I ran my first autocross with the GS at Devens in Ayer, Mass on June 7, 2003. I ran with the BMWCCA, which is nice because you get about 8 runs in normally, vs 3 with the SCCA.

BMW Car Club Of America

Got there at 7am, unloaded the car, checked the tire pressure and answered a million questions!

Here she is ready to run. It weighs about 1100 pounds and has about 120 hp.

Here's the rear view, note the high quality numbers taped on.

In autocross you work when you are not driving, so after my work assignment, it had begin to rain, and here I was with no top. I borrowed a tarp to cover the car and dried the inside with the paper towels I had fortunately remembered to bring. The wipers did work luckally, and my instructor let me hold his umbrella while in the staging lanes. I called a friend who said he would drop off an umbrella and a rain suit.

I ran four runs in the morning, Spun on the first one(kept my foot down and did a 360) but got more used to it each run. I had a few technical difficulties. I did not realize till about the third run that the fan belt was slipping, causing smoke (!) out the air intake and the engine to go flat at about 4k rpm. No alternator = no spark! I planned on adjusting the belt after my work assignment in the afternoon.

After the morning session was Over I went back to work and about half way thru it began to pour and I got soaked. I was out on the course shagging cones with only a thin wind breaker and a baseball hat. I was not looking forward to the afternoon runs as the course was covered in standing water. My friend dropped off the rain gear but I was pretty wet by the time I got back to the car. The tarp kept the car dry inside at least.

By the time I got ready to run, it begun to rain hard and I was WET. I thought about bailing, but I figured that I was going to get wet hooking up and going home, so why not run? I skipped the belt adjustment and just went for in in the afternoon session. On my second run, the belt snapped, so I coasted in a loaded up to go home. I got lots of positive comments (Although I think most people thought I was crazy) and Ill be better prepared next time. I got soaked, but it was fun! And it torrentailly downpoared on the way home so the GS got a good bath!

Dont fore get to visit my friend Bob's Site for more info on Deserters, especially the GS: The Dog House

And there's also Alex's Site. Deserter Home Page

And the Dune Buggy Archives for all your Dune Buggy Info.

Email me at my email with any Comments.