Demographics at the autocross

Photo album on the book of faces (no account needed)

We had a Tesla Model S, a cool lady celebrating her 80th birthday in a retro Thunderbird, a paraplegic in a Mazda5, and a Formula SAE car, among others. 84 drivers, 8 runs each.

Good times!

Great shots! What an eclectic mix. Photos solidify my desire for an old 911.

Still, the ratty Datsun Z is my favourite. (Also, no Javelin?)

About the oddest thing we get are a rather good contingent of Corvairs.

Luke wrote: Still, the ratty Datsun Z is my favourite.

That is cool

this is nice, too

Wahappen to the SAE car? The gallery makes it look like it got doused with extinguisher twice... Super-short wheel base on that thing.. makes me wonder if you could rear-end yourself if you turn too fast.

cwaters wrote: Super-short wheel base on that thing.. makes me wonder if you could rear-end yourself if you turn too fast.

Nah, you'll just spend a lot of time spinning in circles

Love the Mazda5 and the Thunderbird. I have always said that a lame car on the course is 10 times better than a cool car on the sidelines. (Not that either are lame, it's just a saying)

yamaha wrote: About the oddest thing we get are a rather good contingent of Corvairs.

Lol I was like "sounds like Indy" then noticed who posted it.

Looks like a great event.. I am sad I had to miss out.. :( I was trying to make my way down there for that event..

That's always been one of the great things about autocross, a huge variety of cars! People from any car community can come together and have a fun day of driving, no matter what they are in.

In reply to Luke:

I co-drive the Irish Green 914.

cwaters wrote: Wahappen to the SAE car? The gallery makes it look like it got doused with extinguisher twice... Super-short wheel base on that thing.. makes me wonder if you could rear-end yourself if you turn too fast.

That was a really, really sad situation. One of the drivers looped it in the slalom and their low hanging oil cooler got punctured in a gravel hole off course. He continued on, dumping oil on the racing line, until the engine seized. He got out and the thing just lit up into a good-size fire. I ran 100+ yards to it from the timing trailer with a 30# extinguisher because the corner worker 3 feet away got zoned out. We both got the extinguishers (dry chem) on there at the same time. It cooked the shoulder harnesses even. Nobody got hurt, but I understand that their Michigan competition was next weekend.

In reply to JoeyM:

You guys would love the LS1-swapped red 240Z of my buddy Stephen. He wasn't there this week, but if you go look at the album for Event #1 you'll find it.

This one has some sort of a swap and a ton of mods, Sounds wicked and goes pretty well, too!

I was in love with the purple color of the 5!

For Ben. It has a seriously built KZ. He's usually in the trophies in our unlimited non-Porsche class.

moparman76_69 wrote:

yamaha wrote: About the oddest thing we get are a rather good contingent of Corvairs.

Lol I was like "sounds like Indy" then noticed who posted it.

I can't hate the Leveques, they're awesome guys to watch run and chat with. Plus they live up my way.

Luke wrote: Great shots! What an eclectic mix. Photos solidify my desire for an old 911. Still, the ratty Datsun Z is my favourite. (Also, no Javelin?)

Love the Z too. If that one is ratty then mine is REALLY struggling.

In reply to Javelin:

did you nut-punch the FSAE kid for mucking up the line after an off-course?

The weather cooperated too it looks like. I will make it to one of these soon! Great club, great group of folks! J

Is There a Schedule posted somewhere? Last time I checked I could not find it.

Javelin wrote: That was a really, *really* sad situation. One of the drivers looped it in the slalom and their low hanging oil cooler got punctured in a gravel hole off course. He continued on, dumping oil on the racing line, until the engine seized. He got out and the thing just lit up into a good-size fire. I ran 100+ yards to it from the timing trailer with a 30# extinguisher because the corner worker 3 feet away got zoned out. We both got the extinguishers (dry chem) on there at the same time. It cooked the shoulder harnesses even. Nobody got hurt, but I understand that their Michigan competition was next weekend.

Yeah, it's Portland State (Viking Motorsports). They still plan on going to Michigan, they've already found the culprit (oil seal failed and poured oil on their headers and rear tires, causing the spin) and are inspecting everything and all the wiring after all the dry-chem. Comp starts May 8th, they'll have a running car by then. FSAE kids are dedicated, I have heard stories of teams working on the frikkin' car in the trailer on the way to comp.

Here's their facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VikingMotorsports

Just got an email, there is another autocross this weekend, and I can't go; helping a friend put a roof on his house. I notice that Javelin must have had "sucker" on his forehead, he seems to have taken over for the previous autocross director type person. Congrats!? J

Javelin wrote: For Ben. It has a seriously built KZ. He's usually in the trophies in our unlimited non-Porsche class.

Thats my friend mark. Its a stock klze motor swap with a ciuple bot ons. The car is impressive thought he has gone to a lot of work to install a lot of ultra rare jdm options on the car.

Hopefully I will be able make it down for one of your events this summer.

bgkast wrote: Is There a Schedule posted somewhere? Last time I checked I could not find it.

http://www.oregonpca.org/events/autocross/schedule/

In reply to Jcamper:

Yes, I am the sucker now. I'm not in charge, I'm just the registrar, but holy heck it is hard to run events! We have 43 preregistered for Sunday. Next event is 6/28. 8 runs guaranteed, $40 for non-members if you preregister online.

Disclaimer: This is sarcasm coming up! Hmm your title confused me. I thought this was going to be about all the oddballs and pricks that attend these events. They instantly judge you based on what kind of car you drive and believe you embody every stereotype associated with your vehicle unless you own the exact same make and model they have then they are instantly your best bud. They are usually late 20s to early 40s, not exactly in the best of physical shape, and often smell like rearend fluid. You have your occasional teen and college kid with a ziptied together car or dads mid-life crisis mobile or the old fart with his mid-life crisis mobile co-driving with his son/daughter. Then there is the regional hot shot, could be a pro-driver in some form, unsure of their sexuality (remember this is sarcasm), balding, and always wanting to co-drive in someone elses car because beating up someone elses car for Top Time of The Day is so much better. Okay I'll stop :).

Great pics looks like an interesting mix of cars which is always nice. A Fiero in running condition is amazing. One that can compete in an AutoX is spectacular!