Pleasanton AutoX Roll Call

[mpozzi]

Wow and thanks for the nice words ...

Both Dave and I had a lot of fun meeting everyone that we "talk" to here and on other sites. Cars are terrific conversation pieces and bring out the best in all of us. The bad part of a two-day GoodGuys event is that the autocross is also two days. We end up staying in the same plot of parking lot for what seems like the entire event and miss out on so much else.

We got into a serious thrashfest the week before Pleasanton and between us and the Camaro, it looked like the Camaro was winning. Got some issues worked out and all was again right. We've got some wonderful companies working with our car and thankfully it didn't disappoint. Mike Maier, Maier Racing, and I swapped cars and he also liked the Camaro. I was also happy he didn't beat me as he's a damn good driver (SCCA C Prepared National Champion) that knows his way around an autocross course ... I think he got the better end of the deal as he told me just before I took to the course in his '66 Mustang notchback ... "er, Mary ... it pushes like a dump truck." He was right. It did!! With aplomb!!!

The owners of the cool red 'Vette are good friends of mine and they compete heavily with that car all over Northern California's autocrosses. Yes, the V710 is technically a "slick lite" as it has a smooth surface with two grooves for decoration. It is DOT legal but with a treadwear of 30, not too many purchase these for street use. The Kumho is an awesome autocross tire and also good for track days. The GoodGuys autocross course wasn't the best venue for this car and to really appreciate it, you need to see it on a more open, faster course. I have and combined with Brian's ability (he's also a Solo National Champion), it's pretty cool. He also bought a second gen roller from me about a year or so ago and when that car's completed, it's going to be a serious contender in C Prepared. He also wants to keep it street legal so methinks my days as being top of the GoodGuys Autocross heap are numbered once he gets it done. Let's see ... 3000 or less lbs compared to my car which weighs almost 3,700 lbs. What's good is that no one has told the '73 it weighs that much so it thinks it's a Miata.

The major downer was previously mentioned and I saw/heard the Super Nova as it hit the K-wall barrier at the end. After the engine quit, Ty was merely a passenger in a bullet headed for the target as there was minimal run-off room at that end of the course. Thankfully, the damage is pretty minor and sheetmetal can be repaired. It did put a damper on the remainder of the autocross (for me, at least).

I tried to accomodate everyone that asked for a ride and just told people to jump in the passenger seat if no one was there. Melanie Rushforth, Rushforth Wheels, did get the "best" ride and it was my final timed run for the competition. Came around the end, trailbraked into the corner, started rotation, and ended up doing this very cool slideways maneuver all the way around to track out. Kept my foot in it balancing the throttle as doing anything else would have been disaster. It was textbook perfect and I'd be hard pressed to do it again. Came out of the corner and planted the accelerator pedal to get to the next transitional section all the while both of us were laughing hysterically. A fitting end.

Hotchkis Sport Suspension were their typically fun selves and those guys are a huge part of making these events fun and enjoyable. It was also great to see John Hotchkis there watching and enjoying seeing his suspensions getting pounded on and thoroughly thrashed. I think the only thing I had to do was check/adjust air pressure and add a little power steering fluid to refill it after I bled it. It's cool to have such a turn-key, uncomplicated car ...

Cheers,
Mary Pozzi



P.S. And I was in the back seat when the Excursion ran ... at least that's where I was when the run started.