My Motorsports Involvement
Rallycross Described
Rallycross Photos-Early Days-2001 Season
Viewer Submitted Rallycross Photos-2002 Season
Rallycross Photos-More Recent-2005 Season
Rallycross Photos-Getting Serious-2006 Season
Rallycross-2007 Season
Trackday
Spectating at SCCA PRO Rally
TSD Rally

I am always urging people who show a little interest to get involved with motorsports or performance driving. I frequently hear concerns like, "Well, my car isn't really built for it..." or, "Well, I am not really that good of a driver..." That's fine, we all start at the same place, and we all bit the bullet at some point. So, I still urge you all to come out anyway. What is tuning all about? It should be about addressing needs or problems you see with your car's current state. Putting 17" rims with 40 series tires on your car because you don't know what else to do and it seems to be the thing everyone else is doing is a little bit silly. Going for a somewhat larger rim and a lower profile tire because you want sharper turn-in and your current tires are rolling under on hard cornering at a proper inflation pressure is a smart tuning move. Getting out on the track or the course is a good way to start to uncover some areas which could stand improvement. Remember that the one change you can make to your car that will affect more than any other is the tires. Even within the same size, different tires will radically alter the feel and performance parameters of the car. A good general order of approaching modifications is driver, wheels and tires, driver, then brakes, driver, next suspension, work on your driving some more, and then finally go for more power if you are confident that your driving skill is up to really extacting the maximum from the chassis. So what is driving all about? I know that I don't have the skill to get the maximum from my Corolla GT-S, so I will keep trying to improve myself as a driver. I feel pretty strongly that many American car enthusiasts have an attitude that doesn't allow them to either be humble or to enjoy smaller and underpowered cars, and this situation is unfortunate. Guess what, folks? The more responsive examples among small underpowered cars are a ball to drive hard, and they are cheap too! The challenge is most of the fun...you can't help but be involved when the limits of the vehicle are approachable with average skill, and you and the car are both straining for every last ounce of speed. On top of that, we can all improve as drivers. I have a lot more respect for a fellow car enthusiast out there enjoying a Suzuki Swift or close-to-stock Honda Civic than I do for the ones who just spent a ton of money paying someone else to pump up their already-powerful ride with a turbo, or a built motor. I also think there is best potential for learning and enjoyment to be had from road racing (circuit racing) open track days (lapping days,) rally, autocross, rallycross, and other forms of motorsports which involve acceleration, steering, braking, and shifting. Get yourself involved in all aspects of vehicle dynamics and really put yourself and your car to the test! If you have any questions about ways to experience this kind of driving, please feel free to contact me.

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