Where to do preseason testing?

[tflyboy77]

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.

[Rod]

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

[tflyboy77]

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]

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]

Thanks for posting that info Dave, I'm only 15 min north of Columbus and didn't even know this existed.

[tflyboy77]

I didn't even realize there was a Columbus SCCA. I'll have to look you up and check out the schedule.

[Rod]

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!!!

[bret]

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]

Me test something? That's funny.

[IndyDave]

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]

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]

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]

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

That is a cool company car. Does ridetech need a company physician?

[IndyDave]

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]

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]

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]

I hope to be ready by that time too. Please keep us updated

[rchaskin]

3am......Walmart lot................

quick in.....quick out.....LOL

[tflyboy77]

3am......Walmart lot................

quick in.....quick out.....LOL

Ya, those Walmart rentacops can be wicked fast. LOL

[Slick68]

3am......Walmart lot................

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.