$2013 Challenge schedule

SVreX wrote:

Alan Cesar wrote: ...get your fast autocross time done in the morning while the weather's cool and your car is making max power. ..

Can't. AutoX starts at noon. Just saying...

Noon might be better than 6 p.m. But that's for you to decide.

Is there some ulterior reason for this, like the track only letting cars run one day for some reason?(maybe noise? I dunno.) Seems like a pretty drastic change for a "Hey, let's try this." If the rules had been this way in 2011, we wouldn't have been able to run Auto X at all. Maybe that's what we deserved, but still.

That said, I'm not even competing this year, so I don't really have a dog in this fight.

It does seem a bit strange but drags under the lights sounds fun. I'll be there either way.

I am half wondering if it is so we don't have a repeat of a couple of years ago when the car that would have won didn't cause of rain and this gives an extra day in case it rains on Friday.

This makes my decision for me. I will not be bringing my more radical build car.

As a solo competitor, there is too much risk of failure without time to address.

I'll be there, but I'll be bringing something much tamer.

It will still be photogenic, but not as good a story.

Interesting. I've got a lot of re-thinking to do.

Yes, we made some changes. Why? Now Day 2 is much more social. We often hear a complaint after the event: I never got to see the other cars. Well, now you have all day to check out cars, hang with your buddies, bench race, etc., etc. We picture the car show being more like the Concours de LeMons--more of a giant social event than anything. Yes, it's there will still be judging, but no more dog and pony show, waiting in line, etc. We'll come to you.

As far as autocrossing and drag racing on the same day, those who need a few hours to change their setups can autocross first. Let's say they wrap up their autocross runs by 2:00--not unreasonable at all. Now they have two hours until the drag strip opens. They have eight hours until the lanes close.

I admit this is unchartered waters. After the event, we'll take a look at how things went. Personally, I'm looking forward to the new format.

93EXCivic wrote: It does seem a bit strange but drags under the lights sounds fun. I'll be there either way.

And yes, that was also part of our reasoning: Drag racing under the lights sounds way fun.

Schedule change or not, I'm in. Haven't started on the car yet since I've been building a car for Hot Rod's Drag Week, but I'll be shifting gears to Challenge mode shortly after I get back. That gives me about 6 weeks...no problem.

See you guys down there.

David S. Wallens wrote:

93EXCivic wrote: It does seem a bit strange but drags under the lights sounds fun. I'll be there either way.

And yes, that was also part of our reasoning: Drag racing under the lights sounds way fun.

Way easier to see fireballs and explosions at night.

Pat wrote: Schedule change or not, I'm in. Haven't started on the car yet since I've been building a car for Hot Rod's Drag Week, but I'll be shifting gears to Challenge mode shortly after I get back. That gives me about 6 weeks...no problem. See you guys down there.

Cool.

David S. Wallens wrote: We picture the car show being more like the Concours de LeMons--more of a giant social event than anything.

Will you guys be advertising locally this year? I'm always shocked at how few folks here in town even know of the event, much less attend. If you guys can hype it a little (especially since it's FREE), maybe we could get a good crowd of local folks to come out and check out the scene.

Swank Force One wrote:

David S. Wallens wrote:

93EXCivic wrote: It does seem a bit strange but drags under the lights sounds fun. I'll be there either way.

And yes, that was also part of our reasoning: Drag racing under the lights sounds way fun.

Way easier to see fireballs and explosions at night.

Totally. Open headers, anyone?

dyintorace wrote:

David S. Wallens wrote: We picture the car show being more like the Concours de LeMons--more of a giant social event than anything.

Will you guys be advertising locally this year? I'm always shocked at how few folks here in town even know of the event, much less attend. If you guys can hype it a little (especially since it's FREE), maybe we could get a good crowd of local folks to come out and check out the scene.

I don't have the details regarding any local promotion but, yes, we'd love to see more locals there.

David S. Wallens wrote:

Swank Force One wrote:

David S. Wallens wrote:

93EXCivic wrote: It does seem a bit strange but drags under the lights sounds fun. I'll be there either way.

And yes, that was also part of our reasoning: Drag racing under the lights sounds way fun.

Way easier to see fireballs and explosions at night.

Totally. Open headers, anyone?

You said we could run nitromethane, right? We could have flames and explosions!

tuna55 wrote:

David S. Wallens wrote:

Swank Force One wrote:

David S. Wallens wrote:

93EXCivic wrote: It does seem a bit strange but drags under the lights sounds fun. I'll be there either way.

And yes, that was also part of our reasoning: Drag racing under the lights sounds way fun.

Way easier to see fireballs and explosions at night.

Totally. Open headers, anyone?

You said we could run nitromethane, right? We could have flames and explosions!

Like this?

http://youtu.be/lEYYYMuwCyA

Only Bob Costas run nitrometh.

But, seriously, getting back on topic, we're excited about the new format. If you look at the weekend as a whole, we have replaced the downtime with more socializing. And we like to socialize.

Gasoline wrote: It now does not sound like much fun for solo efforts.

Actually it's easier. Previous format, meant getting to the track on friday morning, unload, set up, Tech, start final detailing, attend drivers meeting, walk course, get in line for concourse, then set up the car for autocross, autocross, load up. Now once the drivers meeting is over and you walk the course you have 6 hours to get in your runs, then make whatever changes are needed and get your drag runs. I like the new format although I think both should be open all day, especially in the event of threatening weather.

I like the idea of being able to swap the even to saturday if we get rained out. That is if our friends with the timing trailer are willing to hang out till the next day. Typically November is fairly mild aroud here, not blazing hot, humitiy is relatively low. Much more enjoyable in my opinion. Closer to holidays is a pain, but a pain I'm willing to deal with.

dyintorace wrote:

David S. Wallens wrote: We picture the car show being more like the Concours de LeMons--more of a giant social event than anything.

Will you guys be advertising locally this year? I'm always shocked at how few folks here in town even know of the event, much less attend. If you guys can hype it a little (especially since it's FREE), maybe we could get a good crowd of local folks to come out and check out the scene.

You would be amazed how many people will walk up to you and talk about the challenge if you wear a challenge T-shirt around town. Most just don't know about it.

David S. Wallens wrote:

dyintorace wrote:

David S. Wallens wrote: We picture the car show being more like the Concours de LeMons--more of a giant social event than anything.

Will you guys be advertising locally this year? I'm always shocked at how few folks here in town even know of the event, much less attend. If you guys can hype it a little (especially since it's FREE), maybe we could get a good crowd of local folks to come out and check out the scene.

I don't have the details regarding any local promotion but, yes, we'd love to see more locals there.

You should work on getting some other GRM-related advertisers there on Saturday. I know Raxles is here in town and I bet the FIRM would come set up a booth. It would be great if it became more of a true car show. Maybe even invite some local groups? Gainesville Hot Rods, etc?

Anyone down there with a mobile dyno want to show up and charge $50 for 3 runs? Unofficial GRM Challenge bragging rights event?

I like the new format.

My biggest disappointment this year is the date of the weekend. I live in Austin and its the same as F1. I have commitments to that race weekend even if not specifically at the race. Bummer. Though the 38 hours of towing a car back and forth across the Gulf States will not be missed.

I guess this means I can blow the gas and hotel money on suspension upgrades for what will no longer be a Challenge car.

Argo1 wrote: Hopefully, future years can go back to Sept/ Oct. We are out as long as it is in Nov. Conflicts with family/ holidays.

Solution, change the family/holidays.....

As far as those complaining about drag/autox the same day, there used to be an event here in Indy that ran drag, autox, and car show in the same day. 3 different run groups that were always doing something, and the event took about 10hrs. In 4 years of competing in that event, I saw only two failures, a 240sx melting an aluminum flywheel(drag), and a mach 1 snapping a caliper braket bolt(autox).

yamaha wrote:

Argo1 wrote: Hopefully, future years can go back to Sept/ Oct. We are out as long as it is in Nov. Conflicts with family/ holidays.

Solution, change the family/holidays..... As far as those complaining about drag/autox the same day, there used to be an event here in Indy that ran drag, autox, and car show in the same day. 3 different run groups that were always doing something, and the event took about 10hrs. In 4 years of competing in that event, I saw only two failures, a 240sx melting an aluminum flywheel(drag), and a mach 1 snapping a caliper braket bolt(autox).

These cars are a bit more failure-prone than the cars running that event....

Put it this way, my car is one of the more sorted examples. That's not meant as a jab at anyone else, but just what happens when you have dirt cheap cars built that don't get many miles (if any) put on them before the event, cobbled together with used parts/parts that maybe don't quite fit/never came anywhere near this particular car.

Swank Force One wrote:

yamaha wrote:

Argo1 wrote: Hopefully, future years can go back to Sept/ Oct. We are out as long as it is in Nov. Conflicts with family/ holidays.

Solution, change the family/holidays..... As far as those complaining about drag/autox the same day, there used to be an event here in Indy that ran drag, autox, and car show in the same day. 3 different run groups that were always doing something, and the event took about 10hrs. In 4 years of competing in that event, I saw only two failures, a 240sx melting an aluminum flywheel(drag), and a mach 1 snapping a caliper braket bolt(autox).

These cars are a bit more failure-prone than the cars running that event.... Put it this way, my car is one of the more sorted examples. That's not meant as a jab at anyone else, but just what happens when you have dirt cheap cars built that don't get many miles (if any) put on them before the event, cobbled together with used parts/parts that maybe don't quite fit/never came anywhere near this particular car.

It is true. Just keep your turbo from falling off this year.