View Full Version : I used to be involved into Autocrossing. . It seems USPSA is autocrossing with guns….
Hi everyone I bought my first gun in May of 2021, and had only visited a range once like 35 years ago.
But now for whatever reason I’m hooked ! I went crazy a let’s just say I bought a bunch of guns and live at my indoor range, but since September I’ve discovered USPSA and the range where the competitions take place is close to my house, I’m in love.
Anyway, a few years ago I used to autocross (drive around traffic cones in parking lots for lowest elapsed time, without penalties ((hitting cones)).
Now that I started participating in USPSA I find the similarities striking between the two sports. Both male dominated, both skew towards older participants, and I would think or at least hope that I could eventually become better than I am at the moment but I’m loving it. I tended to be a little silly in and around the other sport. But there we used to talk about Hoosier tires, but here we talk about guns and ammo, so more serious. But I am loving guns and shooting competitions.
Now I just have to dry fire on a more regular basis.
Anyway, hello, and I’m glad I found this forum.
As a former autocrosser, I had the same thought at my first USPSA event.
To add to what you said:
A lot of people putting a massive investment into equipment for below average results (not a criticism - if this is what you enjoy I say have at it.)
A huge disparity from the top level competitors to the people in the lower tier, but all having a great time.
Some below average competitors who really want to give expert advice to new people.
But the biggest one - A lot of standing around watching other people compete before you take your less than 1 minute turn :/
LittleLebowski
12-09-2021, 09:46 AM
Welcome aboard, you'll fit in perfectly.
Welcome aboard, you'll fit in perfectly.
THANKS !
I used to make fun of autocrossers and myself by giving my “team” name a silly, funny, somewhat obnoxious name. It was fun to be outrageous a little. Not going to do that at all with guns and ammo involved. But fun is still a priority.
I have noticed a lot of people at the local matches have shirts with their names on them.
I guess that’s to help the people scoring to keep track of who exactly it is that they are scoring. I wonder one day if I ever got a jersey if I could put a funny name on it maybe with/without my real name……….
“Itchy”
As a former autocrosser, I had the same thought at my first USPSA event.
To add to what you said:
A lot of people putting a massive investment into equipment for below average results (not a criticism - if this is what you enjoy I say have at it.)
A huge disparity from the top level competitors to the people in the lower tier, but all having a great time.
Some below average competitors who really want to give expert advice to new people.
But the biggest one - A lot of standing around watching other people compete before you take your less than 1 minute turn :/
A lot less walking at a USPSA event than an autocross !
I also like the format where the results are all lumped together, at least at the local matches I’ve been to.
At one of my first matches I saw an argument between a senior citizen shooter (very good), demanding a reshoot on a practice night, and he was rebuffed by the match director. It got pretty heated…….just like silly autocross, except in autocross everyone isn’t armed !
I notice that overall it seems that everyone is nice and it all actually might be more laid back competition wise than autocross. Although I’ve only been to a few local matches and have never traveled to anything other to a local match. Really enjoying that I’m a 15 minute drive to my local club. Sure beats 2 hour drives to “local” autocrosses, and multiple day tows to national events when I used to autocross, many moons ago.
I wonder one day if I ever got a jersey if I could put a funny name on it maybe with/without my real name……….
“Itchy”
BALLS!!!!!!!!!!!
DUDE, I'VE MISSED YOU!
BALLS!!!!!!!!!!!
DUDE, I'VE MISSED YOU!
I knew that was you ! (JCN) !!!
You autocross much anymore ? I did see you compete and do real well in autox in some results after I left. Congrats on the good finishes. You like the gun game more ?
mmc45414
12-09-2021, 02:10 PM
you take your less than 1 minute turn :/
And the better you get, the less time you spend participating!!!
Most Sundays I gather with friends and we setup pistol drills and time each other, one day it occurred to me that if I have a good day I spend about 45sec shooting. Have started doing small time three gun and I am not as good at that yet, so I get to shoot for 3-4 minutes. :cool:
And the better you get, the less time you spend participating!!!
Most Sundays I gather with friends and we setup pistol drills and time each other, one day it occurred to me that if I have a good day I spend about 45sec shooting. Have started doing small time three gun and I am not as good at that yet, so I get to shoot for 3-4 minutes. :cool:
Thanks pretty funny but accurate……….I guess when you consider that three runs of an autocross might be. 120-160 seconds depending on driver skill, class, and condition and composition of tires.
And if you are really good three stages might go by in 50 seconds or less !
Clusterfrack
12-09-2021, 04:45 PM
Welcome to PF, 365X!
OlongJohnson
12-09-2021, 05:07 PM
My interest in autox plummeted once I started doing track days.
My interest in track days plummeted once I got a dirt bike.
My interest in autox plummeted once I started doing track days.
My interest in track days plummeted once I got a dirt bike.
If I did a dirt bike, they would be scraping me off the ground !
DDTSGM
12-09-2021, 09:38 PM
The guys I ride with say they see more of my oil drain plug than they do me. Dirt is softer than pavement.
Spartan1980
12-09-2021, 11:01 PM
If I did a dirt bike, they would be scraping me off the ground !
I definitely received at least a couple of t-shirts on this very thing. How I made it to adulthood is a question only God can answer.
littlejerry
12-09-2021, 11:18 PM
My interest in autox plummeted once I started doing track days.
My interest in track days plummeted once I got a dirt bike.
My interest in autox plummeted once I started doing track days.
My interest in track days plummeted once I did wheel to wheel racing.
Then I went broke, so I started shooting to save money.
My interest in IDPA plummeted once I started USPSA
My interest in USPSA plummeted once I started doing Biathlons
My interest in autox plummeted once I started doing track days.
My interest in track days plummeted once I did wheel to wheel racing.
Then I went broke, so I started shooting to save money.
My interest in IDPA plummeted once I started USPSA
My interest in USPSA plummeted once I started doing Biathlons
My interest in Biathlon’s plummeted once I became a Navy SEAL.
CraigS
12-10-2021, 08:45 AM
I still autocross and shoot idpa. The nice thing for me is AXs are usually on Sunday and idpa are on Saturday. Each summer I have several 2 sport weekends.
My interest in Biathlon’s plummeted once I became a Navy SEAL.
Hey my bad, I am not/wasn’t ever a Navy Seal or served in the Armed Forces, although my dad was US Army and NYPD. I was just going along with the escalation
Autocross, track days, dirt bikes, biathlon’s, Navy Seal……….I realize a lot of people on these forums are actually Navy Seals, law enforcement, ex and current military etc. I meant no disrespect. I was just going with the flow of the thread and having fun. I didn’t mean to offend anyone.
Why (can you) can’t you edit one of your posts on this forum ?
365X
OlongJohnson
12-10-2021, 02:04 PM
Why (can you) can’t you edit one of your posts on this forum ?
365X
You have a one-hour window to edit.
It's something the former owner of the site set up to encourage people to think before they posted. His explanation was along the lines of, if you're going to be an idiot in public, you can live with the consequences.
So far, it's worked pretty well. There's far less idiocy here in this little corner of the internet than is easily found most places. Keeps some of us coming back.
both skew towards older participants
That depends what you call older.
It is really young people's sport, especially at the locals. You get to late 40s and above, you realize that kiddos in their twenties can beat you by 10% just on foot speed alone, as long as the stage is not like 10 steps. The older you get, the more you have to rely on shooting part to do well in your placement. Enjoy the sport.
And the better you get, the less time you spend participating!!!
That's the irony. You put a lot of time and effort into something you enjoy with the goal being you spend as little time as possible doing it.
My interest in autox plummeted once I started doing track days.
My interest in track days plummeted once I got a dirt bike.
What interest do you have that occupies your time recovering from injuries?
OlongJohnson
12-12-2021, 11:07 AM
What interest do you have that occupies your time recovering from injuries?
So far, I've ridden well enough within my limits to not get hurt enough to take any time off. It's still fun.
But there is that aspect. I can't make myself ride as close to the edge as I drive a car when I'm on a race track.
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