The Old Girl can dance

[larry leung]

Glad you enjoyed it. Perhaps you'll seek more Auto-X's next year. When I Auto-X'd my type 44TQ, I was surprised that it actually has a lot of composure (as opposed to raw speed) when pushed. It's big and doesn't turn in anywhere near as well as my regular Auto-X'er (A2 GTi, prepped), but it was fun, just the same, at least it was after I switched to 16 x 7's, 205/55 Kumho 712's(it was a REAL pig on the 15 x 6's with 205/60 Proxes U1s), so that might be something to look into. If you really like the sport, you may wish to seek out something a bit faster (okay, in a straight line the Audi was a rocket compared to the GTi) and lighter, but for now, you're having fun. Just save your worn rubber for next year!

LL - NY (a.k.a. SCCA "Old Fartz" member)
-----Original Message-----
From: Kent McLean <kentmclean at mindspring.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2001 19:34:43 -0400
To: quattro at audifans.com
Subject: The Old Girl can dance


> Well, a slow dance, but she dances just the same.
> 
> Thanks to Lee Levitt and Jim McElroy for announcing the SCCNH's
> autocross and Audi Challenge today at NHIS in Loudon Cow Hampshire.
> It was only 10 miles from my apartment, so I just had to go. There's a
> first time for everything. My only concern was breaking something on
> my 200TQ and having to call AAA.
> 
> I got there early, registered ($25 for non-members) and walked the
> course 4 times before running it. At the drivers' meeting, they explained
> that each run was two laps. All right. There were two rules. 1) Have fun.
> 2) No belly aching. This is my kind of autocross.
> 
> I was in the first group, the Audi group. I borrowed a too-small helmet
> that hit the roof. Sucked it up. At the starting line. 3-2-1 Go!. The
> course was tight and narrow. My 200 TQ seemed so big. But I managed
> to work my way through it. I used only first gear the first lap, and
> managed 2nd gear twice in the second lap. I didn't hit a cone. I was
> quite pleased with my slow self.
> 
> Soon after I finished, the runs stopped and a long caravan of cars went
> out to parade around. During the lull in action, I asked the time keeper
> how I did.  "You DNF'd. You went off course too many times." Huh? I
> thought I was perfect. Went out on the course to talk with the corner
> workers. "Oh, yeah. You came out of the first turn and missed three
> gates."  I missed a few others later in the course.  So many others did
> the same thing that they let them drive the course. I missed that part;
> I was parking my car after my run.
> 
> Second run of the day was much better. I stayed on course. Time:
> 2:28.70. That's an awful lot of driving. I was disappointed we only got
> in two runs, but I've seen reports of other courses that might have
> three runs of 45 seconds each. So time-wise I was ahead of the game.
> 
> I spent about 6 hours at the course. For 5 minutes of running. But
> there was lots of sociallizing. Met Lee with his S6 Avant, a guy from
> Vermont with a black '91 200 TQ Avant (Dave?) who was also a first
> timer, and a guy from Portland Maine (sorry, didn't catch his name)
> that was running a 2001 Jetta 1.8T. The Blethens were out in force
> with their stable of Audis. And it was fun to see a Porsche 914 with
> a big V8 in its tail, an old Datsun 510 that ran very well, an ugly Chevy
> Blazer (!) that ran like stink and sounded great, plus a gaggle of
> Hondas and Miatas.
> 
> I had a great time. Unfortunately, it was the last autocross of the
> season.  Some of the drivers said that there are ice races on Newfound
> Lake in the winter. I can't wait for the cold and snow. (Did I say that?)
> 
> Autocrossing a Type 44 -- try it, you'll like it. Just don't expect to
> win anything. At least, not if you drive like me.
> 
> Kent McLean
> '89 200 TQ, "Bad Puppy", "#105"
> 
> 
> 

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