[Evil86]

I am really enjoying this discussion on autox vs. road. I discovered both at Bondurant. I took the three day HPDE program, and it was well worth the money. I got to understand allure of oval, autox, and track. I really like the road course, and the implicit danger is thrilling, but the potential costs are daunting - wear and tear on equipment and replacing stuff frequently; the possibility of stuffin' it and hurting my car, or me, or both; and the financial outlay.

Autox, not so much, not to say there is not insane amounts of money spent at the top levels - Cosworth engines, Penske shocks, racing tires shot after one event.

Renfield 90 alluded to the what autox teaches: handling skills at the extremes and how to turn, both which are needed for real road racing. The first, driving at the extremes is hazardous at the track because it really creates the chance of going over the line, whereas, in autox, if you don't drive at the limit, the whole time, and still within control, you will lose.

Btw, you want road course terror, ride the damned van on the road course with a Bondurant instructor. The van is unstable, it handles like crap, it is beat up, and if it blow a rear tire, it will roll, but that lunatic drives it at break neck speeds on the course with one hand on the wheel as he points out key features with his other hand.