Auto Racing & Performance

In the US, racing in circles (Ovals) is far more popular than racing a simulated road environment.   So much so, that amateur road racing is free to watch.Why is this so?  I ran across a good answer to this in one of the Auto Racing Forums.

Small Local Circle tracks can be found in most states in the US. The tracks are easily lit for night time racing, and there is generally not bad seat in the house.  Simple rules and quick, easy, fun Friday night events for the whole family.  This is what makes it attractive.

Road Racing tracks are harder to find and are generally in remote locations.  Very rarely is the track set up for spectators to easily watch the action.  Most tracks do not have lights so night racing is not an option.  This leaves the racing to about middle of the day on a Saturday or Sunday.  While this should be a good time, most spectators can not commit an hour drive to the track, and hour or two of watching the race and an hour drive home in the middle of their busy Saturday.

If a spectator were to come to the track to see what it is all about there is very little chance that they would come back.  On track the spectator would see a dizzying array of cars, each running their own class and own rules.  The spectator would only see one car take the checkered, but there could be 5 or more different winners.  With all that is going the Spectator can not get involved in the story and struggles that is going on.  This makes for less than perfect entertainment.

Many non-race fans that I talk to agree that Road Racing is more interesting that driving in circles, but can’t find a reason to watch or don’t understand what is going on.  If we could manage someway to have a fun, relaxing, simple race that people can take their kids to after work, grass roots road racing may have a chance.

The season Is winding down now and I finally have some time to write.   Sorry I have not maintained this site,  but I now have help.  I hope today.com people will give me a 2nd chance.  I will keep you posted.

Many race fans know of the big races on TV, some even know of the smaller dirt track or circle track races that can be found in their state, but there is some great racing that you may never know goes on. I am headed to one of these races this weekend.

What is going on?
This weekend is NASA Northeast’s (Part of NASA Pro Racing ) racing and driver school event at Pocono Raceway

The Track
Pocono, The same place used by NASCAR, but they will only be using part of the oval. Many NSACAR fans don’t realize it but by using the center of the raceway Pocono can become 3 race tracks. This weekend they will combine part of oval with a section from the infield to make a form an outstanding road race course.

Who is racing and when?
During Saturday and Sunday Practice starts slightly before 11am. By the time you’re ready to bite in to the burger at noon; it is qualifying time. Around 1:30 is when the action is really going to happen and it is going to be a lot of action.

Each day there are 2 races, but within each race there are up to 14 smaller races going on.
One race will have classes SU, GTS5, GTS4, GTS3, HC1, ST1, ST2, American Iron, PTA, PTB, and FCC
The other race will have 944 Cup, HC2, HC3, HC4, HC5, GTS2, GTS1, Spec Miata, Spec Miata 2, Spec E30, PTC, PTD, PTE classes

How to see a race for free?
Most people do not know about these races unless they are participating in them or are related to the people participating in them. NASA is not really looking for spectators for these races so they don’t charge to see them. Many of the tracks are not expecting that many spectators and do not feel that is worth the cost of hiring someone to sell and collect tickets so entrance is normally free. Even better is that you can easily go in to the pits and talk to these guys, maybe you can even sign up for the next driving school.

Wow What a busy weekend for auto racing and I am ashamed I missed most of it.  My Tivo seem to go on the fritz just when I need it most.

We had the F1 Monaco Grand Prix
The Indy 500
Grand-Am in Lime Rock, CT
NASCAR 600 in NC

My Tivo was able to get most of the F1 race but since it went over its allotted time, it didn’t catch the end.  I have no Idea what happened to Indy and Grand-Am.

I apologize for my lack of posts, but I have been catching up myself.

As you can tell by my lack of posts, I have been on a blogging holiday as I have been traveling and not able to keep up with all that is going on.  Add to that, I am planning a  wedding, remodeling a bathroom, redesigning a website and business,  trying to force myself to become a social connector and working a full time job, blogging is only in my free time.  Ohh Yeah, some where in there I am building a new race car.

New Subaru Impreza released on Greece

The World Rally Championship (WRC) heads to Greece next weekend (May 30^th) for the Acropolis rally. The WRC has been dominated in recent years by Citroen and Ford, but Subaru is out to change that and make it a 3 person race again. Their hopes lie in the new Subaru Impreza.

Fans of the Subaru Impreza WRX know that the latest model only comes in hatchback, this maybe because WRC has been ruled by the hatches of Ford and Citroen and in 2008 those cars still dominate. Subaru’s goal is to change that this weekend when they finally roll out the new WRC Impreza, a move many feel Subaru should have done much earlier in the season.

The Greek Acropolis rally will serve has the race proving ground for the new Subaru Impreza and a tough grueling test it will be.

Are you flying to your next race?  Well that checked bag might cost you some money.  Just like Europe,  American Airlines will soon start charging you per bag that you check on to the flight.

But hopefully your pilot wont be romping around the woods naked like Pinnacle Airlines Inc

It is Fleet Week in NYC, and i am sorry to say there are no Air races like the ones on the west coast.

They do have a lot planned  check it out here http://www.cnrma.navy.mil/fleetweek/

Many times people think that customer service is required when it comes to ordering parts or getting work done on the cars. Customer service is just as important when it comes to track facilities and sanctioning bodies

In a recent example, there was a rule in fraction by several competitors; while all competitors agreed that the they had made the error, none of the track officials offered admittance that they could have improved communications.  To add to it, the track officials were rude overall. This left several racers unhappy, not about rule infractions, but how they were treated.  Many agreed that they might not return to that tack.

Sanctioning bodies also need be mindful of who their customers are. One of the reasons I feel that NASA has gained such popularity is that the SCCA was ignoring its customer service.  It was being run like an exclusive club.  New members had a hard time fitting in and the group was not very welcoming.  I am glad to say that things are changing now.

Track owners and sanctioning bodies need to keep in mind who the customer is because with out the customer the business will die.

1. NASA Pro Racing - http://www.nasaproracing.com/ - Want to get started in racing? This should be one of the first 2 sites you check out.
   
   
2. SCCA - http://www.scca.com – This should be the other site you check out when you want to get started in racing
   
   
3. Grand-Am - http://www.grand-am.com/rolex/ - The best racing series on TV, just outstanding action ( Read post here )
   
   
4. ALMS - http://www.americanlemans.com – Just a Great racing series, site has some good stories.
   
   
5. Indy Car - http://www.indycar.com/ - A true American tradition, now back together. Great things to come.

1. Fast Machines - http://www.fastmachines.com/ - Great racing blog coving all type of motorsports

1. Trackpedia - http://www.trackpedia.com – You need info on that next track your heading too, You need to go to Trackpedia.

1. Speedtv - http://www.trackpedia.com – their website is better than their tv channel, offering more coverage of different forms of racing.

1. Formula 1 - http://www.formula1.com/ - they have all the up to date info with what is going on with F1, videos and even a countdown to the next race.

1. Online Driving Event Registration. https://www.motorsportreg.com/ Manage your track, autocross & social events online. Use MotorsportReg.com to accept electronic registration & credit cards. It’s time to have more fun.

*Bonus site — http://www.YOUTUBE.com - You want some great in car shots of the next race your going to, your thinking about driving in a new class, do a search on YouTube and you can find out what the view looks like from behind the wheel. Check out the close racing action, Search for “Spece30”

The best racing action on TV,  Grad-am racing

I took the weekend off form writing.  I normally write extra during the week so I have something to post on the weekends,  but this was a busy week and just got busier.

Grand-Am action on Speed with the RumBum.com 250

Sunday was a busy day for me as my “Honey Do list” was quite large and I was remodeling the bath room.  I was just gonna leave the race on in the back ground as I worked on my pile ruble the used to be the bathroom.   Some where between the a leaking pipe turning my basement in to a swimming pool and almost amputating my finger with a hammer I decide to call it quits and watch the show/race  and a Show it was.

I love F1, but it can get boring as Ferrari drives away for the win every time,  but not in Grand-Am.  Wow,  that is some action.  These guys were banging fenders, punting cars, bursting in to flames, and lead changes all day long.

More race reports to come…..