Autocross Leadership

Rick is the President & Webmaster of the Texas Spokes Sports Car Club, based in Austin, TX.  He competes in a 1972 Datsun 240Z that’s been highly modified to an FP 280Z.  Here’s an introductory shot:

He’s been at this for years, starting out with a first generation Toyota MR2 and progressing through a couple of other, more powerfully modified MR2′s.  He then lost interested for a while.  But, since 2004 for he’s been at it with a vengence, with his Datsun and its progressing upgrades.  In the shot below it looks like he’s going to take down that cone, but NO, he slid on by…

On Rick’s personal website, he has chronicled the progress of modifications he’s worked through on his Datsun.  Another area of interest is sketching autocross related art, at Cone-Designs.  His stickers & T-shirts are fun, check ‘em out!  Great stuff for the autocross fan’s wish list, and afforable, too.

Here’s a cool introductory autocross flyer Rick designed, to inform & entice people:

I asked Rick what a newbie/wannabe racer (autocross) should do.  He said,

“Just come out & try it, watch what others are doing.  Then ask to go for a ride-along.”

All the drivers/competitors are very friendly, and most would be happy to share their autocross experience.  I took his advice, went on 3 ride-alongs with 2 drivers, last Sunday & I was re-impressed.  I say “re” because I was into this about 15 years ago, but life got in the way. 

Well, as you can see, I’m in the process of pushing life back, & looking forward to getting to be Racing Ready!  Are you with me?

Dan