"Gizmo - The Only Good Gremlin, but don't feed me after Midnight" (gizmoq)
04/27/2014 at 18:05 • Filed to: None
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"Gizmo - The Only Good Gremlin, but don't feed me after Midnight" (gizmoq)
04/27/2014 at 18:05 • Filed to: None | 1
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SCCA hosted the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! at Gateway Motorsports Park this weekend. And since my car is still in the shop, I decided to go out and report on the fun for the STL Oppo community.
Of course the first cars seen are a little out of place, but hey, these are car guys and gals.
O.K. on to the action. Club racing held a driver school this weekend where 9 new drivers got their licenses to race wheel-to-wheel, all out, in several spec racing categories. This is a new SCCA program where drivers receive all their training at one track in a single weekend and once successfully completing that training can go out that Sunday and race.
There were many veteran racers to fill out the field as well. These race events are nice because several classes are on track at the same time so its anything but boring - rubbing fenders, divebombing corners, and flat-out drag racing from NASCAR 3 & 4 and down the long wide straight into the treacherous turn 1.
And then there are the open wheel racers. Slicks, aero, torque, and noise makes this the exciting part of the day. Many of these guys and gals have known each other for quite some time. They know the capabilities of each others cars, driving styles, strengths and weaknesses. In the paddock, you'd think they were the best of friends, but on the track, their vicious and ruthless.
Not interested in full-blown racecars and wheel to wheel action, then PDX (Performance Driving Experience) may be just what you're looking for. On Sunday, intermingled between the racing sessions, 16 drivers participated in the PDX, i.e., run what you brung. This is relatively the cheapest way to experience driving your own street-legal car on a world-class road course. Its not racing, but there are designated passing zones and you get to fling you car around the course as fast as you're comfortable going. This is what I had planned for this weekend, but my car is just not ready, YET.
Also on Sunday, on the other side of the Motorsports park was the season opener for STLSOLO Autocross. These are the guys and gals I raced with last year and eventually won the Championship for Super Street Modified class. With the threat of rain all day the crowd was less than expected, but since the course was cool, many put in some impressive times.
This weekend has been so busy, I'm exhausted... and I wasn't even driving or working the course. So all you Oppo in the St Louis area, you have no excuse to not go racing! There is a venue for all experience levels and most budgets. I don't know if SCCA has a motto, but from what I've seen and enjoyed it ought to be:
Just Get Out There And Have FUN!
MPA
> Gizmo - The Only Good Gremlin, but don't feed me after Midnight
04/27/2014 at 20:38 |
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I need to do a PDX this year in my Corvette. Which date are you planning to do?
And yeah, where the hell is the rain? I was supposed to go visit friends in Wentzville, but kept hearing that hell would rain down on us with water and ice, so I stayed in and was lazy. Meaniwhile it's lamost 8pm and NADA!
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Gizmo - The Only Good Gremlin, but don't feed me after Midnight
> MPA
04/28/2014 at 11:18 |
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I was a corner worker for most Gateway PDX events last year and found the Wednesday afternoon session to be more laid back. So I'm planning to be ready for next month: 21 May SCCA/PDX session.
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MPA
> Gizmo - The Only Good Gremlin, but don't feed me after Midnight
04/28/2014 at 18:49 |
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I'll see if I can do the May 21st event