<VV> Autocross school

[levair at aol.com]

Racers, lurkers,
 
WE had the Fort Wayne IN autocross school class this Saturday, with instructors  and students sharing rides in the afternoon autocross session. 
   Every year we have 50 or more new students. Where do they all come from.?
  The classes went very well. We all learned something new. Especially the instructors. Questions make you think and learn.
   The weather man lied again, it wa in the high 40s only. Mondays and tues are always beautiful around here. 
    There was also a points autocross at the same place Sunday with better weather promissed. 
  The Saturday autocross course had to have been the worse one I'm seen in 30 years!
  The designers were two of the advanced instructors. They drive pony cars but DIDN'T DRIVE TODAY .
  My car has 3.89 gears and a Saginaw trans with 22 " tall tires. The first slalom was all first gear followed by a 2nd gear slightly bent straight leading into a diminishing radius turn which I had to take in 1st gear to make it at all. The steering was lock to lock. 
   This was followed by two more lock to lock 180 degree 1st gear corners , a short slalom and a 1st geat 90 deg. finish. 
   Can you imagine what lock to lock steering is like with 10" slicks and 2 turn manual steering. It wasn't just my car , I drove several students cars and had the same problems. Constantly down shifting into first is not fun. 
    The turn entries were so narrow that you couldn't choose your line or practice the late apexing taught in the classes. 
   I was just plain embarassed by the course. 
  Sundays' course was to be the same except for two laps each of it. 
I decided to not stay overnight in the camper in the cold and came home and went to church this morning instead. 
   By the way, lest you think that I protest to much, I did set official FTD before I trailered the car, but IT WAS NOT FUN!  I won't be back.
  By contrast, the last event at Indy Region was great .. I didn't get FTD, but got to hang the car out, chose my lines , run the entire course in 2nd without shifting, and had a great time. 
    It cost $50 in towing gas to go to that Fort Wayne event, plus entry.and race fuel . I'm, going to have to choose events very carefully. Distance/expense is a huge consideration. I may have to buy some decent tires and drive the Fiero to events from now on if over 50 miles. 
 
Warren