Parking Lot Autocross, Sunday July 14

[DOHC 281]

Due to the favorable responses from the questionaire that our members filled out at the Griffin Ford Icebreaker event, we have added another event - a parking lot autocross. This event (#02-4) will is offered by the Madison Sports Car Club and will be held on Sunday, July 14 at UW-Madison, on Lot 60. See www.madisonsportscarclub.com for more information. Our club will have the tent set up, with additional trophies exclusive to our members. At present, we don\'t plan on any additional fees for our expenses.

Please post on this topic if you are interested in this event, or if you have questions. [BTW, I expect to see a lot of Lightnings on hand. According to the tabulation of the questinaires, the Lightning owners out-numbered the Cobra owners in requests for AX events!:o

[Parja]

Sweet! I\'ve been itching to get involved in auto-X and this will be a perfect opportunity.

Originally posted by DOHC 281BTW, I expect to see a lot of Lightnings on hand. According to the tabulation of the questinaires, the Lightning owners out-numbered the Cobra owners in requests for AX events!:o

Fantastic! I\'d love to see how well those trucks auto-X.

How about an auto-X event just for the Ls where they pull a boat? ;)

[STINBRG]

cool.

[HITMAN]

Originally posted by Parja
Sweet! I\'ve been itching to get involved in auto-X and this will be a perfect opportunity.

Originally posted by DOHC 281BTW, I expect to see a lot of Lightnings on hand. According to the tabulation of the questinaires, the Lightning owners out-numbered the Cobra owners in requests for AX events!:o

Fantastic! I\'d love to see how well those trucks auto-X.

How about an auto-X event just for the Ls where they pull a boat? ;)

LOL ! I\'d like to see that myself,or maybe they could put a swimming pool liner in the bed,fill it with water,and have some Chevy owners try to stay in the pool while the trucks are going around the track.;)<- Mr.Winky :D

Parja, nice baby picture,you haven\'t changed a bit.:P

I\'ve never auto-xed before but I look forward to making this event.

[Bill Pope]

Looking forward to giving it a try. Let me know if you need help with anything.

[dpoltzer]

Can someone give a general explanation as to what auto-X entails. I have never done or seen this.

[DOHC 281]

dp - fist off, a parking lot AX is run much different from a high-speed AX at a road course (track). It really is a low-key event. Costs to put on such an event are lower also, translating to lower entry fees.

A typical day at a parking lot AX might be as follows. Show up early with you tires already pumped, and register. Find out your class/category and go through technical inspection. Attend driver meeting and listen closely. Set you tire pressures. If you are running stock-compound DOT tires, go mid-40 psi front and high-30\'s or low-40\'s back. Walk the course if you get a chance. Talk to felow competitors. Run all the practice sessions they provide (if any). Go fast, learn from youur mistakes. Speed is NOT in acceleration, or even in braking late. It all is based on cornering speeds. You need to drive on the treshold of understeer, and never beyond. Here is a trick - Most parking lot AX courses will include a 180- degree turn. Blast in and put in the clutch durning the turn. You will be amazed the cornering forces that can be generated when the rear tires are not working withe the briakes or with acceleration, against side forces.:)

Tricks like those give learning experience in the next timed run. Don\'t be afreaid to try something different in each run. They only take the one fastest time. Of course, they deduct points for displaced cones.:(

At the end of the day, you might find a trophy. If not, it is still worth the challenge, the learning experience, and new friends. Good Luck :s

[Parja]

So what will we require for the event?

Also, do we need to register anywhere, or do we just show up?

[Parja]

LOL ! I\'d like to see that myself,or maybe they could put a swimming pool liner in the bed,fill it with water,and have some Chevy owners try to stay in the pool while the trucks are going around the track.

Sounds like you\'re volunteering, eh Mr. SS Owner? ;)

[DOHC 281]

OK, your Sunday morning instructions. I\'m taking you via the freeway since you will want the fastest way there (unless you have 4.56 gears :o). Take IH 94 to IH 90. Go south on IH 90 until you get to the Madsion South Belt Line (USH 12/18). Go west on the Belt Line and exit at USH 151 South, or Verona Road. Don\'t follow USH 151! Instaed, turn RIGHT at the end of the diamond ramp leg, at the signals. Immediately north of the signals, Verona Road turns slightly to the left (north) and the street becomes Midvale Boulevard. Proceed north for approximately 4 miles, to University Avenue. Turn right on University and proceed east. After you see railroad tracks on the left side, look for Highland Drive. Turn left. Drive past the VA Hospital and the Clinical Science Center. This street loops toward the east. Turn left on Walnut Street. Look for a bunch of sports cars, wheels, and lawn chairs. You have arrived at Lot 60 (I hope ;) )

[DOHC 281]

Parja - You don\'t need to pre-register. Just show up. However, if you want, you can register via www.MyAutoEvents.com.

Everyone - Registration is between 8 AM and 9 AM. My experience is that you may also register later, providing they don\'t have over 100 cars.

Entry Fee is $50.

We will have trophies for fastest SVTOA Wisconsin Chapter members in each class/category. Class/Category is determined by the Midwestern Council rules, which I believe the Madison Sports Car Club is using for their parking lot AX series.

Let me know on this board if you plan on attending:s

[Parja]

Originally posted by DOHC 281Let me know on this board if you plan on attending

Well, if it wasn\'t obvious enough already, I\'ll be there! Might be a little groggy that early on a Sunday morning, especially after the Coal Chamber show in Milwaukee on Sat. night, but I\'ll make it as early as possible.

How about helmets? Do we need them or will they have any to use? How about clothing requirements?

[46 Cobra]

For those who participated it was a great time. For myself due to reasons I won\'t go into I could only watch and vow not to fail to participate next time. Yes there will be a next time. Following are the final results as provided by a loyal member.

Well, the results are in. The event was obviously fixed, as there was some sort of malfunction during my best runs. ;)

It was an impressive day to say the least. Lots of fast cars and friendly people. The folks putting the event on said at the end of the event that we made a total of over 900 runs around the track and we finished up before 5PM. Pretty impressive!

So anyway, here goes with the results…

Scott Brown took the title of “Fastest Cobra” with a best time of 48.258. I came in second with a time of 48.230 + 1 cone for a total time of 50.230. Scott and I also took first place in our respective divisions, class A modified for Scott and class A prepared for me. Of course, we were the only ones in our divisions, but hey, a win is a win!

Ken Kannard took the title of “Fastest Lightning” by default, but turned in an impressive time of 48.996. I was lucky enough to ride along with Ken for his two final runs. He can sure throw that beast around the cones! Let me tell you, that’s one heck of an experience! Ken took 5th place of 9 competitors in class C stock, beating out an ’86 RX7, a ’99 Buick Regal GSE, an ’89 Shelby CSX, and a ’97 Nissan Maxima. Not too bad for a lumber hauler. ;)

Fastest vehicle of the day was a shifter kart that turned a time of just over 34 seconds!! Now that’s fast!!

Anyway, good seeing you again and hope to do it again soon! I’m definitely hooked!

Jason “Parja” Parpart

[DOHC 281]

Congrats to Scott, Jason, and Ken for holding high the local SVT colors. Trophies will be coming soon (as soon as I get them made - sorry).

The amazing thing about Ken\'s times were that some of the gates and slaloms had widths that exceeded the width of the Lightning by only inches.

We might have a chance to enter a similar event at Miller Park this October. Any interest? :s

[99vert]

I\'m interested in the fall event at Miller Park

[Parja]

Originally posted by DOHC 281We might have a chance to enter a similar event at Miller Park this October. Any interest? :s

Absolutely! :)

[DOHC 281]

Scott, Ken and Jason - Your trophies have been made for you accomplishments at the Lot 60 AX. I was hoping to give them to you yesterday at the Soerens Ford Auto Show. But I had to leave early. :(

Instead, we will have a mini-presentation at the August 11 event!

Congratulations.

PS I want to thank my wife, Marilyn, for the trophy idea. (And for ordering the plaques). Finally, a practical trophy that can be used every day...:)