Look at that smile. :)
Photography by David S. Wallens
When I first sat behind the wheel of our Volkswagen Golf GTI, I didn’t think autocross could hook me more than it had. Boy, was I wrong.
[From behind the scenes to behind the wheel]
Martin Sports Car Club recently held yet another autocross in Orlando, giving me and David the perfect chance for one last run in the GTI for the season.
While not as hot as last time, the Orlando sun still showed no mercy as David and I completed our three track walks. This is where I started feeling a bit nervous.
Why? Well, none of our walk-throughs were the same.
As Martin officials were putting out cones, the course changed a few times. But I don’t blame them. If I tried to design a course, it would look like a bowl of spaghetti.
Heat one: David and I both worked the course. And just like last time, working first let me see problem spots and how other competitors handled them.
Heat two: Now this is where things got interesting. David and I were in the same heat and the same car but in different groups running different numbers. And this is how it went: Complete run, park, jump out, spray tires, change numbers, change class, jump back in the car, get in line for the next run. Rinse and repeat.
As I’m rushing to wet the tires with what little water I had left in the sprayer, I hear a faint, “Hey do you want to ride?” through my helmet. I looked up at David, confused, and he pointed behind me. I turn and see Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street staring right at me.
Huh? Am I hallucinating from the heat?
“Did you want to go for a ride?” I hear again, this time making eye contact with Nick Dunlap, one of the drivers of the dark-green 1999 Miata known as Oscar.
I mean, how could I say no? I jumped into the passenger seat and waited with anticipation as we pulled to the starting line.
Green light, a blur, and then we are pulling back to the grid.
Wait, what?
Holy cow, he finished that run in only 36 seconds.
As I stepped out of the Miata, I thanked Nick for letting me ride with him and formulated my game plan for my final two runs. I decided to give this one a try all by myself without David in the passenger seat.
That second-to-last run turned into my best one yet at 43.845 seconds and I secured third overall in the Novice group.
Look at that smile. :)
In reply to David S. Wallens :
I know this will sound really obvious to a lot of people, but it was really eye-opening and super awesome that you can pretty much just show up to a parking lot and then drive the snot out of your car for a few minutes, and then drive home.
10/10 would recommend. 
Starting out in something new can be hard, so good for you, Paris! Keep at it, and you'll be going quicker than you thought possible before you know it.
Colin Wood said:In reply to David S. Wallens :
I know this will sound really obvious to a lot of people, but it was really eye-opening and super awesome that you can pretty much just show up to a parking lot and then drive the snot out of your car for a few minutes, and then drive home.
10/10 would recommend.
This is where we are at with the Foxbody Mustang. No unloading the trailer, loading the car back up just show up drive around and then hop in and go home. It's a fun day.
Colin Wood said:In reply to David S. Wallens :
I know this will sound really obvious to a lot of people, but it was really eye-opening and super awesome that you can pretty much just show up to a parking lot and then drive the snot out of your car for a few minutes, and then drive home.
10/10 would recommend.
You just have to get out of there before security or the police show up.
I've autocrossed a Corrado, Lotus7, RX7, and a 911. I just don't enjoy it. I'd rather go out on the back roads and have a nice long brisk drive.
In reply to JimS :
It's not fun for everyone. That's perfectly OK.
And can we just stipulate that it is a long day for a short amount of seat time, and spare everyone a few pages of retreaded counterpoint?
RacerBoy75 said:Starting out in something new can be hard, so good for you, Paris! Keep at it, and you'll be going quicker than you thought possible before you know it.
Thank you! Yeah it was definitely a learning curve but I am excited to keep pushing forward.
Also if you can't tell from the last photo, I was trying to process the 36 second run we just took haha.
Duke said:In reply to JimS :
And can we just stipulate that it is a long day for a short amount of seat time, and spare everyone a few pages of retreaded counterpoint?
As my son and I are only running the Mustang for fun; we sometimes just do the morning runs and go home.
This negates the long day especially since the event is only 15 minutes from my house.
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