Name: Glenn L. Austin

Home town: Originally from Spokane, but we've lived from L.A. to Vancouver, WA.

Occupation: Software engineer/consultant

Personal: Married with two kids

Autocrossing experience: Got started autocrossing in 2001. Previously I'd attended the Russell Racing School at Laguna Seca to be a road racer, but an auto accident in 1993 has put that on indefinite hold.

Primary autocross vehicle and class: Nissan SE-R SpecV, SSSCC C6 (SCCA D Stock)

Major modifications: Kumho VictoRacer 245/45R17s (yes, the same size Mustangs use) on OEM rims, Koni sports (yellows), NISMO front sway bar

Modifications that made the biggest difference: Nismo front sway bar, Evolution Phase 1 (although it took a few events for the lessons to "sink in")

 

Modifications that made the least difference: K&N filter, but when you've got 150+ HP to the ground and you spin the tires coming out of corners already in second gear, a little bit more HP and torque doesn't seem to be a lot of difference,

 

Future modifications to help make your vehicle more competitive: Lightweight rims, more experience, Evolution Phase 2 and 3

 

Other current or past autocross vehicles: 2000 Dodge Intrepid. Yes, I got some chuckles when I first showed up until they looked at my times. I couldn't get any performance parts for it, so out with the Intrepid, in with the SpecV.

 

Best thing about autocrossing: Car control and the friends you make all over the country.

 

Worst thing about autocrossing: Being away from my family, although they do like to watch.

 

Best driving tips: How do I pick? "Drive slower, race faster." "Look ahead. Look ahead! LOOK AHEAD!!!"

 

Best advice for a beginner: Your first events you'll gain seconds. Then you'll gain tenths of seconds. Then you'll spend the rest of your life for hundredths or thousandths of seconds. Don't quit, that pursuit is a worthy goal, and you'll feel better about going one hundredth quicker later than you will about going 10 seconds quicker now.

 

My ideal car: RWD two-seater sports car with power and without a top (or with one, so I can do track days as well). Something like a 350Z, or '04 and later S2000, although I'm currently leaning towards the Z, lots of torque, decent HP, and a more forgiving chassis, although it is somewhat(!) heavier than the S2000.

 

Opinion of your current car for autocross use: Very underrated for the class, partly because it needed some suspension help to be drivable "at the edge," but mainly because D Stock is stuffed with good cars like the Integra TypeR, BMW 330ci, and Suburu WRX. Bone stock the car (but not this driver) was still faster than most of the cars (except for one BMW driven by the future-2003-D Stock champion and his co-driver) in Bremerton in 2003.

 

Awards/Wins/Accomplishments:

2001 Caught and passed a Porsche 924 in the "twisty bits" during a track day at Portland International Raceway in my Intrepid

2002 Oregon Region D Stock champion

Sixth overall PAX in the first annual Oregon Shootout

2003 Oregon Region D Stock champion

Invite to the second annual Oregon Shootout in Bend

2004 Oregon Region two PAX wins

2004 Oregon Region one overall "best PAX time"

Invite to the third annual Oregon Shootout in Bend