BCCC Autocross - Saturday, June 14th 2014

BCCC wrote: http://www.bccorvetteclub.ca/index_files/events.htm - Upcoming Events We have just gone live on the new registration system for our autocross events. This is the same system used by most if not all local car clubs and many in the USA. Once you establish an account with Motosportreg.com, you can use it to register for any events that you are qualified to participate. While it has taken a considerable amount of time and effort to put this in place, it will greatly simplify the work for the event organizers. You can register and pay for the event any time up to the closing of registration (usually 48 hours prior to the event). The list of drivers is then just downloaded to our timing system and we are ready to set the run groups for the event. On the morning of the event, drivers will just check-in to get their course map and have the car teched. To register for the June 14th event please use http://www.motorsportreg.com/events/bccc-autocross-series-1-jibc-ypk-integrated-training-centre-british-203614#.U4ulZHJdVgg - This link . Currently the event is setup so that the payments are not being processed until I have a chance to review the registration. That way I can check that the classes and entry fee is correct. The plan will be to process all of the early  registrations 7 days prior to the event. Earlybird registration for non-members is $60. Regular registration is $65. We will be limiting the registration to 60 drivers, so do not wait until the last moment! If we can get 60 drivers we will be running a double pad event at the same single pad price.

So... how many fine Fieros are we going to see at this event?

I was waiting for you. I'll go register now. Get the boy to register as well.

Just in case anyone else freaks out when they go to register...

A lot of info they ask about your car is optional. If you don't know the weight, VIN, etc... leave it blank.

The most trouble I had was determining the class the car is supposed to be in. I don't understand why this even matters with the very laid-back BCCC events, but I just used the class and PAX that BCCC had arbitrarily assigned me at the last event... ES.

I'm sure anyone else with a relatively stock Fiero can use that same class and not be called out. No, that does not apply to you, Harrison... not with that 3800sc hiding under your decklid.

With the new registration system that BCCC is using, one nice feature is that it's possible to see who's registered and what they're driving by clicking http://www.motorsportreg.com/index.cfm/event/event.status/uidEvent/DADD0283-BE99-4CE7-AD6407B120B361B4?utm_medium=email&utm_source=motorsportreg&utm_campaign=EmailRegReceipt#.U5XaxHJdVgg - HERE .

I only see one lonely Fiero (mine) so far. I'd like to see more!

Cheese wrote: Bigger wheels than stock and different springs kick you out of the stock class.

And into a class which includes... engine transplants? Like maybe the same class that would include a beautiful black '88 GT with a nice 3800sc hiding under the decklid?

I tried to change the class I'm registered in to STR, but couldn't find a way to get in there and edit it. It really makes no difference. There's nothing on the line... except for bragging rights.

Well dang it, the mininum number of participants wasn't met to move up from one pad to two. However, one pad or two pads... it's all good. Just hoping the rain holds off.

Don't know what Colby's driving yet. I'd like to see at least two Fieros at the event, but that's yet to be determined.

It's a little damp out there, but at least it's not pouring. The barometer is also rising, so there's still some hope.

Interesting day. I drove out to Pitt Meadows bright and early and I'm there for about ten minutes when it dawns on me that I've left my helmet at home.

So, back to Vancouver... and then back to Pitt Meadows.

Needless to say the car was plenty warmed up for autocross.

Track conditions were less than favorable. HUGE puddles everywhere. And the course had three VERY tight sweeps. So tight that many times various cars had to come to a complete stop at one of the sweeps, back up, and go forward again to make the corner.

Can't say this was one of my favorite autocross events ever, but nevertheless, I made the most of it. Gary and Colby are good company.

Which reminds me... Colby will be by shortly with an announcement.

karnak wrote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lfRoEyLOJk&feature=youtu.be - Here is my video.

I'm pretty sure I saw a migrating salmon at one point.

I spent more time than I should've experimenting with "Annotations" at YouTube. Make sure yours are not turned off for the following...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKdJ2OnWDLY - HERE is my video contribution for this BCCC event. Warning - bad language.

AllanJ wrote: Poor Patrick.

Allan, I hope that's in reference to me forgetting my helmet, and not a critique on my driving!

It was a frustrating driving experience. Yes, it was educational in regards to handling the car in the rain... but I go to autocross to drive as fast as I can within the contraints of a (dry) track, not to slip and slide around a greased pan.

Cheese wrote: ...and I managed to salvage the day by narrowly annihilating Patrick again.

How about telling everyone how "narrowly" it was.

Cheese wrote: I'd rather leave it to their imagination.

Yeah, no doubt!

Cheese wrote: I'm considering making a video with all the clips of me screwing up...

Isn't there a ten minute limit on YouTube videos?

Yeah, I'm sure we could all post some scary compilation videos of our runs.

Cheese wrote: ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BE6GKoIqtg - here's a video of a clean run

What the heck is that sound at 1:22 of the video?  What did you do to my poor car?

AllanJ wrote: Did I read it right that Colby annihilated Patrick *again*?

Yeah, Colby might've mentioned something along those lines.

AllanJ wrote: Colby, I'm very proud of you!

Hey, we're all proud of the Colbster, but I'm wondering... has he always had this tendency of ummm, stretching the truth?

AllanJ wrote: My imagination says it was a 4 second spread.

Allan, your "imagination" rates right up there with Colby's.

AllanJ wrote: Seriously though... I really wish the skidpad had better drainage so you wouldn't be hydroplaning everywhere.

For sure. Those of us driving old relics (such as a Fiero and a 914/16) with no ABS and/or Electronic Stability Control were at quite a disadvantage under these conditions. I'm currently awaiting permission to post a link to a video from another participant from Saturday's event which clearly demonstrates just how slippery it was. Stay tuned!

Patrick wrote: I'm currently awaiting permission to post a link to a video from another participant from Saturday's event which clearly demonstrates just how slippery it was. Stay tuned!

At the BCCC autocross there was a fellow named Peter who had multiple GoPro cameras attached to his very sharp looking 1998 Corvette. We got to talking, and he sent me links to a bunch of his videos.

This one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kZMUfNUwPE - HERE (which Peter shot last Saturday) ties in very well with the discussion we've been having about the abysmal track conditions. Talk about a close call!

After watching that, have a look a this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ubKvI43PG4 - HERE , which is a revised version (minus the distracting noise) that I did of Peter's video.  

I found another video online which was shot at this event. The fella was driving a nice old-school '67 Corvette. I remember seeing his car with a GoPro camera mounted under the front of the car. I was hoping to see what that perspective looked like.

It actually worked out quite well. As a matter of fact, I wish he had used that vantage point for the whole video instead of switching back and forth. Even the audio quality was pretty good from under the car.

Have a look http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t0d-WNz4Uk - HERE .

Bassman wrote: Looked a little wet out there...

Oddly enough, it wasn't actually coming down all that hard when it was raining. But it seemed that every freakin' molecule of water within a 20 mile radius was on the track!

Bassman wrote: ...luv the camera shots off the '67

Yeah, I thought they looked great as well.

Gary, Colby and I have all been sent the "official" results from BCCC. Interesting PAX standings in regards to Colby and myself. I like 'em.

However, the most interesting tidbit of information was the blistering 59.563 RAW time that Gary apparently pulled off on his 5th run. By far the fastest run of the day by anyone (before being penalized for killing six cones). Gary must've had the turbo and the supercharger and the nitrous all kicking in. Or... perhaps there's another explanation.

AllanJ wrote: Kudos on Gary for pulling out all the stops to get an excellent time. Yay! ...even if one of those techniques was obfuscation.

Yeah, I've got to give Gary credit for being... inventive.  (Come on Gary, tell everyone how you did it!)

However, I can't believe no one responsible for the timing didn't suspect something was perhaps a little odd when the actual fastest run of the day (before a one cone penalty) was a full 2.159 seconds behind Gary (before his six cone penalty).

AllanJ wrote: They don't know any better. Probably just annoyed a couple of the guys that a little VW on steroids beat a Corvette on raw time.

They better not check the Fiero's times then.

I found a bunch of images posted https://www.flickr.com/photos/bccorvetteclub/sets/72157645161685816/ - HERE of the event.

In this first image, Gary is in the car with me. Doesn't look all that bad.

However, we soon discovered that snorkels might've been a good idea!

Frustrated by his lack of traction, Gary tries to soak the track workers.

I recall a few of the participants teasing me as I walked to my track station in gumboots. Someone called me a farmer.  Guess who still had warm dry feet at the end of the day.  

I'm really really hoping for better weather next time though!

Brian, when are we going to be seeing some nice pics of your Fiero on the track again? You're missing out on all the fun. Sure, last Saturday was a bit damp, but we're expecting some nice weather at the rest of this summer's events.

karnak wrote: oh. and i must confess...

Geez Gary, it took long enough for your conscience to kick in.

All that remains now is for Colby to step forward and admit his complicity in this cover-up.

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Good news from the Corvette Club today...

BCCC wrote: The second event in our 2014 series will be held at JIBC Pitt Meadows on July 19. We have secured the full double pad for the event and are designing a fast and fun course. We will also be running three run groups to maximize the time on the track and to ease the lunch line ups. Registration is capped at 60 drivers to give everyone lots of runs. Please do not wait to the last minute to register to avoid disappointment. To help erase the memories from the June "waterworks" event all returning drivers can use the supplied discount code to receive $10 off the registration.

I'll start a thread for this event in a week or so, but it's great to hear that it'll be a double-pad event... and for those of us who were splashing around at the last event, it'll only cost $50 with early registration.