And we're off and running..

An empty blog, for a build I haven't started on a car I don't yet own.

Seems kinda crazy right?

When I built my current, outgoing, autocross car the decision was simple. It was to be a daily driver year round and modified autox car, so it was pretty much narrowed down to a WRX up here in Minnesota where the snow flies 6+ months of the year. AWD was a fairly important option, and they didn't make alot of options in the WRX that mattered. At that point, all they'd changed was the front end between the 02-03 and the 04-05.. I like the 04-05 better, and what do you know, they came with a slightly better gearbox. Sold.

I've spent 8 years in my WRX. Building, adjusting, negotiating with sponsors, and of course, driving... but in that time that car has fallen out of favor with the gods of autocross. No longer is it the top dog in STX, as BMWs and RX-8s swooped in with their wider tire allowances and really got the upper hand. And to top it all off, the twins (FRS/BRZ) have also landed in STX to beat up on the BMWs and RX-8s. Once that car gets up and running, it's going to be an unstoppable little beast.

Some budget constraints, and urges to try something new after a pretty dramatic winter of change made me decide to leave the WRX in storage and spend the year co-driving. I've hopped in about a half a dozen cars over the 2013 autox season, with most of my time spent in an RTR-ES Mk2 MR2 (The Zebra).

Driving all these RWD vehicles made me realize how different the handling dynamics were to my pushy, nose heavy WRX that I'd been fighting with for all that time. It took me a long time to try and get over some really bad habits that I had learned spending so much time behind the wheel of my trusty friend. After a season of doing that, and what felt like getting faster as a driver, I decided it was time for the WRX to head on down the road, and for some new RWD vehicle to come into my life.

Of course i'd love to go cut a check for a BRZ and continue my run streak in STX.. but I can't personally justify turning a new $25k car into a track only toy.. but then like a message from on high, the SCCA fast track deliverith.
The September fast track had a rule suggestion to move the Nissan 350z to STU, from it's previous home in STR. Hmm.. a 300 horsepower rear wheel drive coupe with a limited slip and 285 tires on all four corners? Now that sounds like a hell of a fun car.

Since then, the 350z has been cleared to move to STU, so here we are.The goal of this blog is to document my thought process in choosing a car, build plans, when I actually buy one, the build, and any development along the way.