Socks' First Autocross

Today, I managed to get out to my very first Autocross. However, I didn’t really have any cars that could compete (240sx still under construction and my Altima clutch is almost cooked), so I decided to borrow the fiancee’s 2003 Ford Focus. Yeah, it’s an automatic too.

Now, I’ve never raced in an autocross. I’ve never pushed her car. Shitty. Oh well, should be fun. I couldn’t get someone to cover my shift at work, so I only had time for one run.

First, here’s some of the field showing up.

My co-worker’s 1980 Volvo 240 GT. Stock everything from 1980. It turns like a boat.

More competition.


In a move of stupidity during registration, I decided on “01” as the number for the car. I thought, “Heh, good old General Lee.”
They thought, “You’re going first.”
Crap.

So, now I’m the first one to go on the track, on my first autocross, in a car I have no experience in. Oh yeah, and it’s an automatic. Wonderful.

The course:


Some more cars.


The nose of the Focus. Also, bonus XR4Ti and Sierra Cosworth front ends.

I thought that the Jetta was running and was excitied because I thought I’d have some good competition. Turns out it was a tow vehicle for a kart. Damn.

Focus lining up.




And I’m off!


And I’m driving with my arm out the window? What the hell?

Oh. I missed a cone on the back stretch and got a DNF. I had to drive on the outside of the course all the way back. Shitty.

When I was coming out of a sharp corner, I accidently smacked the center shifter into neuteral. I tried to accelerate out of the corner and just pegged the rev limited. I looked down and saw that it was in N, so I dropped it back into drive and looked up… to see me blowing by a cone and failing. CRAP! The worst part was, it was my only run I had time for before work. Really shitty.

Dear Focus, Mr. H-Stock, you were fun for about 30seconds before failing the course.

The guys running it said next time I come out, they’d let me run for free since I didn’t get a chance to really get my time out there.

Oh well, I learned a lot and hope to perform better next time. The only thing I did to the car was up the front tire pressure to 40psi.

I’m fixing my 1997 Nissan Altima SE’s clutch right now so I can run it on the next event.