even worth the trouble. Buy a motorcycle and have fun on any road.

I wonder how many of those people bloviate about how they're about freedom.

In reply to wbjones: I live near Jacksonville.

Trouble is not with the scoot, it is with the cagers who can't seem to pay attention to their primary task, driving.

I really like my brother's Speed Triple, a lot, better than his old Honda, which was also very all right.