David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
7/23/24 8:47 a.m.
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No, no issues with the event itself. I didn’t get protested. No one lost my times.

I was simply the only driver in my class this weekend, at a rather hot event hosted by our local Martin Sports Car Club at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center. I saw 98 degrees (not the band) on the Golf’s dash.


Photography Credit: David S. …

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Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
7/23/24 8:54 a.m.

I'll second that your teaching method helps.

If you can focus on just one part of the course or just a single input, you'll go quicker.

CrustyRedXpress
CrustyRedXpress GRM+ Memberand Dork
7/23/24 9:57 a.m.

Sounds like a lovely day!

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter)
Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
7/23/24 10:09 a.m.

Two points I like to make when I'm announcing at these events (missed this one), you're always faster than everyone who stayed home, and novices are the most important people at the event. 
 

Good work. 

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
7/23/24 11:40 a.m.
Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) said:

 you're always faster than everyone who stayed home

That deserves a t-shirt or a bumper sticker.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
7/23/24 3:50 p.m.

In reply to Colin Wood :

Thanks. I totally stole that idea from JG. 

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter)
Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
7/23/24 6:09 p.m.
Colin Wood said:
Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) said:

 you're always faster than everyone uwho stayed home

That deserves a t-shirt or a bumper sticker.

Glad to contribute 

Pete. (l33t FS)
Pete. (l33t FS) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
7/23/24 6:32 p.m.
CrustyRedXpress said:

Sounds like a lovely day!

te72
te72 HalfDork
7/23/24 9:23 p.m.

This is my favorite part of autocross, by far. Watching the new kids get into it, and start brainstorming how to ensure they can continue to do it (planning on better jobs, education opportunities, etc), it's always a treat.

 

It's still weird when I get called "sir" though, and while I appreciate good manners, it makes me realize... yeah... I'm definitely no spring chicken anymore haha.

Jerry
Jerry PowerDork
7/24/24 8:33 a.m.

We had a new guy Saturday, in a dune buggy built over a Corvair chassis.  He looked to be in his 70s I'd guess.  I watched him run while I worked, he was very timid on the gas and the first few runs he struggled like missing gates and Chicago Boxes.

In the afternoon I was happy to see him get a bit more adventurous and seemed to have at least figured out the course.  When I left I made sure to stop and talk to him, ask him if he had a good time.  We ended up talking for about 5 minutes about the car, he had just made some major changes to the chassis and engine so he was also kind of testing everything out.

But I remember my 1st event and how a few members talking to me made me feel like coming back, even if I had no idea what I was doing in my '06 Scion xB with the auto.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
7/24/24 9:11 a.m.

In reply to Jerry :

Yeah, good to make people feel welcome.

I recently had a first-timer who barely knew what autocross was. He had gotten to a point in life where he treated himself to a Porsche SUV. It replaced a Mitsubishi, IIRC.

He was basically going down the entire PCA calendar and entering everything: drives, social gatherings and, yes, autocross. 

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
7/26/24 12:51 p.m.

The GTI gets a bye weekend but will be back in action August 3-4 courtesy of the double-event at Daytona International Speedway’s kart track.

The kart track is challenging and way fun while remaining friendly for novices. (It’s simply tough to get lost out there.)

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