Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/269902
March / April 2014 29 GUEST COLUMN By Bob & Kyle Charlesworth I am the King of the family in autocross, period. Enough said - because I am the "Father". to race against my father's time (and not scratch his mint condition 97' 993 Carrera). We each got four rounds to beat the clock and both of us kept improving our times with each round. Although I did get a little squirrelly with the 993 by coming too fast out of a tight turn, I hit a couple cones which deduct time. Lesson learned. With everything said and done, I did end up beating my ol' man by 0.6 seconds. Surely that says something beating his time in his own car! So, he's going to have to deal with the ego until the next KCRPCA Autocross. My wife and I are expecting our first child due early August. We don't know if it's a boy or a girl yet, but what I can assure all of you is this: the next generation of Porsche addicts is on its way! The "FATHER'S" view: I am the King of the family in autocross, period. Enough said - because I am the "Father". Apparently, that works only for a little while until the kid grows up. I see Kyle admits the Charlesworth Family is somewhat competitive. All of us, from my brother Tom in Tulsa (used to be a PCA National Scrutineer); to brother James (ran a 944 in PCA); and nephew Will (who races a Formula Vee), we love track time. Kyle has been died in the wool Porsche nut, but never pushed too hard about driving events…. apparently not until now. Rudy took care of me, as an Autocross newbie last year. Soon enough the cones spoke to me, somewhat like how my older 1972 914 did in College, yet the car plowed like a snow shovel through the corners. 30 years later, and I have the same issue with the 993 – but now I realize, the plowing was MY problem. I went alone and met some great KCRPCA folk. Man did I have fun at that event. So, being a nice dad, I invited (that includes paying for) my son, Kyle, to join me in my 993 for the next Autocross. We each got better as the morning wore on. Each time, I still remained King of the Family. Bragging rights still fully in-tact. Fall comes and Kyle wants to go again. Being a sporting man, I agree (and pay….get the theme here). First, a fun walk through the course (hint - listen to the instructors and everyone pointing something out as it's amazing what you can learn and they explain why the cones point the way they do), slow drive through the course to "see" it from the car's perspective (gives you that visual of the cones), then we're ready to begin. The key is to FINISH the course – forget the timing as it will come with more runs. I see Kyle failed to mention that I was still the King for all our runs… until we just had to have one more time each. I accepted the challenge and go first – laying down my best time and I have the time-sheet to prove it. Kyle gets set and takes the course. He told you the results, but forgot to mention he was waiving his timesheet in my face. UGGH. I've had to re-live that run all winter, and always from his point of view. The next Autocross can't get here fast enough! So, my advice to each KCRPCA member: Don't go (that way I have more time to take another turn)! Okay, that was mean. All kidding aside, there are just a few key points to think about