Chicago Region SCCA our own autocross class?

[dontlifttoshift]

Is anyone interestd at all? I know Chris and Linda are in, and maybe Randy Johnson and McGaffin. Is there anyone else? Brent Jarvis came and raced with us a couple of weeks ago and had fun. I would like to see more pro touring cars show up and run.

I don't know if there would be trophys or not (I really don't care) but we would get our own index.

As far as I can tell you would have to run street tires, 180 or better, but if you showed up on something else it wouldn't be a problem unless someone in our class bitched.....highly unlikely unless it was A6's or something. Past that, engine mods, swaps, and trick suspension stuff will be okay. I cannot stress enough that this class will be for FUN first and foremost. It gives us a place on the grid to belong to and any easy way for us to compare times against each other and with a better index.

For those that may only be with Goodguys autocross there are some subtle differences. The biggest is you have to work 1 of 4 heats, uprighting cones or whatever. The other is that you only get 6 runs in a day. The course is on average about twice the size and speeds are higher in most cases . Most of the drivers at these events are very skilled and there is a lot we can learn from them.


So let me know. If you read this and your just a tiny bit interested or have any suggestions please respond as I will forward this to the guys at SCCA who are trying to make this happen for us.

[Van B]

When?

[dropit69]

When and Where?

[cmraman]

Donnie, I would love to come out on Sunday, but I have my kids. I am tied up.

[Derek69SS]

FWIW, my local club has a "Vintage" class open to any pre-1980 cars. They did not figure a PAX index though, so its factor is 1.000. There's basically no rules, other than the age of the car.

If you try to index it, I'd suggest starting with .844 (CP pax is .866, and multiply by .975 for street-tires)

Things will get tricky though if your club has "Driver of the Year" awards, and you make the PAX too easy for this class. A lot of top drivers take this type of thing pretty serious.

[66SuperSport]

I know Donny has been working on this. The Chicago region SCCA has 6 to 8 autocross, SOLO, events per season. All of them at Rt. 66 in Joliet IL. I believe we could get the Milwaukee region to do the same though and they have about 8 events per year at Miller Park in WI. This could be really cool. We have gotten together on our own for a few of these and had a blast, but never really knew where to put ourselves within the SCCA classifications. A separate FUN class for hot rods would be great. I know Lynda and I would be up for this with our Chevelles. Not sure if we'd be ready for this Sunday though. Still waiting for the rear end housing to get repaired.
For those of you that are just getting started, the Chicago region has a great autocross school at the beginning of the year as well. This is very organized, extremely reasonable, and will get you comfortable with trying out one for of these events. Don't worry about being the fastest car, just get out there. It would be really cool to have 10 or 20 pro-touring/hot rods at one of these events.

[cmraman]

Is anyone interestd at all? I know Chris and Linda are in, and maybe Randy Johnson and McGaffin. Is there anyone else? Brent Jarvis came and raced with us a couple of weeks ago and had fun. I would like to see more pro touring cars show up and run.

I don't know if there would be trophys or not (I really don't care) but we would get our own index.

As far as I can tell you would have to run street tires, 180 or better, but if you showed up on something else it wouldn't be a problem unless someone in our class bitched.....highly unlikely unless it was A6's or something. Past that, engine mods, swaps, and trick suspension stuff will be okay. I cannot stress enough that this class will be for FUN first and foremost. It gives us a place on the grid to belong to and any easy way for us to compare times against each other and with a better index.

For those that may only be with Goodguys autocross there are some subtle differences. The biggest is you have to work 1 of 4 heats, uprighting cones or whatever. The other is that you only get 6 runs in a day. The course is on average about twice the size and speeds are higher in most cases . Most of the drivers at these events are very skilled and there is a lot we can learn from them.


So let me know. If you read this and your just a tiny bit interested or have any suggestions please respond as I will forward this to the guys at SCCA who are trying to make this happen for us.


I'm definately behind you on this.

[dropit69]

the RT66 one would be awesome its only 45 mins from my house..

[dontlifttoshift]

Wow, great response so far. I should have been clearer, this would be a permanent class at all of their events not just a one time thing. There is an event this weekend but we will have to
run in existing classes until this gets figured out.

Derek do you have problems with other classes bitchin about the vintage class? I don't know crap about index stuff, have anymore insight? I just show up and drive.

[Bow Tie 67]

I'm interested, have no idea on how the index works, doubt I'll make Sunday, what do these events cost?

[Derek69SS]

Derek do you have problems with other classes bitchin about the vintage class? I don't know crap about index stuff, have anymore insight? I just show up and drive.
No, its index being 1.000 makes it a non-competitive class for PAX standings, so the only competition is within the class.

[Bow Tie 67]

If anyone is interested next Wed Oct 20th $225 for a lapping day at Black Hawk Farms. I'm planning on attending and hear that normally there are only a handfull of cars, so basically unlimited laps from 9am to 4:30pm. This is an open event put on by the track itself.

http://www.blackhawkfarms.com/content/calendar.cfm

[dontlifttoshift]

I'm interested, have no idea on how the index works, doubt I'll make Sunday, what do these events cost?


Pre registration is $35.00, on site its $40.00. If you are not a SCCA member there is also a weekend membership fee of $15.00.

I really don't understand the index either, but basically they are trying to even the playing field between all competitors in all classes.

I am going on Sunday but i won't have the hot rod, I will be driving my wifes '06 charger to settle a bet.

Like I say we are trying to make this happen for next season and I am hoping to generate enough interest to make it happen. It would eliminate trying to class these cars into an existing structure which by SCCA's rule book is hard to do because for the most part we would all end up in some prepared class.

Donny

[Derek69SS]

PAX index is a "handicap" that varies by class. The fastest class is A Mod, with a PAX of 1.000. The slowest class is H Stock with a PAX of 0.803. It's calculated based on the most competitive cars (and drivers) in its class, prepared to the limit of the rules.

Where an A Mod would run 60.000-sec, an H Stock should run 74.720. If the H Stock ran any quicker than that, it would place higher in the rankings, despite a slower actual time.

Our club does 3 things with the PAX index...
1. "Pro" index class - Instead of competing in your class, you go into the "Pro" class and compete against the best drivers, instead of against similar cars.
2. "Street Tire" index - Run against cars in other classes which can be prepared to the limit of the rules EXCEPT they're all on 140+tw tires instead of R-comps. (excludes ST* classes)
3. "Driver of the Year" and top-10 drivers awards based on best PAX finishes.

The most serious guys in the club all battle in index classes, which is why they might get pissed if you try to apply a low factor to a class with no rules.

[dontlifttoshift]

Thanks for the clarification and viewpoint.

The guys that get pissed, we have some of those and I can see them bitching....a lot. More than likely the index would be based on Chris Jacobs times at past events. His car is pretty fast by comparison to the rest of us. i also don't think he attends enough events to cause a problem with the top ten stuff.

[no bags]

...............is where? Did I miss something? I'm still not sure if all of you will be at RT66 or Milwaukee. I would love to go.

Bob

[66SuperSport]

...............is where? Did I miss something? I'm still not sure if all of you will be at RT66 or Milwaukee. I would love to go.

Bob

The Chicago SCCA region has their last autocross event of the year this Sunday in the south lot of the Rt. 66 Dragway in Joliet. More info is on their web site. The following weekend there is a two day event in Milwaukee. Not sure if we are going to make it to any of these, but I know Donny will be in Joliet this weekend with his wife's Charger.

[dontlifttoshift]

...............is where? Did I miss something? I'm still not sure if all of you will be at RT66 or Milwaukee. I would love to go.

Bob


Like Chris said the last event is Sunday at rt 66.

I am trying to get things in order so that next year we can have a class to run in. It will simplify registration for us and them and allow us to run and work the same heats. It will be a better time for all involved.