Simple question. Did most of you guys auto-x and do driving events for years before deciding to step up to actual wheel to wheel racing?

Technically you can do your required NASA events, get signed off in the advanced group and you are good to go correct? (not that it is a piece of cake that I just made it sound like)

I'm asking these questions just for the heck of it, because I'm sure I can have years of fun just doing driving events, but if I felt my skills were up to it and the funds were available (assume good job and still single ) what are the negatives to building a fun little ECHC car without years of on track experience?

 

none

 

I had about 4 years of heavy local and regional autocross before my first two SCCA schools and my first SCCA race in Summer 1990 (ITC Renault Encore and hydraulic brake failure-Joy!). Back in my day - turn off Grandpa voice- HDPEs and chances for track time in a street car didn't exist. On the otherhand, I all but grew up in the paddocks of SCCA Club Racing so I was predestined to be an impoverished Club Racer.

From my experience, autocrossers often make very good road racers as your reflexes and car control reactions are honed then you need to relax, look ahead, and not connect the dots. From there the HDPEs now give a chance to get on track with much less time and much more controlled situaitons. Some of both should be a great way up into W2W.

 

I still have never auto-x'd. I worked/flagged events for a good six months, then started doing HPDE in December of 2001. Got my provisional license in August of 2002 and it's been downhill ever since.

 

Two solo Is, then about thirty autox events, followed by another solo I. After that I did the scca double racing school to get a novice permit and started racing in IT.

 

I had 5 years of PS1/PS2 with GT1, GT2, GT3 Im still a pro with GT3 . Ontrack experience had NONE.

 

I haven't actually raced yet. My club requires 4-5 instructional days before they will license you to compete. I just completed my first day this past weekend, and if my improvement on just that one day was any indication, I'll be good and ready when I'm licensed. *joy*