I would like to begin by thanking EPDC for organizing the Drift and AutoX portions of the event and Chris Nelson from ClubRedline.net for organizing the car show! I would also like to thank those that came out to participate and/or spectate. Even though attendance wasn't what we had hoped for it still sounds like BIR would be interested in hosting a 2010 MAP Proving Grounds event! With that said both MAP and BIR would greatly appreciate your input in regards to how this event can be improved upon next year. We have already had some suggestions, which I have outlined below, but please feel free to add to this list! General Changes - Change event to a two day event consisting of Saturday and Sunday. - Improve signage designating vendor areas, campsites, car show, etc. - Release event dates earlier to improve attendance - Avoid scheduling conflicts (Hot Import Nights Chicago) - Allow camping the day before the event - Scheduling: Allow for participation in multiple events - Move vendor area closer to campsites / spectator parking - Competition Road Course Racing - General Information Tent with Earplugs available - General Information Flyer / Schedule / Map distributed at the gates - Event organizer meeting / contact information sharing - Driver's meeting explaining rules, schedule, etc. Drag Racing - Evaluate class structure, perhaps introduce tiered brackets so that more racers participate in eliminations? - Eliminate All Motor class (zero participants in eliminations) unless demand increases next year Drifting / AutoX - Implement timing system for AutoX - Take barriers into consideration in regards to AutoX course design. - Specific tech for these events - Announcer for these events - Bleachers / Seating for spectators - Marked staging / tech lanes - First Aid Kit / Fire Extinguisher in the area - SCCA / MAC Organization Car Show - Loud speaker announcement of winners - Lunch break = Focal period - Mobile Dynamometer - Bikini Car Wash for Breast Cancer Charity Also, if you did not attend the event please let us know why you chose not to attend and what, if anything, would make it worth your while to attend next year!
yes!!!! timing system for auto x event forsure!!! other than that, it was a very nice event. i would def attend again.
i would say try to do sat sun next year, and work on getting the word out better. there was alot of people from the area(brainerd) that had no idea this was even going on.
^^^ yes, could this be incorporated, either time attack or some sort of HPDE? I know MAP mentioned the track was rented out by someone else, but I didn't see anyone else using it all day Saturday...? I did not participate due to family vacation (wanted to do the autox) but we stopped by to check it out, the drifting was great to watch.
you are kidding right? I thought it was put on very well, but i would definatly do a saturday sunday event! i was only able to come on saturday because of work on friday (i would have been doing some competing but i had kids i had to watch over)
I thought the event went very well considering the amount of participants. But if it had not been the case it would have been a different story. Because I had assumed there would be a lot more people going to the event I made sure my guys and I arrived bright and early only to find out the gate keeps were behind schedule. Here are some idea's I'd like to suggest: 1. Provide a map layout of the site where everything is going to happen. 2. Safety a. It was really cool to be able to stand 10 feet from the drag race cars on the staging lane on the tower side, but after thinking about it and seeing others with their own kids there I won't want my kids 50ft or more near some of those cars. b. There was quite a few drag cars driving way too fast back from the strip. There is a 5 mph limit in the pit and paddock area. That was not a cool site at all. c. If we can expect more dragsters with these super load cars BIR should seriously consider providing some ear plugs. I had to use my fingers each time the rotories came up to the staging lanes. 3. Allow vendors and sponsors advance time to set everything up the day before the event. I was at the meeting with EPDC and it felt like we just winged it, there wasn't much facilating or coordination among the staff on who owned which duties. Often times a club will have event stewards and marshals over seeing such operations and everyone knew exactly who was in charge and who to go to. 4. There were no drivers meeting or intro at the event as a group; it felt like there was three events all going on at the same time. It didn't feel like we were all there together. This would help with explain some of the rules at BIR. 5. I felt kind of outcaste that we weren't allowed to camp inside the old track behind the fence because there could be a security concern if there had been a lot more people. It did make it convient that we were able to camp so close to the track, but we didn't feel at times our stuff was secure, but who really knows nothing happened. 6. I think some bleachers between turn 9 & 10 for the autox and drift would be really appreciated. Along with some marked lanes for staging the cars for entry and exit as well as tech. 7. I did see the ambulance on site, but I didn't see a fire extinguisher or a first aid kit in the Autox and Drift area. 8. As far as next years goes, I like the current events from this weekend. But maybe a rally cross in side the course and definitely a Time Attack would really bring me out. 9. Considering the abundance of novice drivers and track time in the autox, it would be great to have more experienced drivers to help spend just a little time with some who are trying to engage the sport. I found myself running around hopping from one car to another. Eric was getting a kick out of the whole situation and started calling me names. LOL 10. One sponsor at least I think we'd definitely be needed and others would appreciate is a good shop who is familiar with a varity of cars that can do all the tech inspections or help service cars when there is a problem. This is a task any of the performance shops can easily do. Setup in one of the barns and when there is an issue they can double check everything over and release them as they see fit. 11. Bring more attractions like a transportable dyno or something for the girls. 12. And lastly BIR needs to do something about the hot water turning cold without warning. LOL Over all my impressions of this weekends event are very high and though there are lots of room for improvement I think this will help make next year even better. There are many of us who have experience with organizing a great event so don't hesitate to ask for help in some of these areas I have highlighted. I look forward to next year’s event and will continue to support the event as well as BIR.
Possibly a SCCA ran auto-x event? I loved the amount of seat time I got this weekend in the WRX. I should have got some pants and drag raced this weekend also . The main thing I heard from almost everyone there would be to make it a sat-sunday event and not on a friday. I kind of liked the 3-day weekend. But I think there could be a higher turn out. I would have loved to get on the road course this weekend. The event went pretty good. I think Mushashi hit most of the main points.
I personally did not attend because of HIN in chicago, as well as the subaru thing going on in chicago as well. If it hadnt been for both events, i would have been in brainerd.
Those to me are some huge red flags for any kind of motorsports event. The first priority of any event is the safety of the specators and participants. Anything else is second to that.
Like i said on the phone, MAC could probably help out next year with the autocross if you contact us early. We've got the expertise and gear to run a damn fine autocross. with the right associations, the autocross could even be listed as a Met-Council points event. Or, you could run a combined autocross/drag event ala GRM 200x Challenge. autocross time and drag time combined for the champion
It has always been like that at BIR. When the guys and I participated in the BIR Wednesday Night Drags, they allowed us to stand very close. I know at Rockfalls, you'll be standing behind the fence.
In that case I can see another incident like at the monster truck blash happening again. Driver who violate the 5mph on the return road or anywhere on the track will get sent home, its that simple.
I didn't go because I am not spending $20 a day to hang out and take pictures of everyone else. So make if free or cheap for people to come watch, I would show up. Russ
I thought about going and doing the auto-x section, but was pretty wary when I heard the organization setting up the course was geared at drifting. My fear was that the course layout would not be safe for auto-x. Similar to how the course layout for the PCA-COM events tends to cater to the 'I wanna mash the gas really hard as often as possible' crowd, even if that means that they are going full throttle towards a street sign. I would suggest having a drift section run by people that specialize in drifting, and the auto-x section run by MAC or an SCCA org.
Personally I thought the autox course was setup very well with safety in mind. If you consider that fact that Mt. Fuji was able to grab 3rd gear while heading straight into the carousel which was right in front of turn 9, it was very fast and there was plenty of room between the gates to the bridge. Although Autox is not one of the highlights of my motorsport life, the fact that there wasn't a rediculous line of drivers and not having to work the course did appeal to me at least for this weekends event. So I guess the big question for next year is this, if MAP and BIR intend to make next years event a true "Proving Grounds" in all the events hosted than they should step up their game and working with some sanctioned bodies locally to help host these events. As my understanding is this years event was primarily focused on Drag racing. I for one could careless if this was a competition or not, I am more interested in just coming out and having fun, placing first or last has no baring on my ego! LOL
The new ownership has been working very hard to bring motorsport and sanctioned racing back to MN. Now if you are seriously considering utilizing the short Road Course for next year's event there are currently some safety concerns that our club is trying to get addressed. There are some areas on the new track that have been identified to have some safety issues. We have a whole list of them and a good example would be the track exit on turn 11. Its a blind left turn coming out of the carousel at high speeds you'll never see the guy who has decided to exit the track at pit speed. Its a accident waiting to happen. I purpose they change the exit to have it on the left side of the barrier wall right after the carousel, this will make the exit much easier to use and two you won't have second guess about coming around turn 11 at track speed. We can talk more about this list when its appropriate. But seriously a time attack here hosted on both the old and new track as four events running them conventionally and counter clockwise would make a nice small series for a Time Attack event.
I thought they did a pretty good job with the available space. Not having driven the course, I can't say for certain how "safe" it was. I'm just giving my impression, that it appeared to me to be a bit fast given the confines of the lot. The drift guys seem to be plenty comfortable operating within those concrete walls, but I've seen a handful of off-course excursions at autocross events that would have resulted in significant damage had there been Jersey barriers like that in place. You obviously can't plan for every possible bonehead maneuver, but if the event expands, that means more novice drivers, and anything that can be done to assure safety is a good thing. One idea, since there was only one car on course at a time, you could keep the elements in the center of the lot, do a U-turn at the end, and run the same elements in reverse on the way back to the start/finish. Or keep speeds down by using tighter elements. I'm not saying mnautox should have a monopoly on local autocrosses, but maybe take advantage of the experience there and get someone to review the design.
I forgot to mention that the only obvious safety concern that appeared to put some people in danger was the fact that the start and finish was using the same gates and there stood the starting marshal, timing and course workers. Some cars were coming too close for comfort. I know that at a autox no one is allowed to sit down while working the course or should be facing the wrong way of on coming traffic.
THIRD gear??!! To give you an idea of how fast that is, last event MAC did, I was at the top of second (rev limiter) heading into the slalom (with TONS of runoff room) and was going just about 60 MPH. If you lose control, you are going to slide for a while at that speed. I haven't seen the course, or what obstacles were nearby, but that seems awful fast for auto-x.
I would agree, but I don't think there were that many other drivers hiting that in their cars. This is also partly due to the fact its mr. Fuji Yamada doing the driving. Due I need to say anymore! :laugh:
I know that MAC is often asked to help co-host events for various clubs and they do a great job of finding volunteers to help make these events possible. It would be a great opportunity to get more local sanctioned bodies to help support such an event. Hopefully this will help generate more interest and develop more talents from our area. Maximizing seat time for all levels is a win win situation. Probably the single most valuable thing you guys have going is a possible unification of the local car clubs at an event. Eventually it would be nice to see something along the same lines of what a NOPI event looks like, you'll never know.
