Autocross a Marauder?

[Vince Gortner]

I know this may seem like an odd idea, but I was wondering if anybody has given autocross a whirl in a Marauder.

I'm sure I can trust you guys (and the Sarge says you are all mostly ok) so I'll reveal that fact that I'm a Patrol Sergeant in sunny Naperville, IL (home of no crime whatsoever) and I've spent a fair amount of time in Ford CVPI's. In fact, our PD ran a very cool police driving class last year and I was able to explore the handling limits of the CVPI to a greater extent than I would playing in traffic. It's surprising what you can do with 4000 lbs of steel, sloppy steering, and a live rear axle! We beat the tar out of those cars... ;)

The most important lesson I learned, however, is that driver skill and the ability to contol your vehicle with smooth, subtle inputs of steering, throttle & brake make a much bigger difference than spring settings and tire inflation pressures. Better suspension setup makes a difference, but only after you have your own skills honed sharp.

With that in mind, I think that the MM would look pretty cool tearing up the track at a local autocross. It's definitely a nice way to get to know your car really, really well. There are usually a bunch over the summer in the Chicago area and I was wondering if anybody else cared to come out and slide around?

The only thing cooler than a Marauder doing hot laps is a squadron of Marauders doing hot laps...

[JerseyVics]

Last year at Englishtown Racetrack here in Jersey one of my Lightning buddies mentioned seeing some AutoX big shot at the track in a souped up Lincoln Town Car beating amateur Dodge Neon drivers left and right with that boat.

Skill has a lot to do in Autocross and for all those interested to give this a try here in North Jersey, I have a friend thats an instructor at SOLO II events (a Roush Stage II owner) who would give you some pointers on races that are constantly held at the Giants Stadium parking lots usualy on a weekend!

I'll keep you posted for those that are interested, I've been visiting them quite freaquently, two of my best buddies run an SVT Lightning and a KenneBell Supercharged Cobra, with some impressive times. Even though Subaru WRX's and Civics dominate the race.

--Russ:)

[vaderv]

Sounds like a whole lotta fun to me. Someone sign me up.

[JAL]

I believe Ed Runnion may be on here from the Impala forum. His user name is "AutoCrosser." Ask him anything on auto crossing. He's very well versed in set-ups and all. He could help out I'm sure.

Jeff

[jefferson-mo]

I hadn't thought of autocrossing it but I would love to run the Willow Springs road course with it(the one shown on the Marauder DVD with Tommy Kendall & Parnelli Jones)

I know there's a lot of club events there and it's only a couple of hours from me........:banana2:

[JerseyVics]

Jefferson,

the SVT Cobra (R) Club often goes racing at road tracks, lotsa fun! Two of my 2000 Cobra R buddies go all the time, you can join them... just gotta keep track of their events.

--Russ :)

By the Way, Kenny Brown holds road racing sessions... but you must follow #1 golden rule, NO BUMPING!!! LOL

[jefferson-mo]

rubbin's racin:banana2:

[BAD ROD]

I have autocrossed, but I prefer road courses! I have run my Impala SS at Willowsprings, Thunderhill, Laguna Seca, and Sears Point. I’m sure the Marauder could hold it’s own. I like nothing more than catching a Porsche through the corners. They get a funny look on their face seeing a two ton taxi cab coming up on their bumper! I would LOVE to run against a Marauder. Who’s game? :D

http://www.ncracing.org/images/pic04.jpg
http://speedtoys.com/~headonphotos/Galleries/2002/NCRC-1210/66/images/IMG_4132.jpg
http://speedtoys.com/~headonphotos/Galleries/2002/NCRC-1116/66/images/IMG_3116.jpg
http://speedtoys.com/~headonphotos/Galleries/2003/NCRC-0125/66/images/IMG_5577.jpg
http://speedtoys.com/~headonphotos/Galleries/2002/NCRC-1116/66/images/IMG_2711.jpg
http://speedtoys.com/~headonphotos/Galleries/2003/NCRC-0125/66/images/IMG_6098.jpg

[jefferson-mo]

I'm in:burnout:

:banana2:

guess I'll have to find some clubs to run with..........:up:

[BAD ROD]

Here you go!

March 12, 2003 Willowsprings. :D

http://opentrackracing.com/

Mike

[jefferson-mo]

:burnout:


:up:

[SergntMac]

I like the racing.

I don't like the rubbing.

Today isn't Friday.

They are messing with me, I just know it...

[jefferson-mo]

if it makes you feel better I'll be workin' tomorrow:bigcry:

[dok]

What's work? :lol:

[jefferson-mo]

Hey BADROD..........all those track dates are Wednesdays!!!

Don't these people work??????

I do....5 days a week:po:

[JerseyVics]

hey come out to Jersey....

they're every Saturday or Sunday in the summer time!

Usualy they hold one in Giants Stadium at the Meadowlands one week,
then another one at the Palisades Park Mall upstate New York, and so on.

--Russ :)

PS. often times people rent a car from a local rental and try it out at the track, might wanna do the same with a Grand Marquis per se, just to see what its like before you scratch the edges of your front bumper on your Marauder to the pavement!

[Vince Gortner]

Road racing definitely looks significantly cooler than a parking lot autocross, but now we're talking real money. I've got a buddy that takes his mostly stock M3 up to Road America at Elkhart Lake, Wi for BMW track days and he's been known to eat a set of tires & brake pads in the course of a weekend.

I like Road America too, but I'd rather drive up for the afternoon, eat a few of what are arguably the best bratwurst in the world, and drive back without worrying about how I'm going to limp my car home with a crumpled fender.

Autocross still gets the adrenaline flowing, but it can be a very low buck way to go play. The courses are usually short & tight enough that you really don't wear out too much stuff.

Those are some cool pics tho, Bad Rod. Looks like fun.

And I had Wed & Thurs off this week. Very exciting...

[BAD ROD]

jefferson-mo,

Most of my track days have been weekdays. I have only done one weekend. The reason is usually cost and/or track availability. The cost to rent the track on the weekend is much more money. Also, around here, if you want a weekend, you almost need to book the track a full year ahead of time. It hard to plan that far out.

Vince, autocross is definately fun. But, our cars are hard to get competitive because of their size. Autocrossing uses very tight turns and very short straights (if any). Good for Miata's, not so good for big cars. I like the road courses because I can walk all over those pesky Miatas! :)

Mike

[merc406]

Dream Car Garage today , which was a repeat, was at Bob Durant's and they have the CV's, one was shown doing the twisties, nothin looks cooler than watching a big sedan doing what the small cars can do!

[BAD ROD]

I saw that too. Look great! See the CV and all the Mustangs got me itch'n to get back to the track.

Mike

[JamesHecker]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by BAD ROD
[B] I would LOVE to run against a Marauder. Who’s game? :D



I'm ready! I checked out the dates, went out and bought a new helmet and emailed to see if there is any room at the March 12th event!

I think I'll bring my son in my '97 Cougar and my assistant in his '02 Gran Prix.

Looks like a ton-o-fun! Hope to see you there.

[Directedby]

May some coppers will be there with their rides?

[Directedby]

or...

[Vince Gortner]

Nifty.

A neighboring PD by me has a nice late-80's Impala 9C1 that they've got set up for the drag strip. They haul it out for DARE night and other special events.

Our PD is not quite that cool...

In fact, I'll probably find out how not-cool our PD is tomorrow morning when the Chief sees the 50 ft patch I left in the parking lot today demonstrating my new chipped performance. I could use an extra day off anyhow.

[russ in VA]

I just spent the weekend doing a track event at VIR (www.VIRCLUB.com). The track car (old Datsun) was not ready to go so I took on of the daily drivers instead. Unfortunately the wife objected to taking the new $30k car to the track (justifyably so) so I went in the (pesky) 1990 Miata. Though the group I run with (NASA Virginia region at www.NASAracing.com) has an excellent saftey record (the went three years with NO bent metal) this weekend was wet and treacherous and we had at least 6 cars go off track and hit tirewalls, armco, and other hard objects. Moral of this story, don't take it on track unless you realize the risks and are prepared to deal with the potential consequences. That said, ITS A BLAST! I ran my Coprice a couple of years ago and like BAD ROD said, it's a lot of fun to run up on those sporty cars with our big sedans. Autocross is a much better introduction to performance driving though, low risk, less wear and cheaper. Better to learn car control at 40mph on an open parking lot than at 80mph with trees, armco barriers, concrete walls and other cars nearby. If your going to learn how to push it to the limit, you have to learn what happens and how to handle it when you find the far side of the limit. Better to do that without hurting anything or worse anyone. Either way, have fun with it! Drive hard!

[BAD ROD]

Russ,

That is some great advice about the potential risks and consequences. I watched an Impala SS get totaled at Willowsprings a couple of years ago. Driving a road course is fun, but it does come at a cost/risk.

In December I drove Laguna Seca. It was pretty foggy/misty during the night and the track was wet for the first session. Holly cow! A wet race track is much more slippery than you can imagine! I dirt tracked it around most corners. I even completely spun coming on to the main straight at about 25-30 miles an hour. I luckily kept it off the wall.

I like your taste in cars. I have considered recently getting a 260 Z as a dedicated track car and I drove a 1992 Miata for about 150,000 miles before picking up the Impala SS. I had both of them for a while but never drove the Miata so I sold it. That was before I got into driving road courses. Sometime I wish I still had it.

Mike