View Full Version : Where to do preseason testing?
tflyboy77
02-16-2014, 08:21 AM
Where do you guys do your pre season autocross testing at? I wanting to find some where to perform low to medium speed turns to be able to tune my suspension before the SCCA and ASCS begin. I've considered asking trucking yards and small airports but I thought I would ask your opinions first. I know that Ridetech and DSE probably rent out a track but I'm wondering about the lower budget guys like the Farringtons, Ballards and myself.
no track renting at Ridetech! both Bret an I are in Indiana, and Bret's car is about 2000 miles away at centerforce for a new clutch, and my car is about 3000 miles away in San Francisco (my girl friend did drive it to Napa in the rain last night) no pre season testing here this is what it looks like around here
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/02/gumby_zpsf43eb012-1.jpg
tflyboy77
02-16-2014, 08:42 AM
I'm in Indianapolis so I know how you feel. As soon as the snow goes away I need to do some serious tuning though.
IndyDave
02-16-2014, 08:53 AM
The Columbus Sports Car Club ( http://www.cscc-scca.org/ )starts their season early, their first event is next weekend at the old Walesboro airport on the 23rd. They have several events scheduled before the Indy Region SCCA season starts and their schedule compliments the Indy Region schedule. They're a small Region and their car counts are small usually so it gives folks more runs and time to do some tweaking. The only real downside to their events is that they're running on an old airstrip and taxi way so their courses are a lot of slaloms and Chicago boxes.
Hugger67RSSS
02-16-2014, 09:20 AM
Thanks for posting that info Dave, I'm only 15 min north of Columbus and didn't even know this existed.
tflyboy77
02-16-2014, 10:54 AM
I didn't even realize there was a Columbus SCCA. I'll have to look you up and check out the schedule.
I didn't even realize there was a Columbus SCCA. I'll have to look you up and check out the schedule.
I guess were all going to start testing there!!!
PRE season testing...more like PRE season survival here! I think that's why the west coast guys are faster than us first thing in the spring.
In reality, by April lots of things open up. 10/10ths events at Putnam Park around Indy are great!
Bad94
02-16-2014, 02:51 PM
Me test something? That's funny.
IndyDave
02-16-2014, 03:05 PM
If there is enough interest, I'm sure I could throw together an actual test and tune at Grissom. We have a permanently marked test and tune course there. When we do test and tunes we usually limit entries to 30-50 cars a day and charge $50 a car. We work it so folks work one hour and the rest of the day is theirs to make as many runs as they wish. We can do it as a 1 or 2 day deal. The only weekend that I'd want to stay away from is April 5th, our Rally program is putting on an event called the Car Club Challenge Rally.
andrewb70
02-16-2014, 03:37 PM
Check out what's happening in Nashville. Indy to Nashville is a straight shot down I-65 and come March the weather should be really nice.
Andrew
tflyboy77
02-16-2014, 04:02 PM
If there is enough interest, I'm sure I could throw together an actual test and tune at Grissom. We have a permanently marked test and tune course there. When we do test and tunes we usually limit entries to 30-50 cars a day and charge $50 a car. We work it so folks work one hour and the rest of the day is theirs to make as many runs as they wish. We can do it as a 1 or 2 day deal. The only weekend that I'd want to stay away from is April 5th, our Rally program is putting on an event called the Car Club Challenge Rally.
That sounds great Dave! I really enjoyed the test and tune from last year with the autocross and the skid pad all set up. I don't know when would be a good time with all this snow. Maybe late march?? That's not far from the Ridetech facility either. I'm sure some of those guys would love Grissom.
I saw that you have a fun event scheduled for April 27. How does that differ from the test and tune? I'm guessing the fun event would be organized more like a points event.
srh3trinity
02-16-2014, 04:31 PM
no track renting at Ridetech! both Bret an I are in Indiana, and Bret's car is about 2000 miles away at centerforce for a new clutch, and my car is about 3000 miles away in San Francisco (my girl friend did drive it to Napa in the rain last night) no pre season testing here this is what it looks like around here
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/02/gumby_zpsf43eb012-1.jpg
That is a cool company car. Does Ridetech need a company physician?
IndyDave
02-16-2014, 05:18 PM
That sounds great Dave! I really enjoyed the test and tune from last year with the autocross and the skid pad all set up. I don't know when would be a good time with all this snow. Maybe late march?? That's not far from the Ridetech facility either. I'm sure some of those guys would love Grissom.
I saw that you have a fun event scheduled for April 27. How does that differ from the test and tune? I'm guessing the fun event would be organized more like a points event.
Fun event = non points event so yeah, it's a normal Solo event. We do have a fun event at the end of the year we run more like a test and tune where most of us do a bunch of seat swapping. It's a lot of fun even if it is a little odd to look up and see your car taking off with who knows driving it! LOL It's not mandatory but a tradition for the event. It's usually a lightly attended event as those who'd rather not share their car stay away.
IndyDave
02-16-2014, 05:30 PM
It can still be pretty brutally cold in Peru Indiana in March and very early April, Mid April on the weather is more co-operative. That means the best dates would be April 12-13 or April 19-20 with my thinking being the 12-13 would be the best.
tflyboy77
02-16-2014, 06:08 PM
Sounds great Dave. At least if I set a tuning day then I'll know when I need to stop the winter upgrades and have the car ready. :)
Hugger67RSSS
02-16-2014, 07:58 PM
I hope to be ready by that time too. Please keep us updated
rchaskin
02-17-2014, 05:04 AM
3am......Walmart lot.....:wrc:......:6gears:.....
quick in.....quick out.....LOL
tflyboy77
02-17-2014, 05:32 AM
3am......Walmart lot.....:wrc:......:6gears:.....
quick in.....quick out.....LOL
Ya, those Walmart rentacops can be wicked fast. LOL
Slick68
02-17-2014, 05:34 AM
3am......Walmart lot.....:wrc:......:6gears:.....
quick in.....quick out.....LOL
Why do I get the feeling that you're not joking about this? :O
It looks like the weather is going to start cooperating around here after this week. It was about 58deg here yesterday, supposed to be around 60deg today, and 68 by Thursday. The local SCCA is going to start having sessions in early March.
Rifleman_Racing
02-17-2014, 08:31 AM
In CA, the season is well under way!
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/02/DSC_0496JPG-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/02/DSC_0586JPG-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/02/DSC_0628JPG-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/02/DSC_0701JPG-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/02/DSC_0947JPG-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/02/DSC_1094JPG-1.jpg
tflyboy77
02-17-2014, 08:38 AM
Sweet, I'm loving all of the CAM class cars. For such a new class it seems to be getting a ton of support.
Thanks for sharing and for rubbing the nice weather in our faces. :)
Slick68
02-17-2014, 01:05 PM
In CA, the season is well under way!
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah......Rub it in why don't you! LOL
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah......Rub it in why don't you! LOL
Right!
The Kentucky Region SCCA will have Autorosses in Louisville March 16th, March 30th and April 6th, Keep an eye out, not quite nailed down yet but in the works is an EVO Phase 1 Autocross school April 5th in Louisville as well. Check the kyscca website at www.kyscca.com
BMR Sales
02-18-2014, 09:04 AM
3am......Walmart lot.....:wrc:......:6gears:.....
quick in.....quick out.....LOL
No, you have to go to KMart - there's never anybody there!
Project92rs
02-18-2014, 09:08 AM
No, you have to go to KMart - there's never anybody there!
We used to do some of our fun runs in the housing development that never was. 2 lanes each way paved 2 miles into the desert with streetlights. Roads paved for the housing development. Walls up around it for the community. Not a single house. The main road in had lots of burnout marks, a chalked start line, gallon jugs of water in the bushes for burnouts, and a marker 1/4 mile down the road. So many people had used it this way the marks were visible on teh overheads on Google maps. Someone even painted "Atlantis" on the wall of it where the community name would have been. That lasted for a until about a year ago when they finally broke ground on a house.
tflyboy77
02-18-2014, 09:25 AM
Ya..... I think I'm looking for something a bit more "legal". Having the car in impound makes for a crappy race season.
Bad94
02-18-2014, 01:42 PM
So i need to blacktop the 14 acres i have?
rchaskin
02-18-2014, 02:16 PM
So i need to blacktop the 14 acres i have?
1/2 Blacktop and leave the other half wet grass......
IndyDave
02-18-2014, 02:52 PM
In order to maintain harmony amongst the regions we work with, the April dates will not work. We are now looking at May 11th. Here's what we're up against with the dates I had initially thought would work:
April 12th:
- Day one of SCCA Match Tour Wilmington Ohio
- Columbus Region SCCA driver's school
April 13th:
- Day two of SCCA Match Tour at Wilmington
- Columbus Region SCCA points event 1
April 19th:
- Ft. Wayne Region SCCA driver's school
April 20th:
- Ft Wayne Region SCCA points event 1
April 27th:
- Indy Region SCCA fun event @ Indiana State Fairgrounds
April 3rd:
- Indy Region SCCA hosting One Lap of America autocross @ Grissom
April 4th:
- Indy Region SCCA Dragcross 1
April 10th:
- Indycar first Annual Grand Prix of Indianapolis @ IMS
tflyboy77
02-18-2014, 06:12 PM
I'll still come out and play if you can get enough cars Dave. I'm going to have to get some testing in before that though. I'm going to try my luck with the local airports and trucking yards to see if I can find an owner with a soft spot for low budget racers. :)
Slick68
02-19-2014, 05:32 AM
No, you have to go to KMart - there's never anybody there!
This is true!
BMR Sales
02-19-2014, 08:10 AM
I'll still come out and play if you can get enough cars Dave. I'm going to have to get some testing in before that though. I'm going to try my luck with the local airports and trucking yards to see if I can find an owner with a soft spot for low budget racers. :)
Airports are tough due to NSA Security Regulations
IndyDave
02-19-2014, 02:12 PM
Airports are tough due to NSA Security Regulations
Airports are becoming nearly impossible due to NSA Security Regulations.
Craig510
02-19-2014, 04:58 PM
In CA, the season is well under way!
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/02/DSC_0496JPG-1.jpg
Hey that's my Falcon with none other than Mike Maier at the wheel. It was a blast out there with weather in the low 60's. Mike helped me pull almost 2 seconds off my time and we ended up in 1st and 2nd in CAM. I love the slack jawed look on the corner workers faces.
The Kentucky Region SCCA will have Autorosses in Louisville March 16th, March 30th and April 6th, Keep an eye out, not quite nailed down yet but in the works is an EVO Phase 1 Autocross school April 5th in Louisville as well. Check the kyscca website at www.kyscca.com
It is official, the KYSCCA will be hosting a Evolution Performance Driving School Phase One School Saturday April 5th in Louisville. Check either kyscca.com or http://www.evoschool.com/schools for details.
You can expect tons of seat time, (20+ runs) with trained, professional instructors.
IndyDave
03-14-2014, 01:20 PM
Indy Region SCCA with support from IUPUI Motorsports program is offering a test and tune on April 18th and 19th at Grissom Aeroplex near Peru Indiana. Each day is capped at 30 cars and cost is $50 per day. Entrants will be required to chase cones on bicycle for 1 hour.
You can register at MotorsportsReg.com. Payment is due day of the event.
https://www.motorsportreg.com/index.cfm/event/event.dashboard/uidEvent/D59F12A9-AEFA-E0A9-D3E7BBAA80673929/uidMember/0553ACE1-C153-8379-D9E995F6320BB389#.UyNydnTD9jo
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