LA and San Diego BMWCCA Autocross Events in October

[Albert Pernia]

FYI - The LA and San Diego BMWCCA chapters are both holding autocross events this month, for those looking for some extra seat time. These events are run differently from SCCA ones. There are 2 practice sessions in the morning and timed runs in the afternoon with immediate trophy distribution at the end of the day. Registration includes lunch and instructors are available (usually some local SCCA members like Gio, Chris Teague, Randy Walters, etc.)

Non-BMWs are welcome, although BMW/Minis get priority and you have to be a BMWCCA member. Also, the LA chapter event is alot easier to get into then San Diego's.

• October 19th - LA Chapter
  - CA Speedway in Fontana
  - $75 per driver
  - Click here to download registration form: http://www.bmwclubla.org/media/document ... 20Form.doc
• October 26th - San Diego Chapter
  - Qualcomm Stadium, West Parking Lot
  - $60 per driver
  - Register at motorsportreg.com: http://sdbmwcca.motorsportreg.com/

I will be there to volunteer at the LA event and will be bringing my camera to both . Haven't shot pics in awhile, but I think I remember

[Adrian Covert]

I'll be at the event on the 19th, but I'll be out of town for the 26th (sadly!) I can't wait...

[Steve Ekstrand]

The earliest I think I'll be able to get the car is the 23rd or so. The '09 x35's are in some sort of California emissions bureaucratic holding purgatory for 2-3 weeks.

But if I got it before the 26th, I'd need to find a way to get Stacey out of town for the weekend.... Hey honey, good time to go check on things at the ranch in Texas. She is pretty adamant about us not autocrossing the car. But don't you think its a good thing to take a few dozen laps in the car to learn its handling characteristics. You know for safety? And its got power steering, so I could probably manage to drive it one handed if the neck and knee survived the trip. Probably not.... I have trouble right now driving the Chevy Malibu rental car around town.

[Jayson Woodruff]

Did that yellow M3 pictured above really punt that cone 15ft in the air?

Jay W

[Giovanni Jaramillo]

Did that yellow M3 pictured above really punt that cone 15ft in the air?

Jay W

That's the "lime cone" usually put on top of another orange cone to signify that this particular cone is the "apex" cone. So it's already 2ft off the ground.

[Giovanni Jaramillo]

I'll be at the event on the 19th

Now you don't have to worry.

From prez Mike (not our future prez but prez of BMWCCA-LA) Webb via e-mail:

The Autocross scheduled for October 19 has been canceled. There were not enough people registered to make this event viable.

[Kurt Rahn]

Gio, out of curiosity, how do they class the cars? Or do they use a pax of some kind?

[Steve Ekstrand]

Most marquee clubs class their marquee according to last name and first initial so everybody wins...

The all other makes are lumped into the X class.

[Kurt Rahn]

Wow...so I could theoretically be driving against Tom Berry's Evo or Bill Schenker's Miata? Eek! It'd be much more fun to run against the 3 series head to head, since that was the target they used when designing and engineering my car.

[Steve Ekstrand]

I'll run you in my 335.


BTW-Nobody that good and prepped runs the BMW events in LA.

[Pete Loney]

Did that yellow M3 pictured above really punt that cone 15ft in the air?

Jay W

What about the orange one in the background too?? Geez.
Another car punted one behind the cement rail at the same time??

Cool shot!

[Giovanni Jaramillo]

Gio, out of curiosity, how do they class the cars? Or do they use a pax of some kind?

Classes are based on SD chapter's rules. http://www.sdbmwcca.com/docs/autocross-FAQ.html. No such thing as PAX.

[Giovanni Jaramillo]

Wow...so I could theoretically be driving against Tom Berry's Evo or Bill Schenker's Miata? Eek! It'd be much more fun to run against the 3 series head to head, since that was the target they used when designing and engineering my car.

Remember they are not SCCA. It's casual and fun, no stress about classing. That's why you have SCCA.

[Steve Ekstrand]

I always thought it would be fun to have challenge days at the marquee clubs.

Hi... I'd like to run my Escort GT in street tires against your fire breathing Shelby GT 500 on r-comps... You know... Just for pride...

Hi... I'm here to run my 108hp 91 Civic against your 414hp V8 M3.

[Giovanni Jaramillo]

Hi... I'm here to run my 108hp 91 Civic against your 414hp V8 M3.

Also remember that BMWCCA courses do not adhere to SCCA speed limits.

Hi, welcome to Qualcomm....our courses are 3rd gear. Have fun!

[Jayson Woodruff]

Could that be an antenna ball on the M3? I know I've seen a orange cone antenna ball, just can't remember which car(s).

Jay W

Did that yellow M3 pictured above really punt that cone 15ft in the air?

Jay W

What about the orange one in the background too?? Geez.
Another car punted one behind the cement rail at the same time??

Cool shot!

[Steve Ekstrand]

Also remember that BMWCCA courses do not adhere to SCCA speed limits.

Hi, welcome to Qualcomm....our courses are 3rd gear. Have fun!

Yeah they run too fast down there.... But its not like they ever destroy a car or anything..... }:)

[Kurt Rahn]

I'll run you in my 335.

I'm pretty sure a 335 in semi-capable hands would eat me up. The only advantage I'd have is that my car has a real LSD. Your car has the power, weight and handling advantage. Now anything else but an M I think I could take.

[Kurt Rahn]

It's casual and fun, no stress about classing. That's why you have SCCA.

LOL. For my monthly dose of stress? }:)

[Steve Ekstrand]

I'll run you in my 335.

I'm pretty sure a 335 in semi-capable hands would eat me up. The only advantage I'd have is that my car has a real LSD. Your car has the power, weight and handling advantage. Now anything else but an M I think I could take.

But could a fat ass drugged up one armed lawyer in a one-legged car with run flats beat you????

[Kurt Rahn]

I dunno. Let's find out! ;)

[Albert Pernia]

I'll run you in my 335.

I'm pretty sure a 335 in semi-capable hands would eat me up. The only advantage I'd have is that my car has a real LSD. Your car has the power, weight and handling advantage. Now anything else but an M I think I could take.

Well, a certain nicely setup supercharged 330Ci has been known to take down ///Ms and even modded 335s . Too bad its AutoX days are officially over, and its just a shell of its former self now .

Thanks for updating this thread Gio. I had a feeling the LA event would be canceled, when the instructors are saying they weren't informed of this event .

And yea, that pic of the M3 punting the apex cone up has always been one of my favorites. Not sure about that cone flying in the background though. There might've been another event running there, but I don't remember who or what.

[Giovanni Jaramillo]

Yeah they run too fast down there....

You think we're fast? Go do a PCA event! Porsche thinks Qualcomm is a mini-Road America!

But its not like they ever destroy a car or anything..... }:)

No.........that NEVER happens!

[Giovanni Jaramillo]

Thanks for updating this thread Gio. I had a feeling the LA event would be canceled, when the instructors are saying they weren't informed of this event .

No problem Albert. See you in SD the following weekend.

[Giovanni Jaramillo]

From the auto-x chair Dan Tackett:

Openings are still available for online registration until Sunday 10/19. Click on http://sdbmwcca.motorsportreg.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; to reserve your spot online in advance of the event. The entry fee is $60 and includes breakfast items, cold beverages, and lunch for all participants. Basic information about San Diego Chapter autocrosses is available at http://www.sdbmwcca.com/docs/autocross-FAQ.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.