Top of the Rockies Corvette Association (TORCA), Colorado

TORCA 2007 Driving School
and Introduction to Low-Speed Autocross
November 3, 2007 - CloverLeaf Kennel Club, Loveland, CO

Mike K. organized a TORCA only Driving School and Introduction to Low-Speed Autocross on the desire of the membership. Although the first initial stages of planning had a few unanticipated setbacks with the contacts at the original venue, Mike was was able to scurry and find another, cheaper and more cooperative establishment. Arrangments were made with the Cloverleaf Kennel Club in Loveland to use their very large parking lot. The Loveland sheriff's department had reserved that weekend for their own school, but graciously bowed out to allow us to take it over. It helped that the Sheriff's Training officer owned a '63 Corvette. Cloverleaf provided a warm indoor training area and had restrooms and a concession stand for our noon meal.

Arnie Coleman (SCCA)

Student Run Record

Event Flyer

Pictures by Jim K.

Mike, as a past SCCA competitor, also arranged to have Arnie Coleman, the Chairman of Novices of the SCCA Rocky Mountain Solo2 (for both the Colorado Region Solo and the Continental Divide Region clubs) to come up from Colorado Springs to be our classroom instructor. Tom Hunsinger (Colorado Solo2 Chair), Grant Barclay (Rocky Mountain Division Time Trials Steward) and two other members of the Denver area club also came to help setup the exercises and autocross course. All five acted as ride along instructors along with the volunteers from TORCA: Becky K., Ryan R., Ken B., Roger M. and Ed. The SCCA truck carried spare helmets for those students that did not acquire them as yet.

Becky and Mike arrived at Oh-dark-thirty to find that part of the lot was being used for an on-line car auction. A Truck Driving school had not been informed about us renting the lot as well, but we were able to work out some compromises and stake our claim on what was left and the SCCA boys laid out a perfect exercise course. We used SCCA cones to mark off the perimeter of the school area and all 200 of TORCA's cones (unpacked for the first time) were used for the exercises. About 400 in all. We had some last minute surprises that sent out Jackie and Ryan for fresh batteries for the timing gear and copies of the course materials. Becky brought muffins and herded the students into their classroom like a good autox mom.

We had 24 students which ended up to be the perfect number, as we ended the day exactly at 4:30 PM. In the morning two groups were formed to practice on the slalom, figure eight (traction) or triangle (braking) course. During the noon hour, Mike and the SCCA instructors re-arranged the course for the autocross. Every student was able to complete three autocross runs in the afternoon. The course was laid out for maximum safety, and except for the clueless taxi that cut through the cones and across the course, we did not have any problems.

Mike took on the task of logging the times of everyones runs, which folks clamored about to see how well they improved. And did they ever! You'll see from the Student Run Record how well they all performed. The only runs shown are of the students themselves as this event was all about them them. The rest of the TORCA members that competed this year were not listed. (I would say that many of the times were good enough to place in an actual autox). Everyone had a great time, and all, including the TORCA instructors, donated $10 per member to help compensate for the travel cost of the SCCA truck and volunteers and the venue itself. We'd like to thank everyone who stuck around to help as on-board instructors and for the many who helped haul, set-up and tear down the cones and equipment, and especially the SCCA Rocky Mountain Solo2 members that volunteered their Saturday for us.