My mommie won't let me autocross :(

[DSC]

<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('> Well I was about to register for my first auto-x event for nov 24 and I was telling my mom about it and she said I couldn't do it <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('> (yes I live with my parents, i'm only 17) I told her there isn't any possable way to wreck the car, the worst thing that could happen would be a scratch if i hit a cone but she is still worried that I'll get hurt or mess up my car (that I'm paying for BTW) Any ideas of what I can say to show her how safe it is? Actually its probably safer than my drive to work every day cauz I'll be by myself on the (cone) track. Grr, I was gettin excited about next month too!

[ca18guy]

I know what you can do. Don't tell her what your doing. The old &quot;mom i'm going to a friend's house&quot; trick work's for any situation <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[whateverjames]

if you have enough money saved up if anything breaks (i don't have a clue what would go bad, either, besides tires) then you can convince your mom that if it breaks, you'll pay for it, and you're paying for the car anyways. but also, if you don't have any money saved up, your mom doesn't want to bail you out when you wear out your tires or if you burnt your clutch or blew a seal or gasket.

[BlankFlip]

i think u should just be able to go cuz of the fact that ur 17. have u had incidents where u wrecked a car before or something?

[J300z28]

ask her to go with you, that way she can take pictures of you autoxing and she can see it's very safe.

[DSC]

Nope, never wrecked or anything. The thing is, the car is under my dads name (I coudn't get the loan myself cauz I'm under 18) and they require the owner and driver to be there to sign waivers, so my dad would have to come and so my mom would know about it. I'm pretty sure my dad would be cool with it though, so maybe we can team up on my mom and make her say yes...she hates it when he takes my side <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

BTW if you see my old (wrecked) car on my website and were wondering, my sister wrecked it, I've never even had a fender bender or speeding ticket or anything.

(Edited by DSC at 1:56 pm on Oct. 21, 2001)

[BlankFlip]

that's cool, i would definitely go to ur dad n go to it, i wanna go to one real bad, but nothing really happens around my area.

[HippoSleek]

I would try to tell her about the benefits of autocrossing. &nbsp;Make sure that she knows that it is not a head to head competition. &nbsp;That it is safe (helmets, open spaces, lower speeds than a freeway, cone marks come right off w/ cleaner wax). &nbsp;Also push that it will help you become a better driver by allowing you to learn car control over speed. &nbsp;

I know that since I started autox and lapping days, my driving has improved b/c I have learned the limits of the car, the surfaces, and my own ability. &nbsp;

[BlankFlip]

can someone describe a typical course set up? r they hard? how long do they take? stuff like that. thanks.

[transient]

Personally, I think i'm a drag racing kinda guy. My mom doesn't want me to do that, but oh well. She thinks that it would make our insurance go up.

[DSC]

Heh, as long as you don't tell them, I can't see how it would go up. &nbsp;Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think if they know you race they take insurance away all together.

[my240likenoother]

i think that drag racing is kinda boring i thought it would of giving me a bigger rush
well 16sec and that fast
when you start to get in the 10-11's than i can see it getting more fun
now going on tha back roads around me is fun doing 50 down crazy windy roads that r only 1 car lengh wide when another car is coming 1 of you have to pull over
night time is the only time you can do 50 &nbsp;(headlights)

[LanceS13]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from HippoSleek on 4<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>4 pm on Oct. 21, 2001
I would try to tell her about the benefits of autocrossing. Make sure that she knows that it is not a head to head competition. That it is safe (helmets, open spaces, lower speeds than a freeway, cone marks come right off w/ cleaner wax). Also push that it will help you become a better driver by allowing you to learn car control over speed.
</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
...exactly.
My mom still doesn't fully understand the benefits (she's not a car person), but she trusts me and knows I'm a good driver anyway. &nbsp;I got my dad to help me convince her my first time....and that was with me using her car (!!!) b/c I was driving a Chevy Z-71 at the time. &nbsp;Another thing to add to Hippo's list is that there are alot of helpful people at the events...you can even ride shotgun with somebody b4 your run so you can get a better feel of what's going on. &nbsp;They will also usually help you with your car (MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PLENTY OF AIR PRESSURE!). &nbsp;If it were me, I wouldn't go the sneaky route (unless you're really good at stuff like that <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>)...but that's just me.

[HippoSleek]

Two things:
1. &nbsp;The plea - HPDE (High Performance Driver's Education) schools are accepted by some insurance companies as driver training and actually lower your rates. &nbsp;An autox isn't one - but it is in line with one. &nbsp;Also Lance it totally right about meeting people who will help your driving.

2. &nbsp;Insurance - You can't be dropped for racing on a closed course in your street car; however, insurance may refuse to pay a claim from a street racing incident b/c it constitutes racing. &nbsp;Keep in mind that if anything happens to your car on any TRACK - dragstrip, autox lot, or circuit - insurance is void. &nbsp;There are exclusions for this type of activity built into the policy. &nbsp;

[IceTekGuy]

hey, my mom didnt want me to race MotoX, but i got all the stuff signed by my freinds dad, and then when i did get to the first race, we took alot of pics, and some video footage, i showed it to her, she got pissed for all of 1 min, and then she realized i was good, and that it aint sooo bad, now she asks me if i need more parts to make my bike faster... lol
christmas is commin around, i think its time for a pro series pipe... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

so if your bent on doin it, do what i did, and show her, let her pimp slap you once, and she'll get hooked on the video, and thats it
she's sold

[transient]

Hey, so can anyone get me the information about insurance and stuff? Like... does the track have an accident insurance policy or anything like that, or are you signing wavers? I just had a talk with my mom, and though she knows absolutely nothing about it, she insists that I could collide with someone else or something.

Just in case though... what exactly would happen if there was an accident? Is there any insurance covering me at all, or am I completely on my own?

[LanceS13]

I don't have my s.c.c.a. membership stuff with me to confirm anything on the insurance....but if they do insure autox's you're most likely never gonna need it if you have half a brain about you.
-There are no other cars on track to collide with.
-You will hit a cone here and there but they don't damage anything
-The only incident I've seen in which a body panel was dented was when some guy brought an old Sunbeam with too much power for the crappy bald tires he was driving on and he spun at a turnaround and took out a &quot;carpenter's horse&quot; they were using to hold up the flagline barrier. The dent was easily hammered out b/c by the time he got that far off course he had almost stopped spinning.
-The main thing to remember is if you lose control, forget about the cones and course and concentrate on stopping the car.
-Bottom line...it's is a very safe sport. It's most likely 100x safer than high school football and how many parents do you know are all gung-ho about their kid being on the football team? It teaches you what your car will do in different situations and improves your reaction time and quick thinking process...after you get some events under your belt, you will be a much better driver in general.

(Edited by LanceS13 at 7:26 pm on Oct. 22, 2001)

[groundzero]

Even though my 240 belongs to me, my mother still doesn't agree with me driving fast...I tell her this, &quot;mom im old enough to know my decisions in life&quot; I know this is a dangerous sport when things get out of hand, but you can get in an accident anywhere...when you go 25mph you can get killed...Or just take her for a drive one day, and show her that you're a safe driver...Thats what I do, and my parents trust my driving skill, but you know I do got some handles on the road...;)

[bing]

do it, race hard.....

oh yeah i decided to start trying to drift in parking lots, nowhere yet but i'll keep at it

[HippoSleek]

The insurance carried by the event or local club will only handle negligence in operating the event (i.e., their mistake causes your accident). &nbsp;Driving off the course, through the parking lot and into someone else's car (or similar acts that are impossible if not intended) would not be covered. &nbsp;Otherwise, as at any track event, you sign a waiver that you are engaging in an &quot;ultra-hazardous&quot; activity. &nbsp;In autox, parking lot courses are generally safe but may have some fixed objects that can do serious damage if you are totally out of control. &nbsp;I've only seen accidents, however, on autoxes held on race tracks (and those were UGLY).