Fellow Porsche enthusiast, just getting your thoughts on the thrill or what you get out of a Autocross and DE events. Both are very different but add to our driving skill sets. For me timed AX teaches me the fine nuances to driving and how braking, turn in, apex, can greatly affect our times, but a full speed DE gives a thrill of being on the edge and the feel of carrying speed into and through the corners is exhilirating and sometimes scary at the same time. Also having other cars on the circuit gives another level of competition and speed.
Overall I can push in AX without fear of crashing which provides some comfort, and allows me to test my limits. A DE is more thrilling but I tend to hold back just a little given the fear of crashing my porsche.
Overall I think I have become a better driver through AX opposed to full speed DE events. How about you?

 

I auto-X mine twice last year, I've done dozens of auto-x in the past but in MR2, they do much better except when going up against Miatas. I found the porsche was too heavy for the small course and not very nimble, much understeer.
If you're doing it for fun, its a good experience, but the boxters and even carrera S's were doing better than me and i'm a fairly good driver. I used to be able to get trophies in my MR2 when it was stock years back, once you start modifying all bets are off, its very competitive.
I haven't done an HPDE event yet in the porsche, wanted to do the coolant welds first, buts its obvious the tt is better suited where it can stretch its legs.
Tires make a bigger impact on the auto-x.

 

My driving improves more from auto x because there are no real consequences from occasionally exceeding my abilities. DE is more fun both because I am using my car for what it was designed for and there is a degree of pucker factor that creates an adrenalin rush.

 

I started with a 944 in the '90's doing AX and eventually started doing DE's. I found it hard to stay satisfied with AX after doing a few track days. Overall, I would get 4-6 runs, which amounted to less than 10 minutes of track time for a weekend. I may get a couple of hours a day from a well organized DE. Of course there are other factors to consider. When I started, the 944 was my daily driver, and of course the AX entry fees were $30-40 vs. $300-400 for DE. Back then, I didn't have the means to do many DE's. I enjoyed the competition of AX, but also enjoy the challenge of improving my skills on a big track. Whichever one you choose the real pleasure is the friendships that form and good times you will have! Some of my best DE friends are guys who I started Autocrossing with years ago.

 

I found it hard to stay satisfied with AX after doing a few track days.

 

I have quite a bit of experience in both AutoX's and HPDE's, as a previous state champion in AutoX and a current instructor for HPDE events.

I have also driven a large variety of cars in both formats.

AutoX
1986 Toyota MR2
1991 Ford Mustang 5.0
1993 Mazda RX7
1996 Ford Mustang Cobra
1997 Toyota Supra Turbo
1998 BMW M Roadster
1998 BMW 540i Sport
2001 BMW M3

HPDE
1998 BMW 540i Sport
1993 Mazda RX7
1998 BMW M Roadster
1995 Toyota Supra Turbo
1997 Toyota Supra Turbo
2001 BMW M3
2009 BMW M3
1999 Corvette

I have found that in general, the average skill level of an AutoX driver is higher than the average skill level of the typical HPDE driver. I believe this is due to the different formats. If a slow driver competes in an AutoX, the timing shows them and everyone else that they are slow and they typically stop attending AutoX's. Since the traditional HPDE doesn't list lap times, the slower drivers don't realize they are slow and continue doing events.

I also believe AutoX's are a great way to develop car control skills and instincts. The penalty for a mistake is much lower and it's much easier to get a car to the limit at an AutoX. I recommend to a lot of my students to do some AutoX's in between HPDE events. They are decent drivers, but just haven't developed the skills/experience to consistently stay near the limit. Plus the only way to go fast is to have the confidence that you can exceed the limit and consistently recover. It also gives you a better idea of when you're approaching the limit and how the car is going to react.

With that said, you can develop "bad habits" doing AutoX's. You spend a lot of time throwing the car around and initiating early rotation, so you can get back on the gas from the tight radius turns. This can be helpful in lower speed turns leading onto long straights on the roadcourse, but a lot of time you need more finesse and must maintain better entry speed on the faster roadcourse turns.

Either way, more seat time equals a better driver. I would highly recommend some AutoX's to anyone that hasn't done one. I don't think AutoX drivers get nearly the respect they deserve from the HPDE community.

Just my $0.02
Steve

 

I know I have had a killer Ax run when get out of the car shaking. ~1minute of 100% pure adrenalin rush is hard to beat!
HPDE is a different game. You have to learn to relax on the straights otherwise you'll be exhausted 1/2 way through a 20 minute session.
Ax is all about getting the car to rotate and running a slalom with super fast transitions is a skill that takes practice.
HPDE is all about controlling the car's attitude at the limit so you can get on the gas as early as possible to maximize exit speed.
The course changes every event at an Ax and there is limited time to learning the quickest line . This puts a premium on spacial awareness and an ability to look ahead while driving at the limit.
HPDE's are held on the same tracks with many, many laps to learn and refine the optimum speeds and lines. To improve takes patience and an ability to ease up to the limit as the consequences of exceeding it can be severe.

In my experience, a good Ax'er will quickly do well at an HPDE. The opposite is not necessarily true

As always, the above is IMHO and worth every penny you have paid for it
Graeme
Nationally accredited BMWCCA HPDE Intructor Mentor (retired)
Regionally accredited PCA HPDE Instructor Mentor (retired)
Regional SCCA Time Trials Chief Instructor (retired)

 

Highlander and Steve, bring great insight to AX and HPDE. So lets get out and have fun with our cars. I have an AX coming up on 1/24 in Santa Maria, CA, the same place and track that Porsche created to debut the 991.
Our Porsche's are the best cars made today, so have fun with them and improve your driving skills to get the most of these amazing cars. kenny