VIR-Patriot Sundays are a go for 2008!, at least two, maybe more, for circuitXes or ??? Options

[getfast]

As the subject states, the NASA-MA "Circuitcross" (autocross on a smaller permanent roadcourse) program DID make the cut for 2008 after all. We have asked for at least two Sundays on VIR-Patriot corresponding with NASA-MA full course HPDE/TT/roadracing activities. In 2007, these dates were late February and late March/early April - which will hopefully also be the case in 2008. We may also have a couple of later-season dates TBA, but I don't have further info yet.

So having said that, HOW can we make these VIR-Patriot days the best they can be, assuming that they cost 2-3x as much as any regular autocross to put on... and assuming that all participants must be NASA members for insurance reasons?

We are very interested in fresh ideas that could make these events bigger and better. We would like to stick to the traditional Circuitcross format for at least part of the day, but other things can certainly be incorporated to give people more incentive to come out and play as cheaply and easily as possible. Some of the ones I've come up with are:

-including some karting each day as a package deal

-offering more instruction and/or novice-based programs

-possibly including a modified but similar version of Hyperdrives

-"sub leasing" part of these days to businesses, groups, or clubs looking to do something similar (i.e. their own championship autocross using more cones on the track, continuous timed laps, touring laps, customer lapping sessions w/instruction, etc) at a flat rate per track hour - sanctioned, staffed, insured, and green flag ready.

Thoughts, suggestions, ideas? For those of you who have been to one of our prior Circuitcrosses, what did you see that could've been done better? And for those of you who haven't been to one yet, what were your reason(s) for not signing up?

As always PLEASE feel free to speak freely, we can't improve if we don't know what people want and/or what we can do better!

Thanks in advance,

Jon

[prsrcokr]

Glad to see this being continued Jon. For anyone that's thought about it, it's a lot of fun and you get to drive on a roadcourse for less cost/time than a full HPDE weekend. I hope folks realize this and give it a shot since turnout was lower this year than last year.
Maybe a combined time/team scoring event? Not sure if there are insurance rules, it could be unofficial scoring.

Brian

[getfast]

Thanks Brian! A team thing could be totally do-able as a subset of the results afterward. We used a similar format many years ago when we did time trials on SP-Jefferson at the end of 1-day HPDE's, and it was fun for sure.

The other two proposed improvements thus far are:

1) lower entry fees (shooting for ~60 cars at ~$75ea)

2) inclusion of a more significant novice/intro to track driving program, particularly in the morning. Seasoned drivers could make this optional and not need to include an overnight stay because they wouldn't need to be there until lunchtime, which would bring participation costs down even further.

Food for thought,

Jon

[plus_c]

2) inclusion of a more significant novice/intro to track driving program, particularly in the morning. Seasoned drivers could make this optional and not need to include an overnight stay because they wouldn't need to be there until lunchtime, which would bring participation costs down even further.

Food for thought,

Jon

I like this idea a whole lot! One of the things that kept me from doing the CircuitCrosses this year was just nerves - as a novice, did I have the talent necessary to do a CircuitCross without doing significant damage to my car? This will help to make the CircuitCross events a lot less intimidating. I'd definitely be up for the novice program next season...

[prsrcokr]

Don't worry about nerves Sze, I usually drive like a retired librarian on Patriot. Hopefully I'll have built up the driving confidence to drive like a retired trolley operator by next year. You can go a slow as you're comfortable, just being on a track is half the fun.

[ScoobyDuck]

Hooray for Circuit X! Count me in.

[BannerRacing]

Count me in, as soon as I get a better car.

[maacodale]

I like this idea a whole lot! One of the things that kept me from doing the CircuitCrosses this year was just nerves - as a novice, did I have the talent necessary to do a CircuitCross without doing significant damage to my car? This will help to make the CircuitCross events a lot less intimidating. I'd definitely be up for the novice program next season...

Agreed! You get a little faster each "regular" autocross, right? You'll do the same thing at a circuitCross too. Get out there and take it easy the first couple of events. Then, as you gradually get more comfortable, pick it up some. You'll be comfortable in no time!

Hey Jon, I'd love to try and make some next year! I think I'm retiring from Legends next year so that'll free up some time, And Tyler is pretty close to VIR from Charlotte, so he could meet up out there for events!

[tnd2]

Thats sounds like a great time.
Suggestion:
Since I have never been on track, id like to have the option to get some instruction.

My thought is run a open race in the am, then a novice class in the pm with instruction. That way the instructors could race without the fear of somebody getting extra seat time before the race.

A two day weekend may be too much for some that are trying to get their feet wet, or just learn a new skill plus get on track.

[Niburu]

Will the events be outside the snowy weather range of the year?

Not that snow or rain has stopped me yet....just askin.

[getfast]

At least one of 'em will be during possible snow time (late Feb '08 during our usual fullcourse weekend.)

Can't wait,

Jon

[06VMI06]

Count me in..... as long as it is not a 2 day event or anything in FEB.

I can't get enough of this stuff.......darn u dave darn u

[getfast]

Feb @ VIR is traditionally one of the biggest NASA events in the country. We had something like ~500 cars this year, between fullcourse (hpde/roadracing) & patriot (drifting/circuitcross.) Plus we did two kart enduros. Same plan for '08... and a very similar one in late March/early April if they give us that weekend again (as they did in '07.)

Can't wait,

Jon

[skrzastek]

Feb @ VIR is traditionally one of the biggest NASA events in the country. We had something like ~500 cars this year, between fullcourse (hpde/roadracing) & patriot (drifting/circuitcross.) Plus we did two kart enduros. Same plan for '08... and a very similar one in late March/early April if they give us that weekend again (as they did in '07.)

Can't wait,

Jon

..




pray for no rain/snow....

[getfast]

2008 Circuitcrosses on VIR-Patriot will be:

Sun Feb 24
Sun Mar 30
Sun Jul 27

More details in the coming months,

Jon

[getfast]

You heard it here first - mark your calendars! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)


NASA Mid-Atlantic Autocross presents...

"CircuitSchool #1" & "Championship CircuitCross #1"
Sun Feb 24, 2008 @ VIR's 1.1 mile Patriot Course (clockwise)


Morning phase: CircuitSchool #1
(required for novices, recommended for everyone)

7:30am - registration & tech open
8:30am - mandatory meeting & classroom 1 "safety before speed"
TBA am - instructor guided track walk/group discussion
TBA am - familiarization laps (behind a pace car)
TBA am - classroom 2 "introduction to high performance driving"
TBA am - lead/follow laps (behind several pace cars)
TBA am - bonus laps behind pace cars (muffled cars only - during quiet hour)


Afternoon phase: Championship CircuitCross #1
(recommended for everyone, morning CircuitSchool required first for novices)

60 cars maximum
8-12 timed laps each
No work/run assignments
Results posted by NASA-X classes
Double championship points compared to a regular autocross
In-car instructors available for novices (details TBA)

10:30am - registration & tech open
11:30am - mandatory drivers meeting
12:00pm - Heat 1 (20 cars max.)
1:40pm - worker break/grid switch
1:45pm - Heat 2 (20 cars max.)
3:25pm - worker break/grid switch
3:30pm - Heat 3 (20 cars max.)
5:30pm - all cars off track


ENTRY FEES

CircuitCross (afternoon) phase only: $70 members / $80 nonmembers.

CircuitSchool (morning) & Circuitcross (afternoon) phases: $105 members / $115 nonmembers.

Registration opens 11/20/07 here:

http://www.nasaproracing.com/nasa_event/show/?event_id=621



VIDEO

Here is what a CircuitCross run looks like:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7001229499731696391

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5793622125058894658



OTHER FUN STUFF

Make a weekend of it! Saturday will feature Hyperdrives (aka single session HPDE1 on the 3.3 mile Full Course), test & tune on VIR's wet skidpad, a driveWISE Accident Avoidance School also on the wet skidpad, as well as our usual "arrive and drive" kart enduro on Saturday night! (Details on all those things TBA soon.)


Excited,

Jon

This post has been edited by getfast: Nov 15 2007, 09:12 PM

[Niburu]

dates are locked and loaded in teh Outlook

[prsrcokr]

Jon, might want to clarify the vids. The first is what a very fast lap looks like, the second is well, what a pace lap looks like (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Thanks to some instruction I'm hoping it will be a little quicker next year.

[getfast]

Hahaha no worries, it was a good clean run and a great vid. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Keep in mind also... top of the hill before where the finish was... is now essentially a straight line into a right hander, no longer that slow and complicated ess-turn section. Lap times should drop considerably. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/seeya.gif)

Jon

[getfast]

Some info & updates about the 2008 CircuitCross program are here:

http://www.autocross.us/forums/index.php?showtopic=3640

Feb 24 and Jul 27 are definitely a go with a format like what I posted above in this thread. Mar 30 is a go, but probably won't be this exact format and won't count for autoX championship points (details TBA.)

Can't wait!

Jon