WDCR SCCA Rallycross Schedule

Here's the 2011 Washington DC Region SCCA Rallycross schedule for anyone who cares:

3/20 - Points Event #1
4/16 - Sprint Drivers school/Test and tune
4/17 - Points #2
5/15 - Points #3
6/12 - Points #4
9/10 - Fall Drivers School/Test and Tune
9/11 - National Challenge/Points #5
10/16 - Points #6
11/13 - Points #7

Regular events are $60 with online registration, $70 walk up. Driver schools/test & tunes are $30

I believe the national challenge is $70 or $75, preregistration only, NO WALK UP.

Must be SCCA Member, $10 weekend memberships available.

RallyCross

3-20 event summary

Was out at the first event yesterday and had a blast. LOTS of entries this time around, over 50 preregistered, didn't catch how many showed up, but it was quite a few.

The morning was pretty hectic with a pretty big breakdown of a MB 190E. Broke a ball joint and required some clever macguivering to get it off the course (think straps, zip ties, floor jacks, and lots of plywood).

The morning course was fairly tight and technical. Removing the sway bar endlinks made a HUGE difference in handling on the Aveo. It's like night and day around longer sweepers, and quick slides around the 90d corners. With the sway bar disconnected, I can get back on the power quicker, and use more of it. The inside wheel is more planted, keeping the car from peglegging as much.

The afternoon course was more open, with a technical section in the beginning and end, with the middle allowing for more speed. A nice open slalom in the fast portions made for a lot of amusing fishtailing from the RWD guys.

Unfortunately I was the only car in my class AGAIN, there was supposed to be a GTi, but no love for fwd I guess! Still waiting for the overall results to be posted to see how I faired against the other classes.

In attendance: The usual gaggle of boring subarus: Imprezas, a forester, an OBS, and STis. Toyota All-Trac. VW Sirocco. Rally Prepped Mitsubishi Might Max (He was a BLAST to watch), 1st Gen RX-7 (also a blast to watch), a Hyundai Genesis 3.8l (Called it quits after the morning, got a scratch or something!). A pretty good mix of cars, for a region which is usually ALL Subarus.

A brand new respect for the E30 BMWs. The 325E that came up stalled out twice on course in the morning... the second time it sounded like the engine seized. Pushed them back to the paddock to find out they had no oil, for at least 2 hot runs. Poured more oil in it, and it started right back up and finished the day without any problems.

Videos and pictures to follow.

Ted Cooper, M4 Impreza helmet cam:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIOkZurtK5w

Mike Golden, SA Impreza 2.5rs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk87aAhcu3g

Friend of mine took some on his phone as well, once I get those I'll put them up.

Some Photos:

3_20_11_RallyCross_Proofs - a set on Flickr

Results posted, ended up 16th out of 47 overall. Not a bad result. I brake too much and too early, I think. Always something to work on.

CRX placed first, in a field of WRXs, STis, and the usual gaggle of Subarus. Very impressive.

dang, looks like tons of fun out there getting dirty and going fast :D

It's that time again. Another event this Sunday.

Here's a shaky cam video of my last run at the March event:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WBRlozKcto

After getting rained out, twice, the weather's looking better for this weekend. To top it off: my wife got me a GoPro HD, so I should have some proper on-car footage of the Aveo carnage!

Anyone in the area, think about coming out:

Sat: Test'n tune/Driver's school
Sun: Points event

Didn't make it to the points event, but here's a video from a run in the Test and Tune yesterday:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvXUuAcPxOw