i was thinking about asking for a subscription to this magazine for a christmas present and just wondering if it was any good. i have never seen it on a news stand so hopefully someone here has read it. please let me know

 

I get it at work along with a large number of other car mags. It is a b/w newpaper format and probably 80-90% is results from nationals and large regional autocrosses and a half dozen columns. It is ultra-focussed on autocrossers so it will only be of interest if you follow the hardcore autcross scene. There are a very limited number of technical features although they do show up periodically. There is a large classified ad section at therear but I have never found anything that I was interested in buying.

If you are or aspire to be in the highest ranks of autocross, are looking for a pretty thorough autocross event schedule and want tons of results articles on past events, this is a pretty good read. If you are outside that narrow niche, it doesn't offer much.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CRX Lee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It is ultra-focussed on autocrossers so it will only be of interest if you follow the hardcore autcross scene.</TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL.

Although I am aware that there is a hardcore autocross scene, it never ceases to amaze me. Most of the hardcore autocross guys could go racing for real for the same kind of money.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rotten &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Although I am aware that there is a hardcore autocross scene, it never ceases to amaze me. Most of the hardcore autocross guys could go racing for real for the same kind of money.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I am amazed at the number of motorcoaches I see at big autocross events that are worth more than my house and autocross cars that are worth more than my racecar and tow vehicle combined. All for about 5 minutes or so of actual seat time.

My pulse doesn't get going fast enough in a car in that short a time to take it that seriously. But it works for a lot of people and has become a very serious motorsports for a lot of people and some very good drivers. I have always said "If you find your niche, scratch it..."

 

Not another one of these threads (rr vs. autox). Could we stay focused on the title topic please?

 

it sounds like grassroots would probably be a better read for me since im just a beginner?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Not another one of these threads (rr vs. autox). Could we stay focused on the title topic please?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't think that was Lee's original intent.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Not another one of these threads (rr vs. autox). Could we stay focused on the title topic please?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Not in the least bit suggesting one is better than the other, just do the one that you like if it works for you or do both if you like. I did both this season including winning a 2 day Cen-Div Solo II Series event (note my avatar with pylons in it).

The question was about reading a hardcore autocross publication. A comment was made about people taking iautocross very seriously and spending a lot of money doing it. I agreed that some spend a great deal of money and that makes them hardcore autocrossers who are likely to read that publication. If you are not really hardcore, maybe that publication might be too much.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by coot_er &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it sounds like grassroots would probably be a better read for me since im just a beginner?</TD></TR></TABLE>

We try to cater to both the novice and the expert. If you'd like to see a sample copy of the magazine, just let me know.

 

It wasn't directed at Lee as he didn't make the comment (perhaps I should have quoted the text, but I thought it to be obvious). But you've seen threads go downhill for much less.

I wanted to hear about NAP a little more too, since it has been a couple of years since I have read it, and there were items about it then that could have been slightly better.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rotten &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Most of the hardcore autocross guys could go racing for real for the same kind of money.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't know a single autocrosser who has "repair body damage" in his/her budget.

Pat

 

Even as a hardcore autocrosser I never had very much interest in NAP. I think I kept a subscription for around 2 years but honestly only found about 1% interesting, and what I did find interesting I had already heard/read about elsewhere. My GRM subscription is of much more value to me.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by coot_er &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it sounds like grassroots would probably be a better read for me since im just a beginner?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Probably. GRM definetely covers a little bit of everything related to amateur motorsports. A good mix of street cars, race cars, tech info, and "silly stuff" (GRM Challenge, etc). Enough technical info to teach me stuff, but not so much that I feel st00pid. If you haven't read it yet, take them up on their offer of a free copy.

 

Personal Humble Opinion Follows:

NAP was a great resource pre-internet, purely for the consolidated schedule. I let my subscription lapse 5 or 7 years ago, due to being able to find more event info on-line at that point. I also was on the SEB during that time frame, and I got tired of John Kelly's self-interest rants on how incompetent we were, and that our gang of 8 still had something personally against him and his Lotus 7A over events that occurred easily 20+ years prior.

Also, publication was erratic at best. At one point, even with extra cost 1st class delivery, issues were arriving up to 2 months late.

I'll add to the chorus: Grassroots Motorsports is a better rag for a newbie, presenting all forms of racing/autocross and even rally evenly.

P.S. I say that even as a "hard-core" autocrosser, complete with the pimpy $50k+ one ton crew cab and enclosed trailer tow rig. The reason I do it as opposed to track events is strictly a time/effort committment issue. I don't have nights on end to work on the car in the garage. Also, now that my kids are 8 and above, they get their fix in the family Briggs kart at autocross events too.