Scope and Purpose:
Autosports Northwest (ASNW) is a local to Spokane organization that puts together autocross events at a nearby airport. Members of the club include people from surrounding areas as far away as a couple hundred miles. This is more of a slow speed but highly technical form of timed course completion in terms of turns per distance. More specific information on what Autocross is can be found on Wikipedia.
The purpose of engaging in these events is two fold. First, it provides a challenging course that builds driver skills. Second it provides a venue with many participants, which will give the plight of Autism greater exposure.
Schedule:
The 2010 schedule of autocross events with Autosports Northwest is:
April 10-11
May 1-2 & 22-23
June 5-6 & 26-27
July 31
Aug 1 & 14-15
Sep 4-5
Oct 9-10
This is 18 days of autocrossing race excitement.
Pantera Classification:
The Pantera is listed in the 2010 SCCA National Solo Rules Appendix A under the following classifications:
Class B Stock (BS)
Street Prepared Class B (BSP)
Prepared Supplemental Class B
Based on feedback from folks who run Autosports Northwest, they are looking to classify Asa's Pantera in the BPS class. This positions him in the same run group as ASP, ESP, STU and STX, comprising the combined class of "Non-Stock 1 (NS1)" for ASNW events.
For the first few events, if not the entire season, Asa will most likely enter the Novice class until he becomes more familiar with the car and it's capabilities. Once comfortable, he may move into the Vintage class, which is a special class for cars over 25 years old. Past vintage, for the more challenging races he'll enter the NS1 class.
Technical Requirements:
ASNW has published a condensed version of the SCCA technical requirements on their web site.
No loose items.
No trim rings on wheels, not fender skirts, no snap on hup caps.
Wheels must be properly and safely installed, all studs/nuts present and functional.
Tires in good condition (no cracks, tears or cord showing).
Properly installed seat belts or harnesses.
No observable leaks while engine is running.
Oil and Coolant overflows must be one quart or larger.
No steering wheel spinners (suicide knobs).
No cracks in cast or disc wheels, no loose spokes on wire wheels.
Properly bled and functioning brakes. Good and properly adjusted wheel bearings.
Shocks, steering and suspension all in good condition.
Exhaust exits behind driver to the rear or side.
Properly secured battery mounting (use marine box if battery relocated).
Roll bars must meet applicable standards in the rule book.
Helmets must meet Snell 2005 or newer.
Open Road Racing is high speed time-over-distance events. Held on temporarily closed roads, usually two lane highways, this kind of racing challenges the driver to hit a target average speed over a long distance course. The highways may have many twists, turns and elevation changes and normally be posted at 55 MPH or higher. Most Open Road Race events are held on highways posted at 70 MPH.
With the road closed and each entrant started at a minimum 30 second interval, there is typically little if any passing involved. Each racer is trying to make a target speed, such as 150 MPH over the course. This means the driver may be going slightly faster in some places and maybe a little slower in others. With a 30 second lead, a following driver may only get to pass one car over the entire course. Some events stage entrants differently, allowing a greater chance of passing a few more cars.
The target speed has two "tech speed limits" which the racer must stay between. As an example, a racer entered with a target speed of 150, might have a top tech speed of 175 and a low tech speed of 135. If the driver exceeds the high limit, or slows to below the low limit and they are tagged on course by a radar trap, that driver and car are disqualified. Many times if this happens the driver won't find out until after the race.
For safety reasons, course workers are stationed at many points along the route. They keep in touch with each other and the course marshals via radio. Emergency services are always on standby, including a helicopter if necessary. However, Open Road Racing of this nature is one of the safest high speed events one could enter into. One such event, and the one we are targeting for the Racing Against Autism Pantera is the Silver State Classic Challenge in Nevada.
The Silver State Classic Challenge and Nevada Open Road Challenge are both held on highway 318 in Nevada. Here is a description directly from the SSCC website:
The Nevada Highway 318 events are identical, differing only in the time of year. They begin just South of Lund, at White Pine County just north of mile marker 9, head South through Nye County, and finish at Lincoln County mile marker 7. The journey traverses 90 miles of two lane highway which has recently been repaved and is in excellent condition, with long straights, twisty sections, and dips, which for the faster participants, may result in an airborne experience. Entrants receive a set of Course Notes and a video tape to help them prepare for the event. The cars are run in classes at five mile per hour increments, from 95 mph to 180 mph, with the class determined by the vehicle's safety equipment, the driver's experience level and the driver/navigator comfort level. There is also an Unlimited Division for very experienced drivers with full race-equipped cars. Vehicles are started at one minute intervals and 30 second intervals, beginning with the 150 mph class and working back to the 95 mph class. Once the last 95 mph class vehicle clears the course, the Unlimited Division and the higher speed brackets over 150 are run as the final group.
The evnet takes place across four days. Beginning on a Thursday, beginners or those wishing a refresher in high speed driving, a Qualifying School is held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Friday find the racers participate in a parade through Ely. A car show is held on Saturday and the Race is held Sunday. A follow up banquet and awards ceremony are held at Sam's Town in Las Vegas, Sunday evening after the race.
Our goal is to run this race much like others run a marathon for charity. We wish to collect pledges for every mile driven.
Other Open Road Races we eventually would like to run in include:
The Races
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