East Tennessee Region SCCA

Now that I have been doing this for about 1 year and a month or so, I have come to the conclusion that generally, lay people have no idea what autocross is. I was talking to a guy today, and he asked me what I did for fun. I said autocrossing and explained what it is. He said and I quote,"I guess that doesn't take much skill does it."
All I could say was that there is more to it than you think.
Has anyone else had an experience like that?

All the time. There is a guy I work with that says he could beat me in his Jetta Wagon with me driving my Miata. 99% of the general public do not get it and think it is stupid to be driving in a parking lot around cones. Just a fact of life.

Yeah, most of the time when I tell people I autocross(ed), they say "You have a motorcycle?!"

I usually give the short explanation of:

We take a lot of cones and set them up in a big parking lot to make a course. Then we run one car at a time through the course and the best time wins.

To the people that think it's easy, I would invite them out. I've never talked to anyone that thought it was easy. That's a new one.

-"Can people do that in Mustangs?" Some people try.
-"Aren't you afraid of hitting something?" Less than I am when I'm on the street.
-"You do that in the car you drive every day?" Yes.
-"What do you do when some great driver shows up in a real race car?" Go slower than them.
-"What do you get if you win?" The satisfaction of winning.
-"Why do you do it if you can't win money?" Do you win money when you go to the movies?
-"What time did you run?" Would it mean anything if I told you?

Everybody at work thinks its easy...in fact 2 guys came out a couple of years back to an OR event......
They have a whole new respect for it now. One of them thought he could be me in the Mr2 in his stock 2nd gen RX7 ....he was seeing RED so bad,he never completed one lap that wasnt a DNF. haha He came in Mon. and told everybody "That Shits hard"

The thing about A-X is this.....ANYbody has the ability to do it(as opposed to like NASCAR or NHRA drags) but few do it at 10/10's.

It seems too simple to be that hard....
jb

them: So what time did you run?

me: A 35.4 something

them: Hey, that's pretty good!

Addendum to Steve's list:
"What kind of idiot would autocross a 2-ton 4 door?"
I guess that would be me.

thrdeye wrote:them: So what time did you run?

me: A 35.4 something

them: Hey, that's pretty good!

I get that 9 times outta 10 where I'm at.

I also get:

them: So how'd you do this weekend?

me: Got 4th

them: Damn, you talk about that car like its the fastest thing on the street........YOU SUCK.

me:

I always get the 'do you win any money if you win?' and when I tell them no they don't know what to think.

TonyBolton wrote:them: Damn, you talk about that car like its the fastest thing on the street........YOU SUCK.

See, not all non-autocrossers are ignorant!

I've heard all that before also. Don't let it discourage you from spreading the word.

As far as the guy that said it must not require much skill? I would callenge him to a race. Loser buys the beer and pays the entry fee. I'll bet you a beer that if you challenge him to a race he'll come up with an excuse why he can't. Never fails!

TOP 10 REASONS "JOHNNY" WON'T TRY AUTOCROSSING
10. I don't want to race around in a parking lot.
9. I can't get up that early. (R32 boy!)
8. Conflicts with my drifting project.
7. I don't want to scrape up my 18's
6. Allergic to pylons.
5. It's too far.
4. No SUV class.
3. Helmet hair.
2. No NOS!
1. I'm waiting for my wing to come in.

CABoegemann wrote:2. No NOS!

......... now wait a minute!

not cbring wrote:

TonyBolton wrote:them: Damn, you talk about that car like its the fastest thing on the street........YOU SUCK.

See, not all non-autocrossers are ignorant!

Gay

Most of the time when I say I like to autocross, people say "man, you must have brass cajones! Aren't you afraid you'll hit a tree? That gravel is slick, isn't it?"

Hey by the way Chris: How did you get a pic of your car in a file small enough to make it your... what do you call it... acron or somethin? that picture below your name. You got the butt-half of my car in it too ... Any way you'd take a pic of my car for me too?