[2e9x's]

The LA Chapter is hosting the first 2008 auto-x at California Speedway on February 2, 2008. I am interested to see who's going. For those of you who are teetering on the fence about starting to track your cars, auto-x is a great, SAFE introduction. The price is reasonable (TBA, but probably around +/- $60) and the risk to the car is minimal. If you want to come and watch, the instructors will gladly provide e-ticket rides when they have time. This is a great chance to see how a car SHOULD be driven!!!!

The Club is doing something new this season...We are keeping the timing equipment running all day so you can measure your improvement. This should really help fine tune your skills and reinforce your learning!

To all of you who live your lives 1/4 mile at a time and are new to the BMW world, please come try this out. Honest...BMW's do more than go in a straight line!

I look forward to meeting all of you there!

[attbimmer]

I'll be there, although I'll be driving my E36 M3.

I agree completly with White05X3. If you've never tried an autox or track event before and are even remotly interested come out and see what it's like. I've been at it for a little over 2 years (mostly with PCA/POC) and I've never met someone at an event who didn't have a blast.

[2e9x's]

Is anybody else going? We need volunteers to work tech and timing...

[attbimmer]

I'll be there early and can help out with tech or whatever else you need.

Just faxed in my registration as well. How many people are expected at the event?

[2e9x's]

We usually have between 70 and 80 cars running.

[ontopofm]

can u paste the link here please, thank you

[2e9x's]

http://bmwclubla.org/calendar.php

Hope this helps!

[roy@gambitmotorsport]

When should volunteers show up? Can we expect equal track time?

[2e9x's]

Roy,

Plan to be there around 6:00 am...ugh...

You can usually plan on equal track time but sometimes the event gets hectic and you just can't get to it. Could you help doing tech?

To anybody who wants to volunteer to work, please e-mail Mike Webb at

bmwwebb@earthlink.net

Again, if you work all day you will get to run for free!!

Thanks for wanting to help. The Club is an all volunteer organization and we can't make these events run without the help of our members.

[roy@gambitmotorsport]

Originally Posted by White05X3

Plan to be there around 6:00 am...ugh...

You can usually plan on equal track time but sometimes the event gets hectic and you just can't get to it. Could you help doing tech?

Sounds good on both. I'm in.

[2e9x's]

Excellent! Thank you Roy and Attilla (sp?) for helping out! When you pre-register please tell them that you are planning to work all day so they can get a good sense of how much help we will have!

[cgnahc]

I'm already on the autox committee. Remember to bring a helmet, if possible. There may be helmets for rent, 'cause I saw a bunch of new ones in the autox supply van in the last meeting at Hollywood Park. Looking forward to this one, since no events were put up in 2007.

[ontopofm]

already signed up, what time its start?

[2e9x's]

Originally Posted by ontopofm

already signed up, what time its start?

I would plan to arrive at 7:00 at the latest.

[ontopofm]

damn, that's early

[2e9x's]

Originally Posted by ontopofm

damn, that's early

If it makes you feel any better I get to be there at 6:00...coming from West LA.

[roy@gambitmotorsport]

Will the normal gates be open around 6am or is there a special entrance?

What's the tread-depth requirement? For Speed Ventures, it was 2/32". I'm around double that throughout most of the wheel (well above the DOT markers). But, the outer edges (last corner inch) of these stock-RFT Bridgestones taper down to make a rounder edge even new and are almost (but, not quite) nearing smoothness there now at 9K miles. Will this set-up be good-to-go with BMW CCA rules?

Thanks.

[2e9x's]

Roy,

The front gate should be open.

As for the tread depth so long as the cords are not showing it should be fine. This is auto-x and not a track event so the tech inspection is not as rigorous. Safety is still critical but the speeds are much lower and usually there is less to hit.

[attbimmer]

Originally Posted by roy@gambitmotorsport

But, the outer edges (last corner inch) of these stock-RFT Bridgestones taper down to make a rounder edge even new and are almost (but, not quite) nearing smoothness there now at 9K miles.

Time for camber plates. At least the RE050s hold up much better on the outside edge than PS2s. Once the outside edge of PS2s get near smooth they start coming apart in chunks.

[2e9x's]

OK...I am torn and need an opinion. Should I take the SSTT out and run in C (stock 6, 8 and 12 cylinder) or leave it in and run D (modified 6, 8 and 12 cylinder)? The rules are ambiguous as to whether the SSTT would bump the car to D but since I am a member of the auto-x committee I would not fudge.

HP is less important than handling at auto-x and D allows more suspension mods than C does. My car is stock except the SSTT. I even plan to run on RFT's.

Opinions?

[attbimmer]

Originally Posted by White05X3

OK...I am torn and need an opinion. Should I take the SSTT out and run in C (stock 6, 8 and 12 cylinder) or leave it in and run D (modified 6, 8 and 12 cylinder)? The rules are ambiguous as to whether the SSTT would bump the car to D but since I am a member of the auto-x committee I would not fudge.

HP is less important than handling at auto-x and D allows more suspension mods than C does. My car is stock except the SSTT. I even plan to run on RFT's.

Opinions?

If you are concerned with what place you will finish in, then leave it out. I doubt you will miss the hp/tq in an autox and you will be competing against cars more similar to yours (although the classes in BMW CCA cover pretty broad ranges).

Of coarse if you don't really care that much about points/place and its already in the car then just leave it.

[roy@gambitmotorsport]

Originally Posted by White05X3

As for the tread depth so long as the cords are not showing it should be fine. This is auto-x and not a track event so the tech inspection is not as rigorous. Safety is still critical but the speeds are much lower and usually there is less to hit.

Cool - that's kind of what I figured. They've got a ways to go even before reaching those DOT bumps within the grooves. I was figuring ~4K miles (1/3 tread life) safe street driving left on them. So, should be good for one auto-x and then some weeks before my next fitting.