Pro-Touring Open Track Event

[Damn True]

Hot Rod Magazine said they would and didn't.
GRM is doing it, but didn't invite any PT type cars.
RTTH did it, but nobody was looking.

So here's the dealio. Myself and a few others are in the very early stages of planning an Open Track event. It will most likely take place in the middle of the country.

So at this point we are soliciting the following:

- Suggestions for a venue. The track MUST be in the Mid-West.
- Volunteers. If you have a skill or service you think might be of use post your offer in this thread.
- Offers from media professionals who will cover the event who are named Steve Rupp.
- Contact information for media professionals who might be interested in covering the event who are not named Steve Rupp.
- Potential Sponsors

This has the potential to be an epic event with the opportunity to have some of the finest PT cars in the country sharing track time, pushing the limits of 40 year old iron and showing the "Car Guy Universe" that Pro-Touring is not another Show Car trend or "Pro-Street" with four fat tires instead of two.

So who's down?

[Steve Chryssos]

Yes. I would attend. Probably with two or three cars. And Twist will help out any way it can.

[Steve Chryssos]

What is zaino?

[LateNight72]

What is zaino?

Pretty sure a type of wax. :bananna2:

I'll attend & drive my car, if it is done by then..

[Van B]

I would be there as long as it were within 8 hours or thereabouts of Milwaukee. Road America would be awesome, but expensive. Blackhawk Farms is a cool little track right outside Rockford that would most likely be cheaper. Or, how about Autobahn Country Club near Joliet, Il?

I was wondering what happened to the Hot Rod event.

[Steven]

I 'll plan to run, this year?? Next spring??? Vegas could be nice and cool in the spring. Lack of rain could be a good thing.

[MSchu]

Tracks in the Mid-West:

MAM in IA
Blackhawk Farms and Autobahn in IL
Mid Ohio in OH
Road America in WI
Heartland Park in KS
Hallett in OK
All the Texas tracks if you want to go that far south.

I say MAM. More grass for runoffs than a golf course. NO barriers. NO walls.

I'd be the first to volunteer to work the event, my car is nowhere close to being done.

[Steven]

Ok, Ok, my wife just pointed out that Vegas is not considered the Mid West.

[NOT A TA]

If it's this year it'd be tough but if it's going to be next spring or summer I'd plan for it.

John

[Larry Callahan]

HMM,,, This sounds like fun. Funny thing is I have to bail for a track day myself in a few minutes at Buttonwillow. I'll be in touch when I get back.

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Hosting the event at a track with large run-off areas and as few concrete walls as possible will be extremely conducive to increasing attendance. The sad reality is that although there are the hardcore members who will flog their cars around on the track at will (myself included), most don't want to risk their $80,000 worth of metal. If you're looking to coordinate a serious event with large scale attendance, such things need to be addressed.

That being said, pro-touring.com (and myself) would like to help. We can set up a dedicated forum (on the forum main page) for this event, to help manage and organize all conversation in one place. If you'd like me to do this, True--just let me know.

[Steve Chryssos]

Staying out of trouble is easy. All you gotta do is drive at your own level. Don't drive over your head. We will make one, straight, long, high visibility, designated passing area and enforce the rule vehemently. Then we clarify the tech proces well in advance to minimize risk of potentially dangerous car failures.

I don't get the whole "midwest" thing either??? If you draw a line down the geographic middle of the country, Ohio ain't in the middle and it certainly ain't west of middle. :dunno:

[David Sloan]

We will help out any way that we can. wash dishes hold a flag.LOL!! :usa:
Seriously if we can help in any way we are there!!

[69Nova]

I'm down! I think my car would be worthy enough to run a real track by the time this event would take place(not trying to be a smartass just saying that something on this scale would probly take a year or so to pin everything down). Even if the car couldnt make it I'd still come to help out for sure.

[Samckitt]

There is also Putnamville road course in Putnamville, IN. West of down town Indianapolis about 50 miles.

[Jeremy]

I like the idea of a midwest event and would love to get me car on the track. Somewhere around a 6 to 7 hour drive and I'll do my best to make it.

[Steve1968LS2]

I'm in, and I will run my car if it's back on the road by then.

I can also cover it for the magazine... would be a cool event.

[Steve1968LS2]

Oh, can we TRY to have it within 500 miles of the west coast.. it's not like we don't have nice tracks out here.

[Steve1968LS2]

I don't get the whole "midwest" thing either??? If you draw a line down the geographic middle of the country, Ohio ain't in the middle and it certainly ain't west of middle. :dunno:

You are a wise and honest man...

[novanutcase]

I say we run it at LVMS! Who doesn't like to go to Vegas?:cheers:

John

[hotrdblder]

wouldbe awesome, i am in
as for passing etc, there for sure needs to be a tech class, and hand signs etc, and if someone is on your ass, pull wide and let them by, no heroes, who drive over there heads just to say no one passed me.

[PARKERRS]

If it's within say a 14 hour drive I'll be there ready to run. Hopefully there will not be a noise issue like at Road Atlanta during YOE.

[Damn True]

Excellent points about the type of track selected. We want to encourage people to attend, not scare them off. Tracks with low penalty points will gain favor.

Steve makes an excellent point as well. This will be an HPDE (High Performance Driving Event) not a time trial and certainly not a race. Passing zones will be few and strictly enforced. We will do our best to group people appropriately.

One possible way of doing this would be to tag along with an existing HPDE. PCA or BMWCCA have among the best reputations and safety records in the sport. Anyone involved in their events is certainly welcome to advise. Does Speedventures operate outside of CA?


....and Zaino is wax. Popular with the type of people who are more concerned with eliminating dust from inside their AC vents than cornering performance.

[Ralph LoGrasso]

....and Zaino is wax. Popular with the type of people who are more concerned with eliminating dust from inside their AC vents than cornering performance.

Hey, don't hate on the zaino! LOL. I'm more conerned with carving corners, than the dust in my AC vents...but I do love the way my car looks after a coat of zaino. Actually, zaino wax applies and removes quite easily (a "quick" wax can be done in less than 2 hours from start to finish) so, you might say it's pro-touring friendly. Instead of spending 8 hours washing and waxing, you're shredding corners in 2! Sorry for the digression...

[Ralph LoGrasso]

How about contacting some tire companies as potential sponsors. I would probably start with Nitto, as they're very PT friendly, and then go BFG, Michelin, Goodyear, etc.

[MonzaRacer]

There is also Putnamville road course in Putnamville, IN. West of down town Indianapolis about 50 miles.

OK as for me I am trying to get some of the ex corner benders dirt/mud slingers,ricers,etc. into road worthy cars and I agree with Sam. the local in Indiana is very nice not in a hot, noisy place and looked very nice AND Air Ride Technologies held thier Street challenge there so its is a working course with true amenities or would have never been used (ie its not a hole in the wall)and many of the big magazines have already been there.
Its not a long way from where some are talking of driving from (other than left coasters) and prices around Indiana are very reasonable over bigger venue tracks.
If it goes over why not ,later on try to organized two or three over the country too.
I would want to run my car and try to help on the event too. so I need to be marked up to the top 2 answers to the poll.
I am hoping to get my Monza road worthy by September if not sooner but time/money will tell.
Lee Abel
AFTERMARKET PERFORMANCE

[MSchu]

This will be an HPDE (High Performance Driving Event) not a time trial and certainly not a race.

Now I'm confused. I thought the idea was along the lines of Hot Rod's proposed Open Track Smackdown or GRM's deal. ie: fast lap times.

If it is just going to be a HPDE, why not just pick a NASA HPDE event and date, have everyone sign up, and whoever shows up, shows up. Only a handful here are past HPDE 1, so there wouldn't be any passing anyways.

[Steve Chryssos]

Who knows? Piggybacking a NASA event might be the easiest way to get this done. I think the priorities should be having fun, learning about our cars and our driving skills. From there, it is possible to set up impromptu "fastest pro-touring car" comparisons. At RTH2, we had a few Camaros run by the same driver to get a rudimentary comparison. We maintained a fun atmosphere, though. There were no lab coats or data loggers.

XV Motorsports is having a pro-touring car track day at Pocono in October. So opportunities exist already. I suggest that we plan well in advance for an 08 event--preferably a dedicated pro-touring event that follows HPDE protocol.

As for proximity, RTH2 attracted enthusiasts from Maine to Florida and as far west as Texas. There were people from Chicago, Kentucky--we were blown away at the attendance. If the event is planned and hyped correctly, we can reasonably attract participants and spectators from a 15 hour radius. That's a big chunk of the country. It's a 10 hour haul from NYC to Indy.

[ProBell]

If it is within 15 Hours or so from CT I am in. I would have to agree that it should be a HPDS type event. I do not know how many people have real track experience. I run with BMW Clubs mostly. A good instructor in the car will help you go faster no mater what your skill level is. One problem might be finding enough instructors. The BMW clubs let instructors run free and just charges the students. SCDA is another group that runs HPDS. One thought might be to pick a club or group and buy a couple run groups and try to fill them with PT Cars.
I to would be glad to help at the event. Randy

[vintageracer]

PM sent with an easy option for this event WITH insurance!

[ProBell]

Were can I find info on the event at Pocono? I did not see any thing at XV Motorsports. Do you know the dates? I have 2 days at LRP in October. Thanks Randy

[MonzaRacer]

Ok so I bounced ideas off Damn True and he thought I had some good points.
So I will list a few and number them so we can agree or disagree with them.
1: I am with Samckitt as to Putnamville road course in Putnamville, IN. as it I believe was the venue of choice for Air Ride Technologies Street Challenges, please correct me if I am wrong but it is in the vicinity of Indianapolis and that has several racing venues available so sourcing race oriented items and buisness are a given.
2: This one just poped in my mind, a TRUE street cruise, on say friday night to a gathering of steak houses, I am sure there is a place near by with more than enough eateries to handle an influx of hungry die hard hot rodders.
3:See if we can get more of the Pro-Touring sponsors to lend a hand in advertising/sponsoring/prizes tech help for the event. You know flyers in boxes, email to current customers, mentioned on phone. Stuff like that.
4:I do know that Bridgestone/Firestone has a district office in Indy and we could possibly hook up with them for some tire tech work, maybe have a few of the popular sizes around and facilities to change and balance tires for people.
5: Hunter Engineering has the optimum alignment equipment for taking true ,fast readings ,maybe extend an offer to have them bring down a DSP 600 in a semi to help track runners to get actual specs. As an alignment tech I know that other than a no touch Biesbarth set up the Hunter setup is hange the heads, roll the car back to comp and roll it forward back to level and ther3 are all but your caster readings which you have to steer for.
6: There are several race fuel distributors that should be able to source, 100 octane unleaded, race fuel, ethanol and E85 for the guys so it would be a simple thing to extend and invitation to either have a loose fuel sponsor agreement for the weekend.
7: Try to get one of the lift companies to bring in low rise or a semi portable 4 post lift (with borchures to sell also and have event discounts) so as to be able to inspect for rusted cars, broken parts, bent parts if you get in the marbles,loose parts,worn out brakes/tires etc.
8:How would the Pro-Touring guys like to actually have a loose organization based on open track racing. We keep it "unofficial" as possible but to make the basic rules, like tire speed ratings, tech inspections for basic safety, IF you go way to fast on your Sears RoadHandler Srated tires your off or out or gotta pull plug wires(j/k).
9:Loose classes so someone with a 1000hp twin tirbo LS1 isnt in came "class" as a fella just starting out in a 1999 Firebird with new tires and some Eibachs/KYBs.
10:Since a lot of magazines and people have seen the Air Ride Technologies Street Challenges ,maybe extend an offer for Bret and company to lend some ideas/info to the process. Possibly have a little Street Challenge one day racing for times and a big trophy/jacket kind of like the dragracing used to have bringing in cars from all over the owrld to do battle on drag strips.
11:And this one was dropped by a girl friend of mine. There are several charities around, Riley Childrens Hospital, Transplant charities(as my mom just had a liver/kidney trans plant and one of the drugs was very expensive, while she only had to be on it for a feww months it was very expensive, luckily the maker donated it.), Disaster relief, So have a 50/50 drawing, sponsor raffles, silent auction to help an agreed upon charity even.
12: Maybe hit local battery company that handles Optimas for sponsorship/track side discount (like who has never had a battery go away while playing.
13:Since a lot of guys seem to have cooling issues, get Evans Cooling to give a spot lecture on how cooling systems work and some of thier remedies. The Evans Cooling NPG+, NPG-R and others is some amazing products.
14: Also get a round table discussion going and get a loose set of BASIC safety rules going and maybe ale to have an annual event AND try to let track workers get a few runs in even if we/they wouldnt get lots of track time it would be something.
15: Anymore good ideas/opinions postup I wont get mad. This IS something I really want to try and after having NOT ran a road course in 20+ years(got to attend a bondurant class a loooooooooong time ago) I really like the Pro Tourong theme as it can still go to the drag strip too.
16: Give Dynojet a call and see if they could bring out/source the protable Dynojet for the event and have a hp/tq/cid/power adder challenge.
Lots of ideas and lots of work. I, as an ASE Master Auto Tech /L1 advanced level tech might be able to give some help to the electronicly challenged.
Damn True I hope this is similar in what your thinking of organizing and I got more grand ideas in there as we gotta see what sticks.
Like I said post up if some all are dumb, good, out of reach.
Just IDEAS.
Lee Abel

[hotrdblder]

i like the ideas, but it would have to be a large showcased event to gather that kind of stuff, 3 days would not cut it, and it would need to be more then 100 cars for them to justify bringing that sort of equipment. but ****, might as well try

[Bow Tie 67]

Excellent idea, just another kick in the pants to get my car on the road / track worthy. I'm forgoing any decent paint, believe me its not easy, to get her on the road and learn her limits at the track.

[dqhemi]

Were can I find info on the event at Pocono? I did not see any thing at XV Motorsports. Do you know the dates? I have 2 days at LRP in October. Thanks Randy

I told Steve on Saturday we were doing an event and there is a flyer in the bags we handed out with details. I'll try and get it up by Wednesday on our site with an entry form as well.

We're limiting the number of cars so there will be plenty of track time.

Looks like we nailed TV coverage for this as well and a major mainstream auto mag is 99% sure they will be coming (not Car and Driver who we just did an article w/, but another in that category).

The flyer is down below - read it through and you will see we are doing just what you are talking about, with professional instructors (from SCDA) and a track chosen that wil be good for these cars.

Track is already rented and everything lined up. Just need to get an entry form and sign people up!

Sorry to hi-jack this thread. I will start another when I get the forms done and info up on our website.

We had the same thoughts as far as this really needing to be done. Went through a couple iterations of format. SHould be a blast!

Here's the flyer:

http://www.xvmotorsports.com/media/XV Open Track Event.pdf

[ProBell]

Thanks for the info. I marked my calender. Randy

[Steve Chryssos]

Definitely not hijacking the thread John. True started kicking ths around before we spoke on Saturday. Your event is exactly the kind of show we need. We just need something more centralized for 2008. Or maybe two events--one east and one west--that are run on the same weekend with common event coverage and similar guidelines.

[Damn True]

It does indeed sound like exactly the kind of thing we are gunning for.

So John, what are the chances we could get you to team up with some other PT-industry companies and put together a larger show somewhere further west in '08?

Or is there anyone who wants to jump in and, as Steve suggested help us run a tandem event somewhere in the left 1/3 of the country?

[6'9"Witha69]

If it is in '08, I will be there in any capacity possible (would love to drive, but if not, I will help in any way possible).

[dqhemi]

It does indeed sound like exactly the kind of thing we are gunning for.

So John, what are the chances we could get you to team up with some other PT-industry companies and put together a larger show somewhere further west in '08?

Or is there anyone who wants to jump in and, as Steve suggested help us run a tandem event somewhere in the left 1/3 of the country?

If it goes well, we'll likely do more of these in other locations and have already thought about doing something further West, or on the West Coast (and also the South). Some other things have come by our way. There are actually some other related things that have started to develop, but too early for me to put out there.

As far as other companies, we're already talking to one of the major tire companies who may very well come out. As far as PT companies, there are some we plan to contact to come out as well, that we know and respect.

I think this is more about having a REAL track event that is professionally run, than trying to get many vendors out. Some key sponsors is always a good idea, especially if we can get some benefit for those that attend.

We will definitely have it open for spectators as well and have tossed the idea around of having a car show at the same time, but right now it is a real deal open track/driving school just for muscle cars on a real road race course....

Media coverage is always important for something like this and we've been working really hard on that front. As we finalize who will be covering this I'll let you all know. The one's we're very close to so far will be pretty amazing that we've been able to get.

We've already cut the checks to make it happen, so it's a done deal for October 11th.

[Steve Chryssos]

.....We will definitely have it open for spectators as well and have tossed the idea around of having a car show at the same time.....

The paddock IS the car show :twothumbs

[eville]

I'm all over it if it's less than 500 miles from my house. It's just too far to go otherwise.