2010 Bench Racer's League

[scheides]

Ok dudes, yes its the middle of winter, but last fall I made a small promise to myself. I've spent a lot of time modding my car for fun on the street, and I get a TON of enjoyment out of it, but with all the smack-talking and big promises that goes on around here, I decided that I need to man up and attend (and enter) some basic local automotive events. If anyone is interested in joining me, speak up!

I have big dreams (we all do) but this is going to be an extremely informal group that will band together and get our street cars onto the track for at least a go at getting a few laps in or a few runs down a track. Ultimately it'd be awesome to attend some open-track events at BIR or Road America, but for now we're going to keep it super simple, and cost effective for us newbs.

If possible, I'd like to get a small group of people together for each event. We could help prep each other's cars, work out break-down bail-out plans, and even coordinate getting significant others to the track to cheer us on. Anna fvcking hates this stuff, and furthermore hates sitting outside in the cold or heat or anything but perfect weather, but truth be told, I'd feel a ton better having her there to cheer me on (as would anyone else want their sig other there, I think?).

This thread is about getting off the bench for some lighthearted fun. Neither Rock Falls nor BIR have their schedules up yet, so we'll have to watch and see what they say. MNAutoX has a few events planned out, and there are some open track days/weekends out there too!

Local organizations with scheduled events (I'll update this as they get posted):
North Star BMW
MN Auto X aka Minnesota Autosports Club (MAC)
MAP Proving Grounds@BIR june 26-27
Rock Falls Drag Strip


Personal concerns: Please post up dates that might work for you, car conditions (but not too detailed, we have other areas for that), and what types of events you'd like to attend.

Scheides' concerns:
Scheduling this stuff too close to MitsuStyle events. I put a fukload of time and effort into our cruises and dyno days, so it ends up making me want to take a week or two off from anything car-related once we've done a few events

Car condition: clutch is holding strong, but I have been setting aside $$ for replacing it. Trans has also getting awfully grindy, considering doing rebuild while trans is out for clutch job. Also getting some new tires this spring.

Drag: I'd like to attend one, if not two drag events this year. First event will be pretty basic, and probably on existing clutch, rolling starts followed by gentle launches. I'll tow the car home after this if I absolutely have to, but I don't want to.

AutoX: I'm thinking mnautoX events at DCTC. It's about a mile long course, and if possible I'd just like to get in on test & tune days. Other possibilities would include a driving school weekend.


Tentative Dates
AutoX: MAC Novice School April 24-25
Drag: MAP Proving Grounds June 26-27

[t-revzr]

Scheides Im down for all the events that you wanna try out also.
Drag for sure because I wanna see how close you and I will be bein will have close to the same setup! Car will be ready for autox also. Only thing that the car needs now is my turbo put on and new rotors and pads. I would love to help you out on any of the scheduling etc...

[mlomker]

I'm planning to do a lot of HPDEs over the summer. I wouldn't mind spectating at a drag strip event, though.

[awd-drifter]

planning to do alot more Auto-X events this year. I'm ready to put some front bushings in but it's just too damn cold right now.

[cmspaz]

I'd be up for this, after my complete and total lack of local competitive event participation last season.

Concerns: Getting time off of work. As a lot of you probably know, I work weekends, which makes it hard to get to events without losing hours. The unfortunate part is that I don't see this changing any time soon.

Car condition: LOL. Jokes aside, it has been a fairly reliable DD despite the occasional beatings. It did make it to Iowa, run an autox and a drag event on the same day, and make it back home the next this past summer, so I'm pretty sure I'll be alright. I don't have much else planned for this body right now, namely brakes, MAF-T, and fuel, which should all be done by spring.

Drag: Don't expect me to be fast or look good trying. Also, I don't really plan on launching this clutch.

Autox: Bring it.

Road course: Yes please.

[Swifty1638]

Drag..well, that's about all I can touch. The car is just too much for a road course, auto x or anything else. If I wanted on those, I would have built the car differently.

Scheides, see ya springtime

[Matt D.]

Originally Posted by Swifty1638

The car is just too much for a road course

Whaaaaaaat? Is it too much for a straight line, too?

Originally Posted by Swifty1638

auto x or anything else.

I will agree with you there, autocross and turbo lag are like oil and water.

[mlomker]

Originally Posted by Matt D.

Whaaaaaaat? Is it too much for a straight line, too?

He has coilovers so I assume the car can turn. At the HPDE that I went to there were a couple club racers hauling ass but I was handily in the top 1/3rd speed-wise and it was my first time on the track...with a bone stock X.

A lot of the turns are 2nd gear but I generally drove the whole course at 4k+ rpm so spool might not be such a big deal. With E85 and a tune I probably won't even need to shift.

[slowbubblecar]

Originally Posted by mlomker

He has coilovers so I assume the car can turn. At the HPDE that I went to there were a couple club racers hauling ass but I was handily in the top 1/3rd speed-wise and it was my first time on the track...with a bone stock X.

A lot of the turns are 2nd gear but I generally drove the whole course at 4k+ rpm so spool might not be such a big deal. With E85 and a tune I probably won't even need to shift.

Seems like there are always a few purpose built race cars there. Most people do not have much experience and are just there to have fun. In the few times I have gone, I haven't seen anybody really trying to compete with anyone else. People are just there to have fun. There will always be faster cars and slower cars.

Were you there the day someone brought a 60s mustang there and was "cruising" around the track?

[mlomker]

Originally Posted by slowbubblecar

Were you there the day someone brought a 60s mustang there and was "cruising" around the track?

Yeah, that was the day that I went. I understand it was a woman driving her husbands 'baby' so she was driving about half the speed that everyone else was...

[C3L1CA]

I want my car to make it to a drage strip twice this year and make full passes without something breaking.

Hopefully my dumb self doesn't do anything crazily major to the car mid summer that keeps me from attending some events.

You guys should all come up to the MAP thing at BIR, that was a f'in blast last year.

[scheides]

Don't be bashful if you think you're gonna be slow at this or that, going fast is not the point of this. The point is to try it, get down the drag track a few times, even if you end up in the 15's.

Lomker, do you know of any single-day HPDE's on a big track? The BMW one is 3 days and $350. Pretty big commitment.

[1QUICK4]

Should do a Mitsustyle street car shootout.

Say 3 or 4 events, most points over all is the winner.
(AutoX/Drag/RoadRace or even circle track )

You would most likely need to limit major mods inbetween events

[mlomker]

Originally Posted by scheides

Lomker, do you know of any single-day HPDE's on a big track? The BMW one is 3 days and $350. Pretty big commitment.

Sure, went to birperformance.com's event on Sept 5th. There's a thread about it on here. They do events all summer.

Umm, the one day events are $265 but BIR is the most expensive place to go. Gotta keep in mind that it includes both use of the track and an instructor to ride as co-pilot as much as you want.

If I were you I'd be more concerned about burning up your $1k set of tires than the entrance fee. A day on the track isn't cheap even if you aren't off-roading.

[scheides]

Originally Posted by mlomker

Sure, went to birperformance.com's event on Sept 5th. There's a thread about it on here. They do events all summer.

Umm, the one day events are $265 but BIR is the most expensive place to go. Gotta keep in mind that it includes both use of the track and an instructor to ride as co-pilot as much as you want.

If I were you I'd be more concerned about burning up your $1k set of tires than the entrance fee. A day on the track isn't cheap even if you aren't off-roading.

Hrm that sounds like fun! The tires, brake pads, fuel, track insurance and lodging are premiums that shy me away from HPDE's. If I had more $$, I'd more strongly consider doing them. This is why I feel like the bench racer's league will focus more on drag events and autoX. Barring breakage, they should be relatively cheap to attend.

[goodhart]

I would be down for drag 100% with the Talon. I would also like to attend some Auto-X with the WRX.

Brainerd works perfect for me, as its only about an hour from St. Cloud.

Concerns: Hope my ACT 2600 will hold up and hope these Falken Ziex-912's will give me traction (probably not) So I would most likely need a new set of tires also, which sucks because these Falken's are pretty much brand new...

[slowbubblecar]

Originally Posted by scheides

Don't be bashful if you think you're gonna be slow at this or that, going fast is not the point of this. The point is to try it, get down the drag track a few times, even if you end up in the 15's.

Lomker, do you know of any single-day HPDE's on a big track? The BMW one is 3 days and $350. Pretty big commitment.

BIR has their schedule online for the HPDEs. They are fairly spendy. We usually just get up early and drive there and back in the same day to save lodging costs. One day that I went last year was on the long course for 1/2 of the day. HPDEs are generally on the short track though which was SCCA certified last fall. Both tracks are fun, but I like the big one better as I was able to go 150 on the straight.

I went to a HPDE event at Mid America (nebraska) last year that was cheap but it was 6 hrs away. Planning to go again this year. It is sponsored by woodhouse. You might be able to find info on that one if you look on their website.

I hope to go to many this year.

Car condition-stock and waiting to be driven.

[mlomker]

Originally Posted by slowbubblecar

I like the big one better as I was able to go 150 on the straight.

I only did 110 on the short course. You could probably do 130 or more if you were confident with your braking. haha. Not me.

I hope to go to many this year.

Good stuff! I'll be seeing you out there.

[slowbubblecar]

Originally Posted by mlomker

I only did 110 on the short course. You could probably do 130 or more if you were confident with your braking. haha. Not me.

Good stuff! I'll be seeing you out there.

On the short course, I didn't feel comfortable enough to go much higher than 130 going in to turn 2. Rather not learn the limits of my car the hard way at that speed while turning Could probably push it a little further on the long course if I was a little more confident in the braking. Was the only time we were on the long course though.

I am sure I will see you there

[scheides]

That'd be cool, but it seems barely 4-5 people want to commit to going to various events as it is! Again, this is for first-timers, no shoot-out, just get to the track, learn the process, have fun, etc.

I'm hoping we can go in full force to MAP's event this year, that would be pretty fun.