Was a cold but fun day. Amanda (my 16 year old daughter) came out on top in the womens division in the Miata! I came in 4th in STR in the Miata against those S2000's (1th, 2nd and 3rd). Two of those cars took first and second at nationals last year. I'm a realist when my $6500 total investment Miata is not on par with a $40K+ Honda with some talented drivers. I am there for the fun and hanging out with some really great people. Even saw an awesome V-8 Miata there on Saturday.

Those of you who are on the fence about giving this a try, DO IT! It is a blast. Even if you don't have a helmet, come on out and give it a try. We had a youger gal who had just learned to drive a manual show up and raced her first race on Saturday.

Next race (also the last of the Winter Series) is on March 24th at Front Range Airport. The Summer Series Starts in April. Winter series events are really just for fun (practice/testing). Come on out, we need more of the Mazda group.

Here are a few pitures from a photographer (P. Jones) at Saturday's event. He got a ride with Amanda and then shot these pictures of the first heat.

extra bonus- My co-driver pointed out a bald eagle on a telephone pole to Ecam and I.

Yea, that was cool too!

That was a fun event and lots of cool people. I didn't run as fast as I would have like but still running on the original tires with 25,000 miles so no grip but it was a blast. I will be at the next one.

coreyblee wrote:That was a fun event and lots of cool people. I didn't run as fast as I would have like but still running on the original tires with 25,000 miles so no grip but it was a blast. I will be at the next one.

That's what we like to hear!

Jamie L, I was wondering if I could interest you in a ride along for the next event? I could use some instruction from a experienced FWD driver.

silver11speed3 wrote:Jamie L, I was wondering if I could interest you in a ride along for the next event? I could use some instruction from a experienced FWD driver.

I'm happy to, if it works out (not in the same heat, etc, etc). It gets easier during summer series when more entries mean more heats.

You are welcome to come take a ride in the Scirocco as well.

We also hold 1-2 "autocross schools" each year. This year is Jun 9th at PPIR. This is you best instruction bang for the buck, as you have dedicated instructors, and a bunch of seat time in a series of exercises that cover core skills.

jamiel wrote:I'm happy to, if it works out (not in the same heat, etc, etc). It gets easier during summer series when more entries mean more heats.

You are welcome to come take a ride in the Scirocco as well.

We also hold 1-2 "autocross schools" each year. This year is Jun 9th at PPIR. This is you best instruction bang for the buck, as you have dedicated instructors, and a bunch of seat time in a series of exercises that cover core skills.

More info on the school available?

Shadowden wrote:More info on the school available?

- reasonable cost ($60??)
- the school is on Sat, then an autocross the next day, so you can try out your new skills
- schedule: explanation of exercises, students rotate among three exercises in the morning, lunch (included) with extra discussion, three exercises are joined in the afternoon for a timed "short course"
- instructors can rotate through students, so you get a number of different insights about your driving.
- a special "trick": Ask an instructor to drive your car, with you riding. You'll be amazed how much you can learn seeing someone fast really work your car.

jamiel wrote:- reasonable cost ($60??)
- the school is on Sat, then an autocross the next day, so you can try out your new skills
- schedule: explanation of exercises, students rotate among three exercises in the morning, lunch (included) with extra discussion, three exercises are joined in the afternoon for a timed "short course"
- instructors can rotate through students, so you get a number of different insights about your driving.
- a special "trick": Ask an instructor to drive your car, with you riding. You'll be amazed how much you can learn seeing someone fast really work your car.

Awesome. Penciled into the calendar.

That school is an awesome thing. I put Amanda through it last year. She had only been driving a couple months and had done about 4 autocrosses. She improved A BUNCH. The next day's autocross, as I recall, was no charge to the school attenders. If you were going to autox anyway, made the school about 20 bucks!

Amanda started to get real fast after the school.

Any idea when the registration for the school will open? Also, I was looking at the Evolution weekend as well. Seems odd to go from phase I to Challenge the next day since the Challenge requires Phase II. Then again, there are probably some Autoxers in the region that already have Evolution II and are wanting to do the Challenge.

Do I need to be a full member for the June 9th school weekend?

I wish I could make it. I may be able to if my car can actually get done at some point.

I would guess that the registration will open about a month before the event. It is at PPIR this year. The morning is filled with drills that the groups rotate through. A corner drill, a figure 8 and a slolom drill. After lunch they set up an autocross course and you spend the rest of the day running that.

The Phase one, two and challange are at a different price level. I've got Amanda registered in the Phase one and two that are down in Farmington.

And no, a weekend membership is all that is required (pay once for both days).