So I get to the "casting call" for the new MTV reality show about racing, and there is a guy standing in the entry way. So I walk up to him, and the conversation went like this:

Him "Hi, are you between the ages of 18 and 34"
Me: "Yes I am."
Him: "Are you a professional racecar driver?"
Me: "Nope."
Him: "Have you ever competed in a race where you could win money or prizes?"
Me: "Uhhh, well, what do you mean by prizes? Like, if I won something like free brake pads, does that count?"
Him: "Yes."
Me: "Ummm, well, I'm trying to remember...."
Him: "Have you ever entered a race that had an entry fee?"
Me: "Well, yes."
Him: "I'm sorry, that disqualifies you."
Me: "So you mean that anybody who has ever raced with NASA or SCCA is ineligible?!?"
Him: "Yep, sorry."

From what I was told later, graduating Skip Barber and/or having a comp liscense also disqualifies you. So I was disqualified for FOUR different reasons.

I stuck around a bit and did the ridealong in the Viper, which wasn't all that eventful. Not to sound like a snob, but when I did Skip Barber, I *drove* a Viper on their autocross course. It would have been great if the instructors were really allowed to beat up on them, but apparently Dodge yelled at them for eating up the tires too quickly, so they toned it down a bit.

All in all though, the lines were VERY short, so if you were thinking about trying out, and you aren't considered professional by their rediculous standards, go for it!!!

Your friend and professional racecar driver,

Matt

 

Him "Hi, are you between the ages of 18 and 34"
Me: I think so...
Him: "Are you a professional racecar driver?"
Me: Nope, not at all...
Him: "Have you ever competed in a race where you could win money or prizes?"
Me: Does a kickass plaque count?
Him: "Yes."
Me: Nope, never won one
Him: "Have you ever entered a race that had an entry fee?"
Me: Whats that?
Him: "I'm sorry, that disqualifies you."
Me: What?, because I don't know what an entry fee is?
Him: "Yep, sorry."

I really think I am going to do the one in richmond, and lie straight to their face!


[Modified by Honda318dx, 12:46 PM 9/14/2002]

 

Hey, I was there too. And I want that 3 hrs of my life back...

I got there at like 7, and I waited about 2 1/2 hrs to get to the test drive part. About 150 poeple had arrived before me. I really did not think there would be that many people there at that hour based on what people at the TX and CA events had posted about. The group was mostly sub 20yr old ricers and drag racers, but I did regcognize a handful of people from Philly region SCCA Solo2 there.

I filled out my paperwork, and in several places I noted that I am a novice SCCA autoXer.

The "test track" was a pretty simple course. They told us to take one practice lap slow and then do two more at whatever speed we felt comfortable with. I think I actually did 4 laps total before the instuctor told me to pull off. Then I got out of the car, but the instuctor did not hand me my paperwork packet. I noticed that everyone else had been given theirs, so at that point I figured that they did not want me for whatever reason. So I passed on the interview line and went for the Viper ride... I'm not sure why they kept my papers. I watched at least the 30 people in front of me completely miss the course line (all driving pretty slowly). I thought I did pretty well on the test drive...

I went for a ride in one of the ACR Vipers, and I must say that it was fun! The instructor I rode with not going 10/10ths in it, but I'd say at least somewhere above 8/10... I've never ridden in a Viper before, so that alone made it worth it... Almost.

Andrew

 

I thought about lying, but decided it wasn't worth it. Besides, some of the Skip Barber people know me, so it wouldn't have lasted long.


Matt

 

C'mon down! I'll be there, as will other h-t'ers I'm sure. Why the hell not?

Jon
ps- IM me for the beforehand breakfast meet info

 

That's _ODD_. they didn't ask me about the "entry fee" thing.. I would have told them.. I even told my driving evaluator that I had autocrossed before.. What they want only idiot street racers? What sanctioned event doesn't have an entry fee??

MTV's new policy-- Only come down if you thought Fast and the Furious was the Shiznit! ??

Everybody in the interview line with me that I talked to was an autocrosser..