I just wanted to post this to maybe help encourage some of you newbies to the board or even newbies to any form of racing in you ITR.

I just talked to someone here via IM who was reluctant to go to the Expo because of some misconceptions about what it would be like...

1) You do NOT have to be a professional driver to attend this. This event is designed with instructors who will help you learn to drive your car well (and safely) on a roadcourse. There will be 3-5 different run groups based on experience. Do not worry that someone in their modded ITR with I/H/E, cams, etc will be passing you every 5 seconds. It won't happen. You will be grouped with drivers with similar experience as yourself

2) Gingerman Raceway was chosen partly because it is a SAFE track. NO WALLS to worry about. This course has motorcycles that race on it as well...so it needs to be safe. Of course common sense will need to be used, but the instructors will show you what you need to do. They won't release you to be on the track BY YOURSELF until you are comfortable and they feel you're good enough to go solo. You will have 2 days of tracktime. You will get better I gurantee.

3) Don't worry about wrecking your ITR...it *could* happen, but it's not likely unless you're being a complete *** and not following the rules OR if someone else isn't following the rules (in which case that person will be blackflagged and forced to come off the course to be talked to). This event is setup for CONTROLLED PASSING ONLY. NO racing in the corners. The only way you can pass a car ahead of you is if they waive you by. The only way a car can pass you is when you waive them by. Passing is only allowed on the straightaways.

I sure hope this is some of the encouraging info that will be the decision maker for some of you ITR owners that were reluctant before. With just my IM conversation a little while ago (who I won't say with)... I was able to clear up some ill thoughts and myths about what to expect at this event and this person is now going!

We'd love to have you. Without you guys, we won't have an event. We'll have to let non-ITRs into the event. It's not that we don't want to have the non-ITRs, but we would like to make this an ALL ITR EXPO.

-Todd


[Modified by Yellow Dragon, 3:31 PM 1/16/2002]

 

1300 miles... hmmm... thats 18hrs non-stop.. anybody from south florida up for a road trip?

 

Im going, but i am Flying and will track My dads E55 mercedes(he will love that), im not driving the ITR to Michigan, my baby's a florida car

 

TTT, Hopefully people will realize this.

Vegeta 18 hours isnt bad at all, I've driven to NC and VIR Both trips taking roughly 14-16 hours, I'm sure I could handle even longer trips if I had a copilot. Hope to see alot of people come up to the Expo and have some fun

 

Ok guys last years ITR expo was one of the funnest weekends of my life before that I had never been to a track and at the end of the last day me and my NOOKERS where ripping around the track

to all those that are thinking about it but not sure just take a look at this
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4292265131 I am sure some of you guys have albums that show how much fun it was too!!

kitkatr-who would go two the expo2 but not sure if they would let a supra out there because it does say Type-R's only

 

I will go if they let non-itr's participate.. and I might go anyways. If I don't drive my car would one of you be willing to make a detour and pick my *** up? Else I'd fly.... ah fug it, I'm being a sissy, I'd probably drive up anyways.

 

Nice post YD --- you get all 5 stars for this one!

The "EXPO" is not a race!
Basicly an opportunity to meet each other, talk about what each has done to their car (and how well it's worked out), and most importantly ... it's a chance to get out on the track and "play with" the car!

Maybe we'll even be able to come up with some spare helmets for the first-timers (if CGI doesn't have any).


[Modified by zygspeed, 5:20 PM 1/16/2002]

 

Oh, and Ed said I could drive his car a bit! So I'm coming! lol j/k

-Dave, who doesn't like to drive other peoples cars on the track.

 

i can't get any info; the information button at http://www.itrexpo.com/ just shows me a picture from last year. how much?

 

Michigan? Where in Michigan and on what date?

From SOFLA, that's a full kegger of a drive!

I'd love to race on a real track, though (it's gotta be a little better than these 1 minute runs on the autocross).

 

first its the Looonnnnngggggggg drive and then the money factor, or lack of money factor

Who the hell I'm I kidding I LOVE to take long drives, its just the money part.
plz give some estimates on how huch "everything" will cost

And I'll probably not be able to get off my hopefully new job by then(interview went well today...)

please send some real estimates for the event: entrance fees,hotel,track,beer, and whatever else i need to spend money on!!!

PLEASE MAKE IT REAL numbers so I could see if I could afford!!!

 

I would like to attend, but will likely just be a guest. What is the fee for non-drivers? I'm going to try to catch a ride with one of the ITR-NC Stunnaz


[edit] BTW - if corner workers are needed, I'm all about that. Have worked 5 or so events for CarGuys [\edit]


[Modified by itr009, 5:38 PM 1/16/2002]

 

The fee/price info is at the bottom of the registration form ... $300 per driver (for 2 days of tracktime, w/instructor(s), includes dinner)

where: Gingerman Raceway


Had me going there with the name change (again)! hehe
I know I only told one person (maybe 2), that ....


[Modified by zygspeed, 5:40 PM 1/16/2002]

 

Lots of pictures up on http://www.llamadev.com/expo/gallery.html . This is/was a for sale site, so I apologize for the pic size/quality/labelling everywhere.

Zyg is right. I had NEVER driven my car on a track before the first Expo. I had autocrossed maybe two or three times. I had a blast, and at no time did I feel my car was in danger. You'll do fine. Come and have a hell of a lot of fun!

 

Good post YD

See you there!

 

I would like to add a little to what Todd has mentioned.

First of all, I have been to lapping events at Gingerman before. It is indeed a very safe track. It is also a challenging track with some minor elevation change and a good variety of corners and straights. If you have never done high speed lapping on a real road course, I guarantee it will be the best driving experience (most fun and challenging) you have ever had.

Second, I live about 30minutes from King Motorsports. I have spoken to Scott and he has agreed to spend some sponsorship dollars by coming to this event. In our intial converstaions he said he would be bringing an ITR and the new RSX so people can get a comparison. I'm not sure what he meant by that, but at least both cars will be there and you will have a chance to talk to him. Scott is very knowledgable about ITRs and how to properly prep them for on-track performance. I have never left his shop or gotten off the phone without having learned something.

Finally, if you do not feel like driving your R (or whatever car) all the way out there, consider flying and renting a car for the weekend. There are plenty of folks in the Midwest who rent track ready cars for $500 on up for the weekend. I can't guarantee you'll find an ITR but at least you'll have a Honda product to drive and learn in. If you are interested in this route shoot me an email.

Wes - if it looks like we are going to run short on attendance let me know as I could easily fill up the event with non ITR folks (but all Honda).

Thanks - hope to see you all there.

Clayton

 

just a little note, i live a half hour from the place and have seen my share of wrecks. obviously, dont think that nothing could happen to your car. here's a nice little E36 M3 that had his day ruined. the best part was that it was his wife's car and he didnt tell her he was gonna race it.
http://www.teamtoilet.com/gman1/6.jpg
http://www.teamtoilet.com/gman1/2.jpg

 

Looks like another guy that must have forgotten to take off his gold chains and ego when he got on the track!
In my opinion he got what he desserved.

Yeah, I can be pretty brutal when need be!
(sorry, never nice to see a car messed up ... but I still think...)


[Modified by zygspeed, 6:08 PM 1/16/2002]

 

I was there when that happened. That guy was being way to aggressive and tried to make a save that he shouldn't have. He over corrected several times and lost it into the rail (twice, doh).

Yes that kind of thing can happen... but it can happen on the street too.

Drive within your limits and you'll be fine.

 

Well, the pictures of that wrecked M3 aren't helping much.

It's kind of like saying you won't get attacked by a shark if you're swimming in the ocean. Well...it *IS* possible.

Like I stated in this thread when I posted it, "if you or someone else is not obeying the rules, you could be involved in an accident." I'm just not trying to scare everyone away here. Look at the results of the ITR EXPO '01. NO ACCIDENTS. As long as all of us respect each other on the roadcourse we won't have any situations (unless of a freak failure like brakes, wheels flying off etc).

 

I was behind the M3 when it hit the wall, thats me pushing the Broom. As far as lack of experiance or being too agressive.......The guy owns a historic race car that has been run many times at Gingerman, he brought his M3 because the "race car" wasn't running at the time. So lack of experiance was not the problem. Driving aggresively is a matter of opinion, He was extremely fast for a stock m3 with race tires, Jgale and I were getting ready to pass him on that section, out of turn 11 before turn 1, He got on the gas coming out of the corner and the *** end came out, he tried to recover and the car came full around the other way and into the wall nose first. the car spun 180 and hit the back into the wall.

So, yes accident can happen, Yes there is one corner you can hit amrco, yes your car can be totalled. Yes you should know the whole story before you pick up poop and try to toss it.

Mattj

 

I will probally be there I live in portage MI so it is about 40 mintes away so I will probally be there

 

[QUOTE]I just wanted to post this to maybe help encourage some of you newbies to the board or even newbies to any form of racing in you ITR.

BAHAHAHWA-arent you the same guy that posted about gettiing caught streetracing on this board and gaysi.com(clubsi)?

anywhoots, im coming just to hang out and watch with a few of my peeps. and to say whats up to WHITE DRAGON... got else to do, so why not come and watch the famous ITR owners get busy. IM coming 2hrs just to hang out and meet some peeps.

 

My very first road course event was in May of 2000 at a CGI event at Gingerman Raceway. I had autoXed a couple of times prior, but had no exposure to a road course. I decided to take the 8 hour road-trip to Gingerman without knowing anyone and without any experience. I found the CGI school to be run VERY efficient and effectively, which is the same organization that we will be using to run the Expo. There was plenty of instruction and I was able to grow more and more comfortable. There honestly isn't any reason to feel intimidated. I left that event with a greater appreciation for both the car and road racing as a sport. I had never had that much fun while learning so much in my 'R' before. The experience was well worth the travel time, and the money spent.

The really cool thing is there will be a ton of ITRs along with their owners at this event. Plus, as Clayton mentioned, King is bringing a couple of their prepped cars to add to the excitement!

Clayton: Hopefully we can have an all ITR event, but if not by April 12th, then other models will be allowed to attend. Thank you for the heads up

Remember, it is all up to you guys!

 

Yeah...and your point? What exactly does that have to do with the ITR EXPO? Just because I got caught street racing someone...doesn't make me a bad person. Either way, I've won my local AutoX class (GS) 2 yrs in a row, so it's not like I don't believe in doing it legal.

I also posted again about how I've learned my lesson.