TORCA at CWCC Autocross
June 1, 2008 Grand Junction Motor Speedway
Grand Junction, CO
|
This weekend held a lot of fun and excitement. We connected up with several other corvettes along the way. It was a brilliantly beautiful drive over to the
western slope on Saturday. The winter snow runoff raised the water levels of the White River that feed into the
Colorado Riverdangerously high through Glenwood Canyon (always a spectacular view!). We had a short cocktail hour in the
parking lot at the Super 8 with other TORCA members as we put our race numbers on and added the new "TORCA RACE TEAM"
decals that Ron B. designed. We then walked across the street to Applebees where we got a group of tables together and
connected up with a few DtRC members. We also saw a couple pull up in the parking lot in a yellow C5 convertible.
They had just bought it in Colorado as their 1st Vette and traveled from Seattle, WA to pick it up.
We invited them to sit with our group and they later joined us at the track the following day. On race day, we found our way to the elusive track, and parked in a long single row in the pits. The Grand Junction Motor Speedway is primarily set up for go-karts, but because of its wide track, can entertain motorcycles and sports cars. This was a new venue that was arranged by our RMR governor, Larry M., and gave us all a new experience. Like a NASCAR time trial to determine pole position, we were given a warm up lap crossing the finishing line at speed. The next two laps were timed by on-board transponders, and the last time through the finish line we did one cool-down lap and exited into the pit area. We did this twice for each of the three sanctioned low-speed autocrosses, so in all we were able to get over 24 laps in. A very busy day for driving! Three cars ran at one time separated by 20 seconds, so in order to keep drivers from catching up to each other, we were placed into one of 7 run groups (A through G), based on driving ability, determined by Larry and crew. The A group, which was the fastest men's group, contained 4 out of 5 TORCA members. Four TORCA ladies (who proved to be very fast on this course) were in the C group with one gentleman. Because this was an open track (no cones) and the track owners handle the timing through transponders, it was the most relaxful event that we have been to. We didn't have to work in the hot sun chasing cones, the score sheets were inside the air-conditioned building which had real running water restrooms. Ahh.... we felt like professional drivers! The ladies were fast (the men were furious) but we had a great time. One of our younger members, Ron B., Jackie and Ken's son, turned a new course record of 1:02.857 minutes for a car on the course and will have his name on a plaque at the track. way to go Ron, you're in charge of the driving school from now on! Mike K. convinced Josie R. to ride along so she could experience an autocross (low speed autox is restricted to less than 80 mph, and at this track you could only break 70 mph). Although Josie got out of the car with a big smile she had to be helped by Becky to a chair under an easy-up as her legs were wobbley. Josie helped Mike get a better time as he was much smoother than normal. Cindy was a bit discouraged by her times muscleing their 427 powered C3 around, but when mike placed her in his and Becky's C5 Z06 for her final run of the race, and with mike's cajoling to keep her foot into it, she knocked 13 seconds off her previously fastest lap time. Her time of 1:10 minutes would have beaten most of the field's 1st lap times that day, so we know, with the right car (i.e more modern), she would be on a par with the rest of the go-fast-girls and a contender for an FTD. Here's a couple videos:
Video of Becky doing a Lap - C5 Z06(41 MB) Roger, Kitty, Mike, Becky, Don and Cindy stopped off in Edwards, Colorado to get some of the famous crab cakes at the Gas House restauraunt. Pricey, but the grouper was fantastic, whether blackened like Mike likes it, or with their mango salsa. Article by Mike K. |
Pictures by Mike and Becky Konshak
Pictures by Cindy and Don McCoy.
Pictures by Ron Bauer.
