getting excited that i am finally get back into driving events again. i am going to an auto-x event with the Suncoast region porsche club 11/06 at the Zephyrhills airport. i have done events there in the past, about 15 or so, last one was a year ago.

i am going to Sebring with Chin motorsports 12/11 for a hpde. have not done one of those in 3yrs, have been as co-pilot off and on in between but have not driven in an event since 12/08.

i am getting my new tires before i go to Sebring(nitto nt-05) and upgraded brake pads, brake fluid, oil change and manual trans fluid changed.

i also have a free voucher for the Richard Petty driving experience at the Walt Disney Race track, will go there soon just see what it is like to go fast and turn left.

i have been doing some karting the last 2yrs when thet budget was available, there is a racing kart facility that opened up in south Orlando that is pretty fun(45-50mph karts) that has helped my skills a lot. i have learned a lot about car control, carrying speed and momentum, and seeing the corners ahead and setting up for them better. i have went there about 6 times.

 

well i missed out on my auto-x event, they rescheduled the event before i found out, it got changed to 10/23 instead of 11/06, i was on vacation then so i did not know, i am glad i did not drive all the way out there to find nobody there.

i was going to go to the racing go-kart track in ocala to at least get some kind of driving in but i could not round up any of my buddies in such sort notice to go with me.

i start the first round of upgrades/prep to my car this week, tires and alignment and front brake pads and brake fluid.

 

you should come down to Ft Myers, Autox State Championship !!
http://www.gulfcoastautocrossers.com/
11/12, 11/13
help represent the Z!!

 

Is registration still open for the event? I thought the deadline came and went, I'm interested in attending!

 

registration was to insure they have enough shirts/trophies for the classes that will run... walkings still are very welcome !!!! you can always call them to find more info here is the phone number of the president of the organization.

Dave Hutter, President GCAC
19700 Skipper Road
North Fort Myers, FL 33917
(239) 671-9951

you can contact me if you want more info just pm me... i've going there for the past 4 years by FAR!! the best autox in the florida region imo. this is 1.5 mile course !!! and some times you get to 4th gear!! 100mph !! normal high speed 79 mph .... is a very wide and long airstrip ... no danger! great people all around! make the effort ! you won't regret it ..

 

thanks for the info, i have heard of this venue in the past but it is a little far for me, i really enjoy going to zephyrhills airport-very similiar to what you are describing in regards to speed and fun and only about 50 miles from my house, i think ft myers is about 150+ miles away.

 

I just realized my post about my track event did not show up on the thread so here are the details...

weather was fair in the a.m., light drizzle during the warm up session but no problems, next 2 sessions were dry with upper 60's low 70's temps, and in rained most of the afternoon.

it rained the day before and a Lexus ISF wrecked going down the front stretch and took out a section of the left wall-i saw photos and the car was destroyed. he was accelerating over the painted start/finish line and the car broke loose at approx 90-100mph-after that happened they made it mandatory to lift when going over the line during our sessions to avoid a repeat performance.

i had a good time overall, the pros of the car was its power, the brakes did very good for being a street based brake pad(was able to do 7 laps before getting too hot) my new tires did well, the engine and trans were flawless all day.

the con was the suspension, way too soft and too much bodyroll. i could control it by changing my approach angles to the apex but would cause too much time lost. as long as i had a smooth late apex it would do fine, if i tried and aggressive spot-on apex carrying a lot of speed or g's it would want to tip on 2 wheels. definately going to get some springs and a larger rear sway bar and see what happens next time in April or May.

 

There are also autoX events every first Saturday of the month at CFRC.

 

do you like the events there? are they usually a short course with a lot of low speed stuff or are they longer with higher speeds? i might go try it out once for a change of pace because it is only about 35miles from my house.

i go there fairly often for the go karts and watched some drag racing once or twice afterward.

 

I want to auto-x