SCCA Time Trials 2005 (Road Racing)

[Weston]

I just wanted to let everyone know that the 2005 SCCA Time Trials season will be starting soon, and this year it no longer requires SCCA membership or a racing license. It would be great to see some more people out there racing with us. Experience is required, but it's not too much... just 6 autocrosses, previous road course experience, or a driver's school. The official website is here: http://www.sccatimetrials.org (be sure to see the "Getting Started" section)

This program is in between autocross and club racing, but is more towards club racing. We call it Time Trials, but it's the same thing as a "Time Attack"... it is racing at speed on a road course, but the competition is for the fastest lap time, rather than position. This virtually eliminates the risk of car-to-car contact, which keeps our entry fees low, greatly reduces safety gear requirements, and means that you wont have to run all of your laps back-to-back (you can pit, cool off, and go back out). Passing is allowed, but it is done in a safe and controlled manner... passing on the straights only (passing zones are marked), and there is no contesting of corners.

The car classing is the same as autocross, except that Prepared and Modified classes (including Street Modified, but not Street Prepared) require full safety gear. However, some people can bypass that requirement by getting Gary's permission to run in the Open Street Prepared class; that is approved on a case-by-case basis, based on the driver's experience and the car's setup. Let me know if you're not sure what class your car would be in, and we can figure it out.

The entry fee is currently $95 per day for SCCA members, and $120 for non-members. Yes, it's more expensive than a public Test & Tune, but it gives you more in return and it's still significantly cheaper than club racing. Here's what you will get that you can't get at a public Test & Tune day:

1) Weekend event dates.
2) No reckless morons on the track. The experience requirement keeps the idiot ricers and other dangerous people out. This also means that faster drivers can get many more unimpeded laps.
3) Real lap timing. The entry fee includes a loaner AMB transponder, which gives you precise and reliable lap times. There's no BS'ing with stop watches and such... you'll know what time you really ran on every lap and have proof of it. I find that having lap times available really helps you improve, because you have good feedback on what's really fast or slow. Combine this with an in-car/on-car camera and it can tell you a lot.
4) Competition... compete with other cars in your class for the fastest lap time. The top 5 drivers in each class get awarded at the end of the day, and earn points towards season trophys (awarded at annual SCCA banquet). SCCA members can also go compete at SCCA Nationals in Kansas.
5) Corner workers and full flagging. This greatly improves safety by managing potentially dangerous situations and informing drivers what's going on (a car spun out ahead, something slippery on the track, your car is leaking something, etc).
6) Medical insurance and an on site ambulance. It is unlikely that you'll need it, but it's there just in case.
7) Food and sometimes race gas on site (at Second Creek at least, not sure about Mead)
8) Pictures... there's often a professional photographer out there, as well as several people taking their own pictures/video, which could easily include your car.

Here is the current schedule:

Sat May 14th Driver's School Continental Divide, Mead, CO
Sun May 15th Event #1 Continental Divide, Mead, CO
Sun June 26th Morning School/ Afternoon Event #2 Second Creek Raceway
Sat July 23rd Event #3 Clockwise Second Creek Raceway
Sun July 24th Event #4 Counterclockwise Second Creek Raceway
Sun August 7th Event #5 Continental Divide, Mead, CO
Sat October 8th Time Trials Nationals Heartland Park Topeka KS
Sun October 9th Time Trials Nationals Heartland Park Topeka KS
Sun October 16th Event #6 Clockwise Second Creek Raceway


Hope to see some of you out there...

[Weston]

Here is some more info from the Time Trials Steward...


Registration for the May 14 Club Time Trials School at CDR and the May 15 Club Time Trials event #1 is now open.

Go to: http://www.sccatimetrials.org and click on the registration button.

This is street cars on a real race track with controlled passing and real competition sessions. We sort cars by speed in the morning with two flying laps, and set the competition heats by speed, not by car class.

The afternoon competition sessions are 1/2 hour long. Your single fastest lap will be the winner. Do your own strategy: do a Grant Barclay and stay out the whole time, or do a few laps and cool off in the hot pits - your call. It is a blast, just ask the folks who did it last year.

You must be 18 years old or older and hold a valid drivers license. You do not need to be an SCCA member. That's right, new this year you don't need to be a member. We will issue those who are not members a Temporary SCCA Membership which is free.

Participation requirements are as last year: 6 Solo2s or other demonstrated high speed experience. See the web site for details on required car gear and drivers gear.

For those of you who ran Time Trials last year, we will be issuing you a "Drivers Log Book". Those of you who are new will be issued a Novice Drivers Log Book. After successful completion of two Club Time Trials events this will be upgraded to a "regular" Drivers Log Book.

This is very similar to Club Racing log book without the licensing requirement. The Drivers Log Book is a way to demonstrate your experience in Time Trials and can be used at events around the country.

The school will be limited to 60 drivers. Cost = $95. *Lots* of track time.
The event will be limited to 80 drivers. Cost = $95.00.
SCCA non-member price = $120.00

There will be a required Flagging and Communication (F&C) class for all entrants of Club Time Trials. If you took the class last year you do not need to attend. If you cannot attend this class but want to run Club Time Trials please contact me.

The class will be 1 hour at around noon (working lunch) in the classroom at the Mead racetrack (CDR) on Saturday 14May05. The school is not required, the class IS required and will be held during the school.

There is a *lot* of information about Club Time Trials on the above website. Please, please, please read the sections on the required hardware for your car, and the required hardware for the driver. Please read the section on Brakes, you will be going fast and we hope will want to slow down for the corners.

Please read the Passing section. Passing is strictly controlled in Club Time Trials. If you want car to car action, try the circle track in Erie... Again, read the web page.

This will be the last hurrah for Second Creek Raceway. Your last time to put down that killer lap.

To run the Time Trials National Championship in the fall you will need to attend 2 Time Trials events to qualify.

That's it for now, register and come out and play with a fast crowd!

Regards,
Gary Phillis
SCCA RMDiv Time Trials Steward

[Mario]

Man I wish my car would be ready do something like that... I've always wanted to. :(

[Weston-work]

According to the entry list (http://www.sccatimetrials.org/registration/list.php), we should have some interesting cars out there... everything from a crazy fast '69 Mustang to a Lotus Elise. Fastest car there will be between the Cheetah SR-1 and the Radical Prosport running in BM class.

Man I wish my car would be ready do something like that... I've always wanted to. :(

You still have time to get the car ready and get in the 6 autocrosses so you can join us towards the end of the season. You really don't need a lot of prep for the autocrosses... just a car that will pass the safety inspection (battery tie down, cover over positive terminal, no fluid leaks, wheel bearings and ball joints in good condition, etc). You don't even have to worry about handling mods just yet, everyone's first season is always much more of a learning experience than it is competition. There are also the Time Trials schools on May 14th (Mead) and June 26th (Second Creek). I would suggest doing as many autocrosses as you can, as well as one of the schools. Being that your car would be classed in Street Modified for autocross, but you don't have a rollcage or firesuit, you will need to run in OSP class for Time Trials... OSP is basically an unlimited class for street driven cars, and it doesn't have a lot of safety gear requirements, so it requires prior approval from the event steward. The decision is made based on driver experience and the car's setup, so the more experience you can get, the better.

For Time Trials, you'll need to do something about the brakes (http://www.sccatimetrials.org/requirements/brakes.html)... no need for a ricer big brake kit or anything, but some real road racing pads would be a good idea, and you'll need fresh DOT4+ fluid. I'll be running Cobalt (http://www.cobaltfriction.com) Spec-B's with ducting, but you should be able to get by with just performance street pads such as Hawk HP+ or Axxis Ultimates, which cost considerably less. If you run some brake ducting (cheap and easy to make) and don't over-use the brakes, they should last a decent amount of time before you need to let them cool off. For the engine, you'll run into heat issues for sure... the turbo is creating more heat and the FMIC is also obstructing and warming the airflow to the radiator. Try to improve airflow through the radiator as much as you can (easier said than done), install colder spark plugs, run the heater on full blast while racing (both windows will be down anyway, so it won't cook you), make sure your coolant is full, and have good fresh oil that can take the heat (I run Mobil 1 5w30 or 5w40 with some 15w50 mixed in).

[rmcdaniels]

That's similar to how my local club does it, two track schools and they issue a provisional time trial license. They won't do it for 6 autocrosses though, I'd think you'd want a driver to have at least one track school undet their belt before they did a time trial, but what the hell do I know. My second track school is at Roebling Road in June, so I'm looking forward to taking part in some time trials later this year.

I saw my first Elise at VIR south course last month, that is one fun little go-cart. The BMW Formula team was at the north course, running laps and tweaking the cars. My brother and I went over and watched for a while, it's pretty amazing.

[myshtern]

My brother and I went over and watched for a while, it's pretty amazing.
Ever get those pics from him?

[Weston]

Yeah, I hear you on the track school... 6 autocrosses really isn't a lot of experience, especially since we only get 3-4 runs in my region, but they're trying to bring new people into this, and they do make quite an effort to keep it safe. Autocross is a good way to learn car control skills, but 6 events still isn't a lot. I'd recommend that people attend at least one of the Time Trials schools before entering in the acutal competition... it's well worth the money, and you'll be safer as well as faster.

BTW: I'm jealous of you... got some pretty nice tracks near you.

[rmcdaniels]

Ever get those pics from him?
Not yet, been dealing with a series of machine shops screwing up my block. I'm not even sure if I'll get it back usable from a bore/hone. I'll bug him about the pics tonight.

[ghettodsm]

i know this is really noob sounding but here it goes. Im looking at doing some scca autocross stuff. I've done it once before with my dad about 4 years ago. I remember going there and not really having to do much just register give them my license. Put a number on my car and i was off. It was alot of fun. I believe it was in the coors field parking lot. I would like to do this again and get actively involved in this. Ive gone to coloradoscca.org but i cant really find what im looking for. Weston i guess i should ask you on this matter eh? I have a 86 rx7, just looking for a place to start? Where do i go for more info lol. Thanks,
kevin. sorry for thread jacking.

[powder311]

It's kinda sad this thread isn't lit up like a friggen christmas tree.. I WAS gonna start autocroosing this year but the theives tok that from me when they jacked my car.. god I want to get into racing..

[Weston]

i know this is really noob sounding but here it goes. Im looking at doing some scca autocross stuff. I've done it once before with my dad about 4 years ago. I remember going there and not really having to do much just register give them my license. Put a number on my car and i was off. It was alot of fun. I believe it was in the coors field parking lot. I would like to do this again and get actively involved in this. Ive gone to coloradoscca.org but i cant really find what im looking for. Weston i guess i should ask you on this matter eh? I have a 86 rx7, just looking for a place to start? Where do i go for more info lol. Thanks,
kevin. sorry for thread jacking.

ColoradoSCCA.org is mostly Club Racing information. What you are talking about is autocross... the site for that is http://www.rmsolo.org . They no longer use Coors Field, which is unfortunate, but they do have events in an overflow parking lot at DIA, as well as a couple of sites down by Colorado Springs. Autocross is a good place to start out, but you don't get a lot of seat time. If you can get into one of the autocross schools, jump on the opportunity... it's well worth the money, because you get a ton of seat time as well as the benefit of expert advice. What you'll learn in a one day class would take most beginners about half a season to learn without it, and they still wouldn't have as much experience doing it.

[taikahn]

Ill be there again this year. Hopefully I can make it past the first day of the season. (new valve train going in this weekend to support a real redline on my car - finally)...

I still need to dig up my blood type for them.

[Weston]

Ill be there again this year. Hopefully I can make it past the first day of the season. (new valve train going in this weekend to support a real redline on my car - finally)...

I still need to dig up my blood type for them.

Cool. I look forward to having some boosted Honda competition. :D

[taikahn]

Cool. I look forward to having some boosted Honda competition. :D

Cant wait, this will be fun. ;)

[Robie]

If anybody is interested, I have a client that run an SCCA Accredited School...one of 10 private schools in the country with this accreditation. You would be able to fulfill your requirements real quick.

http://www.faasst.com/

She is pretty cool and has lots of experience. I'll be taking her class here soon. :cool:

[myshtern]

If anybody is interested, I have a client that run an SCCA Accredited School...one of 10 private schools in the country with this accreditation. You would be able to fulfill your requirements real quick.

http://www.faasst.com/

She is pretty cool and has lots of experience. I'll be taking her class here soon. :cool:
Thats pretty awesome.
Maybe I'll take her class in a year or so.

[Erron S.]

See ya there Weston! This year is going to rock!!

Erron S.
EM 80

[taikahn]

cant wait... got the shoes and restraints today ... almost ready.

[Weston-work]

I'm going to go get stabbed with needles tonight... oh, joy! :rofl:

[taikahn]

I'm going to go get stabbed with needles tonight... oh, joy! :rofl:

Im a big ass pussy ... and I really dont want to resort to that, I had blood work maybe 2 years ago or so... I need to find those records.

Tai

[Weston]

Im a big ass pussy ... and I really dont want to resort to that, I had blood work maybe 2 years ago or so... I need to find those records.

Tai

Yeah, the thought of needles and things in my veins, or even under my skin, disturbs me quite a bit. I did the tetanous tonight (apparently a 1987 shot is a little expired :rofl: )... surprisingly, it didn't bother me at all, but it was amazingly quick. Apparently there have been some advances in technology, because it was just a quick prick that I barely even felt and that was it... I remember being a kid and having to try to stay still and not freak out while the damn thing in my arm for like a whole minute, then I'd feel sick and nearly pass out. Drawing blood was always the worst one though, because apparently I have some issue with seeing blood drained out of myself or others, but it doesn't bother me at all when I injure myself and bleed all over the place. :rofl: I get to do the blood type test tomorrow morning... I just hope they dont want to stick me in the finger, because I always imagine the needle hitting the bone and that's the worst ever. ;UgH:

[taikahn]

... shots dont bug me, its the draining of blood that gets to me too ...

[rmcdaniels]

Needles freak me out, I can get a shot or get blood drawn, as long as I don't have to look at it. The sight of a needle entering skin gives me the creeps. I escorted a guy to the emergency room one night and sat down to wait for him, I then noticed there was an open-topped sharps container the size of a tall kitchen garbage can full of used needles right next to my chair. My vision started to go black around the edges and I thought I was going to pass out, I actually fell out of the chair onto the floor. the other guy there with me laughed his ass off. I guess I'd never make it as a Heroin addict.

Blood doesn't really bother me, I can get cut and bashed up and that's not so bad. Even other people bleeding is fine, but no needles.

[Weston]

Needles freak me out, I can get a shot or get blood drawn, as long as I don't have to look at it. The sight of a needle entering skin gives me the creeps. I escorted a guy to the emergency room one night and sat down to wait for him, I then noticed there was an open-topped sharps container the size of a tall kitchen garbage can full of used needles right next to my chair. My vision started to go black around the edges and I thought I was going to pass out, I actually fell out of the chair onto the floor. the other guy there with me laughed his ass off. I guess I'd never make it as a Heroin addict.

Blood doesn't really bother me, I can get cut and bashed up and that's not so bad. Even other people bleeding is fine, but no needles.

:werd: Me too. And the blood only bothers me when it's in a syringe or a bag. I frequently injure myself and bleed and it doesn't even phase me, but seeing it pulled out of me or someone else makes me feel sick and like I'm going to puke and/or pass out.

[myshtern]

I was fine with needles until I had a surgery.
It was the fucking IV needle in my hand for 12 hours that did it for me.

Now I hate all needle.

[Weston]

I was fine with needles until I had a surgery.
It was the fucking IV needle in my hand for 12 hours that did it for me.

Now I hate all needle.

Yup, I think that's what did it for me too. Had one when I was 10 or so and needles have been different to me ever since. They did mine closer to my elbow and it bent while it was in my arm... seeing/feeling that thing come out of my arm was pretty disturbing.

[Aracheon]

Needles freak me out, I can get a shot or get blood drawn, as long as I don't have to look at it. The sight of a needle entering skin gives me the creeps. I escorted a guy to the emergency room one night and sat down to wait for him, I then noticed there was an open-topped sharps container the size of a tall kitchen garbage can full of used needles right next to my chair. My vision started to go black around the edges and I thought I was going to pass out, I actually fell out of the chair onto the floor. the other guy there with me laughed his ass off. I guess I'd never make it as a Heroin addict.

Blood doesn't really bother me, I can get cut and bashed up and that's not so bad. Even other people bleeding is fine, but no needles.


That sounds exactly like me...

[Weston]

Video from Race #1 at Mead... 150 kbps (http://apexracingmedia.net/videos/2005-05-15/Best Lap - 150 kbps.wmv) or 512 kbps (http://apexracingmedia.net/videos/2005-05-15/Best Lap - 512 kbps.wmv)

As you can see, the surface conditions at Mead suck, so I had to compromise my line in a few places. :-\ Second Creek will be much better...

[David]

good god, those roads are terrible

[rmcdaniels]

That track does look like hell, looks like the abandoned airports we run autox events at here.

[-=[Juztin]=-]

I see a needle and I run like a mexican being chased by la migra

[taikahn]

Nice video, great line. Thanks!

[Erron S.]

Video from Race #1 at Mead... 150 kbps (http://apexracingmedia.net/videos/2005-05-15/Best Lap - 150 kbps.wmv) or 512 kbps (http://apexracingmedia.net/videos/2005-05-15/Best Lap - 512 kbps.wmv)

As you can see, the surface conditions at Mead suck, so I had to compromise my line in a few places. :-\ Second Creek will be much better...

Cool! It actually looks worse than it felt. :-)
Was that your fastest lap? What a hot day that was...

Erron S.

[Weston-work]

Yeah, that was my best lap of the day. I see a few places where I could have improved, but I'm still pretty happy with the time I ran.

It did feel better than it looked, but there were still a few spots that I made an effort to avoid... the left side on the front straight, for example. I saw a lot of other people do the same, but people who were getting the most from their cars went ahead and drove there. I also had to watch it in the "dragon slide"... my right front wheel was rubbing in the middle of that.

[Turbo13]

This is something that I would love to get involved in! Hey Weston what all as far as safety equipment will I need with my car. Would a helmet and harnesses be ok? Just to clarify I would just have to do one school event and than I can race right? Thanks for the help man.

[taikahn]

This is something that I would love to get involved in! Hey Weston what all as far as safety equipment will I need with my car. Would a helmet and harnesses be ok? Just to clarify I would just have to do one school event and than I can race right? Thanks for the help man.


You need 6 autocrosses under your belt, you need to register at www.sccatimetrials.org before the school. There is only one left this year. You need arm restraints, ankle covering shoes, a helmet and a clip for the transmitter mounted to your car. You cannot use harness's without full roll cage, fire protection, etc.

You also have to get an ok from Gary Phillis to run in OSP if you dont fit in a street class and dont have the modified classes level of preperation (cage, fire, fuel cell, etc).

Hope that helps,
Tai

[Weston-work]

This is something that I would love to get involved in! Hey Weston what all as far as safety equipment will I need with my car. Would a helmet and harnesses be ok? Just to clarify I would just have to do one school event and than I can race right? Thanks for the help man.

Most cars can get away with a Snell M95 or better helmet, long sleeved 100% cotton shirt, and arm restraints or window nets... If you have an aftermarket seat, it must be FIA approved. If you have a harness, it may need to be SFI or FIA approved, and you must also have an approved roll bar or GCR legal roll cage. The reason is because the harness will hold you in place to get crushed when your roof collapses, where stock seatbelts would allow you to fall out of the way.

From looking at your car's mods, I see that you'd be in Street Mod or higher, which requires full safety gear, much like a Club Racing car would have. However, most of us get permission to run in OSP class, which is a virtually unrestricted class for streetable cars, and it does not have the extra safety requirements that Street Mod and the other higher classes do. You'll need explicit permission from Gary and the safety steward to run in OSP; it is determined on a case-by-case basis, based on the car's setup and the driver's experience. They will probably be hesitant to let a new driver run a fast car without safety gear, so I would get as much real experience as possible, such as autocrosses and driver's schools... especially driver's schools based on road courses.

Good luck. I hope to see you out there one of these days...

[Turbo13]

You need 6 autocrosses under your belt, you need to register at www.sccatimetrials.org before the school. There is only one left this year. You need arm restraints, ankle covering shoes, a helmet and a clip for the transmitter mounted to your car. You cannot use harness's without full roll cage, fire protection, etc.

You also have to get an ok from Gary Phillis to run in OSP if you dont fit in a street class and dont have the modified classes level of preperation (cage, fire, fuel cell, etc).

Hope that helps,
Tai

That helps definitely, sounds like I need to do a few things to make this happen. At least I know though so I can get ready for next year. thanks again, Allen.

[taikahn]

No prob. Hope to see you out there next year.

Tai

[Weston-work]

The two last races of the season will be National level events and held at Second Creek on October 15th and 16th. We also made the news...

http://www.scca.com/News/News.asp?Ref=394

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/automotive/lifestyle/19086/

[taikahn]

The two last races of the season will be National level events and held at Second Creek on October 15th and 16th. We also made the news...

http://www.scca.com/News/News.asp?Ref=394

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/automotive/lifestyle/19086/

Thanks for the links. I cant wait for the october event. ;)

Even though its national they'll be running OSP right (without points I assume)?

Tai

[Weston]

OSP is still in play, and I assume points will count towards our regional season...