Autocross at Capital City

[Mr.Snowx]

Todd Gow, the manager at Capital City Speedway, wants to know if there is any interest among MCO members in attending an autcross like event on the Capital City oval. As the oval is limited in width there is not a lot of room for those really tough elements so it could be pretty fast. I think it might be more like snowcross but on dry pavement. This would be a Capital City event, not an MCO event, but it could be for MCO members only if there is enough interest or it could be open to the public. The cost would be moderate, like the normal autocross entry fee. MCO would have input to the course design and course design approval rights. There is the race track wall to be considered. If the interest is there the logistics can be worked out. So respond to this post with your Yea or Nay and let's see what happens.

[Scruffy]

I'd be up for it. Only two more events left, this would make a third.

[inverted]

I'm up to try any Autocross-like racing. Put me down as interested!

[dbg]

Sure.

[gregor]

These guys do autox there a few times a summer. Just did one yesterday.

http://www.teammasc.com/index.php/en/ga ... -autocross

[John_H]

I am up for it.

[Alf]

I'm not sure it would be that safe, it would be hard to have 25' of clearance between the cone and the wall.

I'd be up for some king of the hill, that would be fun and probably safer. Few of us try contacting them about doing that few years ago and we never got an answer.

[John_H]

Team MASC looks to be a lot more lax about safety than us. From the pictures no one is wearing a helmet, and someone is driving a jeep. Don't they roll over on sharp turns?

[Alf]

Last time, I went and look at one of the event, they had cones against the curb, we run minimum 25'. I haven't seen but the I-car solo2 is suppose to be better.

Team masc has great intention. They are trying to take people of the street, that must not forgotten. Some of the safety aspect, need some improvement.

[GoesFilled]

Personally - I've spun my car too many times to run THAT close to the concrete barriers.

[davet82]

personally i'm not interested in running an autocross

but with a few others, i'd organize a king of the hill event
(see below)

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8561&p=64154&hilit=capital#p64154

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aQ9iI_BobU

if that vid didn’t work

search cockyguy racing "king of the hill" on youtube

[John_H]

So King of the Hill is a 1 vs 1 race around the oval?

[Scruffy]

After checking out the pictures from the other club that runs AutoX here, I will have to agree with Alain that there really isn't enough room to run a decent track and still abide by our safety guidelines.

On the side of KOTH, I don't know if I feel any better about actually going head to head with another car at high speeds. It would be interesting to try, but based on the video provided, I'm feeling a little skittish. Then again, I love how much MCO is a safety-first club, so IDK. I guess I'm neutral.

[Alf]

So King of the Hill is a 1 vs 1 race around the oval?

Yes

The main risk is turn 1, then after you are ahead or not. If you run a Subaru, the main risk is your rod bearing

[wing]

Don't they usually start those with 1 car on 1 side and the other car on the other side?

So it's a race but you are never close to the other car?

[davet82]

Don't they usually start those with 1 car on 1 side and the other car on the other side?

So it's a race but you are never close to the other car?

it depends on the venue.. some WANT cars to be close together.. others separate the distance

[AtomicGTiR]

These guys do autox there a few times a summer. Just did one yesterday.

http://www.teammasc.com/index.php/en/ga ... -autocross

I've been over at another location to watch Team MASC before and there was some very unsafe behavior from participants. No helmets!? I don't think so.

And honestly, this!!!? is so dangerous...



I guess when you have stellar events held by MCO, it is pretty hard to stack up against that.

[wing]

Surprised he bothers to keep his doors on.

[gregor]

hai. Invite them out to an MCO event. *I think? CADL offered them 10 free spots at one of their events this year?
Not a bad idea to showcase what's going on here and there. No jeeps of course.

[Alf]

It will run for a while until something bad happen, then someone will get sued and it will be the end. History, look at history, it tell you where your from and were you are going. The flavor may change a bit however, in the background, things remains the same.

[Scruffy]

hai. Invite them out to an MCO event. *I think? CADL offered them 10 free spots at one of their events this year?
Not a bad idea to showcase what's going on here and there. No jeeps of course.

No need to invite. They already know who we are and what we do. A couple of them showed up to our IPC. I was talking to the lady who drives the black Lancer Evo in the pics. IDK why someone would choose to race with them as opposed to us but w/e.

[condor888000]

Same reason why people lap with groups like KPlayground at Shannonville. They either don't understand the difference, or they don't care.

[ayseven]

As Alf said, sooner or later something happens, and guess who gets dumped on then? That would be EVERYONE, including us, because the public in general has no idea what the differences are, and how, with a few precautions, you can have fun and not be a menace. The more people coming out to our stuff, especially MASC and the like, the more we can show how it's done, and they can go back and improve their operations.

[el_torpedo]

yup

[Mr.Snowx]

All safety concerns are valid. MCO is a safety oriented club. My original post refers not to an autocross event, but an autocross like event. I think it would be more like snowcross where the track is narrow and the elements are simple and few. Remember there are 2 large, paved drifting circles (imaging the amount of rubber on that surface) in the infield at corners 2 and 4. The complicated elements could be set there, well away from the wall and organized so that the probability of losing control and going in the direction of the wall could be minimized. Being on the oval, the main advantage of having an event here would be the ability to build more speed than you would on a normal autcross course.

Today Todd offered to let MCO have full control over the course design and the rules of participation. I'm sure you could design a fast but safe course that would be fun to drive. Inviting Team MASC (or anyone else) would not be a problem as you would be in charge of the rules. Therefore, helmets required, no Jeeps, etc.

As for King of the Hill, I'm sure Todd would be interested in talking to someone about this. There are obvious saftety concerns and MCO could assist with this. MCO's name does not have to be associated with any of these events but Todd would appreciate our assistance. He's trying hard to get more use out of Capital City and to get people to try things at the track instead of on the street.

I don't have the exact dimensions of the oval but it is 3/8 of a mile long with the front straight being wide enough for 4 cars and the rest of the track wide enough for 3 cars. Don't forget the tow large paved areas at corners 2 and 4. Is anyone interested in taking a look at this, having a chat with Todd and a look at the venue (maybe do a few laps?) to really decide if it would be worthwhile? I can set it up.