MAP Proving Grounds Event @ BIR / Feedback and Discussion

**v8klla** · 07-13-2009

I would like to begin by thanking EPDC for organizing the Drift and AutoX portions of the event and Chris Nelson from ClubRedline.net for organizing the car show! I would also like to thank those that came out to participate and/or spectate. Even though attendance wasn't what we had hoped for it still sounds like BIR would be interested in hosting a 2010 MAP Proving Grounds event!

With that said both MAP and BIR would greatly appreciate your input in regards to how this event can be improved upon next year. We have already had some suggestions, which I have outlined below, but please feel free to add to this list!

General Changes

- Change event to a two day event consisting of Saturday and Sunday.
- Improve signage designating vendor areas, campsites, car show, etc.
- Release event dates earlier to improve attendance
- Avoid scheduling conflicts (Hot Import Nights Chicago)
- Allow camping the day before the event
- Scheduling: Allow for participation in multiple events
- Move vendor area closer to campsites / spectator parking
- Competition Road Course Racing
- General Information Tent with Earplugs available
- General Information Flyer / Schedule / Map distributed at the gates
- Event organizer meeting / contact information sharing
- Driver's meeting explaining rules, schedule, etc.

Drag Racing

- Evaluate class structure, perhaps introduce tiered brackets so that more racers participate in eliminations?
- Eliminate All Motor class (zero participants in eliminations) unless demand increases next year

Drifting / AutoX

- Implement timing system for AutoX
- Take barriers into consideration in regards to AutoX course design.
- Specific tech for these events
- Announcer for these events
- Bleachers / Seating for spectators
- Marked staging / tech lanes
- First Aid Kit / Fire Extinguisher in the area
- SCCA / MAC Organization

Car Show

- Loud speaker announcement of winners
- Lunch break = Focal period
- Mobile Dynamometer
- Bikini Car Wash for Breast Cancer Charity

Also, if you did not attend the event please let us know why you chose not to attend and what, if anything, would make it worth your while to attend next year!

viridionplague · 07-13-2009

i hope to make it next year, i dont know if your doing this or not but it wouldnt hurt to have a discount in labor or a sale on the more commonly broken parts before the event to help those who are just broken down but want to attend

this is coming from a guy who needed new wheel bearing, where its more labor intensive than parts intensive

Matt D. · 07-13-2009

I intended to at least spectate if not participate in the autocross, but between being sick and slacking on working on my car I chose to stay home.

One thing concerned me from the videos of the autocross I saw that would have turned me away from it, and that was the barriers surrounding the course. I heard the same concerns from at least two other people, one of which chose to drag race instead. I have suffered a collision with such barriers at an autocross before and it's not fun. Drifters may accept that certain "obstacles" are inherent to the sport, but no where in autocross are you expected to pay for your mistakes.

1QUICK4 · 07-13-2009

I like the idea of holding it over Saturday/Sunday. I could not get off work in time to run Friday and me and the ol' lady really wanted to camp out Saturday night as well. Brainerd staff said that was a no-go

**v8klla** · 07-13-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D.

I intended to at least spectate if not participate in the autocross, but between being sick and slacking on working on my car I chose to stay home.

One thing concerned me from the videos of the autocross I saw that would have turned me away from it, and that was the barriers surrounding the course. I heard the same concerns from at least two other people, one of which chose to drag race instead. I have suffered a collision with such barriers at an autocross before and it's not fun. Drifters may accept that certain "obstacles" are inherent to the sport, but no where in autocross are you expected to pay for your mistakes.

Hmm perhaps we can consider that in regards to course design next year, but I have to say the area for the drifting / autox was much larger than I had anticipated.

C3L1CA · 07-13-2009

The one thing I wish was that the car show, drifting and the final racing were at different times. I would have liked to watch the drifting and liked to walk the car show but wanted to watch the drag racing and race my car more.

**Halon** · 07-13-2009

I had a good time. One thing I honestly wouldn't want is more segregation between the people and the vendors. I felt kind of torn as some of the people I knew, and where I hung out, was on one side of the track while I also knew a handful of people who were vendors. Made it so I was constantly going from one side to the other to kind of hang out with everyone. If next year it was more segregated, I don't think I'd like that personally.

Also, not sure where all this event info got posted, but I think it'd be cool to get this posted up on some of the larger nation wide boards so we could get more of a diverse group out. We have a lot of people around here, but seems like just not enough to fill a track for 2 days I think.

Anyhow, I still had fun. Thanks for putting the event on. If there is one next year, I really hope to be there again!!

blageo23 · 07-13-2009

It was a Great time. I really think to took a great spot when setting up

One thing I would say is that it seemed a bit disorganized. But I dont blame ya, considering it was the first time and you had a bunch of other things on your plate.
Agian, I would like to know what happend to the car show? All the sudden at 330 everyone packed up and left. I heard nothing about the awards or anything.
Thanks again for the vendor spot!

**Kracka** · 07-13-2009

I had a great time but do have a few suggestions:

1. Autocross course designed in consideration of concrete barriers
2. Better info/signage on events at the track facility
3. Don't have competitions overlap (aka drag elims and auto-x at the same time)
4. Sat/Sun event rather rather than Fri/Sat. If just one day, Saturday if possible.

Nightjoker7 · 07-13-2009

Ya I think making sure that Hot Import Nights isn't going on anywhere close would help, I would have had two more people come with if it wasn't.

slowbubblecar · 07-13-2009

I probably would have gone if my car would have fit in a class. I know it is hard to include everything though. Otherwise, if the short course would be utilized at the same time as the drag strip, I would have gone for the road course.

Matt D. · 07-14-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightjoker7

Ya I think making sure that Hot Import Nights isn't going on anywhere close would help, I would have had two more people come with if it wasn't.

Forgot about that, I know quite a few people that went to Chicago for HIN.

niterydr · 07-14-2009

If I wasn't moving, I would have spectated. If my car had a class, (and wasn't moving), I would have run my car.

Overall it sounds like a good list thus far for improvements.

1QUICK4 · 07-14-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by niterydr

If my car had a class, (and wasn't moving), I would have run my car.

Overall it sounds like a good list thus far for improvements.

The Audi would've been able to run SC-2

niterydr · 07-14-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1QUICK4

The Audi would've been able to run SC-2

Oh shit! I would have been able to show off my 15 second 1/4 passes!

FattyBoomBatty · 07-14-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by niterydr

Oh shit! I would have been able to show off my 15 second 1/4 passes!

Wanna run 'em?

**Halon** · 07-14-2009

Also, there were a couple people with Vette's that were interested in coming, but didn't come due to the "sport compact only" advertisement. Maybe think about including all kinds of cars? I swear there was still a C6 and a Grand Prix out there running.

stickyphoenix · 07-14-2009

i just want to thank the guys from MAP for putting this all together. i had a lot of fun spectating and just hanging out with everyone. i finally got to meet a few of the guys on here so i can put a face to a username. next yr i definitely want run one of the cars, but one is owned by the bank and the other is a stock 2g. t-25 bitches!

stickyphoenix · 07-14-2009

one other thing. we should get someone else to announce on the track. the guy that usually does it had no clue what he was talking about with our cars. like the cars are from another planet.

**Tachyon** · 07-14-2009

Here's some of the things I observed during the event:

[Tech]
Instead of just having everyone pass drag racing tech. I would recommend having 2 different tech inspections: 1 for drag, one for autox/drift. That way the BIR staff are not confused as to why there were so many cars signed up in the different drag classes even though they were not interested in that form of racing.

[Organization]
I think better signage would have helped tremendously. Signs for tech areas, autoX/drifting area, carshow area, etc.. Also, maybe you could have a general info tent as to who and what is happening and where and when. There was a fair amount of distance to cover so keeping things close together is key, I though that was OK for this event, speaking of how large the facility was.

[Events]
I though having 4 different events was great. What I might suggest is that is that you stagger Auto X and Drag events. I know many people that wanted to compete in both, but could not due to their simultaneous running.

Drag racing: I would suggest having a maximum of 3 classes: Q16, 9.99+ unrestricted, and bracket racing. There were just not enough cars there yet to necessitate that many classes.

Auto X: From what I heard the people who were going to organize this pulled out at the last minute? I though whoever ran it from there on made a nice recovery to even have the event at all. While there are probably not enough cars to warrant traditional autoX classes, it is mighty hard to beat a track prepped Exige at this type of event... The margin of victory was several seconds on a ~50 second track (was doing my own timing)

Drift: I have no idea how this worked as a spectator. It was fun to watch, but some sort of announcer during the event or a handout would have added tons.

Car Show: I drive a 1g, enough said.

[Overall]
I really enjoyed the event! I thought the drive was quite managable to get there and the setting with the on site camping was quite entertaining. I think once you guys refine the process a bit more this has a chance at becoming a top event in the Midwest.

Thanks MAP!