Autocross, my new love!

[Tony-R32]

I just got back from my first autocross event here in Manitoba and all I can say is I def want some more!

They held this event at an old small airport about 20 Mins outside the city so it wasn't terribly far, and the cost is $30 if you register the night before and that gets you 4 runs.

I was in group B so I had to marshal the first part of the day which was good because if gave me a chance to see what some of the better drivers were doing before I went myself.

Before I got to run my car I was fortunate enough to ride along with one of the more experienced drivers in an rx8 and he ran a 1:06 which was one of the fastest times of the day and probably the most exhilarating things of my life.

I started off Running a 1:22 (R32 Gts-t little bit more than slightly modified) and by my fourth run I got it down to 1:16. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures but I wanted to share my outing as it's the most fun i've ever had in a motor vehicle.

Anthony

[cschepp]

I'll be doing that this year as my first time in the seat next to someone was just kick ass! Mind you he was a very good driver and had done this before.

[Bruizer]

I would do this but there's nothing like that within a 400km radius, so I drive a retarded sunday car, which is a waste. Good at making people drool, that's about the only use of this car. The twin plate carbon clutch is way heavier than a nismo twin which sucks, power steering is heavy as heck and no AC... ahah

[Tony-R32]

lol Yeah i feel your pain bruizer, Manitoba doesn't offer much either. The only track in Manitoba is a 1/4 mile drag strip which is an hour outside the city.

My car also has no AC haha it gets hot. When we run this though everyone keeps their windows open however because you need to wear a helmet and if you didn't roll down your windows you could easily break them with the helmet.

And same thing here Chris, When I got to drive with the experienced driver in the rx8 it blew my mind how hard he was pushing the car, and then when I got behind the wheel and got to try it myself it was even better. It's everything i've ever wanted to do on the street crammed into a 1 minute run

[Phastwon]

I started out in Autocross and really liked it. I ran in the Niagara region about 9 or 10 years ago. It teaches you a lot of the finer points of car control, and riding along with others who are experienced is a great way to pick up tips.

[Marke]

Hello, my name is Marke and I am also addicted to auto slalom/autocross.

The first time I went out it was just as a lark to see what my GTR could do. The adrenaline rush I got just being at the start line was intense but nothing like blasting through the course, letting it all hang out like I could never do on the street.

Then I was buying new tires cause the one that came with my GTR were crap. Then it was adjustable suspension links, then swaybars, then coilovers, then bigger rims and tires I COULDN'T STOP THE INSATIABLE NEED TO GO FASTER!!!!!

Oh how sweet it was to get my first FTD over an Ariel Atom after getting my first set of R-Compound Tires. IT WAS GLORIOUS!!!! http://www.victoriamotorsports.ca/Co...3oct09_raw.htm

But then Auto Slalom/Autocross wasn't enough, soon I was putting in a rollbar and race seat so I could pursue greater speed fixes. I was on to Time Attack and the craziest most hardcore speed fix of all.....HILL CLIMB!!!!!

There is no turning back for you my friend, none at all and there is no help for me and I WANT NONE, JUST MORE SPEED!!!!!

[Tony-R32]

lol, I wish there was something cool like hillclimb in manitoba, but unfortunately there is no hills here, just flat flat land with nothing to do on it.

They need to build some kind of course here!

[rak123]

I like how u think man we should build the next nurburgring in Manitoba and make the trans-Canada an autobahn , I'm jealous u got to run your car iv always wanted to autox a skyline. And you and coach keep making the craving worse everyday I see another post about racing.

lol, I wish there was something cool like hillclimb in manitoba, but unfortunately there is no hills here, just flat flat land with nothing to do on it.

They need to build some kind of course here!

[Tony-R32]

well....you do have a gtr now....and the next event is on the 9th and 10th....

[rak123]

I won't see road time till canada post gets off strike but I can't wait because it is gonna happen this summer and I can't wait to be rocking the Nissan out there with u guys putting down some good runs. Do u got any videos of the autox day u guys did?

well....you do have a gtr now....and the next event is on the 9th and 10th....

[Nismo_line]

lol, I wish there was something cool like hillclimb in manitoba, but unfortunately there is no hills here, just flat flat land with nothing to do on it.

They need to build some kind of course here!

There is a huge open airstrip to drift and do whatever you want on. what more can you ask for? lol

[GTR-Dad]

There is no turning back for you my friend, none at all and there is no help for me and I WANT NONE, JUST MORE SPEED!!!!!

Quoted for truth.
Peter Egan wrote: 'Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty.'

The cool part about racing a Skyline is that the car's capabilities are really quite high, so you can develop your own skills over several years without bumping into hardware limitations. (Racing ANY car is fun, but racing a well set up, well designed car is pure joy!)

Enjoy!

Dan

[cschepp]

^ very well put. I look forward to pursuing this and possibly making a new hobbie out of it. I didn't think something like this was for me and though that maybe the quarter mile was my thing but once being able to take a spin with a very good driver I quickly learned where my love in racing lied. It would be nice to do this on a continuos basis but I do imagine maintaining your vehicle on a regular basis for this could be quite expensive. Does anyone have any input on what they go through most and what maybe to do to make autocross a little less expensive in the long run?

Going out and giving 100% in the car will take a tole on not only the breaks but yet other components as well like the clutch and suspension components(bushings and such). What would be a good way to maintain this?

[Tony-R32]

Personally fromw hat i've experienced so far I woul think tires is your biggest cost because your pretty hard on those.

As far as everything else goes, your doing 1 minute runs where your on your brakes hard for a total of maybe 5-10 seconds of that one minute run and while it's "hard" on your suspension, I also don't think it's as bad as some people make it out to be. your on a flat relatively smooth surface, and your not doing 90 degree turns. I think coilovers, sway bars and new tension rods are a good start for this kind of event.

And are you on crack travis? Are you speaking of the airstrip in Brandon to drift on? I'd rather not drive 2 hours each way for half a day of "drifting" on a strait runway lol.

[Nismo_line]

half a day? there are weekend long events/ bbqs and yes they even do auto x out there to