Bear with me, and I'll try to explain this one... A friend of mine (also in the ride-n-drive industry), is setting up what I've seen to be a pretty awesome event. The event is open to any driver, any skill level, any car (street car, race car, shifter kart, motorcycle, dump truck, DO NOT ask Avis if they rent "rear-wheel" drive cars, they do...just know your cars going in...) With two seperate "tracks", the entry fee per car/driver is $50, and the driver can compete on just one, or both, tracks.
The first track is similar to an auto-cross, but the emphasis is on consistency; not flat out speed (so, you can save your clutch, and rear tires!). Take two mirrored road-courses side-by-side; the design of course equates to around a 25 second lap. To begin, you start at a pro drag-racing tree. With electronic sensors placed throughout the course, you are first measured by reaction time at the start, against the other driver. You get points for being quicker. Then, to a slalom; you can go to the left or right of the first cone, but the one side that sets you up 'more challenging' for turn-one, gets you more points. Into, a long sweeper, exiting into the esses. To save some typing, you get points (and sometimes bonus points) through five "sectors" of the course. Also, points for not hitting cones. NOW, the competition part of it: Addressing the "consistency" I mentioned: After running your practice laps, you give your index time to the scoring guy, and you try to come as close as possible to the time you guess you'll run. Based on how close you are, you get points. Total possible point value is 100. In the end, first place pays $1000, and there are contingency prize moneys down to 10th place.
The second track, is more complex. (Can someone show me how to post a file here? I've got diagrams... LOL) The other course is what I'd call "precision drifting". The reason we road-racers don't respect drifting is because it's subjective, and without boundries; not so here. This course uses a point system as well, with more points being awarded for more precise runs. (This one will obviously eat up your tires: I went the route of running a Dodge Charger; thank you Avis.) From the start line, drift through a slalom, into a figure 8. Around the 'outside' of the figure 8, then around the inside. There are chalk lines to determine, and give you boundries (within the lines, full points, two feet outside the lines, less points, and so on...) Into a 90 degree park, the center line of your car determines point values. Straight forward into 1 of 3 barrells; tight donuts around barrells (closer = more points, chalk lines again..) Donuts around all 3 barrells, then into a 180 degree park; center line of car determines point value. End of course, total points is 100.
Believe me, I'd refer you to the website for pictures, but I can email them, or if someone tells me how to post here I can. Basically, the website's under construction, and my buddy doesn't want anyone to see it until it's finished (looks fine to me..) We just shot the promotional video a couple weeks ago, so that should be ready soon also (you'll see plenty of video of a
very good looking little black roadster..) I know this all sounds pretty daunting, but when you see one example, you'll understand it.
So you know, I have no vested interest in the success of this program; I'm simply a friend/co-worker of this guy, and after having seen it in person, it's a damn cool event. Again, any questions, specifics, etc, you can contact me, or I can give you Shane's number/email whatever. OH, the next event is to run Jan 11,12 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. (If you know your "Vegas" happenings, you may want to be there on the 12th anyway..
You'll see me there!)
