Racing Ready

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 [...]

That phrase about timing is most certainly true.  Currently I’ve been working on being in the right place at the right time concerning visiting with people associated with the competitive autocross scene in South & Central Texas. One of the people I met at this past Sunday’s autocross seems to be an Austin mover & [...]

This auto industry phrase refers to a “naked” automobile; that is, the car’s sheetmetal body without any paint, seats, wheels, engine, windows nor any other mechanicals installed.  So, what does it have to do with this post? One of last Sunday’s autocross competitors, Dak, brought his white 2007 VW GTI all the way from Houston.  Here’s [...]

The title of this post is how Michael, an autocross competitor I visited with, describes what autocrossing is for him.  Apparently, the daily 60 mile commute (in each direction) is frustrating and autocrossing helps him to release the stress. While his daily driver is a current year model Honda Civic Sedan (5-speed, of course), his “therapy” ride [...]

Just a teaser intro for the week: Yesterday’s combined Spokes/SASCA autocross event went well.  It was a fair 35 minutes from where I live – not bad.  I was there before 9:00am & stayed until all the cones were picked up by about 4:30pm.  It was a grand, sunny (HOT!) day, upper 90’s with a [...]

This is a short entry, just to let you get an aerial view of the San Antonio Raceway (mostly a dragstrip facility).  I have not been to this location, yet.  But, from the picture, it looks like the parking lot to the west is where it all happens… I’ll be broiling here today in the [...]

In my mind I am getting myself ready for this upcoming autocross on Sunday, (tomorrow, 7/13/2008).  Please bear in mind that I won’t yet be participating as a competitor.  I will be there all day, from the drivers’ meeting to picking up the cones.  I will be visiting with people, getting introduced to new friends by [...]