I suppose I'm the only one not to pony up some personal
info so far....so here goes:
I started autoxing in Seattle 4 years ago when I went to an
event to meet up with a fellow MR2 owner. I plowed the
course with my 89 Supercharged car and then came back
the next week to get a ride with Glen Hernandez and get some
insight into how it should really be done. I was hooked. I moved
to Pensacola the month after my first autox and got involved with
Gulf Coast Region right after I got settled. The first year was spent
learning the car and attending as many events as I could. The
second year I was appointed Solo II Co-Chair and made it my
unofficial job to bring down the course speeds while making the
courses themselves more technical (since no one was providing
course maps, I figured I'd come up with some that favored my 112HP
MR2). While Solo II Co-Chair, I championed the cause for a novice
program and ride-alongs in the region (fruitlessly, but I fought the good
fight). Last year I jumped to Dixie Region since I was running there
every month anyway. I try to help out as I can, but being 3 hours from
the site doesn't lend to my abilities in that area.
I try to build up autoxing wherever I go, as I think it does have a direct
impact in how good of a driver you are everyday life. I've chosen to
stick with some of the most profoundly classed cars despite their
weaknesses (93 Mr2 Turbo in ASP, 85 ITA Mr2 in CSP, 86 Mr2
in CSP, Toyota Cressida in EM), and pass on whatever setup information
I learn to whoever happens to ask (and some who don't happen to). I
still compete in Gulf Coast Region every month, and am still championing
the need for ride-alongs, in addition to running in Dixie every month. When
I can convince the SO to let me, I run Wiregrass too :)
I was pretty strong in the running last year, but didn't want to create a
conflict in my region (JD was from Dixie also) and it didn't look like Uncle
Sam was going to give me time off anyway.
Personal Background....I'm 31, with a BS from the Naval Academy in
Aerospace Engineering. I resigned my commission last month after 10
years on active duty and look forward to some time of my own and the
inevitable job hunt. Mr2s have been my passion since I bought my first new
car, the 93 Turbo, in August of 1993. I've owned 14 of them and currently
have
bits and pieces of 7 parts cars scattered about the house in addition to the
93
in the garage and 86 which is in the middle of an engine rebuild. An 88
Supercharged car with an uncertain fate sits in the front yard. My first
car was a
1966 Corvair, which I restored with my father and which now resides in his
garage
awaiting my purchase of a larger storage area. I pulled Dad into the SCCA
at the
final Divisional of 1998 when I bought him a membership for his birthday
and
surprised him with a co-drive when he came to watch me run.
But...I'm rambling. I really enjoy this forum and hope that I add to it
when I
can. If you see fit to send me to nationals, I promise to wear a big DTN
T shirt every day and shake the hand of every team.netter that I run across.
I'll
even keep a few cold ones in the Winnie for ya.
David Hawkins
86 Mr2 CSP in pieces
DTN hopeful
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