June 2008

Name: Allen Kugler

Age: 38

City/State: Springtown, Pa

Profession: Owner Kugler Plumbing and Heating, Inc.

Daily Driver: 1998 Chevy Cargo Van

Family: Married to Big Red

What year did you first get interested in (or start) autocrossing?
In December 1988 I watched a Hershey Park fall series
event in snow flurries. I ran my first event in the
Spring of 1989.

What kind of car do you compete with, what class do you compete in?
I’m building a 1990 CRX for EP

What made you choose your current autox car?
I especially love CRX’s and wanted to go faster than
FSP. Then, Brian Yoder was selling his EP CRX with a
blown motor for a decent price, so we bought it.

Why do you like racing Honda’s so much?
They’re inexpensive to modify and very durable.

Who is your biggest influence in the sport? Why?
Vern Lyle and Wayne Petel gave me a lot of help when I
first started, now Dave Newman keeps me focused.
Chris Janusz and I bounce Honda ideas off each other.

Do you left-foot brake? In your opinion how has this helped you?
Yes. You can’t load a front drive chassis with one
foot or make it dance through a slalom.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now in the sport? Driving what?
Hopefully the same place – Having fun while being a
threat at Nationals.

In the past year or so, what have you learned to help improve yourself as a driver and your car setup?
Make key adjustments to the car between runs.

What can you tell a Novice who is just starting out?
Forget the car, work on the driver. Get a lot of
course walks. Go to a school before you learn bad
habits.

How much of the sport do you think is attributed to driver skill vs. car setup?
70% driver. 30% car/set-up

What is it about autocrossing that keeps you interested?
The challenge of course analogy, the thrill of proper
execution, to me, the competition is secondary.

Do you critique yourself during your runs, after each run, or after the event?
Never during runs, constantly after each run. Unless I
feel that I struggled with a certain course section,
or am having a set-up issue, I try to make mental
adjustments while still at the event.

How do you feel after a fast, clean run?
Relieved. I put a lot of pressure on myself to be
fast.

What techniques do you use to memorize the course?
I’ve always had a knack for visualization. On long or
airstrip courses, I will break it down by section.

Would you consider expanding your skills to wheel to wheel racing or even doing a HPDE?
I did for awhile. Then I saw a friend’s road race car
destroyed at a Watkins Glen Regional. No Thanks!

What trophies or titles have you won?
2000 4th CSP Nationals. 2001 2nd CSP Solo Nationals.
2002 3rd CSP Nationals. 2003 and 2004 1st FSP
Nationals. 2005 3rd FSP Nationals. 2006 2nd FSP
Nationals and FSP Pro-Solo Champion.

What is your primary goal for the upcoming season?
Build, develop and drive the car to an EP Nationals
trophy.

If you could have ANY autocross ride imaginable, what would it be and why?
Mark Huffman’s DM Lotus Elan. Do you have to ask why?

What was your favorite subject in school ?
Metal shop.

Did you get any tickets as a teenager when you first had your driving license?
Does one for doing donuts in a parking lot count?
What is your favorite-

Food – Anything Denise cooks.

Drink – Mmm…beer.

TV Show – CSI

Movie– Gumball Rally

Music/band – Blues, Rock

Car–  Attainable= CRX          Dream time= Elan

Other hobbies besides AutoX
Snowmobiling, Restoring our 100 year old farmhouse,
growing facial hair.

Some of your favorite Web Sites?

Honda-tech, D-series.org

Name: Denise Kugler

Age: 36

City/State: Springtown, Pa

Profession: Owner and Operator Country Cuttery Hair
Salon

Daily Driver: 2004 Chevy Silverado

Family: Married to Elvis

What year did you first get interested in (or start) autocrossing?
1990. I met Allen and our 3rd date was a Farm show
AutoX. I started driving May 1991.

What kind of car do you compete with, what class do you compete in?
We just finished 2007 driving the Janusz SM Civic, and
are building an EP CRX for 2008.

What made you choose your current autox car?
We wanted to go faster than the FSP car and after
driving the Janusz Civic, needed to be in something
fast. I think it’s going to be a blast.

Why do you like racing Honda’s so much?
I guess I’m just a front wheel drive kinda girl.

Who is your biggest influence in the sport? Why?
Definitely Allen, he’s an awesome coach and teacher.
Dave Newman for just being Dave and for giving lots of
encouragement. Corey Ridgick and Anthony DeFiore for
being my good luck charms at Nationals. And last but
not least, Chris & Kristell Janusz for all their
support.

Do you left-foot brake? In your opinion how has this helped you?
Yes, to me, it really helps to balance the car,
especially in the rain.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now in the sport? Driving what?
Hopefully still near the top, traveling to Tours and
Pros. Probably the EP car. It will still be a work in
progress.

In the past year or so, what have you learned to help improve yourself as a driver and your car setup?
To not be afraid to make tweaks between runs, not to
drive around a problem.

What can you tell a Novice who is just starting out?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help and lots of course
walks.

How much of the sport do you think is attributed to driver skill vs. car setup?
80% driver. 20% car.

What is it about autocrossing that keeps you interested?
The competition and having great Auto-X friends.

Do you critique yourself during your runs, after each run, or after the event?
Yes!

How do you feel after a fast, clean run?
Breathless. I’m not kidding, I swear sometimes I
forget to breathe.

What techniques do you use to memorize the course?
Lots of course walks. Run it through your head. Try to
make adjustments in your head between runs.

Would you consider expanding your skills to wheel to
wheel racing or even doing a HPDE?
No.

What trophies or titles have you won?
I have won 3 National Championships (2001, 2002
CSPL/2007 SML) and 4 second places at Nationals (2 in
CSPL, 2 in FSPL).

What is your primary goal for the upcoming season?
To hit less cones than I did this year.

If you could have ANY autocross ride imaginable, what would it be and why?
I used to say Chris Travis’ SM Civic, but I pretty
much did that this year with the Janusz Civic, so..
the kick ass EP CRX that Allen’s building.

What was your favorite subject in school ?
Cosmetology.

Did you get any tickets as a teenager when you first had your driving license?
Yes, one when I worked Saturday mornings and needed to
get to the Farm show by lunchtime.

What is your favorite-

Food – Pizza and Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream

Drink– Margarita

TV Show– Survivor

Movie- Do race videos count?

Music/band– Aerosmith/Jimmy Buffett

Car–  Attainable= CRX or Del Sol  Dream time= John
Thomas’ FP car.

Other hobbies besides AutoX
Baking cookies (these are really goood too), trimming Allen’s facial hair.

Some of your favorite Web Sites?
Of course! Autox4u.com / Ebay