Autocross
The 2010 schedule is posted below. Our event sites this year will be Seneca Army Depot (SeAD), and Cherry Valley Motorsports Park. Due to circumstances beyond our control we won’t be holding events at the Rochester college campus or the Batavia Motorsports Park sites we’ve used in the past.
Autocross is an ideal way for drivers at any level of ability to learn the fundamentals of car control. It is an opportunity to drive your car more aggressively than what is practical on city streets or country roads. That’s not to say that reckless driving is encouraged; on the contrary, good autocross drivers are in complete control while driving their cars close to their handling limits. The real objective is to come away with a better understanding of the car’s capabilities as well as the driver’s.
Most people that attend an autocross for the first time have never attempted anything like it. Many come back because it’s just so much fun. A few keep doing it year after year because it has become a part of their lives. One of the things that makes it attractive to newcomers is that any car that is in sound mechanical condition can be used. SUVs and vans are not permitted but beyond that, any car (BMW or other marque) can participate.
The sites this year will be at a go-kart track and an unused air strip on a decommissioned Army base. The go-kart track has a fixed layout consisting of several banked turns and elevation changes. Events at the air strip are set up by placing pylons in a series of gates and slaloms to form a continuous course. At either site the event is run by starting one car at a time from a standstill and using timing sensors at the beginning and the end of the course to record the elapsed time from start to finish. These times are recorded to the nearest 1/1000th of a second, so there’s rarely a tie. A typical autocross run takes between 40 and 70 seconds depending on the layout of the course and the experience level of the driver. Because the cars are sent off individually there is little or no chance of making contact with another car and courses are designed to ensure that even if a car does spin it will not hit anything harder than a cone. A typical event will give everyone between four and six runs on the course with the times recorded so that a driver’s progress can be measured from one run to the next.
We group cars into a few different classes to make things interesting. The serious die-hards that have stiffened suspensions and other modifications are grouped into a Race class. Cars that are primarily still in their stock configuration are grouped by manufacturer depending on the numbers represented. We separate BMW, MINI, and Porsche into separate classes. Other manufacturers are usually grouped into the ‘Other’ class but sometimes we’ll group Corvettes or Corvairs together when there is good turnout.
When you first arrive you will go through check-in or registration. If you haven’t pre-registered on the web you’ll be asked to provide basic information about your car (year, model) and be assigned a number. A valid drivers’ license is necessary to participate in the event. Registration for BMW & Porsche Club members is less expensive than for non-members (see rates below). Every driver is assigned a number. We keep a supply of white shoe polish and painters’ tape that allows putting numbers on car windows or doors. More experienced drivers usually opt for vinyl numbers that stick on magnetically. Each car is ‘teched’ to ensure that all loose objects have been removed (drivers’ floor mat, stuff in the trunk, etc), and that the wheel hubs are in good shape and that the battery is securely attached.
Guests are always welcome to spectate and cheer on their friends. Things to bring to an event include the kinds of things you would bring to a picnic or day at the beach – appropriate clothing, drinks, sunblock, maybe a chair. Food is usually available from a vendor or nearby restaurant, but packing a snack is a good idea.
This year we will have online registration HERE on the GVC web site. Please take advantage of this feature as it will speed up our registration process on-site. Our autocross entry fees this year will be the same as last year: $25 for BMW or PCA Club members, $30 for non-members.
TENTATIVE 2010 Schedule:
May 2 Seneca Army Depot
June 5 Cherry Valley
July 3 Seneca Army Depot
August 8 Seneca Army Depot
August 28 Cherry Valley
September 19 Seneca Army Depot
We look forward to seeing a lot of old and new friends at our events this year! Please email Tony Barbagallo for more information on how to participate, instruct, or volunteer at these events. Check our Calendar of Events to get the most current information on these events.
