2008 SCCA-Chicago Region Learning Curve Auto-x School

[bartekb93]

Registration for SCCA-Chicago Region 2008 Learning Curve (auto-x school) is currently open.

"A fun, inexpensive, safe way of testing your driving ability and car performance. Solo events are a form of automotive competition in which one car at a time negotiates a prescribed course in the shortest possible time. The events are open to anyone who has a sports car, compact or small sedan. The only requirements to compete are a valid state driver's license and a car which will pass a safety technical inspection. Drivers compete in numerous car classes for stock street cars, modified street cars, race prepared cars and modified race cars.

THE LEARNING CURVE
Chicago Region Solo drivers school is an excellent way to learn about and become involved in Solo events. It is a two-part school that consists of a classroom session and a day and a half of on track instruction. Instruction will be provided by experienced, award winning drivers (many with National Championship credentials). Because the entry is limited to only 100 students, there will be a very favorable student/teacher ratio allowing for maximum driving time and personal instruction. The school is for novice drivers with less than one year or no solo experience. Students must attend both days.

When: Saturday April 5 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday April 6 8:00am - 5:00pm

Where: Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, IL

How: Return the entry form with the $120 registration fee payable to Chicago Region, SCCA, no later than March 26, 2008 to: Laurie Montelo - 1425 Mohawk Drive, Schaumburg, IL 60193 (630) 893-0482. To register on line go to http://register.scca-chicago.com/"

For on-line registration go to http://www.scca-chicago.com/solo/2008/learncurve.html and click the nice, big blue rectangular "Online Registration" button at the bottom of the page.

For old fashion way, for those who really love the feel of paper, print out and mail your form from here --> http://www.scca-chicago.com/solo/2008/images/learncurve.pdf

The school runs April 5-6 at Rt.66 in Joliet. Students must attend both days. Cost is $120.00

Here's a thread from S2000 forum with discussion about last years school:
http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=467581&st=0

And here's one from the Scoobie folks:
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1212494

And here is a video of the same course from last years 1st event (same course as the LC). Courtesy of Brent Weibel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5NaeunMNFc

Almost forgot to mention, season and individual event pre-registration is now also open.
SCCA-Chicago Region: http://www.scca-chicago.com/solo/index.html
Tri-State Sports Car Club: http://tsscc.org/

 

[projectmx]

any idea if there is a detroit version of this?

 

[bartekb93]

any idea if there is a detroit version of this?

Have you checked SCCA-Detroit Region http://detroit-scca.org/e107/news.php ?

The schedule reads:

2008 Event Schedule
Date Event Location
May 4, 2008 Season Opener DTE Music Theatre
May 26, 2008 Memorial Day Solo DTE Music Theatre
June 20 & 21, 2008 Solo School Lawrence Tech University, Southfield, MI
June 22, 2008 Solo #3 Lawrence Tech University, Southfield, MI (Note: not CM or Kart friendly...bumpy)
July 12 & 13, 2008 Oscoda GASS Event Wurtsmith AFB, Oscoda, MI
August 2 & 3, 2008 Oscoda DR vs. SVR Challenge Wurtsmith AFB, Oscoda, MI
August 23 & 24, 2008 DR vs. NWOR Challenge Toledo Express Airport, Toledo, OH
September 28, 2008 Solo #7 DTE Music Theatre
October 19, 2008 Solo #8 DTE Music Theatre

You could also ask about more details on the local forum:
http://detroit-scca.org/e107/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewforum.php?6

 

[projectmx]

sweet thanks, i dont' have a car to use at the moment but hopefully by spring she'll be on the road

 

[bartekb93]

Seems a lot of folks are interested in this, but they aren't sure how the whole SCCA membership works. New for this year, everyone's required to be an SCCA member if he/she is running an SCCA sanctioned event (for example a TSSCC event at Rt. 66).

The weekend membership costs $15.00 and is good for the weekend (duh )
The cost of said weekend membership is included in the entry fee for the Learning Curve school, so the $120.00 is all the student has to pay.
The student then can apply the $15.00 credit towards the full membership, as long as it's done within 60 days.

Words from the wise:
"And in case no one has picked up on this, the students can still use that as a $15 credit towards a full membership (as long as it is within 60 days). So if a student goes to the first event, they basically get an annual membership for the cost of the temporary at Event #1 (if they are under 25).

$15 credit for LC
$15 credit for Event #1
$15 credit for referral

First Gear membership is $45"

So it's $30.00 off your full membership if you're planning to run the learning curve and the 1st event of the season, and another $15.00 if you indicate which full/season member referred you. If you're under 25 years old, the full membership is free (assuming you were to run two events within 60 days of each other). If you're over 25, it will cost you a little more

Oh, while we're at it - I'll gladly refer anyone if he/she's looking to become a member - just drop me a PM. 15 bucks less for you and 5 bucks credit to my name is a win-win situation

And I forgot not everyone always knows how to get to Rt.66.
This should help.
Go to http://www.scca-chicago.com/solo/eventsites.html and click the 1st link (Google Maps).

 

[Dimitrios]

Sounds like a good path to get into this. Thanks for posting.

 

[MP3Performance]

I just set up a SCCA account and will register soon. First I need to find out what class the car should be registered under. I checked under what kind of cars are already registered and they all seem VERY competitive. I saw some a wrx, evo, corvette, bmw x3, bmw m3, and a bunch of other good cars, even a honda fit .

Also, are people who are not registered allowed to come and watch, like a friend or someone?

 

[bartekb93]

I just set up a SCCA account and will register soon. First I need to find out what class the car should be registered under. I checked under what kind of cars are already registered and they all seem VERY competitive. I saw some a wrx, evo, corvette, bmw x3, bmw m3, and a bunch of other good cars, even a honda fit .

Also, are people who are not registered allowed to come and watch, like a friend or someone?

What car do you drive, and have you done anything to it? That will determine what class you're in. Just keep in mind in solo, especially when starting out, the car makes less difference than the driver. I wouldn't worry about who else is there and what they drive, but concentrate on the course, and how to get through it in least amount of time

The cars you listed might be fast, but that doesn't mean they are competitive . A lot depends on what's done to them and how tight the nut behind the wheel is. Look at the results from last years event and you'll find stock 1.6l Miatas or HStock classed MINI ahead of much more powerful cars raw time (not to mention index) (drive2)

If you're planning on registering by mail, there's a line there for you to indicate any modifications you have done to the car to help the registrars class you correctly.
If you're registering on-line and don't know what class you should be in, enter the car as S-UNK (street tire unknown) and the registrars will contact you before the event and help sort out which class you're in. Also, the 1st day each instructor will go through a safety check with each student and his/her car, and they'll double check you've been classed correctly.

To answer your last question, of course you can bring spectators! They'll have to sign a waiver just like anyone else who's at Rt.66 property, but that's about it (doesn't cost anything to come and watch). Depending on the weather, I'd suggest bringing appropriate clothes - Rt.66 can get pretty windy sometimes, and while the students will spend a fair amount of time behind the wheel, your friends probably will not.

 

[MP3Performance]

From what I read it seems that I would have to be in the STX class. But since I am unsure I will just register as UNK.

My car is a 2001 Mazda MP3
mods:
CAI, header, slotted front rotors with hawk hps pads all around, illumina struts with espelir springs, f/b AWR motor mounts and side inserts, front AWR endlinks, 3 gauges inside, TWM short shifter, toyo proxes 4 tires.

How much track time do drivers usualy get? And is there one set up coarse or does it change?

One more thing bartek93, by any chance are you polish?

 

[projectmx]

i'm going to be in one of the higher classes i'm sure with my AWD swap even though it is all still mazda

 

[MP3Performance]

I am signed up and payed for. Hope theres good weather those days.

 

[bartekb93]

From what I read it seems that I would have to be in the STX class. But since I am unsure I will just register as UNK.

My car is a 2001 Mazda MP3
mods:
CAI, header, slotted front rotors with hawk hps pads all around, illumina struts with espelir springs, f/b AWR motor mounts and side inserts, front AWR endlinks, 3 gauges inside, TWM short shifter, toyo proxes 4 tires.

How much track time do drivers usualy get? And is there one set up coarse or does it change?

Hmm.. what bumps you out of STS?

One more thing bartek93, by any chance are you polish?

Why do you ask?

 

[projectmx]

mp3performance, the track setup tends to chance each day sometimes they do one set up one day then instead of changing it they just use the end as the starting point and the starting point as the end, i've only done one year of racing with the windy city miata club and i never saw any track setup more than once excluding the reversing things

 

[Katya4me]

Hmm.. what bumps you out of STS?

There is only 1 Protege header that keeps the pre-cat. This is the Wagner shorty, and it's been discontinued for over 3 years. So, unless he has that, he's missing the pre-cat which kicks him up to STX.

 

[Fear]

If SCCA-Chicago wasn't a bunch of jerkoffs, I would do this again. I haven't had fun at one of their events for a few years now. But I digress -- this was fun back when I did it.

 

[MP3Performance]

Hmm.. what bumps you out of STS?


Why do you ask?

I was told my header that removes the first cat is the reason I can't be in STS. I have the stock one that I could put back on, but I don't realy care what class I am in. As long as my times are decent overall thats all that counts.

I ask because your screen name "bartek" is a polish name, i'm polish also....soooo (drinks).

 

[bartekb93]

Katya4me:
Thanks for the classing info. As to the name, guilty as charged
Glad to see you're into this with an open mind. I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun and learn something about your car and driving in the process.

Fear:
I've been a member for only a few years and have made good friends and met a lot of interesting people through the club. None the less, I'm sorry to hear you had different experiences. Calling everyone a jerkoff is a little uncalled for in my book, but maybe everyone in SCCA-CR has wrong you at some point and your statement reflects that. Again, I'm sorry you haven't found common grounds with other members.

 

[Fear]

SCCA-CR is too cliquey. That's my main gripe. I'll stick to SCSCC.

 

[iracemine]

they seemed a bit gay (cliquey) to me too when I was participating a few years back. I enjoy the atmosphere at the race track rather than the littil point weenies in the parking lot.

Ill gladly elaborate if you think I'm wrong.(kissass)

however parking lot racing is a great way to get your foot into the door of auto competition with out much investment.

 

[bartekb93]

To each his own. I'm not here to discuss what group is "cliquey" or "gay" as you put it. I'd rather answer question people might have about the school and to make people try it out.
While it's an auto-x school, many aspects of the sports are very useful in day to day driving and this is a perfect opportunity to learn about them or practice them. Some might even find it fun