GingerMan & Blachawk Farms Events

[UstaB-GS549]

If you go to the Midwestern Council of Sports Car Clubs website: http://my.execpc.com/~mcscc/ you can see this season's schedule for road racing and autocross events. The autocrosses are high speed events held at Blackhawk Farms in South Beloit, IL and GingerMan in South Haven, MI. BFR & GingerMan are both 2 mile road courses and there are no cones on the track.

For a Z06, you need a 5 or 6 pt harness, a Snell 90 or newer Helmet, some static cling numbers and a reasonable degree of sanity. Entry fees are usually under $100 for the day. Novices are usually assigned an instructor and have separate practice sessions at an AX.

There are 3 Road race/AX schools per year and the AX entries are limited to keep student/instructor ratios low.

Next event is at GingerMan on May 29th. I plan on competing in the AX.

Don't want to compete? You can gain free entry to all these events by volunteering to "work" a corner for the day. There are usually a small group of people at each corner station with varying degrees of experience. It's a great vantage point to watch from and you get a free lunch at noon and usually a complementary "relaxing beverage" at the end of the day (21 and older). Some of the regular corner workers get invited to work professional races after they gain experience.

[xsiveone]

They are having an autox at Gingerman? Is it just a timed track event where you put in your fastest lap without other cars on the track? I know that they do that at Blackhawk. Sure beats running cones IMO.

X

[UstaB-GS549]

The practice sessions have several cars on the track at once. I think it's more scary driving TO the track on 80-94 than ON the track for practice sessions. The cars are grouped by lap times so there usually does't have to be any passing. Passing is restricted to practice sessions only and only on long straight between turn 10 & 1. Its also considered good form to watch your mirrors and give the guy behind you "the point" (indicating which side you would like him/her to pass you on).

The timed runs are in the afternoon. One car at a time against the timing equipment for one lap. Some times it is a standing start and sometimes a rolling start. Not sure what they will do at GingerMan this year. Blackhawk is always a standing start from the pit lane.

Best time in each class for the day wins trophy. In theory you only have to turn one good lap.

I like running cones too, but it is more memorization and slow speed control. Also, stupid mistakes or over-driving your car have less serious consequences in a parking lot event.

[xsiveone]

The timed runs are in the afternoon. One car at a time against the timing equipment for one lap.

That's what I thought. I'm perfectly fine with other cars on the track with you. That's what you get with DE's. It's just unnerving if they are actually racing you wheel to wheel. I'll have none of that.

X