Autocross Car Preview

Factory Five and 2 Mustangs = AMERICA!

A quick look at the drivers signed up for this coming weekend's autocross with the Tidewater Sports Car Club shows that we have cars from companies based in several countries. Leading the way are Germany and Japan with 22 entries each, followed by the home team USA with 16 drivers. After that the numbers drop quickly to only 2 Korean car drivers and then 1 from England and the NMS FIAT from Italy. Of course not all these cars are built in their company's home country, so I guess you could count my FIAT as a Mexican car if you want.

Morgan = ENGLAND!

By taking out the driver names and what class the cars are entered in, here's the car info by country. The German entries show a bit of variety with some Porsches, some VWs, and a majority of BMWs.
Down in the Japanese listings, it's a LOT of Mazda Miatas. This brings up one of the common sayings that crops up when car fans talk about the best car to autocross, or to drive on a track, or to modify. The saying is that "Miata is always the answer" because they are so popular and handle well. Even with the Japanese vote split among Infiniti, Subaru, Honda, and Nissan/Datsun, the 12 Miatas make this one model the autocross car of choice.

Volvo = SWEDEN!

Here in the USA there are a variety of Mustang models, and I've included the Briggs Kart and the Factory Five as Americans also. I'm still working on the best way to joke about the WWII winning USA/England team having less popular cars in autocross than the WWII losers of Germany/Japan/Italy, so if you have a good idea of how to say that in a funny way please let me know.

Porsche times 3 = GERMANY!

The Morgan roadster is an awesome car to see on the autocross "pitch", and we might even have another English car driving on Sunday if the Lotus and old Mini show up. So far I haven't seen any Jaguars, Aston Martins, or McLaren cars at an autocross, but I'm sure they are out there. Maybe James Bond takes his Aston Martin out for a spin when he's not busy saving the world.

Datsun/Nissan = JAPAN!

Last but hopefully not slowest, our lone Italian representative is the NMS Abarth, so as long as no other Italians show up I'll be gunning for Fastest Italian of the Day. Just to refresh your memory, the other Italian cars that you can buy in the US right  now tend to be faster and way more expensive than my car, so it would be great to get behind the wheel of an Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Ferrari, or Lamborghini too.

FIAT = ITALY!

Tidewater Sports Car Club October Autocross Entries by Country of Origin

2010	Porsche Boxster S	Germany
2003	Volkswagen 20th Anny GTI	Germany
1999	BMW M3	Germany
2010	Porsche Boxster S	Germany
1999	Porsche 911	Germany
2005	BMW 325ci	Germany
	Volkswagen Golf TDI	Germany
1997	BMW 328is	Germany
1995	BMW M3	Germany
1994	BMW 325is	Germany
2012	Volkswagen Golf R	Germany
1973	Porsche	Germany
2009	Volkswagen GTI	Germany
2008	Volkswagen R 32	Germany
1993	BMW 325i	Germany
	BMW 323	Germany
1995	BMW 325is	Germany
2003	BMW 330ci	Germany
1995	BMW 325is	Germany
2008	Volkswagen R 32	Germany
2006	Volkswagen Jetta TDI	Germany
2014	BMW 328i	Germany
1990	Nissan Skyline GTR	Japan
1991	Mazda Miata	Japan
2015	Subaru STi	Japan
2006	Mazda MX5	Japan
2002	Mazda Miata	Japan
2011	Mazda 2	Japan
1991	Mazda Miata	Japan
1997	Mazda Miata	Japan
1991	Mazda Miata	Japan
2001	Mazda Miata	Japan
1994	Mazda Miata	Japan
2006	Mazda MX-5 Miata	Japan
1994	Mazda Miata	Japan
2005	Infiniti G35 Coupe	Japan
1997	Mazda Miata	Japan
1973	Datsun 240Z	Japan
1995	Mazda Miata	Japan
1995	Mazda Miata	Japan
1979	Honda Civic	Japan
2000	Honda S2000	Japan
2004	Mazda Miata	Japan
2001	Mazda Miata	Japan
2012	Ford Shelby GT500	USA
2014	Ford Mustang	USA
2016	Ford Shelby GT350R	USA
2014	Ford Mustang	USA
2012	Ford Shelby GT500	USA
2015	Ford Fiesta ST	USA
1996	Chevrolet Camaro	USA
2012	Ford Mustang Boss 302	USA
1965	AC FACTORY FIVE	USA
1985	Ford Mustang	USA
2003	Ford Mustang Cobra	USA
1991	Ford Mustang	USA
1969	Chevrolet Camaro	USA
2006	Firstkart Briggs	USA
2002	Chevrolet Corvette z06	USA
2002	Pontiac Trans am	USA
2015	Hyundai Elantra	Korea
2013	Hyundai Genesis Coupe	Korea
1958	Morgan RDS	England
2013	Fiat 500 Abarth	Italy