Plan on joining us at the Hawkeye Tech Transportation Center (near Hawkeye Community College, just south of Waterloo) for the SCCA Iowa Challenge 1 Autocross. Whether you just want to come and watch all of the cool cars, or would like to enter your MINI and drive the course, it will be fun and interesting. There will be a variety of vehicles participating--including MINIs!

For those planning on observing and cheering on the participants, please plan to arrive prior to 10:00 am so we can participate as desired in the preliminary novice walk. Mike Holzinger from the Iowa Region SCCA has offered to provide a dedicated spot for our MINIs to park as a group.

For those interested in driving the course, there is a lot of great information on the Iowa Region SCCA and Great River Region SCCA websites on the steps to prepare yourself and your MINI. Driver registration must be completed prior to the day of the event, and can be done via the form at the following website: MotorsportReg.com. A valid US drivers license and Snell M2000 or SA2000 or better helmet is required; however, if you want to drive the course and don't have a helmet a few loaners will be made available for use.

For those entered in auto-x, here's the schedule of events:
8:30 am - 10:00 am - Tech inspection
8:30 am -10:00 am - Registration
10:15 am - Novice walk
10:30 am - MANDATORY driver's meeting
11:00 am - First car on course

Contrary to earlier information, we'll plan on having everyone bring a picnic lunch to the venue so we don't miss out on any of the MINI action. Please bring along your lawn chairs and your picnic meal of choice. Soft drinks will be provided.

Specific location information can be found in the EIM Event Calendar Entry, along with the usual sign-up link.

For starters, I know that fomogo1 has entered his MCS JCW Coupe in the auto-x, and I suspect that JDCMini will be driving his Emod too. I believe bsteig will run the course in his MINI too. Anyone else planning on weaving through the orange cones?

 

Planning to attend as a spectator, I'm pretty sure I could not do the novice walk.

 

You can watch us walk the course from your lawn chair...much more relaxing.

 

I just registered, though it told me that it wouldn't accept online payments so I guess I will pay when I get there!

 

what is the "novice walk"?

 

If I'm not mistaken, I believe you're able to walk the course while the experts describe the best driving techniques for getting through each section as fast and efficiently as possible.

 

Read some stuff on the Iowa Region SCCA site and it looks like you always register online but pay at the event, so now I'm not so worried.

Looking forward to my first auto-X event!

 

A really good, easy-to-understand introduction to the autocross is here:

http://www.iowaregionscca.org/Autocross%20Basics.pdf

 

A little tension behind the wheel would be more fun than relaxation, but 'ya-know -- ya-live with what-ya-got'

 

Thanks for the link...I went and took a peek...think I will be an observer this time! I'll be cheering from the bleachers!

 

Gary, on the Border Skirmish Drive my HT went completely useless. After some refurbishment I think it's okay, but I need to test it against the Master Radio Would you bring yours along to Waterloo on Sunday?

 

Will do.

 

Any autocross-participating folks want to caravan up to Waterloo? I was planning on leaving Coralville sometime between 7 and 7:30.

 

I am planning on leaving Coralville about 07:30. Forewarned: I'm pretty much a speed-limit guy on primary roads, and not much fun to caravan with

 

On 380 (and other Interstates) I'm a speed limit-ish (max 5 MPH over) guy as well, so that shouldn't be an issue.

 

 

Great Shall we make it a rendezvous, then? Where do you want to meet-up? Do you have a FRS/GMRS radio?

 

I do have a radio. Shall we meet at the Casey's on the corner of Penn and 380 in North Liberty at 7:30?

 

Sounds good. See you then

 

Looks like a nice, dry day on Sunday.

I'll bring the canopy so we'll have some guaranteed shade.

 

I was thinking of camping under Molly's boot lid, but a canopy sounds cool Good thought

 

I'm looking forward to seeing all the Mini folks at our AutoX in the morning.

Be careful tomorrow this Autox thing can be very addictive. Just got my 20 year pin from the SCCA. Sorta making me feel old. My first Autox was in a 100hp 1963 Corvair.

I have an easy up in my trailer that I wont be using tomorrow we can set up for additional shade if you'd like.

Jeff Christianson

 

Been asleep at the wheel.......
Nora & I will be there to observe & cheer on the MINIs

See you all there!

 

I will be there to observe.

My first racing event in person. I can't wait, but I might have to bug out early. Have to make a trip to the cities that night. And then over the course of the week put on 1000 over the course of the next week. I am glad I get to do it in my coops.

 

This day is starting out pretty soggy...supposed to clear up this afternoon. Hope you guys get to enjoy some fun driving. I doubt I'll make it up there today. Have a great time!