I raced 45 mph go-carts tonight and LOVED it. It's just so awesome to be driving freely and however fast you want. I don't know if i was any good, since all the go-carts were different, but it was a blast. I'm in the central Illinois area, so hopefully I'll be able to get plugged in soon.

 

if you want to autocross (either with your gokart or civic), since you're sorta local to me depending how far you are from chicago you can try these clubs

www.tsscc.org
www.scca-chicago.com
www.waiautox.com
www.scca-southbend.com
www.windycitymiataclub.com

there's also a club down in champaign that you should find through google...i don't autox with them cus it's too far for me

 

What is the next step up from auto-x usually if you are really good like you are?

 

Solo I: Hill climbs and time trials. You reach higher speeds, but you need more safety equipment (suit, gloves, shoes, socks, SA helmet, baclava (facial hair), nomex underwear), roll bar/cage, SFI approved harnesses, fire suppression system, window nets OR arm restraints.

Also more chance of really crashing your car. I saw an Eclipse go off a cliff couple of years ago after a rain storm. That was ugly.

From there you could get into Club Racing which is on actual tracks going door to door.

But to say I'm really good is a bit too much I"m not up there just yet.

 

About how much seat time do you have? How old are you? When did you start?
Just kind of curious, I've seen videos of circuit stuff and that looks like even more fun. Hill climbs, what are those? When do you go against other cars? And you need facial hair? (not so serious on that one just a little confused. h: )

 

1. I've been autocrossing for 8 years.
2. I just turned 33 (wish I would have started sooner though).
3. I started in September 1997 with the Lancaster Corvette Club.

Here's two vids of Hill Climbs.
http://www.mikelouietkd.com/hyde_duryea_04.mpg (20mb)
http://www.mikelouietkd.com/duryea.wmv (13mb)

Basically what the name says. There are some place in PA where it originated. You basically get to the top as fast as possible without going off a cliff or crashing into a tree. Which is why you need safety equipment. Racing is not cheap especially if you only race your daily driver and you kill it. Then you don't have a car anymore Which is why most guys start to trailer their car to events.

You can go against other cars when you pass your racing license. Look up SCCA or NASA.

And no you don't need facial hair, but if you do have facial hair you need a bacalava.

 

That hill climb was intense.
Guy was on the edge of loosing it a few times over bumps and at the exits. Looked like he was WOT in fourth for so long. Do they do downhill too? Is that just a public road closed off? What car was that, must've been FWD. First vid.

Second vid was a whole lotta noise but not a whole lotta go. :chuckles: Looked like he was getting lots of wheelspin at the exits though, he didn't look as good as the first guy. Was that one FWD too?

 

why not hpde? you get to start learning a little higher speeds than autox and not much safety equipment required?

 

Both of the same guy. MR2 turbo. His screen name is Mr. Hyde somewhere. It's a FAST MR2 I don't know if there's downhills probably not since it's safer to go uphill and that's why it's call hill climbs

And yes they are public roads that are closed off. Duryea (same as Pagoda but longer) is in Reading in the spring, and Pagoda is in the fall (Pagoda at the top of the mountain). Actually Duryea is coming up at the end of this month.

 

He's asking about competition not schools. HPDE is a school.