I would like to start autocrossing, but I don't know where to start.

 

I live here, I know Texas Motor Speedway has events sometimes, other than that I usually hang out at the drag strips, Ennis, Denton...

 

Check out the NTPOG events page at http://www.ntpog.org/events.shtml
I would suggest the BMW events out at Mineral Wells. There is one coming up March 2nd.

 

Check out these two clubs:
http://autocross.com/texasregion
http://autocross.com/er

They're both in the DFW area. Show up to the next event and let someone at registration know you are a novice. And have fun !

Chris
#55 GS
94 Integra LS

 

thanks for all of the help. I will try to come to the next event, but I have quite a bit of maintenance to do.

 

I'm interviewing with Lockheed out there in a couple weeks. What is the local motorsports scene like? Are there karting tracks? How many road courses are within an easy day's drive? Are NASA and SCCA both active locally?

 

I have been here for 2.5 years, 1 of that with the R.

We have two autocrossing clubs, Equipe Rapide and the SCCA. ER events are much lower in competitiveness, but SCCA events have nationally trophied drivers to help you out. Either is a good club, I pretty much just race the SCCA events.

I'll be at the next ER event, held out at Mineral Wells airpark this weekend (17th). I'll also be at the first SCCA event of the year in March. Just look for a guy with a yellow Type-R and a grey hat. I'll be happy to help you out as much as I can.

As a novice, don't worry too much about what your car is or what you have on it. Just show up and get some seat time. I ran most of the first year with the stock Potenza tires and nothing else.

GSR: I have never heard of any Karting tracks around here at all. The closest thing we have is SpeedZone, which has some decent open-wheeled cars, but really can't be called true racing.

We have two road-type courses, though both are really ovals (hehe Rovals?) (Texas Motor Speedway here in the metroplex and Houston's Texas World of Speed), and one actual road course (Motorsports Ranch) though that course is like a country club for racing - you buy a yearly membership with a lot of money to use the track. There is a new road course being put in, can't remember the name (something wierd like Todd-Ring or somesuch), but I hear it will be like Motorsports Ranch except the membership will be even more expensive.

This god-forsaken land is the home of the large engine-small brain mentality. And you'll find SUVs filling 90% of the spots at the mall....easily. People can't drive worth a dang either. Oh, there are worse places for drivers, but not by much, and I have driven the turnpikes at rush hour in New York and New Jersey.

Either of you are welcome to send me an email at headllama@llamadev.com . I'll do my best to answer any questions you have.

 

Yes, there's Texas Motor Speedway (which is an oval but does have a "road" course now in the infield) and Motorsports Ranch in the Ft. Worth area. There's Texas World Speedway in Bryan/College Station (2-3 hours from DFW). That's where a lot of the SCCA Club racing, NASA, and driver's ed events are held. I believe there's a kart track in the New Braunfels area, south of Austin (4 hours from DFW). -http://www.hckc.org
And plenty of autocrossing in DFW, Austin, San Antonio, BCS, & Houston. Good luck on your interview.

Chris
#55 GS
94 Integra LS

 

>>and one actual road course (Motorsports Ranch) though that course is like a country club for racing<<

They do have lots of lapping/drivers ed events throughout the year though that are open to everyone. Motorsports ranch is a tight, fun track that really caters to a Hondas strengths. TX World Speedway, about 3 hours away, is giant. Somewhat similar to TX Motor Speedway except that events tend to be much cheaper, and the course is easier on brakes.

IMO, it's pretty tough to beat the DFW area in terms of motorsports. It's got everything, and lots of it. As far as autocross goes, Mineral Wells (45 minutes drive through the country from Lockheed), and TX Motor Speedway are *BIG*. As in, it's hard to see across them because they're so big. Watching vid clips from other regions (except for Qualcom) makes me feel sorry for folks who have to deal with postage stamp sized lots and light poles everywhere. But you gotta work with what you've got, and we got lucky. For example, the last autox that TX region put on at TX Motor Speedway was 1.6 miles long. My best time was 118 seconds! That's one hundred and eighteen...

Both the Equipe Rapide and TX region SCCA provide autocrosses, so there's one about every 2 weeks from March thru October. Numbers of entrants can range from 80-200, but they average 100 or so. And, as timberwulf stated, there are a *bunch* of hot drivers around.

But, when you factor in a very active PCA, as well as BMWCA, you can usually pick between one or two events every single weekend. The PCA has several 2 day events at MW consisting of a time trial on Saturday, followed by what they call an "autocross" (more like solo1) on Sunday. And all within 1 an hour drive time from downtown Fort Worth.

If drag racing is your thing, there are a couple of local strips but also Ennis Motorplex, the fastest 1/4 in the world, about 40 minutes away. There are even 2 great 1/2 mile dirt tracks in the neighborhood (hot dayum!).

BTW, I'll be at Mineral Wells this weekend too. Look for a Honda that resembles a black rollerskate (SM 31).

 

Thanks for everything guys. I'm not so much trying to "build" my car, but fix some things that really need attention(timing belt, CLUTCH, worn motor mounts).

 

OK here's another issue. We race year round. How damned cold does it get there?

Matt (born and raised in South Florida)

 

IMO, not cold enough to stop the autocross season. Aside from Mid June thru mid September, I think the weather is fantastic. It's combination of factors though. It's cold enough to be "uncomfortable" sometimes, days are pretty short, and by November the people who make things happen need a break. The last autocross of the year is usually around November 15. Then things get started again around mid February, so it's not much of a break. DE/lapping events pretty much go year-round...

Man, I hope to see you out here. Your Panasport-clad Integra is *phat*!
(i got the right car didn't i?)


[Modified by fsp31, 3:09 PM 2/14/2002]

 

Yes there is a karting track about 30min for DFW. It is in Denton http://ntkarters.com $300 per year and you get a key to the track go anytime that you like. I race there.

There are three tracks in the area for HPDE. MSR is a smaller track but really nice. TMS (in road config) is a 3/4 oval that dips into a small 8 turn infield, it really isn't very safe and not friendly to non-dry-sump oiled cars, the oval is just tooo long. Then there is TWS really a great track 2.9 miles, 15 turns, and a long *** front straight that dumps you into turn 1 at about 130mph+, this is my fav track of the local ones. There is also Halett, about 4.5 hrs away great track, lots of elevation changes.

As for the AX scene, there is ER, SCCA and the Maveric Region PCA, there are three local parking lots that host AX's and there is also Mineral Wells (really large, but lots of gravel)

Somone in this thread mentioned Gunter Ring (not Todd Ring). That was origionaly being built by a friend of mine, however it has lost momentum and I don't know if it is going to come to be. I wouldn't hold your breath.

 

Nope, that's Mike Neary's (RacerMike). Our GSR is retired after my dad put it into a tree at an event, then I moved to F125.

I'm more interested in the HDPE/Club racing side of things. Autocross has worn thin after 6-7 years. Finally I'll have some money to spend and no more tuition to pay. Here we've got (soon to be) 5 tracks within 3 hrs, plus 5 kart circuits (not counting ovals) within 5hrs, and its sunny year round. Kinda tough to beat, hopefully wherever I end up will have ample opportunity to go play with cars.

 

>>Nope, that's Mike Neary's (RacerMike).<<<



Definitely not saying the DFW hdpe/club racing side is better than Florida. Between you guys and California, everyone else is gunning for 3rd place. Good luck.

 

Just moved back to dallas,
I am looking to do some worker clinics for Texas motor speedway.. in exchange for Driving credits, seat time, touring laps etc..
does anyone know who to call about working some events to get hooked up on the road course (infield) of T.M.S?
or any phone #s about getting hooked up w/ some of these good autoxing events?