First autocross of 2026: Back to C Prepared (again)

Two real CP cars at a local! Except one is a CAMT car now.

First autocross of the year! WDCR-SCCA was actually able to rent Lot A at FedEx Field Northwest Stadium, which was the first "local" autocross there in forever. Other than the Pro Solo last year, I can't remember the last time I autocrossed on that lot. There was a time from 2005 to 2010 that the DC Region used that lot on occasion instead of the usual E/F lots, so it's hard to remember exactly.

As mentioned in the 2025 season recap, I had a new exhaust fabricated (MUCH quieter) and, most importantly, switched to Penske doubles in the rear. I drove the car the previous weekend at a WDCR test-and-tune and couldn't really get a feel for them. I started out on the middle compression and rebound settings, and while the car seemed to respond to changes, I couldn't drive worth crap.

For Sunday's competition, I decided to throw some solidarity and drive in C Prepared with Paul Pryzborski (pronounced "Polish Oborski"), who was driving the first time since trophying at the Solo Nationals last year (I make a guest appearance around the 4:10 mark). He was also on Hoosier slicks while I was still on the Yokohama A052s, but temps were in the low 50s with zero sunshine, so I figured I might have a slight advantage.

I still have a set of Hoosiers but I sold the 17X11 CCWs, so I don't have any wheels to mount them on.

My first run was slow to get a better feel for the car and how the course went. I kept picking up speed (and hitting cones) and got down to a 40.7 on my fourth run. For some dumb reason, after bleeding the clutch after the TnT, the clutch pickup started getting worse and worse. I missed the 1-2 shift on my final run, slowed down (mainly because of that mis-shift -- it was four tenths faster according to Solostorm on the last half of the course) and also hit another cone. Paul got a 40.0, and all class winners got a glass mug, so I hope he's happy with that. I don't need any more glasses and would have smashed it like Pete Townsend mis-treating a Gibson SG.

I ended up 68th in PAX but would have been 21st with the CAMT PAX. Not terrible considering there were a lot of people coming out of the woodwork using the event as test-and-tune for the Pro Solo, which will be held in a few weeks on the same lot.

The car felt OK, but it's hard to grasp if/how the Penskes are faring considering the crappy weather and surface conditions. I have no plans to drive before the Pro, and the car doesn't need anything fixed (that I know of), so I will probably just align it and fill it with gas for the Pro.

Karen is actually going to drive at the Pro -- her first since 2015, I think. She's still looking for a ride, though, and while the "easy button" would be to let her drive my car, I don't trust it making it to the end even if it's just me driving! She doesn't like my Camaro anyway.

Speedy tried to commandeer JohnV's Mazda!

According to the license plates, one doesn't have very good traction, but the other does.