Now that all the $2000 challenge stuff has been finalized, I wanted to talk about an Idea for this summer. We’ve talked in a few threads about how cool the Parking-lot Challenge build is, and how awesome it would be to do a “Junkyard Wars” type event with GRM forum members. I’ve honestly tried to figure out how to make it happen and I just can’t get there, Everything always fell apart at the insane logistics of providing working spaces and tools replicating your personal shops at one location for multiple teams. Then it Hit me (Well hit the BDT as we’ve been talking about this for a few months). Why get together in 1 place with Dozens of people when we have Well equipped shops all throughout the country. Why not get together at SEVERAL shops around the country on the same Weekend and have a Build-off type event. Establish some very SIMPLE ground rules just to make there be some kind of stakes but really just have a bunch of regional parties for people to get together and thrash on some things. Document the regional builds in a mega build thread where people who can’t be at the builds can watch from afar.
What you build is entirely up to you but in the spirit of competition at the end of 20 hrs you go on Sunday and run a local Autox with the car. You can determine the scope of what you do, there are no rules or limits on the project. This doesn’t have to be a “make a Running car out of scrap in 20 hrs”. You can literally do work you had planned on a project but just get forum members together and document it. The main idea is Dig a project out of the back of the shed, have some friends bring Food and parts and Hands, and throw something together.
What we would want to do is find a weekend that people are available and there are several autocrosses nationwide. IDEALLY, we would use the same weekend as it’s just more fun if a bunch of people kicked off their builds at the same time. I’d like to try to stick to that until it proves logistically difficult or impossible as that is part of the “Junkyard Wars” influence.
So with that idea I’ve came up with some “basic ground rules”.
20HR Garage-Wars
The Idea: Combine the spirit of the $2000 Challenge Parking-Lot build with a Local team and local events, with a Bit of Junkyard Wars excitement. Get people together in your local area and create something over 20 Hours of partying. The scope of what you want to do is up to you. It can be as ambitious as attempting a 20 Hr MR conversion to a hot hatch, or as simple as doing brakes and a suspension swap on a Miata. Drag a forgotten project out of the shed and get some people together to smash it together in 1 weekend. The point is Thrash, Document what you started with and ended with, and Drive it.
The Rules: Your Team has 20 Clock Hours of build time to modify/resurect/build/prep a car to run at a Local Autox immediately at the end of the 20 hours of build.
- Vehicles must be a 4 wheeled contrivance based on a vehicle originally intended for street use in the United States (Includes Kit Cars).
- Race car chassis may be utilized provided the body installed substantially resembles something that meets item 1.
- Tech will be up to whatever event you run. Make sure your build will be permitted to run at your local events Discretion. Your build may be limited by what you can legally run. This is your job to figure out. Example: AMod is not actually an anything goes catchall.
- Your build must be documented on the GRM website.
- Don’t be a Bob Costas. We just want to have fun.
There is no Budget component of this event.
This is entirely for Fun. There is no entry fee and your adherence to the rules is entirely up to you.
The competition: Build a car and compete locally at any Autox. The goal would be for all builds to occur on the same weekend with builds starting ~5PM Friday and completing in time to run an Autox on Sunday. The 20Hr time limit exists to prevent you from trying to stay awake from 5PM Friday until the Autox on Sunday. An online “concourse” will be conducted by all competitors to determine whose work is the coolest.
The Scoring: The Autox portion will be scored by comparing your Raw Time (RAW) to the Average PAX/RTP time for your event. (Sum All Competitors PAX / # Competitors) / RAW. Yes making a faster overall car is better, Yes you will not directly compete against other Teams.
Concourse Points will be awarded in a completely arbitrary manner by your team. When you are done you will rank all builds. Results will be totaled for the rank of each competitor. The competitor with the lowest total wins. Example: 5 teams, Team A gets 3 #1 votes and 2 #3, total 1+1+1+3+3 = 9, Team B gets 3 #2 votes, 2 #1 votes, Total 2+2+2+1+1 = 8, Team B wins the concourse.
Prizes: NONE …. . . For now.
So what does everyone think? Any other people interested? Check you calendars for summer events in your area and we can see if something can work.
The Bad Decision Triangle is planning to do something for this either in Chicago, Indy, or Mahomet, Il and run at a CCSCC or Indy event at Grissom. We haven’t settled on a Date. We just want to have a get together and this seems like a fun excuse.
Hell, the Rio can find your place without my input.
