@ J G Pasterjak

"If I could make a wish on these anniversaries, it's that we've had an impact on your enjoyment of cars."

For those of you that don't subscribe to the magazine (Shame on you!) this is a quote from JG's column in the current issue. I was reading it this morning.

Well, let me see. I went down to the rec room and looked at my January 1987 issue of Auto-X Magazine, the first one I ever bought. There are articles on two Volkswagens, tire selection and an AW11 Toyota. I had been autocrossing a stock Mazda GLC Sport for a couple of years and had been introduced to Auto-X at one of our car club meetings. It was like manna from heaven.By the time I sold off that Mazda it had much better shocks and a combination of modified junkyard sway bars (from some sort of Chevy IIRC).

Since the hot cars in the magazine were often VWs I had to have one, and ended up with 5 over the years. There's a low mileage 1991 GTI 16V in the garage right now. The first GTI eventually went from DD to autocross to road racing duties. When I tired of racing VWs for 7 or 8 seasons, I changed to "The Answer" and built ,with my own two hands, a SpecMiata. My first drive in a Miata was in qualifying the first race weekend of the season. Why a Miata? The magazine, and by that time the GRM forums said it was a great way to race. And, they were right!

Was I influenced by GRM? Did your insights,opinions and tests result in me enjoying the car hobby? There's a Miata, a MINI CooperS,a GTI, and a Chev Astro in the driveway. You tell me. Oh! ,and there's an engineless 1973 Toyota Corolla SR5 in the garage awaiting some sort of V8 swap. It's intended to be at the Challenge next fall.

I've made the trek to Gainesville twice now, just to spectate and I've enjoyed the racing,beer drinking in the hotel parking lot, the banquet, and watching a Jeep do stuff a Jeep has no right to do.

Through the forum I've made new friends, although most of them are from Ohio, and we all know what people from Ohio are like. I've met many others at the Challenge, like Wheels77,SVRex and others, and I've enjoyed just hanging with other car folks.

So, this 62 year old car guy says you already got your wish. Every one of the folks at the magazine (Tim, Margie, Tom, David,Rick, et al) should be proud of what you have contributed to our wonderful hobby.

My thanks to all of you for all the fun I've had because of a 62 page magazine I started buying almost 28 years ago.

Well said, good to know you!

And thank you.

berkeleying brown-noser. GFY!

Seriously, this magazine and site have taught me so much more than just mere "skills" its given me the courage to take on larger and larger tasks simply because so many here have simply rolled up their sleeves and dove in.

Thanks GRM and thanks you berkeleying mental cases here on the board!

This is not fun anymore. I quit. I detect a change in tone here. It used to me cynical, sarcastic and snarky and mow it has slowly changed into a place for brown nosers and suck ups.

Just kidding.

I have a similar story to DeadSkunk's...

Just out of high school, I first ran a Mazda GLC and then a GTI in local SCCA autocross events. When I found AutoX magazine, I couldn't believe it and bugged the crap out of the owner of the magazine shop waiting for the new issue to arrive. I eventually bought a Capri to autocross and over time built it into an IT car in my driveway.

We started a family and I sold the race car, and drove appliances for a while. When our boys started driving I fell back into the hobby, buying The Answer and modding it and my son's E30. He ran it at some autocrosses and the drag strip. I found Grassroots Motorsports and later Classic Motorsports after I tracked down my old Capri and bought it back.

The magazines are awesome, as is this forum. I don't post much, but I learn a lot from the other members. I've been to The Mitty twice so far, and just finished the Shop of Good Intentions, in which the still in progress Capri takes center stage.

To all of the folks who make the magazines and this site possible, thanks.

I'm just happy someone besides my mom reads my column.

OK, I admit I read your column too, under the sheets with a flashlight

I think you would be surprised how many people read what you do.

aussiesmg wrote: OK, I admit I read your column too, under the sheets with a flashlight

Really? Cause, I know what my son is doing when he's hiding under the sheets with a flashlight and a magazine...

JG Pasterjak wrote: I'm just happy someone besides my mom reads my column.

I do, it's way better than David's monthly snorefest

JG's Mom said: He has a column?

Your GLC reminds me of the car that got me into autocrossing. I saw a Geo Prism GSi on Hoosiers at an autocross that was part of a classic car event I was attending. I was amazed at how well a sorted little sedan could do.

When I got my '90 Civic Sedan I thought about that car and decided to give autocrossing a try.

I got into a 82 delta 88 for my first autocross car...I got out of demo derbying thanks to the zine and have more crappy carscthen anyone really should....sigh

Lets see, the first issue I got (for free!) was circa 2007, at the time I thought I liked "odd cars" because I was driving (and auto-crossing) a FC RX-7.

2 - subscriptions later and I had a Lada (after owning a Fiat Panda, a Ford Focus, and a Volvo V40).

1 - subscription after that I had a Trabant.

1- Subscription after that and I have an Alfa GTV6 almost completely torn down to a shell, because I thought I'd get in there and "just fix a couple of things" before I drove it again...

I've read every magazine sent to me from cover to cover (some more than once) but you'll understand if I'm just a little afraid to renew again this spring