An unusual autocross to say the least (1980)

[SVThis]

On a Sunday morning in 1980, A friend called and wanted to autocross. We knew of an abandoned motel near LaPorte that might work. We all gathered there, set out a few odd pylons we had along with plastic cans and milk bottles to lay out a course around a gas island in front with grass growing through the cracks in the pavement. We labeled this event The Impromptu Autocross.

I realize this has nothing to do with FRS's or BRZ's, but it shows the passion we had for the sport.

People complain today about the surfaces you have to run on






A few casualties were to be expected


Our timers

[SVThis]

The eventual winner

[jstn]

Your eventual winner has a pretty sweet shirt on there.

I wish we could still just pull up in an old lot and fuck around without getting chased off by the cops.

[Rayme]

Amazing post ! Thanks for the mini documentary

[Hanakuso]

Cool story bro. No really!

[ft86Fan]

Very nice. This is what I call passion for the sport.

[SVThis]

This was during an era before safety stewards and being politically correct came into fashion. I used to put on events that we wouldn't even think about running today.

One of our favorite places to run was a place called Durren Farms located near Waterviliet Mi. The track was built by Bob Durren back in the late 50's and served as a test track for setting up his race cars (Alfas). The track was smack in the middle of rolling farm land and was only about 10 feet wide. In other words there was no room for error. It had just about everything you'd want in a track with off camber corners, blind corners, hill crests you couldn't see over, ect. In other words it was unsafe as hell. Back then we could care less. If someone rolled a car over (which happened quite frequently) we would push it out to the road and roll it into a ditch. Gee oficer someone ran me off the road.

The track was eventually sold to Dan Schnitta who just happens to be the man behind Gingerman Raceway. So in essence Durren Farms eventually led to the building of Gingerman.

I remember running at Durren the last time ever. A group of South Bend Region SCCA autocrossers got together to help clean off the track since it hadn't been run on for several years. It was in the mid 90's that day and we had to remove grass that had over grown and cow shit. Yes there were animals that sometimes would walk onto the track. Just made it a little more interesting

I drove my 74 Super Duty 455 Trans AM for the last event ever held there. I set the class record in F stock that day. It still stands as no one has ever competed there again. Afterwards we all went to the Keeler Bar down the road where they had a guiter player named Rich Ferarri, who passed out song books so you could sing a long with him.

Many times the drives home were even more interesting than the events. I remember one time there was a string of about ten cars that were hitting 115 mph coming up US 31 on a Sunday afternoon. Of course I was leading the procession. Amazing we're still alive or not still spending time in jail.

Simpler times back then but the memories still live on.

[GTB/ZR-1]

This is great stuff--I'm sure it feels like yesterday to you, sometimes...

My 1st event was in '83 @ a Xerox parking lot in upstate, NY. I literally hit 30-40 cones on my first ever run--I was promptly paired with an instructor...

We're old, dude... Lol

[SVThis]

Originally Posted by GTB/ZR-1

This is great stuff--I'm sure it feels like yesterday to you, sometimes...

My 1st event was in '83 @ a Xerox parking lot in upstate, NY. I literally hit 30-40 cones on my first ever run--I was promptly paired with an instructor...

We're old, dude... Lol

You're correct about the being old. I still think of myself as I was 35 years ago. Then I look in a mirror and see an old bastard and I realize it's me.

[BeltedBiscuit]

This a really great thread. I love reading about old track day / auto X events that had nothing but the drivers running it. I started running my first events in 1999 at the Streets of Willow. We didn't even have flag workers or fire rescue at the track and that was only 14 years ago. Basically, you just went out on track and hope you didn't kill your self or anyone else.

[bestwheelbase]

@SVThis we need to hear more stories like this. Stories that remind us this hobby is about having fun with friends and making memories.

Originally Posted by GTB/ZR-1

This is great stuff--I'm sure it feels like yesterday to you, sometimes...

My 1st event was in '83 @ a Xerox parking lot in upstate, NY. I literally hit 30-40 cones on my first ever run--I was promptly paired with an instructor...

We're old, dude... Lol

GTB/ZR-1 what did you drive at that event in '83? Got any pictures?

Nowadays everybody wants to make these super high resolution beautifully manipulated digital wallpapers but I'll tell you what -- there's something just as compelling (if not moreso) about the candid snapshots taken while in the moment.

[2point0]

Haha awesome pics, man! Love the car, too. My pop had a brown one back in the day.

There's a small lot that looks just like that anot far from me, but it's in view of the freeway next to a Fry's Electronics. Every time I go by I'm all "I wonder..."

Fun fact: I was born that year...lol. Thanks for making me not feel so old on this forum anymore.

:happy0180:

[GTB/ZR-1]

Originally Posted by bestwheelbase

GTB/ZR-1 what did you drive at that event in '83? Got any pictures?

I really wish I did... It was a new Camaro (at the time), 305ci, ~140bhp (I think), 5spd, and unbelievably slow & anemic. My FR-S would have destroyed it. lol

[DarkSunrise]

Looks like fun times!