Tag: Autocross

  • Running on Fumes: Grassroots.

    This is to you true grassroots guys (and gals). This is to those of you who scrounge up every last dollar and cent just to go visit the racetrack every month. This is to the autocrossers, roadcoursers, drifters, dragracers and rallycrossers. To those who value ducttape and zipties more than anything. To those of you who take a car worth a tenth of the cars you destroy at the track.

    National Speed - Autocrossing Miata

    Sure, there are enthusiasts of all types. There are Multi-million dollar factory backed raceteams, but I don’t personally think of them as “Enthusiasts”. Grassroots motorsports is all about having fun with what you got. It doesn’t matter whether it’s your backyard built driftcar or daily driver, it’s all about just going out. It’s understanding what makes a car not just an appliance. It’s about appreciation. Throwing your hoosiers in the backseat, filling the trunk with tools, driving across state lines for an event, kicking ass and driving back.

    National Speed - Drifting FC

    In my opinion, Grassroots drivers are the REAL enthusiasts.

    This is to you.


    To our readers, What’s YOUR grassroots discipline?

  • What is Gymkhana?

    Gymkhana

    For those wondering, Gymkhana is basically a mixture of autocross and drifting, with other additional skillful maneuvers thrown in as well. Cones represent obstacles to navigate through. The “obstacles” involve many highly difficult driving maneuvers such as 360 spins, parking boxes, and figure eights…in other words my daily commute. For those of you talking trash about your epic driving skills in a parking lot, if you think you’ve got the guts, take it to a Gymkhana event and see how you stack up.

    Ken Block took the Gymkhana idea a little further and created an insane course at El Toro air station in Orange County using everything around as an obstacle, including an aircraft hanger and a house. Vehicle of choice? 530AWHP Crawford tuned STi. Yep…that’ll do it. Four sets of tires well used in my opinion.