Autocross # 3 - Sunshine, Cars and lots of smiles
by Brian Minkin, Autocross Chairperson

Sunday June 10th brought 20 Porsche Drivers and 18 assorted Marquees out to the Penn State Delaware County Campus to challenge their driving skills in RTR's Autocross #3. RTR members enjoyed the company of some guests from the Skyline Corvette Club. They traveled in from Reading to participate and observe how RTR holds an Autocross. Our Guests enjoyed a beautiful day with RTR members not only showing them how to organize an Autocross but driving their best as well and challenging the Corvette contingent with times that could not be beat.

Our course was set up in the opposite direction of the last two events. Unlike the last event where the turns were hard and sharp this course had more sweeping turns and challenged all the drivers with navigating a figure eight. Go figure, how could you get lost in a figure eight? Well we proved it could be done. The course included a large skid pad and we even had the bonus of having to avoid a large van parked for the weekend on the lot. Fortunately where the van was parked was a straight part of the course and it was easy to layout a safe path to avoid the van. Each driver had 6 runs and everyone got it right with a little practice and completed the course successfully.

As we have seen in the past events times got better and better with each run the drivers made. Many drivers dropped 20 to 30 seconds comparing their first run and best run. We had a new experience today with two non-Porsche drivers bringing out sporty pickup trucks. Nascar has nothing on us now! RTR male members better keep in practice. We are having more women drivers then ever before and they are improving with every run. Go for it ladies!

Fastest time of the day was kept in the RTR ranks with Dennis Angelisanti Sr. taking the Honors with 64.94 seconds. We all chased his heels and gave him some hot competition but he just kept shaving off those tenths of seconds. Fastest Non-Porsche time was Mazda Miata Driver Bill O"Toole Jr. with a time of 65.52 seconds. However I would like to point out that he did not win the Non-Porsche class of the event. Because the Non-Porsche cars are lumped together as one group a PAX index is applied to their times to equalize the power, weight and modifications of the cars. The PAX index we use is published by the SCCA. Once the PAX times were calculated Chris Woolard in a Honda Prelude took first place in the Non-Porsche class with a PAX time of 51.24 although his real clocked time was 65.53.

After the competition part of the event was over fun runs that don't count are held. Club member Skip Chalfont showed up with his 356 speedster and did a few fun runs that taught us all that its not the power of the car but rather the drivers skills. With about 86 horsepower he completed runs that made the 911 drivers quiver a bit. (Click here for "Speedster Page" Use Back to return)

Thanks to all the members that pitched in and helped with set up and tech today. I do have one more request for help. The loaner helmets that the club owns are getting very old and worn. Since drivers education now requires helmets that are Snell 95 or newer, if you own a Snell 90 Helmet and would like to donate it as a loaner for the Autocross program we are now taking all offers. Contact me and I will find a way to get it.

See everyone at the July 15th event.