Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/335414
July / August 2014 30 LADIES ONLY KCRPCA AUTOCROSS Melanie Haas I just can't imagine that anyone organizes an autocross better than Rudy Rodriguez and team. I realize I'll be teased by a few for starting my first Der Sportwagen article with such a glowing compliment, but it's so true that I can't help it. The planning and execution give us all a reason to support KCRPCA autocross events and to keep going back. The weather for the Ladies-only Autocross at Ameristar this year was absolutely phenomenal. The turnout was fantastic. Rudy's maneuvering began before the course was event set up, since the day started with a rogue car parked right in the middle of the lot we usually use. With no owner to be found, our location flipped to the other side of Ameristar casino, which turned out to be an equally great spot. We certainly attracted a few more onlookers than usual. The KCRPCA has a fine collection of certified instructors on hand to help out at these events, but on this day we also had a special guest. Kendell Lopez, a female driver from Independence, MO, who races in the K&N and ARCA/NASCAR series. With a diverse range of experience and eras and models of Porsches, you don't have to think of it as racing against other drivers. You're racing against your own best time. I like to start the day with an instructor and I was happy to invite Kendell along on the very first run of the day. The tips I got from her were great, as she helped clarify the tips I'd received previously on hand placement by explaining that simply the goal is to be pushing, not pulling, based on the direction you want to go. I was working too hard. She also helped me sort out the apex of the large sweeper at the back of the course, where I discovered a full second was there for the taking if I could get on the gas earlier and brake later on the long haul between obstacles. I made it a point to race with different instructors than at the last event, so after talking through tips with Dave Stadtmueller trackside, I asked him for some in-car tips as well. There are certain mysteries a budding racecar driver can't figure out on her own. Thankfully, Dave finally understood my pain. In fact, he really had my number from the moment we hit the line. As I was braking hard before heading into the first turn, Dave was already on it, "Look left, look left! Big center cone on your left! Go there!" I wasn't planning far enough ahead and he could tell. It's just like riding a motorcycle: don't look where you don't want to be, look where you do want to be. He helped me shave even more time off. Ladies Only KCRPCA AUTOCROSS Photo: Nicholas Segura - Nicholas@SomosAgency.com 816-728-2596 SomosAgency.com