Da Groj

Ever notice at an autocross how folks are always ready and willing to help one another out of a jam? Maybe you forgot your air compressor, or need "that tool," or coaching to knock that half-second off your time, maybe making sure that photographer gets a few shots of you killing cones...all the way to full-on offers to share cars! Well, it sure isn't hard to miss, because it happens all the time!

So, here's a spot to call out those folks who deserve recognition. If you want to thank someone for helping you out somehow, or maybe you witnessed a good deed that you think folks should know about, post about it here. You can be as specific or vague as you want - short story, long story, name names, keep it anonymous, whatever works.

I could type in this thread for days and still not cover everybody!

But, I have a couple of stand-outs from the last event:
1. Paul Dombrowski and whoever else was involved in ensuring that our person with the mysterious "tight chest and unable to breathe" person got the care that he needed. (for those who weren't there, paramedics came and he checked out fine... not sure what the issue was, but it passed)
2. Liz Swayne, bandager of boo-boos. When you're unlucky (notice how I craftily avoided the use of the word "clumsy"?) enough to take a tumble while chasing cones, scuff up both knees and both hands and come back from working course dripping blood, she's the one you want around.

Ron Rice is the man! He was the first person other than me to spin out my car, and he is the first person to let me co-drive with him. He is also showing me what to and not to do.

Loren and Steve for riding with me and helping me understand attacking the back.

I'd like to thank the Blessed Lord of Autocross and Fun for sending Loren and Drew to enjoy beating me in my own car by .5 and .6 seconds after only 2 and 3 runs.

I will learn from that and become faster and more diabolical than ever. May the Lord smiteth them both with limpis lead feet and get beaten by girls (Or Brian).

Leave it to Mayor Doug to bring trash talk into a thread about "good deeds".

But, just let us know if you need us to show you how fast your car is again. It is a service we are happy to provide!

Loren wrote:Leave it to Mayor Doug to bring trash talk into a thread about "good deeds".

But, just let us know if you need us to show you how fast your car is again. It is a service we are happy to provide!

You know I will with the next level of "improvement" to the car. No good deed goes unpunished

I know you two take no prisoners and I get a full on accurate comparo of where the car's really at irrelevant as to how smoothly I'm driving it that day.

All kidding aside, having a good and consistent driver drive your car to both evaluate your setup, and see how your driving stacks up is a good thing. Many of us are up for it anytime.

I usually try to make sure I thank everyone that helps me out right away, but I'll add more here.
Thanks to Steve for letting me co-drive his car last year while I waited on parts to arrive. Also for giving me a fuse at the water-cross event even if it only lasted a block or two.
Thanks to Ron for letting Matt drive his car at said water-cross after I told him he could co-drive with me and I broke my car before he got a run.
Thanks to Rob Ledford (I think) for loaning me some tools to fix my hemorrhaging water filler neck a few months back. And to Steve AGAIN, for letting me use his car to run to the auto parts store, twice!
If it was someone other than Rob, I'm sorry, and thank you.

I'd like to thank Drew for always being willing to co-drive/mentor/beat on my car and show me what my car is capable of.

Shout out goes to Scott Wheeler for bringing out his blower and spending over an hour blowing the dirt and pebbles off of the Track at Tampa Bay Downs on 06/14

Special Thanks to the powers of observation of Joe Brannon. Even tho' very busy as starter noticed my right tailpipe had broken free of it's hanger. I really wondered what that noise was (what broke this time?) and knowing allowed me to concentrate on driving once again without worrying.

Thanks Joe.

**$30 under the table and a lot of welding fixed all the factory heavy exhaust issues. Good thing he welded the whole thing together months ago when I got new mufflers. So who runs in FL with an emissions legal car in this state anymore? I do. Imagine if I got ram air, headers and straight pipes next month. 2LE Shamu with the ability to breath and fart.

i would like to just say thank you to everyone that has anything to do with FAST. you guys are all amazing and always willing to lend a hand, tool, advice/insight, a car, and anything you really can give you guys do. i have been told to give a try at a handful of the other autox clubs around me since im right by the airport and the fact that FAST is so friendly and such a good experience kinda makes me want to stay away from other groups. the guys that have invited me are all good guys but i feel so at home with FAST because you make it so. that level of comradery is such a great thing and i dont suspect i would find it elsewhere. thanks for all you guys do!

A collective Thank You, Stephen! We're a friendly bunch and try to make sure everyone's having a good time.

Thanks to Doug for his always patient lessons on tire pressure and handling effects. I'm slow on the uptake and he doesn't strangle me.

I would like to say thanks to John Evans for letting me use his GoPro. It has been an immeasurable help for me to improve my driving.