Attendance ...

[Focus]

I just had a great idea for a cruise in. How about this coming up tuesday at a country club? We can bring the cars all decked out, have dinner, and talk about racing.

[Erv]

sounds BORING

[DAB21]

What you guys are talking about is a lot more low-key than the airshow and will probably net more contact with direct participants, but I think it is a great idea to advertise at shows.

I think it would be great to have a presentation at the World of Wheels, especially if we could get a couple of the road racers to bring out their toys. I am thinking of a certain rotary-powered IMSA racecar that one of our members has (or had - I don't know anymore). If you do World of Wheels, you need to knock their socks off and that IMSA car would do it. Open wheel cars too. Maybe we could get the Huntsville guys to participate as well. I know there are a couple of DSRs up there.

I agree. I think the back drop to the display, the back drop to every club endevor should be the T&S trailer and our school bus, I mean pylon truck. If you want to be "professional" you need to look professional. Our "look" is fairlly rag-tag. We may be about ready to do something with our website, and now is the time to up-date and up-grade our "look" in the field. I do not know what it would cost, but we need to paint the vehicles, or better yet, get them covered with the all-over body wrap like you see on certain insurance adjuster's cars. I think it would be great to have a contest to offer different designs for it. One plumber in Cullman did the wrap to his truck (its about the size of our yellow truck) and everyone in town instantly recognizes it. His business went from start-up to "I can't get to you this week" in almost no time. Our vehicles being seen at our events, other events, and being seen driving to and from events will stir interest, and likely pictures in newspapers- they love this stuff and we will get the much needed exposure.

If we had a great little "sign-in table" with banners, etc, for use at our events, we could use it at shows, making visitors (pretend they are at our event) sign the ins. form and get a wrist band to get inside our zone to go sit in a "real AutoX or race car". Folks walking away wearing the wrist band they can't get off will be showing it and telling about it. Just a little audience participation will keep them talking for a time to their friends. We may even be the subject of some twittering, what ever that is.

[TouringBubble]

David, I see where you are going with the truck wrap, but unless we drastically change the way that truck travels, I don't see the immediate benefit. You example of the plumber truck works well because the truck is on the road every day. Our truck/trailer is parked for 3 weeks and moves one day ... to be parked at the event.

Now, once attendance picks up and we can make some money front the events, it would be worth it to better our image by doing something with the truck and trailer. I just think it's a "down the road" idea.

[Mike#18]

i always go to cruise ins and car shows, i go just about every weekend and it seems like more and more newer model cars are showing up that are autocross capable. SCCA just does not have much advertisements that i have noticed imo

[zukitek]

I just had a great idea for a cruise in. How about this coming up tuesday at a country club? We can bring the cars all decked out, have dinner, and talk about racing.

I hear ya man .We are party animals at the BoD meetingsBTW we have a meeting this coming Tuesday .All of these suggestions would be excellent agenda items.All they need are people to lead the brigade.

RR

[Augustus]

Ahhhh, finally a chance to vent my frustration with Auto-X

I used to run often. Back in 2007 / late 2006 was when I did most of my runs.

Hey! I see Jimkana up there. I bought my Miata from you. It's being taken care of... very well. Too well, actually... VoodooII kit from Flyin' Miata...

Some of you may remember a red E-stock miata with a tan top, ES-77 to be exact. That was me. One of the reasons I don't attend often, if at all, is because of the classing. You swap in a different steering wheel, and your in CSP, racing against Miatas with $10,000 worth of mods. I snuck past tech with my aftermarket wheel last time I attended, but I dont think I can hide that turbo like I did the wheel... Hehhehe. Also, tires are a problem. You aren't very competitive unless your running some V710s or A6s, assuming your in a class that allows them. One of my friends had a set of 1995 Miata wheels mounted with 225 wide V710s that I was gonna buy, but he sold them without the tires. Now the tires are dry rotting in his garage. Mike, you rat! :P

Since I turbo'd my Miata, I am 100% screwed on being competitive, unless I spend ~3500 on suspension work, $1500 on brakes, ~$1000 on exhaust, ~4000-7000 on a built engine, $2500~ on engine management , need I go on? Basically, the classing is oriented towards people with unlimited funds. That means classing is oriented to.... Almost no one. One tiny mod that probably won't give you any advantage bumps you out of class.

So I'll NEVER be competitive again in Auto-X, unless I become rich, or get a different car.
Well, winning trophys isn't everything. You can still have fun, learn more driving technique, and... Oh wait, you only get 6 minutes of driving.... As someone else said, the $30? or $40? entrance fee is kinda steep for what you get. 6~ minutes of track time, then you have to work the course for a couple hours.

Newbies also get scared off by the strict nature of some of the veterans. I've dragged out quite a number of people to Auto-X when I attended regularly. Most of them didn't like the strict attitude of a few of the people. I mean, come on, many track days are more lax on their rules than Auto-X is! I've heard stories of Tahoe SUVs with 5 people in them, running around a track, with random junk flying around as they take turns. Make it a more friendly environment, and I think more people will come out.... I'm not saying compromise safety though. Safety is always the most important thing.

I think I'll stick to track days, unless I'm really feeling it for some reason. I might come out again this season. I'll have to take off work though. I work Sundays.

[dr_phatcity]

I'm sorry you had a bad experience in the past, but I think things might be a bit different if you came out again. Lower numbers allow us to be much more chill at these events.

"Also, tires are a problem. You aren't very competitive unless your running some V710s or A6s,"
"Since I turbo'd my Miata, I am 100% screwed on being competitive, unless I spend"

I can't disagree more. You are going to have tons of people to compete with. Without all of those modifications, you will not be able to compete on a national level. Some of the guys in our region are at that level. However, if you spend a few weekends out with us, you will find people in your class or in other classes you are comparable to and whammo --- competition. You might not win nationals without those modifications, but there is plenty of competition in autocross.

"$30-$40 for 6~ minutes of track time, then you have to work the course for a couple hours."

I think you underestimate the value of autocross time. On the autox, you can much more easily push the limits of your car and not worry about doing damage to your car or to Mr. Barber's guardrails. Furthermore, the whole point of autocross is that you have to "feel" the car. You only get a few tries at each course, so if you can't feel the car's dynamics you don't drive fast. In comparison, on a track day, you get to practice the track over and over and over again. You learn the rhythm of the track/ you memorize it. Unless track conditions or mechanical factors come into play (overheated tires, mushy brakes etc), tracks can be driven pretty well (but not optimally) without totally feeling the car. I doubt anyone would argue that car handling is learned faster with track days than with autocrossing.

"Newbies also get scared off by the strict nature of some of the veterans."
"Make it a more friendly environment, and I think more people will come out...."
The novice program has gone a long way to fixing this.. A notable point, the kilgore brothers came through this program last year and they are quickly becoming an important part of this club. I'd like to hear if newcomers still worry about how they will be received.

"I think I'll stick to track days, unless I'm really feeling it for some reason. I might come out again this season."

I'm pretty sure you'd find the autocross different that you last experienced. Having been to many other autox's I've seen much of the uptight management stuff you're describing, but it's really not present in birmingham. This is a really fun, very refreshing program. I hope you're planning on going to the NASA event at the end of may... it should be lots of fun.

[zukitek]

Hmmmmm.I have never really gotten a vibe of strict.I think I would consider it better described as professional and structured.Yes... mods to your car do change your class.Mods change the performance potential of your vehicle and for equality in the classes, differant classes exist to accomodate those mods.

Autox is not everyones cup of tea.Some folks are going to come out and try it and decide that it isn't for them.It is still the cheapest most risk free way to go out and do all of the things that we do at an autox.I have been doing autox since 05 and I rarely miss an event.I also do a fair amount of track events and both of them have their upsides and downsides ,but both of them offer their own unique benefits and I enjoy both of them .

I don't have unlimited funds either but I am pretty resourceful.I am only marginally competitive in my car since I modified it outside of stock class and that is fine .I enjoy making changes to the car and then taking it out to an autox and putting it to the test and seeing if it was a step forward in performance or a step back.Thats just me though.

RR

[Jedi1]

Do I really need to run down the list of current and previous Road race Champs that not only got their start in autocross, but attribute a LARGE part of their car control skill to our little corner of the motorsport landscape? If you are looking at Autocross as too little seat time for the money, then you are looking at it completely the wrong way. Come back out and have another go. While you are there let us know you are there and we will answer any and all questions you have about getting the most for your money and most importantly having a great day for not allot of money.

Sean

[chuck schultz]

Now, once attendance picks up and we can make some money front the events, it would be worth it to better our image by doing something with the truck and trailer. I just think it's a "down the road" idea.

This kind of thinking is about to kill our PDX program, too.

Welcome to the Secret Car Club of America.

[TouringBubble]

Also, Augustus, you aren't a CSP car anymore. You'd be in SSM (used to be SM2). Not that there aren't well prepped cars and good drivers in that class ... but it's no where near as competitive as CSP in our region.

I will agree that working half the day is a big downside to getting new people. Most of the younger crowd id used to going to Steele and paying $15 and not having to do jack for their 5 runs down the 1/4. That's a mindset that we'll have to overcome with the approach that Sean has mentioned ... Autocross is much more than 6 minutes of seat time.

Honestly, in the South ... most people don't "get" autocross ... take a look over at Alabama Racing Scene to get an idea of the mindset of the general consensus. Most people are completely content with driving in a straight line for 10 (or 16) seconds.

That said ... maybe we need to all run to Steele one Friday night and represent.

[dr_phatcity]

the Mini is in for Steele .... can I get a push for the start ... how about a running start?

-Jamie

[Jedi1]

Don't make me get all 17 seconds on yer !@#! I'll do it!

[dr_phatcity]

hmmmm .... you stand no chance Yoder .... I won the last autox and I'll win the drag race .... bring it!!!!!