NOC BMWCCA Memorial Day Weekend Events

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Published: 27 May 2013

The NOCBMWCCA has an exciting line-up of events planned at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course this Memorial weekend.

Inaugural Harvey Rogers Memorial Enduro May 24 2013

The Chapter is hosting an inaugural enduro to honor past President Harvey Rogers. The event, the first in a new endurance series for BMW CCA Club Racing presented by Turner Motorsports, is scheduled for Friday.

Memorial Day Weekend Club Race May 24-26, 2013

Northern Ohio will host the region's Premier Race during the weekend--meaning 150% points. You don't want to miss out on those extra points that could make or break your championship run.

High-Performance Driving School May 25-26, 2013

Ever wonder what it would be like to drive YOUR BIMMER on a world-class race track? Don't miss your chance to have the experience of a lifetime at the NOC BMWCCA HPDE. Trained instructors ride shotgun teaching you the finer points of controlled high-speed driving.

For complete details or to register for any of these events click to our calendar and choose the event.

Registrations are “first come, first served basis”, so sign-up today! All payments must be made through MotorsportsReg (link for each event available in calendar listing).

NOTE: All participants must be at least 18 years of age. All Club Race and Enduro registrants must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid BMWCCA Club Racing license. All vehicles must pass Tech inspection before being permitted on the track.

Mid Ohio BMWCCA Driving School

Grandstand May 2013

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Published: 27 May 2013

Submitted by Brian Nawrocki, NOCBMWCCA president

It's springtime, my favorite time of the year. The sun is out, the weather is warming, trees are budding, and the smell of burning rubber is once again in the air. As we pull our cars from their winter slumbers under car covers in the garage corner, we remember all the things we love about summer: The HPDEs, races, autocrosses, car shows, and club outings that bring us together each and every year.

This spring brings with it new beginnings for the Northern Ohio Chapter too. First you will notice a new face to our chapter website. There is a fresh user-friendly interface which closely resembles and is integrated to the BMWCCA national website. Other features include a proper subpage for our ZBimmers associates. Get busy and mingle with our topless friends! The new "GearShop" is where you can purchase custom embroidered club apparel from any of several designer names. There is an improved calendar of events as well. Get online and check us out. And remember "Like" us on Facebook and stay connected with Facebook alerts.

As usual we opened Mid-Ohio with an HPDE and a Race school. The weather broke in time for us to take to the track with three beautiful, yet chilly, days at that world-class facility. This is an event where, if you cherish a plethora of track time, you don't want to miss out. Sadly, the weather was not optimal leading up to the event which may have scared off some, but not the diehards who, in return for their tracking dedication, were rewarded with some of the best weather of the year up to that date. So, next season don't delay and get on track early.

As soon as we've gotten this first event behind us, planning begins for our biggest event of the year, Memorial Day at Mid-Ohio! We have secured Memorial Day weekend 2013 once again this year. We will be running an HPDE, Club Race, and the Innaugural Harvey Rodgers Enduro Series club race.

Later in June, we have a behind-the-scenes at endangered Zoar tour and a 1-series get-together. More events are being planned for later in summer, so check the website to keep current. I wish all of you a pleasant and safe driving season and hope to meet up with a few of you along the way. Remember to drive carefully and keep' em shiny side up!

Brian

Half-Empty or Half-Full? A Nelson Ledges Rainy Sunday Fun Day

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Published: 26 May 2013

Submitted by Bob Perritt

I was looking forward to a nice sunny, warm day at the track to run #57 after that long winter. Well, if I wanted that, I should have gone on Saturday; that's how things go at the track—not always as you plan.

We started out on slicks for some reason. Perhaps, we thought the radar was wrong, just like the data system in my car--wrong (ha-ha!). So we went out on slicks, and 20 minutes later we were skating around the track. I thought winter was over. I saw parts of the track I haven't seen before; and, this was not grass, but the track!

Being upset about the turn of events with the weather, it turned out to be a wonderful day of driving after all. I put on my G-Force rains and went out for another session. Those rains worked amazingly well after having skated around for a few laps on slicks, but you still needed to be smooth—really smooth. When it's wet—puddle-wet—smooth is king: throttle-smooth, brake-smooth and very much shift-smooth. I didn't think I had that in me: To be that smooth.

You learn to be patient; now, that's funny, but true. You're waiting for the shift, where to lift (Lift? Who wants to lift?), and where to brake. Each lap changes, so you learn what you did and where you did it on the last lap very fast and make corrections. Puddles get larger; then, small streams start to form. Don't turn. Just hold the wheel until you've gone through them. Those areas you now will remember even when it's dry. Chances are you didn't notice the change in the pavement when it was dry driving.

So, rain on the track makes you better in the dry: Smoother, more patient. You should see things on the track better— as long as you are pointed forward. It's a great way to get seat time and to prepare for the day you get caught in a race when it starts to rain. Now don't get me wrong; I would rather drive on a dry track, especially at Nelson. Flat out through Turn #3 doesn't work well in the wet, but it's a blast in the dry, as is Turn #11 at 130mph. Funny thing about Nelson, I never wanted to drive there because of all the stories I had heard about that track. A buddy commented, "Just try it once, and, if you don't like it, don't come back." So I did. Well, I guess you figured it out: If I drive Nelson in the rain, either I'm nuts or it's fun. It's fun, but I am crazy. Aren't we all?
A Fun Day at Nelson is just that fun!

Your first Driving School

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Published: 25 May 2013

Submitted by Bob Wright

So, you think you want to learn more about how to operate your favorite car and prefer not to be pulled over by Ohio's finest during the process? Well, Boys and Girls, this is why we have driving schools!

Forget about thinking that this is racing or anything to do with racing. That is a whole other chapter for another day. However, I cannot stress enough how important it is for each and every one of you to learn how to properly operate your car.

Don't give me that, "I've been driving without a ticket for years look." I know you can do better. You will be faced with emergency situations in everyday driving in which these exercises could very well save your life--or at least avoid impact and injury.
There is a reason that you rarely hear about race-car drivers getting into accidents on the highway. It's because, at their level of training, the Real World is in slow motion for them. Everything happens so slowly for them compared to events on track, that they essentially can avoid any everyday situation. Wouldn't you like to have a little piece of that confidence in your abilities? Well, I am pleased to tell you, that there are plenty of amazing volunteers just waiting to teach you these skills. And it does not have to cost a lot of money. You are fortunate enough to be in a "Drivin' Chapter" here in Northern Ohio. Many chapters are too small to take the risk of trying to get their members to embrace this amazing hobby. So, be thankful for these people and give them some love back by signing up for one of their events soon. There is room for you too!

Car prep

Many people agonize over what to do to their cars before going to the track for the first time. In reality, if you have a late model BMW, there is not a lot to do at all. You need to ask yourself a few basic questions about your car.How are the brake pads? Are you able to inspect your pads yourself? If not, stop right there. Time to get some professional help! There are some great shops in the area, and people who will not let you down! They can certain sure your brake pads are ready, and that your brake fluid is fresh
(a requirement), and probably can give your car a once over as well, while they have it.

Likewise, you need tires. These need to be high-quality summer tires; typically, look for a tread wear number around 150-250. All-season or winter tires are not acceptable, although there has been some thought about making winter tires legal for early spring events. These tires do not have to be new, but you will have wear over the weekend, so at least half tread would be a minimum. You DO NOT want to show up with competition R-rated tires for your early events. It is important that you learn to "fly" the right way, before you advance to this type of rubber. Again, if you are not certain, talk to your shop or check with our sponsors and advertisers. I am sure they can help you select the correct tires for your car for a weekend of Driving School excitement. If you do have an older "baby," say more than six or so years old, then by all means get it checked out by a competent shop before your first track day. They need to make certain that your basic suspension components are not worn and that the car can be safely operated at speed.

Finally, if all of this sounds like work, and all you want to do is have fun, you can rent track cars for these events.

Hope to see you at the track!

Bob Wright