Issue link: http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/i/100963
Autocross Action! Tim Kornacki October 30th began like most other mornings of a PNWR/PCA Autocross event. It involved rolling out of bed at an unspeakable hour. Final items were loaded into the faithful 914, some for the last time. Certain things critical to the the running of these events would, after today, no longer be our responsibility. Today was going to be a bit different. This was the final event of the 2011 season, and would be the last that we would preside over as the Autocross Chairs. The day started wet, not pouring down rain, more of a constant mist that kept anything exposed quite damp. We came prepared with rain gear - highly recommended for autocrossing in the Pacific NW - but a 41 year old targa is by no means equipped to handle the wet in any way that 10 could be described as a comfortable manner by modern standards. To say a 914 doesn���t defrost well is quite an understatement. We were lucky to have marginally clear vision directly in front of us. To get a look out the side glass to see the mirror involved a swipe of the shirt sleeve. Sure it���s cold outside, but inside, it is an oven. This just to keep that marginal forward visibility I mentioned earlier. If you can���t be dry, at least you can be warm. We arrived on site to unlock the gate for the day���s festivities after a brief stop at McD���s for some ���to go��� breakfast. Even though my watch indicated 0-dark-30, it really felt more like 10 after. It was still nighttime by the looks of it. The rotating searchlight of the airport was made all the more visible in the dense, moist air. November 2011 The first group to run was the Stock class cars, which are required to run on street tires. Modern tire technology has given rise to some very sticky tires being available for cars in the Stock classes. In less than favorable temperature and moisture conditions, some of these tires can rival the grip of some of the stickier race, or ���R-,��� compound tires. Several of the stock cars also had the wet weather advantage of all wheel drive, one even had ���torque vectoring technology.��� Who would prevail? Alex Rosser maintained his lead throughout the run group to win the S2 class. Gary Elwood borrowed Tom Bogaard���s 968 and put it to good use, besting the car owner by less than .2 seconds on his last run, pushing Tom down to third place. S3 has been dominated by Mike Swale at every event he entered this season. Hoping to gain an advantage to help his points standings, Dave Bell co-drove Mike���s car. By the 4th and final runs, Mike was leading Dave and was looking at finishing a season of complete domination. I watched the last competitor���s final run in this class very closely. He was driving a 1989 964 C4, perhaps not the ultimate autocross car. Other cars in this class have more power, more tire, more driver aids. To those unfamiliar with the sport of autocross, his run appeared very smooth, no over braking, no twitchy recoveries. It looked effortless. It was all of those things, which I knew meant one thing - it was fast! Not the ultimate autocross car, except when in the hands of a skilled driver, in the rain. Jeff Parks turned an amazing time to take the win and break Mike���s streak.