The Results - 1999

1999 was a huge year for Legal Eagle Racing, as it was when the whole thing began. My brother, Scott, started autocrossing in the middle of the summer, after the Southern WV Region's (SoWV) big event at Yeager Airport. It took a little convincing, but the Legal Eagle Racing Escort finally made it's debut on 19 September 1999.

That first event, held Laidley Field in Charleston, WV was a little overwhelming, as you might imagine. You could tell, as I finished fifth out of 5 entries in H Stock. On the plus side, however, this was the first even I had been to over the summer (as a spectator) that had more than 1 or 2 cars show up for this class. The novice group at this event included myself and a very fast Hyundai Accent GT which I've been chasing ever since. Over the course of the day I managed to shave 2.5 seconds off my time, never dropping a cone. I learned a lot and I knew I had to do this again, soon!

Event: Jon Cox's September Autocross
Where: Laidley Field, Charleston, WV
When: 19 September 1999
1st run: 1:05.562
2nd run: 1:04.040
3rd run: 1:03.252
4th run: 1:04.071
Class finish: 5th of 5 (3.155 secs back)
Overall finish: 54th of 59 (12.344 secs back)

Thankfully, in the four week interim between regular events, SoWV held a benefit event at Laidley Field for the Charleston Ballet on 3 October 1999. I made a modest improvement in class this time, coming in third our of four entries, again bested by the aforementioned Hyundai and also a VW Jetta turbo diesel (of all things!) campaigned by a guy more familiar with Porsche 914's (his broke in half). I also learned a lot about pushing the car really hard, thanks in no part to SoWV's 1999 C Prepared champ Dan Combs, who flailed the Legal Eagle Racing Escort around a full two seconds faster than I did - with only one run. I'd put that knowledge to good use at the next event. For the record, I once again made it through the event without assassinating any pylons.

Event: Tires and Toeshoes Autocross
Where: Laidley Field, Charleston, WV
When: 3 October 1999
1st run: 1:01.974
2nd run: 1:00.735
3rd run: 1:00.701
4th run: 1:02.015
Class finish: 3rd of 4 (2.592 secs back)
Overall finish: 40th of 44 (10.526 secs back)
Note: This was a non-points benefit event for the Charleston Ballet

17 October 1999 brought the next to last event of the SoWV season, at the rather expansive lot at Tri-State Greyhound Park in Cross Lanes, WV. In spite of the generous space available, the event organizers put together a very tight course, so tight that a couple of turns had to be reengineers to allow some of the larger vehicles around. While a lot of people complained, I enjoyed the twisting layout and had my most competitive race to date. Once again I came third, but this time in a class of seven. Additionally, I came within .2 seconds of my Hyundai rival. My streak of pylon-free events ran to three, over twelve runs. Am I really doing something right or wrong?

Event: Mazdacross Autocross
Where: Tri-State Greyhound Park, Cross Lanes, WV
When: 19 October 1999
1st run: 1:00.520
2nd run: 58.655
3rd run: 58.462
4th run: 58.190
Class finish: 3rd of 7 (2.064 secs back)
Overall finish: 42nd of 57 (8.968 secs back)

Finally, the season for Legal Eagle Racing and SoWV wound up on 21 November 1999 with the Last Chance Autocross, held once again at Tri-State Greyhound park. This was the first event I actually ran in Legal Eagle Racing livery. As tight as the previous event's course had been, the course for the Last Chance was wide open. So, most of the advantage I gained last time was gone. To boot, a perennial frontrunner in H Stock who had been mostly absent in my brief career was back in his Camry to show us youngsters how it's done. I wound up fourth in class, out of seven, and was actually closer to the class winner than I first thought. My consolation was that as the final run began the sun was going down and thus it presumed that the fastest times were done. I actually managed my quickest run then, by quite a little bit. It was a good way to end the season. I also managed to end 1999 with my pylon-free streak intact at four events and 16 timed runs.

Event: Last Chance Autocross
Where: Tri-State Greyhound Park, Cross Lanes, WV
When: 21 November 1999
1st run: 1:18.240
2nd run: 1:16.632
3rd run: 1:17.669
4th run: 1:15.020
Class finish: 4th of 7 (1.895 secs back)
Overall finish: 45th of 55 (11.829 secs back)

So, I'll chock up 1999 as a learning experience. I wasn't all that competitive all the time, but I did have my moments. And I enjoyed myself tremendously. Which is why Legal Eagle Racing will be back in 2000.