2011 Motorstate-my thoughts
Thats right, before I forget all the fun and drama, I thought I would jot them down here. Feel free to comment and add your thoughts about the event.
First and foremost, a huge thanks to Scott and the gang at Motorstate and to the local SCCA guys for a huge, wonderful event. I am a father and can't think of a better way to enjoy Father's Day! The weather was wonderful all weekend, no rain and not too hot, welcomed for sure.
We had 84 cars register and participate, with about 65 cars doing the cruise on Friday. The destination was the same park as last year, but much better weather and no sand storms this time. I think everyone had a blast, cool police escort made it easy to keep the group together. I think all but one car made it to the destination, then we lost one more on the way home to clutch failure.
Saturday everyone got a practice session and two qualifying sessions at Gingerman before the rain came. I think for the most part, everyone was ready to go get some rest by then anyway. Awesome BBQ provided by Motorstate for those that stuck around the track, thanks guys!
Sunday was autocrossing at the local college parking lot. If my math is right, I think everyone ended up with about 8 laps if you wanted them.
Not too much carnage this time, one blown motor and one ripped up tranny pretty much covers the serious problems.
One thing going henceforth, we are going to start requiring a fire extinguisher in every car, and next year, all events will require driver to have a fire jacket at the minimum. Another thing that is coming, so go ahead and start prep now, we are going to have to have at least a hoop in these cars that are going to do track time. Like it or not, we are getting to the point on track days that we simply must require these minimum safety items.
I did hear rumblings about something else that I want to address. Realize here that we are certainly open to suggestions, but without answers or fixes, don't create problems.
Some seem to get confused about car age, contingency program and qualifiers.
While each event is different, and organizers have their own rules, here is the best way I know how to explain the current state of affairs.
1. The Team T/A Contingency program is 1981 and older, or 30 year old cars only at ALL events.
2. Unless stated in the event rules, at OUSCI qualifier events, all cars are eligible to win the event and the invite. Some organizers separate years, some separate vendors out, some do both and some do neither. You have to READ the rules to every event to see if you agree with their rules and how they run their event and if it suits your interest and fun factor.
Personally, I tell organizers my thoughts are to open any event to all cars, especially American cars as I am well aware of how much it costs to produce an event and I would rather have 1/2 protouring cars there than not have enough to have an event at all.
Unfortunately, we are not a big enough market yet, in most areas of the country that we can demand a protouring only event, sorry but that is just the way it is.
Another benefit of newer cars competing is that it gives us a mark to know where we are at with our cars. I know when OUSCI started, I was worried about running against Bentleys and Porsches. However, this community has proven at OUSCI that we perform as well and usually better than any of the new stuff and as of now, the newest car to win OUSCI is a 1969 model.
Of course, anyone that wants to do such a show, and foot the bill, feel free to jump in the water and do it. I will be glad to help anyone that wants help, up to the point that you want me to write a check to cover cost.
Congratulations to Danny Popp for his win in both the road course and autocross portion and overall win of the event. He will certainly be an asset to the OUSCI in November.
Overall I feel this was a huge successs, and look foward to next year.