Final update as of August 20, 2009: I have been unable to secure enough sponsors willing to defray the upfront costs for holding this event. Consequently, I will not be able to go forward and hold it. The poor economy and limited budgets big and small companies are contending with is the culprit. However, all is not lost. I have most of the details worked out so the next time I decide to hold this event, I will be that much farther ahead.
Sorry about getting the hopes up for those who expressed interest. I will try again sometime next year. In the mean time, there are car club and HPDE organizations such as Speed Trial USA to choose from. Those and other options for those who want to drive their cars at speed.
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NOTICE: I am ready to move this SUPER AUTO-X event from a survey to reality. Here are a few key items:
When: Saturday, Oct. 24
Time: Meet time is 8AM sharp. Runs begin at 9AM, stop for lunch from noon-1PM, and resume
till 4PM. Concluding activities end by 5PM
Where: El Toro Marine Corps Air Base, Irvine, CA
Cost: $80 per entrant + $10 for one passenger
Today (July 23) I visited the base runway facility. Wow! Brian, my contact, was right. There is a lot of width and lenght to the areas of the base I will be utilizing. It works out to about half of the main and intersecting runway areas.
Some key super auto-x features of the course I will be designing include the following:
- The course length will be about 5 miles
- Time to complete one lap is estimated to range from 4.5-6 minutes based upon exactly how
the course is set-up
- Included will be all manner of turns, sweepers, a 360-degree drift, and two huge sweeper
turns
- Entrants will be limited to 75 cars
- Expected number of runs per car is 6-7. That's over 30 miles of auto-x running per car!
One of my next steps is to secure some sponsors to front the event costs. These sponsors will get most (~80%) of their money back from the participant receipts. Sponsors will get to set-up booths, market their sevices/products via on-site displays and my email notifications, and enter one car.
The course will be set-up on Friday, Oct. 23 from noon to sundown. I will need to either hire some helpers to do this and/or find enough volunteers to help out. Either a free pass or cash can be considered based upon getting enough to help that day and timeframe. I'll post the official event thread soon after I take care of some remaining things.
************************************************************************
Update: The expected date of this event is Saturday, Oct. 24. As of 7/21, I am fairly certain this super auto-x event will happen. See my other posts below for more info.
I've been working on a planning a special "super" autocross-type event. I've made some progress and want to test the water for interest. After you read what I have in mind, my hunch is there will be plenty of interest for So Cal NSXS'ers and perhaps some who are out of the area.
While there are some NSX owners who enjoy participating in HPDE (hi-performance driver education) and/or track events, many do not. Most seem concerned about damaging their car by hitting something or something hitting their car such as rocks, sand, etc. Many autocrossers complain about the typical auto-x course being too short, not getting in enough runs for the money paid, or driving the entire course in 1st gear. I agree to all three complaints.
Here's my concept... A road course set-up ~3+ miles long with turns (90-degree, 180-degree, "s" turns, etc.), straightaways, slalom, 360-degree drift, and even a full stop mid-course to test your braking skills. Top speeds may exceed 100 MPH for those who choose to go that fast. Drivers will get 5 or more runs, depending on how we let cars on the course, that are timed to allow for gaging progress. Cars will enter the course spaced at 30-second intervals to provide safe spacing and timely completion of each run group.
The venue is the El Toro Marine Air Base runways. You can see how extensive they are by using the satellite option on Google maps. The event will begin at 8 AM and conclude by 5 PM. We will stop for lunch between noon-1:00. At 8:30, all will line up and take one low speed pass on the entire course so as to become familiar with it.
No passing. No following close to any car in front of you. No rock chips to worry about. A comprehensive "super" auto-x course without having to drive hundreds of miles to get to (for locals anyway).
Finally, I will set-up a course that will be challenging but mostly fun so you can explore your driving skills and the handling of your car. I plan to limit this event to 75 cars. Passengers are OK so long as SA-rated helmets are worn by all. I will do my best to keep the cost as low as possible.
When? I am shooting for either Oct. 10 or 17, [these dates are not available - as of July 17, the most likely date is Oct. 24] both days being a Saturday. I don't want to get into any more info at this time as things are subject to change. So, let me begin the "I'm interested" list.
Sorry about getting the hopes up for those who expressed interest. I will try again sometime next year. In the mean time, there are car club and HPDE organizations such as Speed Trial USA to choose from. Those and other options for those who want to drive their cars at speed.
_____________
NOTICE: I am ready to move this SUPER AUTO-X event from a survey to reality. Here are a few key items:
When: Saturday, Oct. 24
Time: Meet time is 8AM sharp. Runs begin at 9AM, stop for lunch from noon-1PM, and resume
till 4PM. Concluding activities end by 5PM
Where: El Toro Marine Corps Air Base, Irvine, CA
Cost: $80 per entrant + $10 for one passenger
Today (July 23) I visited the base runway facility. Wow! Brian, my contact, was right. There is a lot of width and lenght to the areas of the base I will be utilizing. It works out to about half of the main and intersecting runway areas.
Some key super auto-x features of the course I will be designing include the following:
- The course length will be about 5 miles
- Time to complete one lap is estimated to range from 4.5-6 minutes based upon exactly how
the course is set-up
- Included will be all manner of turns, sweepers, a 360-degree drift, and two huge sweeper
turns
- Entrants will be limited to 75 cars
- Expected number of runs per car is 6-7. That's over 30 miles of auto-x running per car!
One of my next steps is to secure some sponsors to front the event costs. These sponsors will get most (~80%) of their money back from the participant receipts. Sponsors will get to set-up booths, market their sevices/products via on-site displays and my email notifications, and enter one car.
The course will be set-up on Friday, Oct. 23 from noon to sundown. I will need to either hire some helpers to do this and/or find enough volunteers to help out. Either a free pass or cash can be considered based upon getting enough to help that day and timeframe. I'll post the official event thread soon after I take care of some remaining things.
************************************************************************
Update: The expected date of this event is Saturday, Oct. 24. As of 7/21, I am fairly certain this super auto-x event will happen. See my other posts below for more info.
I've been working on a planning a special "super" autocross-type event. I've made some progress and want to test the water for interest. After you read what I have in mind, my hunch is there will be plenty of interest for So Cal NSXS'ers and perhaps some who are out of the area.
While there are some NSX owners who enjoy participating in HPDE (hi-performance driver education) and/or track events, many do not. Most seem concerned about damaging their car by hitting something or something hitting their car such as rocks, sand, etc. Many autocrossers complain about the typical auto-x course being too short, not getting in enough runs for the money paid, or driving the entire course in 1st gear. I agree to all three complaints.
Here's my concept... A road course set-up ~3+ miles long with turns (90-degree, 180-degree, "s" turns, etc.), straightaways, slalom, 360-degree drift, and even a full stop mid-course to test your braking skills. Top speeds may exceed 100 MPH for those who choose to go that fast. Drivers will get 5 or more runs, depending on how we let cars on the course, that are timed to allow for gaging progress. Cars will enter the course spaced at 30-second intervals to provide safe spacing and timely completion of each run group.
The venue is the El Toro Marine Air Base runways. You can see how extensive they are by using the satellite option on Google maps. The event will begin at 8 AM and conclude by 5 PM. We will stop for lunch between noon-1:00. At 8:30, all will line up and take one low speed pass on the entire course so as to become familiar with it.
No passing. No following close to any car in front of you. No rock chips to worry about. A comprehensive "super" auto-x course without having to drive hundreds of miles to get to (for locals anyway).
Finally, I will set-up a course that will be challenging but mostly fun so you can explore your driving skills and the handling of your car. I plan to limit this event to 75 cars. Passengers are OK so long as SA-rated helmets are worn by all. I will do my best to keep the cost as low as possible.
When? I am shooting for either Oct. 10 or 17, [these dates are not available - as of July 17, the most likely date is Oct. 24] both days being a Saturday. I don't want to get into any more info at this time as things are subject to change. So, let me begin the "I'm interested" list.
- YellowHaze
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