Second Time High Speed Autocross
(at Autobahn Country Club 10/07/2006)

Here we go again.  A beautiful crisp morning.  Find a spot and make it yours.  Unload the car and get it ready to run.  In the background is the fence and guardrail leading into turn one (going towards the left.)

For track driving it is necessary to run higher air pressure in the tires.  This time I ran a higher pressure in the rear than in the front and I think it helped the car turn better (bring the back end around.) This pump isn't very good.  Fortunately I was told where there was an air hose (prior to killing myself with this pump.)

Looking from the corner of where we parked towards the club house (building with green roof).  Track entrance is to the left in front of the club house.  Lots of people here.  Some come in their personal cars with all their stuff inside (like we did), others bring cars towing trailers or cars on trailers, some travel in motor homes ... some of the transport trucks looked nicer inside than most peoples garages.  There were all types of cars here.  Each car is classified in a particular class and category so that you compete against cars similar (performance wise) to yours.  Awards are given for places 1, 2 and 3 within each class/category combination.

    The mandatory drivers meeting at 8:00.  Those that never ran at the track were classified as "Novice" (that would be me.)  We had a separate meeting after this drivers meeting and were told our first practice lap would be parade laps paced by instructors spread throughout the field (and no passing) with each lap being faster than the last one.   This was valuable, but I was really itching to get going as I knew at least the layout of the track from watching Google in car videos and driving the track in rFactor (racing simulator.)

Getting ready to go out for the first time.  Putting on my "comfy" fingerless gloves.

The novice group lined up ready to go out into the pit lane.  The building is the clubhouse.

The novice group lined up in the pit lane and ready to go out on first practice "parade" lap.  Although lined up double file here, we went out on the track single file.  The red car  on the track is not in the novice group and is finishing up their practice lap.

Here we go through turn 1 leading quickly to turn 2.  The sign that says "1" doesn't mean turn one.  These signs appear going into certain corners and are brake markers.  They count down to 1 and this helps you pick a spot to start braking.  The cone (small red triangle to the left of the one in the picture) marks the turn in point.  Other cones on the track mark the apex (the point when you are closest to the inside of the corner) and the turn out point.

Here we are going through turn 14.  Marked by cones, is the entrance to pit lane. The cones show the way to the access road as you don't go through pit lane to leave the track as cars are lined up there waiting to go out.   This is where we will come in at the end of practice.

This is a shot from on top of the building that can be seen in the picture of the drivers meeting (picture 5 above).   I am on the access road coming in after a run.  The red cars are on pit road waiting to go out.  At the very top of the picture is the track.

In the morning we had 2 practice runs.  In the afternoon we had  4 timed runs.  This was probably my last run.  The shadows obviously change throughout the day.  After looking at  the track so intently during each lap, the shadows  really makes the track look different especially near the end of the day.  

Checking run times as they are posted.  Here are my times per lap:
1) 1:58.879
2) 1:57.853
3) 1:58.423
4) 1:58.322
The track record as of this writing for my class/category is 1:51.639, held by a 2005 Mini Cooper S.
So I have a long way to go.  Since this is only my 2nd event, 1st time and this track and since all the laps are fun for me, I don't mind.

I had a great time, learned a lot, and I know what to work on for next time.  Once again we met nice people and we hope to see them at other events.  Here is the car in the driveway on Sunday, safe and sound and freshly washed.