My first foray into motorsports like most people was autocrossing. I started with the my first Ford Fiesta and my Fiat spider before it was restored. The Fiat was woefully inadequate, and I couldn't master rwd on the autocross course, but did okay with the fwd cars I owned. Two Fiestas and a Charger 2.2 preceded the 'Refridgerator', which was the car that really got me into driving cars instead of restoring them. While I still enjoy working on cars, I'm not so into the perfection and polishing of restoration as I used to be. You just can't top the fun of an entertaining, inexpensive beater car like the Fridge.
It was while I had the Fridge that I discovered SCCA ProRally. At the time it was a secret sport that few knew about, and I had no idea I had one of the premier events only 3 hours from my home in country my family regularly vacationed in! The thrill of watching, coupled with the fun of sliding cars around on gravel roads while being a spectator and course worker got me involved with Time-
Speed-Distance rallying, or TSDs. A nearby region put on a TSD 'endurance' rally that ran about six hours, mostly after dark and almost exclusively on dirt roads. Set at 'brisk' but legal speeds, it was incredibly exciting and an immense challenge. I used the Fridge for several years, then rented a car the year after I sold it as my CRX was deemed too nice (and too low) to handle the roads. When the Audi replaced the Honda, I used it for a couple of events until Scott set the Golf up as our rally car. The Audi went into Solo and driving school duty, retiring from the paint chip onslaught that was the Sunsetter/Jersey Bounce/Pine Barrens Express.
My unrealized dream is to actually drive in a SCCA ProRally. The car, time, money, support crew committment is huge, so it is still slightly out of my reach right now.
In 2000 Scott and I tried Rallycross, which is autocross but on an unpaved
course. We took the Golf to an event in New Jersey, did poorly, and were
a little dismayed how hard it was on the car. The venue wasn't the greatest,
so we may try it again some day. Yes, the front wheels are really off the
ground. I did that when Scott went to the rest room and couldn't see me.
SuperGolf was given it's death sentence in 2003 with over 200,000 brutal miles on it, but many of it's parts live on.
Bryner Raudibaugh's restored Fiat 850 spider
In August of 2000 I participated in my first 'real' racing event. I was offered a car to drive and helpful mentoring by a long-time Fiat buddy who had taken the step to road racing several years before. His regular race car was a GT-5 Fiat 128 sedan, but he had also restored the car above, which had been a hillclimb car since the day it was bought new. The car was essentially rescued from the junk man on it's way to the crusher. It's a great little vintage hillclimb car and I was truly privileged to have it as my first 'ride'.
The event was the Duryea Hillclimb in Reading, PA. We both drove the car in the Historic class, really outgunned by bigger engined machinery (Minis, MGs, Triumphs) but I did manage to not finish last in our class. The car was a delight to drive and made all the right noises. Having purchased all the personal safety gear and getting my feet wet, the decision was made to try to do the hillclimb series the following year with the Audi.
Preceding the hillclimb, I had taken two high performance driving schools with the NASA organization. After the first one, I upgraded the Audi to make it more competent (better tires, brakes and more power). After the second one, I was pretty happy with the car and felt it would be a lot of fun to run more seriously, though I doubted it would be competitive. So, I took the plunge and ordered the only roll bar made (Safety Devices of England) and planned on getting more serious.
After passing the Gestapo-like tech inspection, I ran my first competitive event with the Audi. As luck would have it, there were intermittent rains on Saturday, and since my main competition was all BMWs, I figured I would have a decent chance. It almost turned out that way. With no real experience on the hill, I managed to place squarely between the two 3 series BMWs in D street prepared. Unfortunately, there was also an awd Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS in our class that was very well driven, who left us totally in his wake. The faster BMW was only 2.1 seconds ahead, and I felt certain I could close that gap with practice.
Well, the next day dawned humid but mostly dry, and my ambitions coupled with my street tires just couldn't compete. I fell to the second BMW by just over a second, while the lead 325 was 3 seconds ahead. I blew at least one corner in my final run, but felt I really could have stayed between the two if I had a clean run. Overall I was pleased, though, considering the BMWs had far more power and at least one a much more experienced driver. I'm still running on stock springs and over-the-counter struts coupled with street tires, so the potential is there. The car did very well, now it's up to the driver to make it happen.
Summit Point Jefferson 2001
This was a Solo 1 event run on the smaller track at Summit. Basically, at this event I learned that street tires aren't going to cut it. I couldn't touch the BMW 3 series in my class. I think I prefer hillclimbs to this, even though I am pretty familiar with the track.
Here I am at the Pagoda hill climb 2002 (thanks to Ken Beard for the photo). I won this event...because I was the only car in my class! I next ran Rose Valley which is outside of Williamsport, PA and came in second to a new MINI (what the hell is that doing in D/SP???). Duryea is next and I fully expect to be trounced by the Impreza RS again. Here's hoping I can at least embarrass a BMW or two. I'm at least pleased my driving is steadily improving and I'm keeping my wits about me much better than before.
2003 update: I'm still running the car in hill climbs and track events (driving schools). I'm still getting whupped by the Subaru 2.5RS. The car is a fantastic track car though, and gives rwd cars like BMWs and Camaros fits through the twisties. I simply don't have the horsepower to compete on the straights. I ran the car at a NASA driving school at VIR and had the time of my life. Flat to the floor through the esses (full course)...what a thrill! It is the finest race track I have ever been to/on.
2004
Due to the SCCA's new rule on replacing harnesses every two years, I'm giving up hill climbs for the present. This rule by itself isn't reason enough, but combined with the general high cost of running these events and the short amount of seat time, it really makes little sense when compared to a track event. Don't get me wrong; hill climbs are a lot of fun and a unique challenge, but both the car and myself are happier on a race track, and you just can't beat the seat time/cost ratio with a NASA HPDE.
2005
Wheel to wheel racing? Considered it, though not with the Audi. It's too nice of a car to bang up on the track. It's also another expensive proposition, and I'm not quite 'there' yet. I'm also poking at the corners of vintage racing, as I like the atmosphere. However, racing an old car may not satisfy me. One this is certain; 'real' racing is not cheap, even in a spec class. Anyone considering jumping to racing should do a 'season' of on-track driving schools first and decide if the costs are affordable and worth it to you.
The important thing is I want to be out there doing something. So should you. Don't be content sitting on the sidelines with a fun car...use it! Those primp and polish car show guys have no idea what they are missing.
2006
At this point, I've taken the Audi about as far as I can without resorting to changing it in a big way. A street/track car is a compromise, no matter how you look at it. While fine for the occasional hobbyist driver, if you want to get serious, a dedicated track car is the only way to go. And buying someone else's money pit is a far cheaper way to do it than building your own. Heed this advice, which is given in every message board out there.
2008-2009
Except, do as I say, and not as I do. After several years of debating what to do next, I've finally made the decision to run a 'real' race car. However, since there aren't any pre-built cars available, I will have to build my own.
Brother-in-law Scott and I are both going to build Spec E30 BMW 3 series race cars. We figure we can get them on the track for about $8000 each, which is very little money. It will probably take at least a year to get the car to race car spec, learn how to drive it, and persue our competition licenses. You can follow along with my Spec E30 build here.
2009 Update: racing is expensive! Still trying to get together the funds having purchased a trailer for the car in 2008.
