Legal Eagle Racing (Archive Only)

Turn Out the Lights . . .

2005-11-27T00:05:00.000-05:00

Well, as you can see from the lack of new posts on this blog, I for some reason haven't found a need to keep it updated. So I'm officially shutting down here and moving all (or any) autocross talk over to the main blog, Infinity Ranch. So c'mon over.

Results - You Win Some, You Lose Some

2005-05-22T14:14:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since the last update (sounds like I'm going to confession), mostly because I simply keep forgetting to do them. As such, two events have passed which could not have gone any differently for me. Our April event featured several long corners, including a nearly 360 degree right-hander, which I just nailed. I jumped to first on my first run and hang on for my first win of the year and the first win for the new Neon. My brother had to sit that one out, but I vanquished the red Prelude that had beaten us both in prior months. In May, however, I just couldn't get a handle on things. The bro' was back, but no Prelude this month. The course had two corners that I never got right (in five runs) and I ended up a disapointed third. Which just goes to show that the car's good enough, if the driver can keep it together.

Event: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly Autocross - Presented by Midway Ford
Where: Riverside High School, Belle, WV
When: 17 April 2005
1st run: 57.061
2nd run: 56.519
3rd run: 56.285
4th run: 55.765
Class Finish: 1st of 11 (0.718 second margin of victory)
Overall Finish: 22nd of 65 (4.469 seconds behind)
PAX Finish: 5th of 65 (2.347 seconds behind)

Event: The May Day (Workers Unite!) Autocross - Presented by Midway Ford
Where: Riverside High School, Belle, WV
When: 15 May 2005
1st run: 53.787
2nd run: 52.967
3rd run: 52.477
4th run: 51.589
5th run: 51.488
Class Finish: 3rd of 9 (1.373 seconds behind)
Overall Finish: 28th of 44 (5.540 seconds behind)
PAX Finish: 14th of 44 (2.457 seconds behind)

Result - March Autocross

2005-04-11T21:28:00.000-04:00

It's times like these that all the hard work and money spent on the new car really pay off - I beat my brother in a straight-up fight! Hooray for me! Unfortunately, we were both beaten pretty handily and had to fight for second place. Still, the car continues to develop and I really like the way I've sorted it out so far.

Event: March Autocross - Presented by Midway Ford
Where: Riverside High School, Belle, WV
When: 20 March 2005
1st run: 65.962+2
2nd run: 64.668
3rd run: 63.761
Class Finish: 2nd of 12 (0.894 second behind)
Overall Finish: 22nd of 79 (6.254 seconds behind)
PAX Finish: 6th of 79 (1.374 seconds behind)

Result - (Belated) February Autocross

2005-03-19T14:00:00.000-05:00

Autocross is a sport that relies on (relatively) empty parking lots for venues. So imagine our surprise when we showed up for our February event and found the lot half-full of AAU basketball fans! Maybe it was a blessing - the weather that day was cold and wet, but by the time we reassembled for the event two weeks later, it was a beautiful sunny pre-spring day. This was my first chance to really wring out the new Neon. It's got a lot of potential and after some development should be a real beast. My brother and I fought at the top of STS all day. I had him after three runs, but he dug deep to knock me off on our final run.

Event: February Autocross - Presented by Midway Ford
Where: Riverside High School, Belle, WV
When: 6 March 2005
1st run: 38.287
2nd run: 37.489
3rd run: 36.681
4th run: 36.578
Class Finish: 2nd of 10 (0.619 second behind)
Overall Finish: 19th of 55 (3.846 seconds behind)
PAX Finish: 6th of 55 (1.293 seconds behind)

Result - Deep Freeze Autocross 2005

2005-01-17T18:54:00.000-05:00

We are somewhat weird as a region not based in the South (OK, WV isn't exaclty Maine, but we were on the right side during the war) for running events in January and February. The last two years our January event had to be cancelled because of weather and venue problems. When I volunteered to organize this year's January event, I dubbed it Deep Freeze, after the last January event we actually ran. Given our recent heat wave, I didn't think it would actually be freezing. How wrong I was - it was cold all day, and it started snowing around 1:30, right in the middle of our second runs. So the last half of the event was a futile exercise in traction. I'm fairly happy with how the new car feels, but it was really kind of hard to judge on the basis of one dry run.

On to the results:

Event: Deep Freeze Autocross 2005 - Presented by Midway Ford
Where: Riverside High School, Belle, WV
When: 16 January 2005
1st run: 1:42.763
2nd run: 1:48.427
3rd run: 1:49.254
Class Finish: 3rd of 9 (6.26 seconds behind)
Overall Finish: 9th of 48 (6.828 seconds behind)
PAX Finish: 7th of 48 (6.153 seconds behind)
Note: My brother co-drove my car before he had to head out of town on business. After our first runs, I was ahead by about 3 tenths of a second. His second run was dry, mine was in the snow. He beat me.

Pix of the LER Neon

2004-12-05T19:44:00.000-05:00

A shot of the driver's side

A menacing front end if ever I've seen one.

As it might look next year, in (semi) full livery.

Yeah, that's a Budget Rent-a-Car sticker - what of it?

Out With the Old . . .

2004-12-05T19:25:00.000-05:00

I autocrossed my Sentra for more than two years. First in H/Stock, and then in G/Stock, where I won a championship in 2003. Over the off season last winter, I prepped the car to move into STS. That allowed me to move into a deeper, more competitive class and, as an added bonus, compete head-to-head against my brother. To be blunt, I mostly got my ass whupped in STS.

In September, the SWVR ran its second even of the year in the northern part of the state in Clarksburg. It was a smaller event that normal (the weather sucked - hurricane remnants hit the day before), leaving STS to be contested just between my brother and I. He did, by about a second and a half. I took one fun run in his Neon and immediately chopped 7/10ths of a second off my best time. This meant something. Was my lack of results this year due to my driving or my car?

For our October event, I co-drove my brother's Neon to try and help answer that question. At the end of the day, it was answered emphatically. After a season of being in the second division of STS, I finished second in class (out of 13), ahead of my brother, and just 1/10th of a second off the lead. So I decided that the time was right to retire the Sentra from competition. It's a great car (I highly recommend one, either the 2000 or 2001 SE version), but it's a little portly for a class dominated 0n a national level by featherweight Civics and in my region by much lighter (not Civic light, but still) 1st-gen Neons. So the search began for a new toy.

That search didn't take long, thankfully. I had a long list of potential cars (old Civics, Sentras, Integras, etc.), among which was a 1st-gen Neon. It just so happens that one of my fellow SWVR board members was looking to sell his second Neon, a 95 Sport Coupe, as he was readying his ACR version to go road racing. In the process, he was willing to unload several STS upgrades he could no longer use. We agreed on the deal last weekend, and after some wrenching this weekend, I took delivery.

The new Legal Eagle Racing Neon (pixs above): 95 Sport Coupe with Mopar Extra High Rate springs, Ractive front strut tower brace, Chikara (nee Hedman) header, Enkei 15x6 wheels, custom intake, Unorthodox Racing underdrive pulley, ACR-spec front and rear sway bars (polyurethane bushings in front), air conditioning removed. All I need are some Konis and a fresh set of Ecsta MXs and I'll be set for '05.

Results - Last Chance 04

2004-11-23T22:25:00.000-05:00

This weekend was our annual Last Chance Autocross, the traditional end to the SWVR season. For the second month in a row I borrowed my brother's Neon, but this month I ran in D/Street Prepared so I wouldn't mess up his STS championship chances. Didn't matter, in the end, as he won the event and the championship. I had one little off course excursion (damned non-ABS brakes!) on my third run, but did pretty well, other than that. I was just over a half-second behind the D/SP winner, who was the event organizer and long-time autocrosser (and whose Neon had sticky DOT-R tires). Overall, a positive end to the season.

Event: Last Chance Autocross 04
Where: Riverside High School, Belle, WV
When: 21 November 2004
1st run: 1:06.574
2nd run: 1:05.836
3rd run: 1:19.606
4th run: 1:04.223
Class finish: 2nd of 10 (0.671 sec behind)
Overall finish: 15th of 55 (5.186 secs behind)
Overall PAX finish: 12th of 55 (3.799 secs behind)
Note: If I ran in STS, I would have finished 3rd in class (out of 9) and 6th overall on PAX.

Sentra Pictures

2004-11-16T20:55:00.000-05:00

Some pix to show the evolution of the Legal Eagle Racing Sentra SE

In STS trim at the Mercer County Airport this season.

At the starting line in Fairmont this spring, also in STS trim.

Cone Gathering in Post Industrial America - a G/Stock run at the Bridgestone/Firestone plant in Akron in 2003.

In full (at the time) G/Stock trim, with sticky tires, at Laidley Field in 2003.

Where it all begins - the "bombproof" (according to my brother) SR20DE motor.

Neon Pictures

2004-11-16T20:40:00.000-05:00

Since my brother got me into this, here are a couple of pix of him in action in his Neons.

My brother Scott's original STS championship winning Neon.

My brother's second STS championship winning Neon - I've beaten him in this car, tho'.

A CRX Picture

2004-11-16T20:37:00.000-05:00

The Legal Eagle Racing CRX in CSP trim in the paddock at Tri-State Greyhound Park in Cross Lanes. Beer for Dolphins sticker worth 10 hp, honest!

Escort Pictures

2004-11-16T20:32:00.000-05:00

Your humble narrator strapped in for another run in the Legal Eagle Racing Escort LX

The Escort LX coming in for a finish.

The Results - 2003 - My Championship Season

2004-11-16T18:55:00.000-05:00

Looking back on these results, I'm amazed at how many events I ran in 2003 (helps to be single and childless, I guess). That's particularly true given that I missed a few events at the beginning of the year after I broke my finger. Still, the Sentra and I came back with a vengence to take the G/Stock cup! In addition to running my own event, I travelled to Cincinatti and Akron, OH for some more big region events.

Event: Ona Autocross IV
Where: Ona Speedway, Ona, WV
When: 12 April 2003
1st run: 1:07.832
2nd run: 1:07.788
3rd run: 1:04.971
4th run: 1:04.092
Class finish: 1st of 2 (8.330 secs margin)
Overall finish: 21st of 30 (8.989 secs behind)
Overall PAX finish: 13th of 30 (2.676 secs behind)

Event: River Cities Autocross
Where: Cedar-Knoll Galleria, Ashland, KY
When: 13 April 2003
1st run: 45.12
2nd run: 43.85
3rd run: 43.73
4th run: 43.29
5th run: 42.49
6th run: 43.34 +1
7th run: 41.01
8th run: 42.50
Class finish: 1st of 2 (7.23 secs margin)
Overall finish: 2nd of 16 (0.890 sec behind)

Event: Cincinnati Sports Car Club Points Event #3
Where: Scarlet Oaks Vocational Center, Cincinnati, OH
When: 25 May 2003
1st run: 1:06.043
2nd run: 1:04.524
3rd run: 1:04.149
4th run: 1:03.819
Class finish: 3rd of 5 (7.375 secs margin)

Event: Riverside Autocross
Where: Riverside High School, Belle, WV
When: 15 June 2003
1st run: 1:22.402
2nd run: 1:21.085
3rd run: 1:19.103
4th run: 1:18.050
Class finish: 2nd of 4 (0.273 sec behind)
Overall finish: 27th of 37 (10.549 secs behind)
Overall PAX finish: 21st of 37 (5.040 secs behind)

Event: NEOhio Points Event #4
Where: Bridgestone/Firestone Plant, Akron, OH
When: 6 July 2003
1st run: 43.983
2nd run: 42.405
3rd run: 42.072
4th run: 42.326
5th run: 41.760
6th run: 41.588
Class finish: 8th of 11 (2.345 secs behind)
Overall PAX finish: 82nd of 128 (7.001 secs behind)

Event: River Cities Autocross
Where: Cedar-Knoll Galleria, Ashland, KY
When: 13 July 2003
1st run: 46.03
2nd run: 45.37
3rd run: 45.56
4th run: 45.86
5th run: 44.20
6th run: 44.49
7th run: 44.23 +1
8th run: 44.81
Class finish: 1st of 1
Overall finish: 7th of 13 (3.90 sec behind)

Event: King’s River Autocross II
Where: King’s River Worship Center, St. Albans, WV
When: 19 July 2003
1st run: 37.069
2nd run: 37.053
3rd run: 36.823
4th run: 37.020
5th run: 36.323
Class finish: 1st of 4 (0.282 sec margin)
Overall finish: 30th of 48 (4.227 secs behind)
Overall PAX finish: 17th of 48 (2.125 secs behind)

Event: Shinn’s Riverside Autocross
Where: Riverside High School, Belle, WV
When: 17 August 2003
1st run: 1:03.333
2nd run: 1:02.862
3rd run: 1:02.994
4th run: 1:02.159
5th run: 1:02.130
Class finish: 1st of 3 (2.857 secs margin)
Overall finish: 33rd of 45 (8.362 secs behind)
Overall PAX finish: 21st of 45 (3.435 secs behind)

Event: Riverside Autocross
Where: Riverside High School, Belle, WV
When: 31 August 2003
1st run: 1:35.709
2nd run: 1:33.069
3rd run: 1:33.437
4th run: 1:34.976
5th run: 1:33.491
Class finish: 1st of 2 (6.531 secs margin)
Overall finish: 23rd of 33 (11.609 secs behind)
Overall PAX finish: 11th of 33 (3.342 secs behind)

Event: September Riverside Autocross
Where: Riverside High School, Belle, WV
When: 21 September 2003
1st run: 1:36.156
2nd run: 1:35.438
3rd run: 1:35.009
4th run: 1:34.635
5th run: 1:34.471
Class finish: 1st of 1
Overall finish: 19th of 29 (9.402 secs behind)
Overall PAX finish: 8th of 29 (5.439 secs behind)

Event: Octoberfest Autocross
Where: Riverside High School, Belle, WV
When: 19 October 2003
1st run: 2:06.869
2nd run: 2:04.764+1
3rd run: 2:04.455
4th run: 2:03.645
Class finish: 1st of 1
Overall finish: 25th of 37 (12.170 secs behind)
Overall PAX finish: 13th of 37 (6.376 secs behind)

Event: River Cities Autocross
Where: Cedar-Knoll Galleria, Ashland, KY
When: 9 November 2003
1st run: 45.81
2nd run: 44.43
3rd run: 44.05
Class finish: 1st of 1
Overall fish: 3rd of 9 (4.47 secs behind)

Event: Soggy Last Chance Autocross
Where: Riverside High School, Belle, WV
When: 16 November 2003
1st run: 1:07.848
2nd run: 1:04.840
3rd run: 1:03.824
4th run: 1:04.208+1
Class finish: 1st of 2 (5.848 secs margin)
Overall finish: 20th of 33 (6.592 secs behind)
Overall PAX finish: 10th of 29 (2.903 secs behind)

The Results - 2002

2004-11-16T18:46:00.000-05:00

After a year in the CRX, things necessitated getting back owning only one car. That car, purchased in April, was a B15-gen Nissan Sentra SE. It didn't make its debut until April, but it was a winner right out of the box, at least for a little while (it was reclassed midseason). 2002 saw my first experience with a really big event and more out of region fun in Huntington and Louisville.

Event: Snow Day @ Laidley Autocross
Where: Laidley Field, Charleston, WV
When: 20 January 2002
1st run: 1:53.631
2nd run: 1:38.546
3rd run: 1:29.596
4th run: 1:28.199
Class finish: 3rd of 5 (1.78 secs behind)
Overall finish: 9th of 18 (7.153 secs behind)
NOTE: Due to weather conditions (snow!), I ran my old Escort in H/Stock for this event.

Event: The Soggy Bottom Autocross
Where: Laidley Field, Charleston, WV
When: 17 March 2002
1st run: 1:07.400
2nd run: 1:04.400
3rd run: 1:03.516
4th run: 1:00.726
5th run: 1:00.216
Class finish: 5th of 5 (1.432 secs behind)
Overall finish: 13th of 27 (5.174 secs behind)
NOTE: For this event, I co-drove my brother's STS Neon.

Event: Ona Speedway Auto-X II
Where: Ona Speedway, Ona, WV
When: 22 April 2002
1st run: 1:14.437
2nd run: 1:11.199
3rd run: 1:09.118
4th run: 1:09.043
5th run: 1:08.809
Class finish: 1st of 3 (2.169 secs margin)
Overall finish: 26th of 29 (11.465 secs behind)

Event: Riverside Autocross
Where: Riverside High School, Belle, WV
When: 16 June 2002
1st run: 1:28.177
2nd run: 1:25.925
3rd run: 1:24.542
4th run: 1:24.371
Class finish: 6th of 6 (7.953 secs behind)
Overall finish: 42nd of 52 (15.145 secs behind)
NOTE: For this event, I ran my Sentra in STS (I can't remember why - I got killed!)

Event: It’s a Parking Lot Autocross
Where: Laidley Field, Charleston, WV
When: 21 July 2002
1st run: 1:19.333
2nd run: 1:15.597
3rd run: 1:14.234
4th run: 1:13.949
Class finish: 1st of 1
Overall finish: 27th of 42 (9.898 secs behind)
NOTE: Starting with this event, due to SCCA reclassification, the Sentra moved to G/Stock.

Event: The Scottish Soggy Bottom Autocross
Where: Riverside High School, Belle, WV
When: 18 August 2002
1st run: 1:24.931+1
2nd run: 1:23.333
3rd run: 1:22.932
4th run: 1:20.671+1
Class finish: 2nd of 2 (.440 secs behind)
Overall finish: 35th of 52 (17.370 secs behind)

Event: Blue Grass Motorsports Challenge #7
Where: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, KY
When: 25 August 2002
1st run: 53.361
2nd run: 55.043
3rd run: 54.324
4th run: 53.738
5th run: 54.822
Class finish: 6th of 11 (3.477 secs behind)
Overall PAX finish: 65th of 130 (4.184 secs behind)

Event: Ona Speedway III Autocross
Where: Ona Speedway, Ona, WV
When: 14 September 2002
1st run: 1:10.643
2nd run: 1:11.119
3rd run: 1:09.705
4th run: 1:08.401
Class finish: 1st of 1
Overall finish: 31st of 33 (12.991 secs behind)
Overall PAX finish: 26th of 33

Event: River Cities Region Autocross
Where: Marshall University, Huntington, WV
When: 13 October 2002
I don't have full run-by-run results for this event, but I did nab FTD (42.21) by .21 sec out of about a dozen drivers.

Event: October @ Riverside Autocross
Where: Riverside High School, Belle, WV
When: 20 October 2002
1st run: 1:29.507
2nd run: 1:26.118
3rd run: 1:25.468
4th run: 1:24.730
5th run: 1:24.236
Class finish: 1st of 1
Overall finish: 21st of 32 (8.158 secs behind)
Overall PAX finish: 10th of 32

Event: Last Chance Autocross
Where: Riverside High School, Belle, WV
When: 17 November 2002
1st run: 1:24.610
2nd run: 1:22.687
3rd run: 1:22.697
4th run: 1:21.376
Class finish: 1st of 2 (8.886 secs margin)
Overall finish: 8th of 21 (3.408 secs behind)
Overall PAX finish: 4th of 21

The Results - 2001

2004-11-16T18:39:00.000-05:00

After a full year in the Escort, I decided to move up a little in the autocross food chain. During the offseason, I bought a 2nd generation Honda CRX and moved into C/Street Prepared. Unfortunately, being in C/SP means being beaten by the living legend of our region, so the results were very hard to come by. I did managae one win, tho', made my first appearance outside of the SWVR, and (along with my brother) organized my first event.

Event: Deep Freeze 2001: An Autocross Odyssey
Where: Laidley Field, Charleston, WV
When: 21 January 2001
1st run: 57.19 oc
2nd run: 55.73
3rd run: 54.72
4th run: 54.88
Class finish: 2nd of 2 (1.51 secs behind)
Overall finish: 21st of 28 (5.30 secs behind)
NOTE: For this event, I drove my brother's Stratus in G/Stock.

Event: The Seat Time Autocross
Where: Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center, Cross Lanes, WV
When: 18 February 2001
1st run: 1:36.125
2nd run: 1:36.226
3rd run: 1:30.161
4th run: 1:28.027
Class finish: 4th of 4 (7.847 secs behind)
Overall finish: 39th of 54 (10.594 secs behind)

Event: Saint Patrick’s Day Pylon Massacre
Where: Laidley Field, Charleston, WV
When: 18 Match 2001
1st run: 58.980
2nd run: 57.132
3rd run: 55.345
4th run: 54.933
Class finish: 1st of 3 (1.611 secs margin)
Overall finish: 17th of 67 (6.130 secs behind)

Event: The April Fools Autocross
Where: Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center, Cross Lanes, WV
When: 22 April 2001
1st run: 1:44.583
2nd run: 1:38.403
3rd run: 1:36.223
Class finish: 3rd of 3 (5.212 secs behind)
Overall finish: 44th of 74 (14.926 secs behind)

Event: Gartersnake XXXI
Where: Cross Lanes, WV
When: 27 May 2001
1st run: dnf
2nd run: 1:48.039
3rd run: 1:45.522
4th run: 1:44.786
Class finish: 3rd of 4 (11.578 secs behind)
Overall finish: 40th of 43 (21.118 secs behind)

Event: Ona Speedway Autocross
Where: Ona Speedway, Ona, WV
When: 16 June 2001
1st run: 1:17.392
2nd run: 1:10.835+1 oc
3rd run: 1:08.398
4th run: 1:08.781
Class finish: 3rd of 3 (4.673 secs behind)
Overall finish: 37th of 52 (14.675 secs behind)

Event: Four Seasons Motorsports Weekend Autocross
Where: Mercer County Airport, Princeton, WV
When: 8 July 2001
Class finish: 3rd of 3 (4.673 secs behind)
Overall finish: 37th of 52 (14.675 secs behind)

Event: July Autocross
Where: Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center, Cross Lanes, WV
When: 15 July 2001
1st run: 1:34.955
2nd run: 1:28.776
3rd run: 1:30.112
4th run: 1:29.347
Class finish: 4th of 5 (8.266 secs behind)
Overall finish: 37th of 55 (15.584 secs behind)

Event: The Brothers Kemper Autocross
Where: Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center, Cross Lanes, WV
When: 16 September 2001
1st run: 1:28.991
2nd run: 1:27.011
3rd run: 1:24.581
4th run: 1:24.555
Class finish: 2nd of 5 (8.053 secs behind)
Overall finish: 34th of 54 (12.904 secs behind)

Event: The Octoberfest Autocross
Where: Laidley Field, Charleston, WV
When: 21 October 2001
1st run: 1:12.357
2nd run: 1:09.197
3rd run: 1:08.418
4th run: 1:08.170
Class finish: 4th of 6 (4.392 secs behind)
Overall finish: 29th of 50 (8.563 secs behind)

Event: The Last Chance Autocross
Where: Riverside High School, Belle, WV
When: 18 November 2001
1st run: 1:03.369 oc
2nd run: 1:00.812
3rd run: 59.553
4th run: 57.773
Class finish: 2nd of 6 (2.337 secs behind)
Overall finish: 22nd of 57 (7.944 secs behind)

The Results - 2000

2004-11-16T18:25:00.000-05:00

2000 was the first full year of autocrossing for me. I stuck with the Escort in H/Stock and notched my first win in April. I also ran my first "big" event, at Yeager Airport (haven't been back since, thank you Osama).

Event: Deep Freeze 2000 Autocross
Where: Laidley Field, Charleston, WV
When: 16 January 2000
1st run: 1:01.491
2nd run: 1:00.142
3rd run: 1:00.456
4th run: 1:00.556
Class finish: 3rd of 4 (0.863 sec behind)
Overall finish: 31st of 42 (7.665 secs behind)

Event: It Ain’t Hot, Mum Autocross
Where: Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center, Cross Lanes, WV
When: 20 February 2000
1st run: 1:48.772
2nd run: 1:39.921+3
3rd run: 1:39.862
Class finish: 4th of 9 (6.269 secs behind)
Overall finish: 43rd of 56 (17.076 secs behind)

Event: Extreme Outdoor Autocross
Where: Laidley Field, Charleston, WV
When: 19 March 2000
1st run: 1:08.551
2nd run: 1:05.042
3rd run: 1:05.178
4th run: 1:03.306
Class finish: 2nd of 6 (0.233 sec behind)
Overall finish: 35th of 52 (7.308 secs behind)

Event: The Equalizer Autocross
Where: Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center, Cross Lanes, WV
When: 16 April 2000
1st run: 1:21.928+1
2nd run: 1:17.798
3rd run: 1:16.408
4th run: 1:15.080
Class finish: 1st of 4 (1.260 secs margin)
Overall finish: 28th of 48 (8.011 secs behind)

Event: Gartersnake XXX
Where: Cross Lanes, WV
When: 29 May 2000
1st run: 1:57.571
2nd run: 1:54.016
3rd run: 1:57.696
4th run: 1:50.554
Class finish: 1st of 1
Overall finish: 37th of 40 (20.638 secs behind)

Event: Sports Cars Fly @ Yeager III
Where: Yeager Airport, Charleston, WV
When: 3 June 2000
1st run: 45.35
2nd run: 50.98 oc
3rd run: 45.196
4th run: 45.233
Class finish: 3rd of 3 (2.97 secs behind)
Overall finish: 65th of 73 (11.413 secs behind)

Event: The July Autocross
Where: Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center, Cross Lanes, WV
When: 16 July 2000
1st run: 1:28.126
2nd run: 1:21.205
3rd run: 1:22.387
4th run: 1:21.383
Class finish: 3rd of 5 (2.699 secs behind)
Overall finish: 37th of 56 (15.230 secs behind)

Event: Close Encounters Autocross
Where: Laidley Field, Charleston, WV
When: 20 August 2000
1st run: off course
2nd run: 36.144
3rd run: 36.200
4th run: 35.818
Class finish: 2nd of 4 (0.214 sec behind)
Overall finish: 53rd of 70 (5.426 secs behind)

Event: The Memorial for Many Autocross
Where: Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center, Cross Lanes, WV
When: 17 September 2000
1st run: 1:08.762
2nd run: 1:08.354
3rd run: 1:08.895
4th run: 1:08.182
Class finish: 3rd of 3 (1.022 secs behind)
Overall finish: 42nd of 55 (9.663 secs behind)

Event: Mazdacross II Autocross
Where: Laidley Field, Charleston, WV
When: 15 October 2000
1st run: 1:01.403
2nd run: 1:00.134
3rd run: 1:01.045
4th run: 1:01.087
Class finish: 2nd of 3 (0.806 sec behind)
Overall finish: 35th of 48 (8.148 secs behind)

Event: The Last Chance Autocross
Where: Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center, Cross Lanes, WV
When: 19 November 2000
1st run: 1:03.770
2nd run: 1:01.108
3rd run: 55.865
4th run: 55.678
Class finish: 3rd of 5 (1.988 secs behind)
Overall finish: 48th of 58 (10.852 secs behind)

The Results - 1999

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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.

A Disclaimer

2004-11-15T22:23:00.000-05:00

This blog replaces a website I've maintained since 1999. I had to move when I was forced to change ISPs. Therefore, some of the posts are simply cut and pasted from the old site. If you have a problem with that, then go get your own damn blog!

A Brief History

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Legal Eagle Racing debuted in September 1999. At that time, the only choice of race car was my daily driver - a 1996 Ford Escort LX. Needless to say, it was not purchased with autocross in mind. With the addition of Tokico HP ("blue") struts and Kumho Victoracer V700 tires (mounted on junkyard sourced steel wheels), it became a locally competitive H/Stock car. I ran this car in 1999 and 2000, taking my first event victory in April, 2000.

Near the end of the 2000, I started to realize that, given the limitations of the Escort and the paucity of aftermarket support for it, I needed to step up to something a little more exciting. And, let's be honest, an Escort LX is hardly the sexiest race car on the planet! So I scoured the Beckley and Charleston areas in search of a more competitive car.

In December 2000, I found something. After a Miata near miss and a run in with a decrepit 16v Scirocco, I settled on a 1991 Honda CRX. Not an Si, just the plain base model. Given the huge performance market out there for all things Honda, I was sure it could be brought up to speed fairly quickly. In pursuit of that goal, I equipped the Rex with fresh shocks (Koni), springs (H&R), and sway bars (Suspension Techniques) and transferred my Kumhos to a set of far more attractive Borbet wheels and went to work in C/Street Prepared.

The Rex made its competitive debut in a River Cities Region event in February 2001. While I managed to score a victory in March 2001 at Laidley Field in Charleston, the base Rex was not the car to have in CSP. Miatas are the hot setup there, particularly when driven by very experienced and very quick drivers. I was regularly trounced by said driver and began to doubt the logic of persevering with the Rex.

As I spent more time thinking about staying competitive in CSP and wondering where to store my "toy car" (not to mention how to pay for it), I came to the conclusion that I wanted to get back into the Stock class, preferably with a dual use car (i.e. one that I drove to work every day, too). To that end, I traded the CRX and the old Escort in on a 2000 Nissan Sentra SE 2.0.

2000 was the first year of the current generation of Sentra, which includes the high profile SpecV. Unlike the SpecV, however, the 2000 and 2001 SE models were blessed with the famous Nissan SR20DE engine. Powerful from the get go, it responds well to bolt on modifications and is, in the words of my brother, "bomb proof."

Life in G/Stock meant a return to a lightly modified car. Since no one (at the time) made aftermarket struts and shocks for the B15 (2000+ Sentras) platform, my options were limited to a K&N drop in air filter and a(nother) set of Kuhmo Victoracers mounted on a second set of stock wheels. In this trim (sans Kumhos), the Sentra won its début event at Ona Speedway in April 2002. Down the road, I added an HKS exhaust, as well.

I continued with that setup into the beginning of the 2003 season. After a hassle with a stripped lug nut in Cincinnati in May 2003, however, I decided to ditch the Victoracers and move towards STS. Changing tires can be a royal pain in the ass and I was ready to do away with that. So I ditched the Victoracers and saddled up with a set of Kumho Ecsta MX tires, which are Kumho's answer to the super sticky Falken Azenis "street" tire. I ran that setup in G/Stock for the rest of 2003, notching a total of 10 wins.

The master plan was to move towards Street Touring (STS), which is a very competitive class in my region (and elsewhere). I think the car has some potential, but it will be difficult. To that end, I recently had some new toys installed and am ready for 2004 to begin!

Right now, the Legal Eagle Racing Sentra mods out like this:

Koni Sport adjustable strut inserts (front) and shocks (rear)
Eibach SpecV Pro-kit springs
NISMO adjustable rear sway bar
NISMO lower tie bar (front)
HKS Sport exhaust
Hawk HP-S front brake pads / OEM Nissan rear pads
K&N Filtercharger air filter
Kumho Ecsta MX tires (205/50/15) mounted on Konig Traffik wheels (15x6.5)

The Sport

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If you've come to this page, you're probably wondering just what the heck Solo II racing is. Solo II racing, as it it known by the SCCA, is also called autocrossing. It's a competition of precision and driving skill rather than pure speed.

The typical autocross is a one car at a time race against the clock on a tight course, usually defined with traffic pylons and perhaps chalk, lime or paint. Most of the events I've been to are run in large unused parking lots, but events are also held at airports, full blown race tracks, or indeed anywhere there is enough relatively flat space to lay out a course. The courses I've run on are typically about half a mile or so long and take anywhere from 50 seconds to just over a minute for the fastest drivers to complete.

As I said, one car runs the course at a time. There is a variation on autocrossing called ProSolo where two cars compete against each other at the same time on mirror image layouts. I don't really know if that works as a 1-on-1 competition of if they're are still running for the clock. Solo I, if you're curious, is a similar to Solo II except that the cars run on real road courses.

An astounding variety of cars compete in various categories based on performance and modifications. That way, I can compete against other Sentra-like cars and not the Vettes and Porsches. For more on the classifications see this page of car classifications. All entries are eligible to claim the fast time of the day (FTD). In our region, FTD is regularly up for grabs between such diverse machines as Mazda Miatas, Pontiac Firebird Formulas, and Formula 440 cars.

For more information on Solo II, check out the Autocross FAQ, the Solo II Novice Handbook, or just Email me and I'll try and answer your questions.