Why don't you run events with the "other guys" ?

[Charles]

A thread was posted on TR for this same poll but I don't think many of our FAST regulars venture to that site.

Aside from a few of you, I'm just curious why I never see any of you guys out at the BMW or SCCA events?

Lately BMW events have been as full as the FAST events with similar seat time.

If you show up to a SCCA event on a practice day you'll probably get in 8-10 runs before lunch on a great course. After lunch the choice is yours, run until your tires blow out or go home early. It's not uncommon to take 25 runs on a Saturday if you really want to. This crew also has quite a few experienced drivers for instruction in every group.

On competition days you'll get 4-5 competition runs before lunch and again, after lunch the choice is yours. The only downside is the classing is horrible for local events with a small turnout. Typically you end up with 1-2 cars per class.

If any of you hold on to the idea that the environment is too serious at these events, put down the crack pipe. In the past ~ 18 months I've heard one person complain one time about timing data

Cliffnotes, for those of you looking to get in more seat time you are missing a golden opportunity.

[snookwheel]

Great question Charles. I have wondered the same. I am partial to the FAST events, but have a ball at the SCCA and BMW events too.

One thing that may contribute to the lack of participation in the other venues is the quality of the 'other' Forum sites. The FAST website is much more user friendly than the SCCA or BMW one. The other clubs in question often lean on the TampaBayRacing site to discuss/promote their events. They can get lost in the shuffle since TBR is their only real usable link to communication.

The classing is non issue for me. It sucks as far as headcount wherever I go!

Scott

[Dave-ROR]

Ran with SCCA for years, no desire to run with more than one group.

[Native]

I can't believe you're pushing the competition on our forum

I would love to get out to other events - I did a BMW event, once. It was fine - no complaints. I voted for the "only have time for one event a month" choice...

And I try to stick with the same club when I run, for one obvious reason, but also because for me its a social event as much as a driving event, and if I were to club-hop, even just between 3 clubs, that's one event per club every 3 months. While there are a few regulars everywhere, it's hard to get to know someone, or build some friendly competition, getting together with folks once every 90 days.

I'm glad to hear the BMW club is having some success - if we're selling out, and they are selling out, I guess there's a lot of autocrossers out there.

[Anonymous]

I voted for crack.

[Jamie]

I run both FAST and SCCA events...would run more if I could find time to run three events a month.

[Tim_M]

One event a month is enough...no time!

And FAST serves lunch.

[Loren]

This is a completely irrelevant question for us. Those who run with us run with us... for whatever reason. (because provide a high quality fun event and a good value, I would assume) Why should we care why they choose to NOT run with the other clubs?

Personally, I think this kind of question belongs on Tampa Racing and not here... this is the FAST forum, not the "Central Florida Autocross Community forum".

(I'm sort of echoing the first line of Steve's response.)

But, for sure, if anyone is looking for more seat time than they get with our one event per month, ANY of the other club events are great to attend. Not just BMW and SCCA, but also the Porsche club, Corvette club, and Gulfcoast Autocrossers. (plus even a few others that are either low-profile... like the SVT and Z-car clubs... or more distant, like Martin Sports Car Club) There's at least one event going on within 2 hours of Tampa almost every weekend.

Find the events schedule on Tampa Racing and go attend those events if you have the desire, the time and the money. 'Nuff said.

[WAFlowers]

The others don't provide lunch!

[Anonymous]

I think the hardcore people have trouble understanding why everyone isn't hardcore like them.

Steve explained it perfectly.

People will autocross as little or as much as they want to. If people wanted more seat time, then I am sure they would look for it. Obviously one event per month is enough for most people. And if I had to choose one event per month, I would probably choose FAST.

[aparke]

I'd have to agree with Steve. It has been fun getting to know a lot of you guys...no one takes it too seriously as far as I know and the "friendly" competition is always fun. Personally, I've never autocrossed with SCCA or the other local groups but probably will someday for the extra seat time. Time is certainly a limiting factor.

Oh, and Steve?...You're going down sucka!

[Native]

Oh, and Steve?...You're going down sucka!

oh, noes - taking the trash public!

[Solar]

My crack habit only allows me enough money for one event, so that's how I voted.

One event a month is enough for me, though I was looking forward to some track time at ERS. I've never ran with another group, I see no need because FAST has enough events for the year to satisfy me. 8) Though I have considered running with another group, but that's about as far as it has gone.

[Jordan Y.]

My first exposure to autocross other than a few quickie runs at Mazda Rev-it-up was the first FAST auto-x school. That event was great and I improved a bunch in one day- and I could see that the people behind the event were enthusiastic enough about getting new people involved that they'd sacrifice a day of their time. Then I sold my car and couldn't do anything for a year.

When I got my new car running well enough to autocross FAST had the most accessible events, with more information on the web than any other club and most of it tailored to clueless people like me. Easy signup through MAE, clear schedules and events every month, and this message board. Oh, and don't forget the lunch, because I doubt I'd be eating anything other than some chips or other garbage tossed into the car at the last moment without the FAST lunch.

After running a few FAST events I didn't see a reason to go to another club's events when I had a bit of a comfort zone going. I knew how FAST events worked, I pretty much knew who was in charge and what I had to do, and I met a few people I could count on for a bit of conversation when I wasn't running or working.

Now, to be honest I've wanted to do an SCCA Saturday practice since I talked to Charles about it at the first Lakeland event. I'm not in this for competition, I'm in it to become a better driver and eventually to transition to road course events with autocross filling in the gaps between trips to Sebring, ERS, etc. The SCCA practice events sound perfect- perhaps better than FAST events for my purposes because of the massive seat time available. I just haven't been able to make one work yet. They hold them at seemingly random times and I never remember to check the SCCA schedule, I'm still confused over the pricing which seems more expensive unless I'm an SCCA member (and I can't figure what the temporary membership costs, exactly), and when I actually check the schedule and find a time before it's closed it seems to conflict with some previous engagement. So basically FAST events are easy and the SCCA stuff is more complicated, and when I only feel like doing one event a month, why complicate things? I'm sure I'll hit an SCCA practice day sometime but FAST will be my primary auto-x choice as long as it stays true to the current format.

[Loren]

Hehe...

FAST.

True.


8)

[Anonymous]

Hehe...

FAST.

True.


8)

I think we just found the other person that voted for crack. What are you saying there?

The SCCA practice events sound perfect- perhaps better than FAST events for my purposes because of the massive seat time available.

I don't think massive seat time is really any benefit. I believe in quality over quantity. If you want to get better, get an instructor, ride with fast people, have them ride with you, have them drive your car, walk the course with them, study the lines they are driving, study the car placement. If you are doing all this, 8 runs should be PLENTY of time to figure stuff out. Don't wait til your last run to get help.

Lately I have been thinking that the most time can be made up during the course walk.

[Loren]

Hehe...

FAST.

True.


8)

I think we just found the other person that voted for crack. What are you saying there?

Oh, don't mind me, just a little after-midnight free-association. Jordan said something about us staying true to our format. My mind went to Bud. True.

Lately I have been thinking that the most time can be made up during the course walk.

I think you're onto something there. I see more and more people who have excellent car control and capable cars... but just don't drive a proper line. Probably more importantly, they slow down in places they shouldn't. (or worse yet, try to go through places they SHOULD slow down without slowing down enough) Picking a correct line from a course walk is the "art" of autocross. It's easy to learn the "science", more difficult to learn the "art".

[Native]

"FAST.

True."


We got us a slogan!!



And I totally agree with the discussion about lines and coursewalking. Next novice school I was gonna suggest a much larger emphasis on line and "reading" a course than we've done in the past...

[Loren]

And I totally agree with the discussion about lines and coursewalking. Next novice school I was gonna suggest a much larger emphasis on line and "reading" a course than we've done in the past...

Ah, but then you're getting too advanced for the novices. Novices generally need to work on car control and the "big picture" of how to drive a course.

What you're talking about is something more appropriate for an "advanced" school. Which is something we could do... but not on the same day.

[Mars or Germ]

I thnk you guys should have a club battle auto-x sometime