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04:33:18 - 05/19/2024
Dakota Performance
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xplikt
Dodge Dakota
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7/21/2002
23:08:01
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 Subject: FIRST time auto-x race!! damn fun!
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*Here's the story, but for those of you who do not endeavour reading, skip to the bottom for a summary.* It's a short read, and I wrote it using semi-decent English...
Auto-crossing I've considered for a while, but never really took the plunge yet. However, today I took that leap of faith -- with, my truck. It was very interesting and I really enjoyed it, but most of all, I gave a real big surprise to the fellow racers and spectators.
So, this morning I drag myself out of bed to get an early start (8:00) to: Zaino, clean the brakes, increase the tyre pressure and so on; by 9:30 I was ready. 10:00, I went out to the local college for the sanctioned SCCA solo-2 race to see if I could run.
A friend of mine (runs a WRX) who has just started this year too, asked, "What's the standings on trucks?" and the man replied "Well, it really depends, if it's two-wheel drive and maybe lowered then yes, we'd really have to take a look at it and see." My friend points down to the end of the line (of Rx7, porches, camaros, mustangs, and Z-cars).
"You mean that blue truck?"
"Yeah"
"Oh, yeah, I think that'll do just fine, should be pretty fun, sign up on the Technical Sheet and we'll check'r through."
It turns out, I pass, no problems or concerns what-so-ever.
Since this was my first time racing, I was entered in the Novice class, that includes people who have never done this before -- me!
Finally, my turn is up and I stage. I hear the man on the intercom say "Next up is a Dodge Dakota pickup, we havn't had a pickup here in years, should be interesting." WHAM, a hard launch in first sent me towards the slalom and I hit second just I was entering the hard twists of the slalom. I drive as best I can, hitting every curve as fast and hard as I know how. About half way on going back through the track after a turn-around pount, I feel my foot trembling from the adrenaline rush. Back through the sloalms I go and past the finish!
Well, I thought to myself, lets see what horrible embarrasment you've done to yourself today. I check the boards, and my score was LOWER than the two Mustags (80 and one brand new with window sticker) before me and the late model 'Lude that was after me. At this point, I am now the fastest time in my class of eight people. The next few cars are modded-out Soobies and Zs and they totally waste me by at least five or six seconds.
Returning back to where people are watching, I am an object of discussion -- interesting I thought, because people do not know what you look like and y ou can listen in on the real truth. Turns out "Holy Sh*t!" was a pretty common expression in the audience when I was driving. My girlfriend ran up to me and explained to me how people were laughing ang pointing when they saw a truck come to the staging area. However, their jaws dropped when I took the corners harder than the previous Mustangs and finished with an excellent time, specially for a first-ever run. She also mentioned people saying that it sounded mean as hell -- thank /you/ MBRP!
My next race, I had about three people come up to me and ask to ride with me. Only, I declined them all because I was still a bit nervous and was trying to work off the adrenaline. On my fourth, and last run, a guy came up to me and I just decided what-the-hell and said yes. I finished that course with the fastest time, however I completely gibbed a cone. Afterwards he said it handles really well and he was very surprised it did, and does, what it did and it's doing! He said a little bouncy, but that's mostly due to the fact it's a stock truck, but it was cool.
People would ask me what I had "in that thing" to make it corner like that. Nothing I said, it's all stock and original equipment, I just have that exhaust on there. Their jaws dropped further.
The truck I ran today is a 2002 Dodge Dakota 2WD SLT+ 4.7L LS 3.92. I did pump the PSI to 47 on the stock tyres and rims. I also must tell you all, that these stock tyres, when pumped pretty good do not roll much at all, they do AWESOME. No freakin' way you would think, but the shoe polish does not lie.
In the end, the truck ran very well today and if any of you all have a chance to run in a SCCA event, I URGE you to do so. You will also meet some very cool people that have cars you will drool on. I can't wait to see what happens next month when I have the Hotchkis kit installed, the "ole pickup truck" will be back, without a doubt! Only hard part is, I will be in a class where everyone places about 6-8 seconds faster than I did today -- oh well though. Today I created a new respect for pickup trucks in solo-2, and in particuar, the Dodge Dakota.
(The times should be posted about mid-time this week and I'll be sure to post them!)
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WallyR
Dodge Dakota
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7/22/2002
00:03:57
| RE: FIRST time auto-x race!! damn fun!
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Good job and congrats!!
Wally
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rtdkota
Dodge Dakota
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7/22/2002
02:12:26
|  RE: FIRST time auto-x race!! damn fun!
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WAY TO GO.. Yeah, I got the SCCA bug about 2.5 years ago.. Tried 1/4 racing my RT on Saturday, then Sunday did the autocross-- Funny thing- a lot of the people with Mustangs/Corvettes were at the 1/4 mi track the day before... I got a lot of stares, and an standing ovation after my last run (I beat a mid 90s Mustang GT plus numerous mid 80s-90s Cameros). I've since gone the full Hotchkis route-- and beat a C5 Corvette in front of the Dakota RT Club in Detroit back 6/00 This year, the Dakota RT Club had Auto-x as an event in Tucson--- I won the Modified Class, Regular Cab... Want to have even MORE fun?? (With Hothckis you'll need to hold onto something, as the truck can literally throw you out of your seat)-- GET A TORSO STRAP. I bought one for $20 shipped. It slings around your seat, and you belt it across your upper chest... Take that, and tighten your seatbelt until it locks. You'll knock 2-3 seconds off your time with that alone if it's a twisty course!
Always walk the track too-- you'll get a better feel of what the line is.
Sam
www.socaldakota.com
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xplikt
Dodge Dakota
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7/22/2002
10:47:49
| RE: FIRST time auto-x race!! damn fun!
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Is it just me, or is it super addictive. Then the "high" of adrenaline isn't as good as before, so you gotta get faster and harder core. Funny how easily it relates.
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Hersbird
Dodge Dakota
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7/22/2002
23:34:24
| RE: FIRST time auto-x race!! damn fun!
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Hey that's awesome man! I've been wanting to try this as well but just lose track of time and always make other plans. If you ever think about coming down to run a course let me know and I'll be there. My brother will go with his WRX I bet too.
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xplikt
Dodge Dakota
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7/23/2002
11:07:37
| RE: FIRST time auto-x race!! damn fun!
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Actually, I was planning on trying to get you to come out to one of the high schools sometime. It's very addicting and I want to take a trip down to Missoula before the season is over to see if I can catch an event there too. Here's the website for our region:
http://www.micro-mania.net/sharpguy/events.htm
If I come down, a friend of mine with a WRX wagon will probably be coming with me, heh. A Dak and a Soobie, sound familiar?
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dak-quack
GenIII
7/23/2002
13:28:58
| RE: FIRST time auto-x race!! damn fun!
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xplikt, very cool, thanks for sharing!
2002 QC, 4.7 3.92 4x4 AT LSD
Formerly dakquad
NO MODS.....NONE!!!
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Eazy
Dodge Dakota
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7/23/2002
14:26:54
| RE: FIRST time auto-x race!! damn fun!
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That is a cool story. Do you know where to find these tracks at? I am in Chicago and what to find out where this racing takes place.
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xplikt
Dodge Dakota
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7/23/2002
16:14:23
| RE: FIRST time auto-x race!! damn fun!
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It's all over the place. Much more than where I am actually. Here the V8s are the ones with the best times of the day, lol.
I did a quick search and found the link below. What I entered was called SOLO II, but with you living near a much more populated area, you proably have access to even cooler things!
http://www.scca-chicago.com/
I quality for "Speed Freakz" from the SCCA, which gives me a better deal on the membership. I don't know how it is at other places, but where I am, if you join as a member the same day you race, you race for free.
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