UNION RULES? // DRIFTING @ GATEWAY INTERNATIONAL

I love to watch drifting. There is something so appealing to me about the skill required to control these tire shredding, smoke belching monsters that fascinates me. Every event I attend I learn something new and it just makes me want to learn more. I don’t know if I’ll ever cross the line to do it though.

At first I thought it just took big power and bigger cojones, to slide these cars around inches from the wall at triple digit speeds. Like all forms of motorsport I learned there is a lot more involved then a fast car and hand eye coordination. Power and a slight lack of self preservation doesn’t hurt... [read more]

I recently attended the Midwest Drift Union event held at Gateway International Road Course. This “roval” offers 7 turns of infield corners ranging from ‘esses’ to a big old carousel that the drivers get to slide around on, and slide they did! Some quite majestically, trailing billowing clouds of tire smoke while shrieking engines let out their cries. Others not so elegantly slid off the track, into the tire barriers or off into the grass. Nothing that more zip ties or less body panels couldn’t fix.

The on track action was as varied as the cars themselves. From the usual drifting staples of 240sx, AE86 and RX7s to the more unique Toyota Chaser, Lexus IS300 and Supercharged 350z. My personal favorites however were a toss up between the matte black, V8 Powered 240 that really has to be heard to be believed (Imagine a Le Mans C7R Corvette motor in a rather beat up shell….awesome), or the Stillen Supercharged 350Z with its distinct blower whine that left dense trails of smoke in its wake.

There were also some, shall we say, questionable things I saw this weekend. Some simply noteworthy, others in my opinion flat out dangerous.

The 240sx that was missing a third of its body structure, fenders, hood and bumpers really made the Tech inspector inside me cringe.

When I arrived at the track I watched the driver “massage” a bumper beam with a hammer so it could be affixed to the car with 2 bolts. This was supposed to absorb a rear impact? If that was the case what was to protect the gas tank, the rear diff? Noteworthy, but quite amusing to watch as it slid around the track.

More serious was the total lack of safety exhibited by people in the infield and the lack of corner Marshals with flags & fire-bottles. Maybe this was just the “Union Rules” for this group, but as a driver I would expect manned corner stations with safety equipment.

Emphasizing this point was the yellow 240 that had to stop at corner station with smoke pouring from under his hood. The driver stopped, jumped out and proceeded to rip his hood from the car while looking around for a fire crew. After he had run back to the cabin for his fire extinguisher, the on-track fire truck had started to drive over to him. We’re all told when starting out in motorsports that if you have a situation, try to get to a corner station for help, but what do you do when no one is there?

The day had started with a very stern, and to me, very unprofessional, safety lecture for for the “media”. Those of us who cover motorsport events accept and assume there is danger in what we do, its part of the gig. What I do not accept is that any Joe who wanted to walk into the infield and setup a camera ON the FIA curbing or lean ONTO the track in front of cars is considered OK. I saw a videographer almost get clipped by a car while standing on the curbing, at the apex, with his camera to his face. He laughed and said it was because he knew the driver…really? I know a lot of people at the events locally, none of them try to hit me. Oddly enough he wasn’t at the “media” meeting.

Of all the events I have been to at tracks across the Midwest, I have never seen a portable gas grill ON the safety wall separating portions of the track! If you want to BBQ go someplace that lacks the chance of a car hitting you, again people not at the “media” meeting. Other antics included spectators track side, on the infield jumping up and down waving their arms at the drivers they knew. Most would consider this distracting, or misleading behavior. Personally if I came around an apex sideways with my foot down and saw that, I would assume something was wrong and hit the binders. Maybe this has to do with the lack of flagmen as well?

I don’t know where the blame falls for the lack of safety. Either way we are fortunate nothing serious happened, at the end of the day everyone drove home. Next time this circus comes to town, I’m staying home and playing with old dynamite… its just as safe.

Click here for additional images.

Photo/Editorial: Shawn Manny

EVENT // SPEEDFEST @ CLASSIC MOTORSPORTS MITTY 2010

Automotive A.D.D: A condition in which the individual becomes bored, restless and uninterested very quickly with a car, race series or event and seeks new stimulation on a frequently recurring basis. New events are always exciting. You can read the website, previous coverage and watch youtube videos till you’re blue in the face. But the sites, sounds, smells and experience of something new a just can’t be beat... [read more]

The Mitty is a historic motorsports weekend, that features a different make each year along with a personality or company associated to the world of motorsports. Presented by the HSR (Historic Sportscar Racing Ltd.) and Classic Motorsports Magazine it is a class act event. This year saw Lotus as the featured mark with Peter Brock and Brock Racing Enterprises, or B.R.E, as the co-feature. I expected to be over run with Lotai of all shapes and sizes. There were more lotus in the Lotus Factory Display tent then anywhere else all weekend. What a bummer.

Now the B.R.E/Brock feature….this blew my mind. As we pulled into our camp site we were surrounded by BRE replicas & Datsuns of all shapes sizes and conditions. Across the street from us was the Cobra pit, more Factory Five replicas in one spot then I’d ever seen…my head was already spinning and nothing had taken to the track yet! 

As the sun rose through the mist and fog hanging in the trees, shafts of sunlight beamed their way onto the cold track. Slowly but surely the sound of motors filled the air, and anticipation grew…..what was up first? As they glided over the crest of turn 2 and into the soft morning rays of turns 3 and 4 Porsches, Austin-Healeys, Jaguars, Lotus and MGs in every color imaginable flew past in a display of color and sound that words cannot do justice. For the next half hour we were sent back to the 50’s as the sun rose higher and the day warmed up.

What followed on that hot, sunny, Friday of practice left me in awe and quickly made this a new favorite event. Cars I’d only dreamed of as a kid roared past in all their open header glory. GT-40s, Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupes, Duntov Corvettes, Carrera RSRs, BMW 3.0 CSLs, Open wheel big bore monsters including Gurney Eagles, Formula 5000 cars, ex-F1 cars, Group C cars and so on and so on…..Really every session left me snapping away and some times just standing there slack jawed. Did I mention this was just the first day?

Later in the day we roamed vendor alley and explored the fantastic Lotus Tent. The famous John Player special F1 car on display amongst Lotus 7s, Elans and Evoras. Factory Five and all of their latest and greatest kits were on display, supported by their dedicated and devoted builders.

Mercedes was on hand to provide the lucky few with AMG test drives and the chance to ogle and poke the newest Teutonic super sedans. Barber Motorsports and Kumho teamed up to provide free autocross runs in new Miatas which is always fun to do. After an exhausting first day drew to a close with sunburns and awe I could only wonder what was next?

Well, at 8 am the next day we found out what was next. There is nothing quite like waking up to the sounds of Historic Productions cars all sporting engines over 5 liters roaring through the still air, where oh were can I get an alarm clock that sounds like a Daytona Coupe wound out? Add Porsche Caymans decked out in vintage schemes to the mix as they race side by side and it is quite a feast for the senses. To be honest it’s a bit overwhelming.

More new classes and cars took to the track, Vintage Stock Cars, the Playboy Cup in their Miatas and so on. Compared to Friday, Saturday was humid and overcast and was a welcome respite for the sunburns. It also meant that as the B.O.S.S. Series cars came screaming down the back straight that some cars were leaving vortices off their rear wings! I’d seen it on F1 coverage before, but to be standing 5 feet from the track as they scream past you leaving vapor trails is just too damn cool…..and a bit scary.

The Caymans Inter-series ran its own race which was filled with close action and great driving. I must admit I love the vintage schemes on these new cars, well done Porsche. Amongst all the 4 wheel action there were a handful of Motorcycles that ran throughout the weekend. Everything from Harleys to Ducatis were seen on track draggin’ knee pads around Road Atlanta. I only wish there had been more of them.

When the track action stops, the night life really kicks in. Hella and Classis Motorsports Magazine teamed up to throw the “Day Into Night Party”, not only was there live music, Hella lighting displays by Suquehanna Motorsports, a slot car track and free copies of the magazine….they also provided free beer, water and soda to all who came! Much fun was had by all and the road in front of the tent was a site to be hold with vintage corvettes, outlaw 356 Porsches and Cobras.

Thank you to both Susquehanna Motorsports/Hella and Classic Motorsports for a great party!

Day three… yes three days (actually 4 if you come down on Thursday) of what I’m going to call an endurance spectating event. Each day is like attending 8 different events with their own excitement, sounds and features.

We had seen the threat of rain all weekend and it had sprinkled from time to time but nothing had really come down. Well, it came down during the Feature race of the Vic Elford trophy. This series comprised WSC cars, Group C cars, IMSA GTP and GTPL along with Can Am cars from the 60s through the 90s. Diverse and fun to watch the rain really had them tap dancing on their wide slicks and huge power as the slick track did its best to throw them onto the grass.

Road Atlanta is unique in the fact that on Sundays it has a required quiet time where no race motors are to be run for 2 hours. This is a great time to eat breakfast, socialize, take a track tour and even break camp like we did.

To bring a dramatic end to the quiet time, the B.O.S.S Series was up first and shattered the silence with screaming V8s inhaling through Tall Velocity stacks and spewing their music through open 180 degree headers…truly an amazing sound that I still hear in my sleep. Although its vintage racing, it’s still racing. Paint was swapped and a few off course excursions happened, to me it’s a bit more dramatic when the cars are irreplaceable.

The day raced on with every class present having a feature race and even a few 1 hour enduro’s thrown in for good measure. Was it harder on the cars & drivers or the spectators to keep up with it all?

Exhausted we drove home and found ourselves in the torrential rains that devastated Nashville that weekend, even causing the highways we were on to close. The detours provided an insight into the massive damage and loss of property the Music City and its surrounding counties suffered.

If you’re like me and my friends and find yourself craving something different then the “normal” race weekend of a few classes of newer cars. Then go to the Mitty, it offers diversity, action and memories that can’t be found readily.

I mean come on, when was the last time you saw an ex-Le Mans Audi duking it out with a Can Am car, or a Cobra Daytona Coupe racing wheel to wheel with a Porsche Cayman?


I can’t wait till next year, I’m already itching for my next fix.

Photo/Editorial: Shawn Manny

EVENT PREVIEW // SHAWN MANNY @ THE MITTY

ColdTrackDays correspondent, Shawn Manny, spent the better part of last weekend at Road Atlanta for the Classic Motorsports Mitty 2010. An annual gathering of racing cars and enthusiast, be sure and stay tuned for a complete report from Shawn's visit // [comment]

PHOTO GALLERY // RALLY IN THE 100 ACRE WOOD

Set in the foothill of the Ozarks, last weekends 100 Acre Wood Rally is the second event on the Rally America calendar and a favorite of many competitors. Named after the storybook home of Winnie the Pooh, the 100 Acre Wood Rally is a 15 stage, two day event that draws some of the biggest names in rally racing. That said, we thought we'd share some more photos from Shawn Manny's visit to the woods of Southern Missouri.

Follow the link for a look... [read more]



Photo: Shawn Manny
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey

RALLY REPORT // IT'S GOOD TO BE KING

There is something magical about waking up in the woods the day of a rally. The sun blaring through your tent, the frost coating the inside walls of your sleeping quarters and even the cold toes don’t matter so much because in a few hours, you’ll be breathing dust, dodging rocks and watching cars go blasting through the forest. Yup, I wouldn’t trade a moment of it... [read more]

The towns the Rally descends upon every February welcome the teams, spectators and volunteers with open doors and open arms. Hotels are booked months in advance in quite a radius around Salem, Steelville and Potosi. Work by the committee starts in the summer and doesn’t stop until weeks after the event. Volunteers give up their weekends to ensure everyone is safe, starts and finishes are manned and everyone has a good time. Thank you to all of you who put forth the time to make this event as great as it is!

The day before the rally sees the teams performing a myriad of tasks. From unloading and tech’ing the cars to doing reconnaissance on the stages, their day is full. Scrutineering, or ‘tech as its called, is the process where the cars are inspected to ensure they are safe and fit the class rules dictated to them. This means the roll cage, fuel cell, seats, helmets, etc are all inspected by Rally Officials who have to give their stamp of approval before the car can compete. Since rally cars also have to comply with local street car rules; things like the horn, wipers, blinkers and so on all must function as well. When was the last time you saw a Time Attack or Road Race car checked for those?

Friday February 26th, the day of the Trespassers Wil Rally dawned with clear sunny skies and a gentle, yet cool breeze. Perfect rally weather, especially for the Teams who just competed at Sno*Drift which was more ice racing then rally. The roads in the Mark Twain Forest are fast, open and unforgiving. One by one the cars exploded from the time control to wage their assault. Drifting, jumping and digging for grip they slung stones and dust in their wake as they blitzed between trees and ditches in search of the fastest time. This event also saw Ken Block’s second outing in his new Ford Fiesta Rally car…..and wow is it quick. Block started the weekend hoping to make it 5 wins in a row here but Travis Pastrana had other plans.

Under cover of darkness the teams raced on. Rally lights blazing, rotors glowing and fireballs from the exhaust lit the night as the cars screamed by. If you’ve never seen a rally stage at night, you need to! The first thing you hear is the pop, gurgle and wail of the cars in the darkness, you may catch a glimpse or two of lights diffused by trees. Then a glow starts and grows steadily brighter until the car explodes into sight, snarling, blazing and spitting gravel. In a heartbeat it’s gone, leaving a streak of brake lights and dust in its wake as the sound of power fades into the woods.

As the last finisher tripped the clock that night we found Pastrana 22 seconds ahead Antoine L’Estage who had a flat on the first stage of the day. Sitting 46 seconds back behind L’Estage planning his assault for the next day was Block. Chris Duplessis continues to prove that you don’t need all wheel drive to be fast as he flew his Volkswagen to a lead at the end of day one in Group2. 
 
Rally is not an easy sport on cars; fires, flats and crashes are common place in the sport and this year was no different.  Andrew Comrie-Picard was set to be first in the starting order until his motor let go during the shake down!  Piotr Wiktorczyk suffered an engine fire on the first stage of the day but was able to get it extinguished with the help of another team’s fire bottle. As the days wore on cars ended up in ditches, dragging skid plates, bumpers and even a wing or two.

February 27th dawned much the same as the previous day, crows the size of eagles beckoned my friends and I awake to frostier tents and a touch more wind. Still sunny, still gorgeous, still wouldn’t give it up. The 100 Acre Woods half of the event is much larger then the previous day’s Trespassers Wil. Pastrana started the day out strong putting the Ford of Block a minute back by the start of stage 2. L’Estage however lost his place to Block after a puncture and some difficulty crossing one of the many water features this rally has. Could this be the year that Pastrana and Edstrom de-throne King Block? The day wore on as stage after stage the teams duked it out for supremacy. One of the more unique features of this event is a Super Special Stage held in the middle of Potosi, Missouri.

Eagles Park features rolling hills and a sizable infield which was perfect for a mid day Parc Expose. The infield filled quickly with spectators, service crews and cars all waiting to see the action up close and personal. The competitors delivered it loud and clear. The deep ruts at the top of the hill drew the cars in as they fought for traction and control before spitting them out onto the loose gravel that led into the finish time control. Pastrana blasted out of the start with his horn blaring for the fans. As he came back around the upper loop for the second time the car went wide into a corner and seemed to struggle for purchase in the muddy soil. Was it a puncture, two, something more serious? Finally they dug in and got going again but the car was visibly off. Leaning steeply to the driver’s side it was evident by the sound there was a puncture. The Subaru crossed the finish but far slower then it should have. It was later communicated that not only did he have a flat tire, but also bent a control arm which put him out of the event as he was unable to continue. L’Estage took the opportunity and turned similar times to that of Block’s Ford. The day and competitors raced on into the night, covering hundreds of miles on both Tarmac Transits and Gravel Stages.

In the end Block and Alex Gelsomino were crowned Kings again and brought their Monster Ford Fiesta home to a fifth consecutive win. Block said of this feat, “This is the location of my first national rally win, so I have now won this rally five years in a row and it is a pretty good feeling to get the Fiesta home in first.” L’Estage brought home another second-place finish this season and now leads the Rally America Championship with 34 points. Bill Bacon sits in second with 28 points and can only get faster as he dials in the car. Chris Duplessis and Catherine Woods decimated the field in their 1990 Volkswagen despite having suspension problems on day one. Dillon Van Way was 6 minutes behind Duplessis and looks to have quite a challenge ahead of him as he battles Duplessis for the win.

As we packed up our camp the next day we were already planning next year’s trip, sharing stories from our stages we saw and mourning the end of yet another rally. I’ll be there for sure regardless of snow, frost, rain, mud, crows or anything else that makes Rally what it is. See you in the woods.

Photo/Editorial: Shawn Manny

PREVIEW // RALLY AMERICA IN THE 100 ACRE WOODS

Although its name is lifted from a children’s book, the Trespassers Wil and 100 Acre Woods Rally are far from child’s play. This two day event held in the gorgeous Mark Twain forest draws teams from all over the country, from rally rookies to the factory teams of Subaru and Ford... [read more]

Weather can swing from snow and ice to dry loose gravel on the same day mere miles apart. The roads are fast, punishing and challenging while providing both drivers and spectators thrills and excitement through day and night.

Every motorsport fan has their “home event” they never miss….this is mine. I’ve spectated, helped organize, volunteered, co-driven and driven this fantastic event over the years and it never gets old.

The committee that sweats the details for this event are true enthusiasts and it shows from the stages to the party at the end.

Please stay tuned to ColdTrackDays for the action, drama and beauty that is the Rally America Trespassers Wil/ 100 Acre woods Rally!

Photo/Editorial: Shawn Manny

EVENT // SCCA ARRC RACE @ ROAD ATLANTA

The ARRC race, or American Road Race Championships, should really just be called the SCCA Road Race Extravaganza!

This event is really one of the showcase SCCA events, the other being the SCCA Runoffs. It’s 3 days of solid racing with cars ranging from Formula FST cars powered by air-cooled VW motors all the way up to the SPO cars which are big block V8’s. All speeds, all classes, all great racing. We saw wheel to wheel battles, bump drafting, off-road excursions, massive carnage and even an SCCA PDX all wrapped up in the scenic confines of Road Atlanta... [read more]

The day starts at 8am sharp, every day, with the sounds of race motors and announcers, practice, qualifying, hard ship laps and races are almost non stop. The exception is lunchtime which is a great opportunity to inspect the race hardware, talk to the teams and drivers. Two paddocks full of cars, haulers and people littered the track from gate to gate.

Amongst the varied classes in attendance were the open wheel race cars, which included Formula Mazda, Formula Continental and Formula Atlantic chassis.

This year also featured the Optec-Monnette Veterans cup, dedicated to those men and women who fight and have fought for our country, which was populated by all the American V8 muscle you could ask for.

The race saw a GREAT battle between father and daughter (Paige and Bob Monette) with close racing, fireball belching exhausts and a down to the wire finish when Bob’s car started having a fluid leak issue, which of course went right to his daughters tires! The race was won by the #1 of Lee Arnold but Bob Stretch tried his best to catch and pass him.

The PRO-IT race was another nail biter, 54 cars strong and wheel to wheel for the entire 20 laps. Early in the race the Miata of  Danny Steyn was collected by the #5 ITS BMW in spin after turn 10b, while the ENTIRE filed flowed around them like water around a rock. I can only imagine how scary that would be as 52 cars came screaming at and past you while you sat there helpless. 

The weekend culminates in a 3 hour long endurance race with two mandatory 5 minute pit-stops. Keep in mind these cars are not built from the outset as ‘enduro cars since most SCCA racing is of the sprint variety.

Some drivers come with a dedicated pit crew and second driver, where others rely solely on themselves to drive, fuel, change tires and maintain the car during the entire event. It is truly a grassroots effort which should be no surprise that the event is sponsored by Grassroots Motorsports magazine.

The ITR section was won handily by the #57 Mazda RX8 while ITB was a close fought battle between Chris Albin in his #4 VW and Ian Stewart in the #9 Mazda Protégé. This class literally came down to the last turn as Stewart was lapping 1.5seconds a lap FASTER then Albins car! Pit strategy at its best put #4 in the lead and in the winners circle.

The weekend also features a SCCA PDX event. For those who don’t know, a PDX is an SCCA run drivers school for novice to expert drivers alike. These events, run nationwide, are a great way for people with the urge to get on track to be able to do so in a safe and controlled environment. During this time a local well to do entrepreneur had generously brought out his Ferrari F430 16M and his Aston Martin DBS. He and a friend then gave the volunteer SCCA corner workers rides at speed around the track they so willingly work every weekend. What a treat it was to hear those two exotics at full chat around this twisting turning and diving race track in the gorgeous fall weather.

Per usual (for me at least) we drove down and camped there on site in the infield. The weather is great, the night life is fun with camp fires and parties all over the infield, where else can you see a magnesium wheel get tossed into a campfire for fun (a tradition from what I’m told).

The track and facilities are great, the town has everything you could want or need and the people are just fantastic. We met a group that had been coming to the track for 40 years straight, they invited us to share their campfire (wow what a fire it was too!) and shared their spirits and stories with us (Thank you guys!). If you’ve never been to a SCCA race or never realized the scope and variety of the series they support and host, you owe it to yourself to make the drive, spend the time, and enjoy the action that is the SCCA ARRC race.

Photo/Editorial: Shawn Manny