Six CDC Autocrosses at Summit Point in 2009

[NAautoxer]

I was there Sat morning for a couple of hours before BMWCCA got there. It was wet, just above freezing and very dirty. There's a lot of work that needs to be done. It's not ready for autocross but it should be by April 18th.

Ted

that sounds perfect for an autocross... well, everything but the freezing part. hahahaa.

[nlink720]

That was me driving in the video... I was wondering where all the video hits were coming from.

Anyway, we were trying to get the course to be about 90 seconds under that day's conditions (cold, dusty, wet, muddy) so that on a hot summer day it would still be above a minute in length.

We concluded that two cars could run simultaneously without problem, but it's all in the setup. The video is a BMW Z4 with winter tires on and the course was dusty above all else... it made the last half difficult... easy to lose traction. People were doing 360s through the finish gates.

Above all else, the biggest drawback is that people will have to be cautious not to run off the course and into the dirt. I was there during a different event mid December at the other skid pad when someone ran off this new one and had to be towed from the soft ground.. took a long time, we waited for over an hour to see if they would be able to get the dude's car out.

The skid pad project manager (I think the owner's son) said that it would be done within about two months. It will have racing curbing on the outside and inside perimeters of all pavement (two foot racing curbing). He is a cool dude who seems to be happy the various clubs are taking interest.

Also, there is a great view from the top of the hill just behind it.

Trust me, you WILL have fun if you have any doubts... especially coming from the typically smaller venues that CDC drives, this WILL BE A BIG DEAL.

NL

[Ben L]

This is big news!

It will be great to have another relatively long venue to run on.

Good job CDC organizers!

I'll make as many of these as I can.

[ButtDyno]

Kodos to you Ed and your team.

[Cobra 75]

Nice work... I hear the course will be huge. When can we register?

[steve b]

Ed, does this mean I can run some events with you guys in my ITB car?

[echan]

Ed, does this mean I can run some events with you guys in my ITB car?

Possibly. Summit is requesting that we take out race insurance (same insurance as a track day, which is much different than our normal insurance for autox - and much more expensive). We are working it out with Summit. If we end up having to take out race insurance, your ITB car will be allowed.

Ed

[FredK]

First, race insurance for auto cross?? Makes no sense to me, but if it's required can I run my Lola?

[echan]

First, race insurance for auto cross?? Makes no sense to me, but if it's required can I run my Lola?

I'll let everyone know if we end up having to take out race insurance for Summit. If that's the case, yes you can take out your Lola (at Summit). Keep in mind that the insurance of for specific days so even if we had to take our race insurance, it would only be for Summit not any other location.

[FredK]

Great the lola is 1.6L na.

[Gonz]

If only it was on the approved list


I'm thinking if it's a race car and can't be driven on the street, they probably aren't going to let you compete in the small bore series.

[FredK]

Ed likes me. O. K. I'll just park the Cobra and bring the Miata.

[kyle.bowker]

Pics of said Lola?

[FredK]

This is a pic from an autocross I did last week in Australia, boy they have some sweet cars down there.
http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/lola/ ... 927lg.htms

[kyle.bowker]

This is a pic from an autocross I did last week in Australia, boy they have some sweet cars down there.

always with the jokes haha

[FredK]

I'm iced in at "Kelley Acres" bored.

[echan]

I'm iced in at "Kelley Acres" bored.

When I heard of the pending ice yesterday, I put in my leave slip at work for today. I'm glad I took off. Last night I drove into my driveway and my car got stuck in the ice! I tried about 20 minutes to get out last night to get a burger at McDonald's. I made it out but when I got back home, the car just slid into the driveway. I haven't even tried to get out today!

[TommySalami]

Would going off into the dirt pose any risk to our cars?

[Gonz]

Would going off into the dirt pose any risk to our cars?

probably just wheels, tires, suspension, oil pain and exhaust system if you went straight in. Probably "everything else" if you went in sideways and rolled the car.


The course will be designed so there is no more danger in going off the course than at the other locations. Safety is always tops. For example, at Bowie, we could have the lot be much much bigger if we used the bottom section, but we don't because of the 25 foot wide entry to the bottom, we didn't think was safe.

[787B]

(...) For example, at Bowie, we could have the lot be much much bigger if we used the bottom section, but we don't because of the 25 foot wide entry to the bottom, we didn't think was safe.

Mazda Club used the lower area successfully without incident. They just put very (very!) tight box turns a sufficient distance from the crossovers to slow cars down and get them pointed in the right direction. Worked very well. None of those cones were knocked down all day, and nobody pegged a curb. I personally mutilated three cones elsewhere in the course that day...

[Tedzilla]

A number of clubs use the lower lot at Bowie and there have been a number of incidents with some considerable damage. As a course designer I'd love to use every inch of the lot... as a Safety Steward I can not have a car less than 25 feet from a solid obstruction when they're at normal autocross speed. There's no way less than 10 feet on either side is enough for a reasonable margin of error.

Ted

[DaveL20]

EMRA is running Time Trials and Race School the same weekend you guys are at the AutoX course.

Time Trials are Saturday and Sunday at Shennandoah. Come over and watch or hang out if you get a chance.

[787B]

That was the purpose of the box turns: Slow the cars down to almost walking speed before they are in any danger, and get them pointed through the crossovers. I understand if you don't think that's good enough.

Or maybe what about this: How about approaching the stadium and offering the labor to remove curbing from and landscape the couple of sections that would be used as crossovers. They don't take particularly good care of the lot as it is, and it's a bit fuzzy why those islands are even there. Maybe they wouldn't mind some third party renovation that makes a money-loser (empty parking lot) more attractive to more money-spending potential customers. Just a thought. I freely admit I know squat about the politics of securing lots.

- Bill

[kyle.bowker]

That was the purpose of the box turns: Slow the cars down to almost walking speed before they are in any danger, and get them pointed through the crossovers.

Still not good enough. Even with all of that people still manage to hit the curb. I seen it with mine own eyes. And it's happened on numerous occasions. What's even worse is that when other clubs take such risks it has a negative impact on us.

Or maybe what about this: How about approaching the stadium and offering the labor to remove curbing from and landscape the couple of sections that would be used as crossovers.

It'll never happen. If anything, current zoning regulations require MORE islands and curbs to manage storm run off. This is why virtually no new parking lots are built with an open plan these days.

I freely admit I know squat about the politics of securing lots.

You don't want to know the half of it!

[Gonz]

That was the purpose of the box turns: Slow the cars down to almost walking speed before they are in any danger, and get them pointed through the crossovers. I understand if you don't think that's good enough.

" almost walking speed" doesn't belong on an AutoX course !