AutoX Info for South Florida area

[CHFSlapaho]

Equipe Rapide's (http://autox.carlc.com) calendar for 2003 is up. The first AutoX goes down June 29th, two more scheduled for July. Hopefully the rest of the schedule will flesh itself out over time. We'll be a Metrozoo's big empty parking lot again.

Hope to see some Cougar's come down & have some fun. If you haven't tried it, you really don't know what you're missing.

[caenus]

Sounds cool, maybe one weekend I'll come down just to hang out and take a look before I participate. :) Whats speedtrial, btw?

[CHFSlapaho]

Well, you know what AutoX is... 1 lap, timed, best run out of 3 turns. Most of the time you're alone, or at least 1/2 way around when they let someone else start. Anyone can try, you don't need to be all tricked out, I have alot of fun running stock when I do. Just check all of your fluids & make sure your brakes are in good shape. It's cheap to run and free to watch & learn.

Speedtrials is a little more advanced. (You can read about it on the site) Basically your on the track with 2 other cars (somewhat) evenly spaced out. You get 3 hot laps in a row. They won't let you do it unless you've sat through their "school" for the rules, and I wouldn't reccommend it for everybody unless you have some very good brakes, tires, a little experience. Also costs more to run. Greater risk b/c if someone spins out & nobody pays attention to the flag people you could have a nasty pileup.

Usually on Saturday they'll have two seperate AutoX events, one in the morning, one in the afternoon. 6 runs total IIRC. They'll break you into categories & when you're not running, your out helping pick up cones on a shift basis from time to time. My car runs STS, I think Cougars are about the same & I ran against some stock A4's, GTIs & Jettas, Tiburons... good competition. Sunday depends on how many people are there, same category type thing. Sunday's more fun to watch, you get to see the freaks w/ their 911's & Supras & Vipers pull their rides out of trailers & set them up, but Saturday's no slouch either. Check the entry lists from last year to see who showed. Anyway its a nice way to spend a weekend.

I'm sure there are plenty of people on this forum who will give you advice about running great times & getting all serious with it. I just try to have fun & drive fast, I'm not worried about getting a trophy. If you do run, I'd reccommend:
Get everything out of your car
Inflate your tires, near 40lbs in front, near 36lbs in back (its what they reccommend fwd cars to do)
Check all fluids
Have good brakes
Bring sunblock
Bring things to drink (they usually have on hand, but it gets $$)
Bring white shoepolish / tape / stickers to put your # and class designation on your car. Everyone always forgets this one.

Word's already spread to www.is300.net & www.focaljet.com & a few other message boards, so there should be a good turn out this year.

[caenus]

Sounds fun, I hope to be able to come out for the next event. I think its June 29 right? Also, is it worth it if I have an ATX or is it better if you have a MTX?

Keep us posted if you get any new info.

[CHFSlapaho]

Man, don't even worry about that. I've seen people do it in everything from a rental car to an AMG ML55 to a Suzuki Swift. ATX/MTX is nothing to worry about.

[CHFSlapaho]

Hey everybody. The event's tomorrow morning, hope to see some of you there.

[CHFSlapaho]

One of the best events yet. We had over 120 cars running w/ a bunch more showing off in the lot. Got to see two Lancer Evolutions and two SRT-4's run for the first time as well as a Japanese right-hand-drive Evo 7 and a 2004 Viper hanging out in the lot. The course was very simple & lots of fun and wasn't too tight or complicated. My times were average but I had a ton of fun once again.

If you get a chance to come out in July, don't miss it. The next event will be on a Sunday again and promises to have just a good a turnout depending on the weather. Hope to see you there.

[CHFSlapaho]

Just a quick reminder.

The next ER event will be next week on the 13th of July. Check the website at the top for info. Get there early, they're stopping registration at 10am.

Here are some pics from the event.
http://www.apluselc.com/em/June29-1.gif
http://www.apluselc.com/em/June29-2.gif
http://www.apluselc.com/em/June29-3.gif
http://www.apluselc.com/em/June29-4.gif
http://www.apluselc.com/em/June29-5.gif
Evo 7 right-hander
http://www.apluselc.com/em/June29-Evo.gif

[CHFSlapaho]

http://www.apluselc.com/em/June29-6.gif
http://www.apluselc.com/em/June29-7.gif
http://www.apluselc.com/em/June29-8.gif
http://www.apluselc.com/em/June29-9.gif

Hope to see some Cougars this Sunday.

[caenus]

Looks like the other active members down here are going to be busy. I'll try and come down and check it out though, no guarantees just yet. Looks like a lot of fun, plus tons of nice looking cars.

[CHFSlapaho]

This week's event was also really good.

Although fewer cars this time around, organization was top notch and the event went more smoothly than ever. We were able to get all groups 4 runs and have it all done by 3:30pm.

We were allowed to take $1 laps after the event had ended. Run as much as you want for $1 per lap. Funny enough, my best recorded time was 48.6, but during the $1 laps I set my best time of 47.6! Drat.

The turnout was definitely a Japanese Invasion. There were at least 6 nice S2000's running, not to mention the gackle of WRX's and the lone white WRX STI. No Lancers! Would've been nice to have seen a battle between those two.

The pics will come up shortly...

[CHFSlapaho]

Some pics from this Sunday's event. More coming...

http://www.apluselc.com/em/July13-1.gif
http://www.apluselc.com/em/July13-2.gif
http://www.apluselc.com/em/July13-3.gif
http://www.apluselc.com/em/July13-4.gif
http://www.apluselc.com/em/July13-5.gif

[CHFSlapaho]

Just a reminder. Sunday the 27th will be the last event held at Metrozoo. I think they're moving it to Hialeah, there should be a new schedule up in a few weeks for those events.

Might be a nice time for a meet down south. It should be a big turnout once again like the last two. Hope you all can make it.

[CHFSlapaho]

Anybody showing up this Sunday?

[caenus]

Once again I'm going to try, but I am not sure yet. Anyone else interested in going?