MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

http://www.mnautox.com/results/2009/...009_Series.htm

Congrats to a MattD aka 'martha' one of the MitsuStyle admin team for owning the SM class this year! Nice work man!

Also Brandon Ranvek came with on one of our cruises and owned the STU class!

These guys are highly competitive, so let's give them this ONE pat on the back and then get back to pretending they don't know a thing about driving to make sure they're fired up to rise up against the man! What man? Who knows. Silly cone dodgers. :)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2588/...cbe09fa46b.jpg

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Congrats Matt! Glad to see you're pretty good at not running over those pesky cones! haha ;)

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Good job D... for a republican. >:)

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

also a congrats to Hughes for placing 16th. At least you beat the acura. :)

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Woot woot! Nice!

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Congrats dude!

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Thanks, everyone. I left BSP for SM this year, leaving behind a well prepared BMW M3 to continue dominating there. A lot of people left SM for XP this year, which left me to be the most prepared car in the class.

Don't forget about Ryan (mustgofaster), he placed 2nd in XP, the highest class there is for a street car (or what once was). This past Sunday he turned the fastest raw time of the day in a car he had never driven, a completely gutted and highly modified Subaru Impreza L that has a WRX engine in it.

Regardless of what people drive, purpose built race car or a stock Miata, it still needs to be driven well to win. I changed a lot on my car this year, missed the first half of the season and it showed. I had not had any seat time since our Pro Kart league ended mid-winter, but as luck would have it I didn't face any stiff competition in my class. 2009 is in the books, time to look forward to 2010.

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Congrats. Can a fool try this in a Dsm?

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

LOL I only did one race event this year due to my clutch issues.

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Congrats Matt!

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Spaz does.

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Congrats!

I took the course this year but had too much going on and the car wasn't tuned at all. Next year I'm not changing things and plan to do a lot of autox. I even had my numbers registered and all made up, just never got a chance to use them yet.

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

wow man, congrats! I'm hoping to hit up more auto-x events next year for sure. The galant feels pretty sweet already. I'm quite excited.

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

There is a girl that comes to almost every event in her G6 GT, so there is absolutely no limit to what kind of car can participate. If you ever decide to be competitive then you will need to choose between building your car appropriately or building a car that is suitable for a certain class.

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

congrats guys!

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Congrats!!

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Good work!

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Very nice. The wing probably doesn't help much during auto-x, does it?

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Congrats on the championship Matt.


I'm going to have to try this eventually.

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Well done Matt!

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Not so much. You need aero like this for it to be effective in autocross:

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_...0001_large.jpg
http://www.crowmountainhillclimb.org...ts/Bowland.jpg

Yes, that is a real autocross car.

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Note: in the first pic the top elements of both wings are removed. Most likely to provide a better balance between drag and down force for a higher speed event.

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Thanks for the tips, I think i will just start and see where I end up from there.
Congrats again, Auto-x seems addicting as hell because everyone that does it just gets a crazy look in their eye and say they want more.

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

There is a reason the local events always fill up and there is a waiting list of people wanting to sign up in the morning of every event. If I recall correctly, Ryan, myself and Hughes (Kracka) all started around the same time, late 2007 into 2008, we didn't know what to expect at first but now we're all hooked to varying degrees. Ryan has already competed on the regional and national level, I hope to go to nationals next year.

As they say, autocross is the most fun you can have in a car with your clothes on. :)

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Congrats, guys. Great driving out there from cars sporting 'Style stickers every time I make it out.

It'll teach you throttle control really quick, they love to plow under any throttle in the really tight stuff.

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Oh for sure. My fwd 1g just fucking plows straight off the course unless I do some tricky braking to get the rear end light.



Congrats on the win Matt!

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

I'll be spectating next year, at the least. I'd hate to take up somebody's slot being a newb, tho.

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Just try it! At the very least sign up for the Novice School.

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Will definitely do that.

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Shawn Carroll, the guy with the silver Evo X at the dyno day, was within a second of Brandon Ranvek's time this weekend. Brandon placed 4th in his class at the national event. Shawn just started autocrossing this year. You have to start sometime, and the sooner you start the better.

There is a no-pressure non-competitive class for new people, we've all been there. I highly suggest doing the Novice School ASAP. Even if you decide autocross isn't your gig it's still a heck of a lot of seat time to throw your car around with some good instructors.

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Worst case scenario of taking the novice course: You decide you hate autocross but you still come out a better driver with improved car control. Its a $50 well-spent for anyone.

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

You should try road racing in brainerd next year. There is an instructor who races an EVO and they appear to handle great on the track.

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

We'll see, but paying a large amount of money to tool around a track in the car I drive to work every day doesn't interest me, honestly. In autocross I can step on the gas, mash the brakes and crank the wheel as hard as I want without having to worry about hitting a wall or landing upside down in some trees. Maybe I'll reconsider once the car has less value to me.

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Congrats!

But I thought driving in parking lots with cones was for 15 year olds???

I keed I keeeed :D

Great job man!!!!

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

The course in Brainerd is fairly wide open. I was a little concerned before also, but I got used to it. The instructors have a lot of experience (one was a F1 driver) and they are available to help all day. Nobody pushes anyone for speed so people are able to go at their comfort level. We saw mlomker there one day and he had a blast with his car.

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

I value my car also and wrecking was a concern the first time out. We don't hessitate at all in taking either James' or my car to the track now. Have seen several new GTRs there, ZR1 vettes, new vipers, GT40s, etc. Not that we don't care about our cars, there is not much to hit.

My concern about wrecking is only if for some reason I lose my brakes or have some kind of mechanical failure. Then trouble can happen. I have been off track several times and no concern about rolling or hitting anything. Actually I have alot more confidence in my car by due to spinning out. I am 99% sure the car will never roll on flat ground.

It is something where you go as fast as you want to go. Start off slower and gain speed with confidence. There is no pressure to go fast, 85% of people attending the driving school have never been there before.

You are a good driver and should do well. The car should do great.

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

I used to think the same thing! Then I tried it and found out what it's REALLY about.

I think I'm going to try and make it up to BIR again. (after I have my cooling issues taken care of) It's a very diffrent experince from AX, no timers so pushing the car doesn't matter much.

Re: MattD WINS MOWOG AutoX SM class for 2009!
 

Nice work Matt! Despite that pesky intercooler pipe you pulled it off. I guess we will see you in January.

Guys,
Autocross is a blast! If you have any inkling to try it, sign up for Novice school and be prepared to get addicted.

Shawn