Hit the tripod, not the timer,” was one of the first bits of advice I received when I attended my first CVR AutoX event in Hartford on Memorial Day weekend. The timer costs a bit more than the tripod, and the offending driver must pay the price if either of these items is accidentally destroyed. No, this is not a common occurrence. But the banter let me know that it was going to be an exciting day and not one to take too seriously. As long as safety protocols are followed, it is designed to be a fun and friendly competition. Fortunately, neither myself nor any of the other drivers even came close to hitting the tripods or the timer, although a few cones were knocked out of place as 911s, Caymans, and other models whizzed past them while maneuvering through the slaloms, hairpin turns, and gates in the course.
I was excited to participate after speaking with instructor and event organizer Paul Kudra at the Porsche Sampler in April. He assured me that my 1981 911SC Targa wouldn’t incur any undue stress to the tires or brakes, which was a concern. I didn’t want that type of maintenance to eat into my budget, particularly if I got the autocross bug (which, spoiler alert, I did). My classic G body model would be a great contender in such an environment, Kudra explained. And he was correct.
After signing up for the event (the second one of the year), I took a few recommended steps to make sure I was prepared. I emptied the 911 of all loose items, including an original (albeit rusty) toolset I didn’t know I possessed, the driver-side floor mat that could interfere with the pedals, a fire extinguisher, and objects in the glove compartment.

I was able to use a motorcycle helmet because it’s Snell approved, but CVR also has loaner helmets for novices. I checked the tire pressure and filled up the gas tank. I also used painter’s tape to affix an “81” on the side windows, and I was happy to see I wasn’t the only one with blue, slightly crooked numbers blazoned across my 911. Participants are allowed to choose their number, so I picked one to reflect my car’s birth year.
The organizers of AutoX come up with a theme for each event, and this one focused on concepts such as cornering dynamics and shuffle steering. As a novice. I was not able to take full advantage of these concepts because my brain was engaged on so many new things all at once, such as figuring out the cones’ directions. But I did consciously think about shuffle steering and was informed by one of the instructors, Ed Bogue, who had an opportunity to drive my car, that it would behoove me to fix the stitching on my steering wheel for a faster response time. Duly noted, and it’s good to know that it’s a DIY solution.
One of the best things about being a novice is that the instructors will ride in the co-pilot position and assist you on the course. I chose to ride with instructors on all of my six runs. The more real-time feedback the better, in my opinion. It was an opportunity to learn about the direction of the course, the way to maneuver around the cones, and how to shift and hit the gas in the appropriate spots.

My first run was essentially a slow drive-through to get acclimated to the sea of cones. My best runs were 10 seconds faster than the snail-paced first one, which shows you how sloth-like I went that first go-around. I purposely did not check my times until the very end because like my golf score, it really didn’t matter. My best run was five seconds slower than the fourth-place winner in the novice group, so I’ve got some improvements ahead of me. However, considering I was driving a 41-year-old, manual transmission 911 I didn’t feel too bad about my lack of ribbon (although I really, really would love a fourth place in the next event!).
There were 52 participants, and just two of us were women. Longtime autocrosser and CVR member Pam Kudra did not participate but was a great cheerleader to this inexperienced driver. While women drivers were rare on the asphalt, the lack of a female squad did not detract from the camaraderie I felt among the other participants and instructors. Everyone was welcoming but most of all encouraging. They observed the runs, gave some instructions, and pumped us up to build confidence.
While I was unable to remember everything I learned (and I learned a lot), I was able to jot down some key concepts. First, go tight on the turns in the slalom and turn before encountering the cone, not after. Don’t cross your arms when steering—shuffle them over the wheel. And sometimes it’s better to let off the gas to slow down versus hitting the brakes.
My one regret is that I didn’t try autocross years ago. But you’re never too old to learn, and it really doesn’t matter what type of Porsche you drive as long as it’s road worthy. These cars were meant to be driven, after all.
At the very least, participating in an AutoX event will sharpen your driving skills. It will get you familiar with your Porsche’s limitations. As the driver of a classic 911, I’d like to know those limits so I can go there if I need to but not push too hard so that it becomes a problem. Also, squealing the tires is a good thing (and can bring a round of cheers from the spectators). If you want to know why, you’ll have to participate in the next event to find out.
Sounds like CVR has another potential AutoX-U alumna :>)
Welcome.
Everyone’s assignment:
Check the spelling for alumnus vs alumna
Class will reconvene on the 9th