The SoCal SCCA CAM Autocross thread

[Chad-1stGen]

Next CalClub region event is in Fontana 1/15/17. Next San Diego region event is 1/22/17

The original post below outlines how the autocross works.

Note, I have edited this first post to better reflect LA region specific info now that I have attended an event.

http://lateapexphoto.com/img/s6/v140/p1181734431-2.jpg (http://lateapexphoto.com/p439377861/e466fd61f)

Long version:
I've been having such a great time running with the great group of folks who run in the CAM class down in San Diego that in addition to running with them I thought it would be cool to generate more interest in the LA region. The SCCA autocross courses I've run at El Torro and Qualcomm are the longest and most fun autocross courses I've ever run! They tend to be about 1 minute long with no repeated sections and have more varied course design than a lot of the goodguys or Hotchkis courses. Don't get me wrong those other courses are fun too, but I can't help be really enjoy a longer more varied course.

Logistics and cost.

Saturday's are practice days and require registering far in advance and spots are limited. So far I haven't tried to attend a practice day.

Sunday is the competition day (aka championship day). EDIT: For the LA region you want to sign up online. Online the cost is $30. If you register in person the day of the event the cost is $40 dollars.

Competition day usually you get 3 or 4 timed runs that count towards the win. Extra runs (X runs) are usually available but must be purchased when you sign in at the event. At LA you don't have to work extra for the xruns and you may be able to run them before the end of the day. The cost of the fun runs are in the LA region is $25. So for $55 you will either get 6 or 8 runs on an amazing and long course. Once you are an SCCA member this is the cheapest autocross seat time of any of the events in this area. More importantly, you only have to be onsite for less than half a day to get those runs rather than all day at some other events. Typically I'm at the event for 3 hour or less and that includes plenty of bench racing time with other folks.

You have to be an SCCA member which costs $45-100 depending on a few things and lasts for 12 months from day of purchase. Alternatively you can do like I did and buy a weekend pass for $15 which if you decide to later become a member within either 30 or 60 days will be credited back to you. This is what I did.

Points Cards. If you want to make a run for the season's points in your class you must purchase a points card for the calendar year for $30. In the LA region you don't need a points card to run and this far in the season I don't think it's worth it.

Total cost if you just want to come "try it out" will be $45. but if you get the membership stuff taken care of future events only cost your $30. You can also easily get 6-8 long runs in for $70 if you also purchase x-runs which is less than the going rate for the single day Hotchkis autocross and Camarillo autocross.

You do your 3-4 runs in a single session. Your session lasts about an hour and cars are run through the full line up before you get your next run.

You have to "work" a session (again about an hour). This gets some flack from some people but its not too bad as it gives you a close up view of the action and if your work session is before your run session you can get a great view of the line being taken by the fast guys in your area of the track.

Link to the Orange County page: http://solo2.com/
Link to the San Diego page: http://sdrscca.com/

Video from my run at El Toro in July
HHdKg4Pq83U

Here are some pics and video from my two trips to San Diego:
First Outing:
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/cam%20pic%202_zpstdh8evv2.jpg

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/cam%20lined%20up_zpsttvadshm.jpg

Db7nGZwLGeg

Second Outing:
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/images/0019/88/79/19108897.jpg

Ch2WkVcA96U

[Chad-1stGen]

Hey guys,

I got some updated info on the differences from SD to the LA region and have edited the post above accordingly.

Also, though I would share the LA region's tips for getting started here:
http://solo2.com/newcomerInfo.htm

Also the SCCA CAM rules are here:
http://scca.cdn.racersites.com/prod/assets/2015%20CAM%20handout%20APPENDIX%20B%20%283%292.pdf

The CAM rules are pretty broad and forgiving when it comes to car mods which is perfect for the pro touring crowd. Nearly anything goes with respect to performance mods as long as you have 200tw tires and keep the spirit of a street car. If you have questions then read the 2 page rules I linked above.

There are three CAM sub-classes but depending on turnout cars may all be lumped into a single CAM class.

CAMT - Traditional. Body styles originating from 1954 - 1972 with minimum weight of 3,000 lbs and minimum wheelbase of 108"

CAMS - Sport. Minimum wheelbase of 90" and weight of 2,350 lbs or 2,500 lbs if lexan windshield. This class is basically for Cobra's vettes and other short wheelbase or super lightweight cars.

CAMC - Contemporary. Body styles originating from 1978 on with minimum weight of 3,000 lbs and minimum wheelbase of 100"

[Tomswheels]

Chad, it's great you are getting this going, I won't be able to make the 12th, but would like to come up another day if invited! Do I have to follow your lead/etiquette and lose the first time on purpose? Anyway just want to add all are welcome in San Diego the 21st, we will have the BBQ stocked!

[JakeR]

Sounds like fun Chad, great info. I'll try to make it out there :thumbsup:

[Chad-1stGen]

Hey folks,

The online registration is open for the event 7/12. I just signed up this morning so I'm planning on being there.

Would be great if others can make it out to check it out.

Sing up is here: http://solo2.motorsportreg.com/

If you can't or don't sign up online you can sign up the day of but you will pay a $40 event fee rather than $30 event fee.

[Chad-1stGen]

Bump.

If you don't already have plans this Sunday, come on out!

[Chad-1stGen]

Bump. Next event is a little over a week away. Lets get some CAM action going!

Register here: https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/autocross-sunday-9-hosted-by-e-board-el-toro-field-scca-socal-solo-ii-432499#.VbqShPlVhBc

Edit: Video of last months course is here:
HHdKg4Pq83U

[Chad-1stGen]

As usual I like to do events last minute. I just realized this morning that the LA region's autocross weekend this month is this weekend and that with CAM running in the morning on Sunday I can make it.

Anyone else want to join me?
https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/autocross-sunday-12-hosted-by-eboard-auto-club-speedway-scca-socal-solo-ii-285024#.VkYhlLerSUk

[Chad-1stGen]

Given my last minute announcement we had a great turnout this past Sunday of CAM cars at the SCCA autocross with 5 of us competing.

Greg even chanced driving Scar in the rain to come out. As he told me himself, it isn't a trailer queen! Efrain came out in his sweet yellow 69. Sal came out to get some payback on me in his twin red 68 Camaro and Kevin was there in his Chevelle.

https://scontent-lax3-1.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xfp1/t51.2885-15/e35/12224555_1492548147716960_2067160627_n.jpg

Scar is one sweet machine. The pain on it is beautiful and it was getting a ton of attention from the rest of the SCCA autocrossers!

It was a great day. Three of us bought x-runs and so we got 8 runs on a super long and fast course, worked our session and were in and out in just over 4 hours and it cost me $55 (I have an SCCA membership). I love all kinds of performance driving but SCCA autocrosses are quickly becoming one of my favorites.

Greg took some time to figure out the course but by the time he got into the x-runs he was laying down some sweet times and had the fastest time of the 5 of us. Here are the results:
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/CSCC%20SCCA%2011-16-15%20results_zpsnqwwgn6h.jpg

My consolation prize was that with Greg initially getting lost on the course I took the "win" in the points runs :)

Here is video of this awesome course. ignore the out of sync g-meter.
ffgRIoLlVuM

I bought my 2016 points card to make a run at CAM T. Who is gonna help make it a competition??

[Chad-1stGen]

The 2016 Cal Club events are as follows:

ACS = Autoclub Speedway
ET = El Toro / Orange County Great Park

January 16-17 - ACS
February 20-21 - ACS
March 19-20 - ET
April 23-24 - ACS
May 14-15 - ACS
June 11-12 - ET
July 9-10 - ET
July 30-31 - ET
August 20-21 - ET
September 24-25
October 22-23 - ACS
November 12-13 - ACS
December 3-4 - ACS

[Chad-1stGen]

Bump. First event is this weekend in Fontana!

I'm going to be at Buttonwillow since I booked the track event before I saw the 2016 autocross calendar. C'mon lets get the CAM class going in the LA/OC region so I hope some others can hold the torch in my absence.

[Chad-1stGen]

Heads up. The next LA regional event is on Sunday 2/21. This will be my first event of the season in LA.

Also, next San Diego SCCA autocross is this Sunday 2/14 where I'm also hoping to make my first appearance of the season.

[Tomswheels]

I'll believe it when I see it!

[Chad-1stGen]

I'll believe it when I see it!

I have video proof!

u3QML0zIbHY

Great time with the SD crew today. We had a large turnout and for the first time we even had 3 first gen Camaro's competing :)

I hope folks can make it next weekend to Fontana!

[Chad-1stGen]

Another Sunday, another great day of autocrossing!

Yesterday marked the 2nd monthly CalClub autocross and my first time making it out. We had 7 CAM cars show up

CAM C - Matt A. in his late model mustang that he calls "the rental car."

CAM S - Jane T. in her 64 Corvette (Scarlet)
CAM S - Greg T. in his 65 Corvette (Scar)

CAM T - Efrain D. in his 69 Camaro
CAM T - Ron M. in his 69 Camaro (making his SCCA debut!)
CAM T - Kevin R. in his 65 Chevelle
CAM T - Myself in the 68 Camaro

The weather was beautiful low 80's SoCal day, perfect for autocrossing.
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/Gregs%20pits_zpsbcwqzx5o.jpg

The course yesterday was HUGE (times of almost a minute and a half)! The 2nd biggest course I've done and one of the big reasons I love going to the SoCal SCCA events. Both the CalClub region and San Diego region consistently create one minute plus courses with a lot of variety.

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/my%20pic%20of%20the%20pits%20edited_zps5vtvhik2.jp g

With such a long course DNF's were in vogue, though I think at least one or two of them were bad calls but everyone ran their best time without a DNF so it was all good.

In CAMT Efrain came out of the gate swinging and jumped into the lead in the first set of runs and kept that position for the first 3 of 4 competition runs. It wasn't until the 4th run that I managed to leapfrog him into 1st. In CAMS, Greg ran the fastest time of any of the CAM cars during the competition runs. Everyone loved Greg's car, including the announcer. Matt was up against another late model Mustang in CAM C who was on the RE71 tires and ultimately Matt wasn't able to catch him.

Here are the Official Results for the CAM cars as well as the X-runs that we did later.
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/Calclub%202-21-16%20results_zpssezpdt1x.jpg

And here is a video of my 77.8 second x-run.
3mWYh6edRqg

And one final pic Ron took in the hot pits.
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/Rons%20pic_zpswevh5xt6.jpg

Thanks everyone for coming out! Hopefully, I see you again plus some of the other local autocrossers at future CalClub events.

PS. this is the same lot the CAM Challenge will be held in April so as you can see the courses possible in this lot are awesome!

[efs69]

Fun times Chad!! Look forward to the next one!

[Chad-1stGen]

Another month and another fun SCCA outing coming up. This Sunday is the first El Toro event of 2016 with Cal Club. El Toro is not only a fantastic location because it is close but the large size allows from some amazing courses and the concrete offers tremendous grip!

Lets get some more CAM T guys to sign up and come out for some friendly competition!

[Ron in SoCal]

Yo Chad - Just saw this. What a great day that was! :thumbsup:

I'm gonna try and make end of April.

[Chad-1stGen]

The next two weekends have SCCA autocross in Fontana!

This weekend (4/23-24) is the next monthly CalClub autocross and because it is competing with a national event the attendance is low. You can still get in on practice Saturday and 4 competition runs Sunday should be a shoe in. This is also another chance to practice on the same lot and surface as the CAM event the following weekend. I will be there both Saturday and Sunday.

The following weekend (4/30-5/1) is the California CAM challenge. As of this posting we have 48 CAM cars registered with the splits between CAM T/S/C being fairly even so each class is going to have some great competition! I'll also be at this event and am helping volunteer too. If you don't have a CAM eligible car you can still come out and run the same number of runs at a discounted price in exchange for helping with an extra work assignment on Sunday.

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/CA%20CAM%20challenge_zpsdncfkjt0.jpg

[Chad-1stGen]

Note to self and those that read this. Attending local SCCA events when there is a competing National event somewhat nearby makes for some great seat time!

This past weekend 4/23-24 I attended my first practice day on Saturday and I got my wife to come out and drive her first ever autocross on Sunday! Due to the National event in NorCal, the weekend attendance was lighter so on Saturday we got 14 runs instead of 12 and Sunday we got 5 competition runs instead of 3-4. All for the same price on a fantastic ~70 second course!

Saturday practice recap
We had 3 CAMT eligible cars attend though as it was a practice day there was no actual classing. Michael C. and I had our 68 Camaros and we ran into a first timer who had a freshly built Nova with TCI subframe and 4 link underneath.
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/E4A58A85-530D-4AB3-BD08-0B6FAC5EAF8F_zpslwmmnch0.jpg

It was a lot of fun to attend a practice autocross where I could set aside some of my competitiveness and try new things. This was the second time ever that I tried left foot braking and after 14 runs in one day it was feeling a lot more natural by the end. I'm not sure that I'm as fast around a course yet as I am right foot braking but I think its close enough to try and left foot brake this weekend at the CAM challenge. I also got some great ride along instruction that helped me understand some things I was doing wrong that I wasn't even aware of and some good car tuning feedback.

I think Michael was having a good time up until he discovered that his tires had been corded. Nick, the first timer with the Nova, was totally hooked. Its great to see how much first timers can improve from their first run to their last. Nick's first few runs were a little timid but as soon as someone else drove his car he attacked the course with a lot more gusto and confidence.

Sunday championship recap
Sadly, with Optima USCA the weekend before and the CAM challenge the following weekend It was a little lonely in the CAM classes this weekend. We had no CAMS cars, 3 CAMC cars (though one ran Novice) and my wife and I running CAM T. The good news was 5 competition runs all for the same $30 price.

The large SCCA autocross courses found in the SoCal regions can be a little intimidating for some folks used to GoodGuys or NMCA Hotchkis style courses as the SCCA courses use a lot less chalk and cones so you have to truly memorize the course to avoid a dreaded DNF. With that in mind, I was super stoked for my wife to complete all of her 5 runs with no DNF's and drop a lot of time. From her first run to her 5th she dropped over 8 seconds off her time from an 82.x to a low 74.x. She had a lot of fun and I could see some competitive spirit because she kept asking me after the event if the times from the newbie autocrosser who brought a brand new Lamborghini Huracán were posted. In the end she did beat his best time by about a second. In fact her best time would of placed her a solid mid pack 5th out of 9 if she had run the Novice class instead of CAMT. She also beat more than a few folks in the overall PAX index. However, the best outcome was that she had fun, not who she did or didn't beat.

Here is the video from her best run.
5_QNCHH39VI

I get a kick out of the fact that in the past she has teased me for watching video of my runs over and over again and yet now that she has her own video she has done the same thing.

The next SCCA event in SoCal is the CAM challenge this weekend followed by your choice of either the San Diego region at Qualcom or the LA region in Fontana on May 14-15.

[glassman]

Nice Chad!! Hoping to get my wifey to do the same.....I'd like to make the trek and do this down there as well as a few up here.....now if i could only get my car running decent....

[z28cp]

Noticed your wife was left foot braking too. Impressive for a first timer!

[Chad-1stGen]

Okay, I've been slacking on keeping this thread updated. However, there has been plenty of autocrossing going on!

Since my last update I've attended:
CAM Challenge 4/30-5/1
CalClub SCCA practice day 5/14
San Diego SCCA autocross 5/15
San Diego SCCA autocross 6/5

CAM Challenge West
I was pretty stoked with the turnout at the CAM challenge. CAMT was the largest group of the three classes with 25 cars that competed! You can check out the results of Saturday here: http://cdn.growassets.net/user_files/scca/downloads/000/014/684/2016_CAM_Challenge_Saturday_Final_Results.pdf?1462 135938

The Sunday shootout results are here:
http://www.scca.com/events/1982796-2016-california-cam-challenge

Some pics I found someone took of some of the CAM challenge:
http://hotrodhotel.net/media-2/scca-cam-challenge-aaa-speedway/nggallery/page/1

You Sunday shootout finalists here:
https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/solomatters/cam_challenge_competitors_conquer_cali-01.jpg

Brett with the 99 Mustang on the left was the overall shootout winner.
Mary Pozzi was the Saturday CAMT winner.

[Chad-1stGen]

CalClub Practice day 5/14
I'm definitely digging going to these SCCA practice days. I get a good number of laps (usually at least 12 laps) and so far folks have been super friendly, so I've gotten some great ride along instruction and gotten to ride in some pretty sweet cars too.

Michael and I have hit a few of these events together now.
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/87094499-70D5-4A9E-B4E8-A450728340C1_zpsm3mtoypw.jpg

The below pic sequence is pretty cool. I had someone riding along multiple laps with me and they kept yelling at me for lifting at a kink in what was otherwise a straight away. This is the result of not lifting. Car whipped around faster than I knew what to do with!
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/3B808103-A6B3-40BD-A78B-16EE46C8E4FA_zpsjaklkimv.jpg

[Chad-1stGen]

San Diego SCCA autocross 5/15

I believe this was a record turnout for CAMT or at least a record turn out for a CAM event that I've attended. We had 16 drivers in CAMT which is awesome for a Sunday SCCA championship day! Despite the course being on the SE lot it was actually a lot of fun.

With 16 drivers plus family and friends we had plenty of bench racing and good eats happening in the pits.
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/FBC9A476-9943-408F-9664-38DDA7522DF1_zpsezq4bskk.jpg

This is the closest finish I've ever had. Richard, gave me a run for my money! We also got to do fun runs at this event. I did 6 more runs for $10 and dropped another second off my best time.
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/3BC19547-3208-4328-AD04-FD5D00EBB2AC_zpsvrs5n2sp.jpg

[Chad-1stGen]

And another San Diego SCCA autocross yesterday, 6/5

We had another great turn out with 11 drivers yesterday. The course was very tight and favored grip and nimbleness far more than horsepower! Maybe due to the fact that there was a Bernie Sanders rally happening at the stadium that day we were limited to a smaller area than normal. We were also treated to rally goers just walking across the middle of the course...

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/F4D1C426-C945-4BBE-B9D7-397BEF23F302_zpshrz3ihnj.jpg

CAMT cars everywhere in the hot pits!
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/2C1F4AA0-4815-440C-98DA-00B5FCC74132_zps9cibrtgv.jpg

With my 6 thousandths of a second win the event before I was watching Richard closely this event. I was the 2nd one up so after finishing my fourth and final run I got to watch the other 9 CAMT drivers try to take out my best 56.2 time. Richard was struggling to get a clean run but I saw him come across the lights on his last run with a 55.7 and I felt the taste of defeat! Sadly, the run was a DNF.

Kevin with his big Chevelle swapped to new tires and lower control arms and was back at this event with a vengeance. His last run was his best and jumped him into 2nd overall, which is the best finish I've seen him do at an event! Bry also hit the podium at this event.

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/ECEF018C-7C60-4332-9BC7-2A0C0C3A33DE_zpsukywbj5e.jpg

This weekend (6/11-12) is the next SCCA socal autocross and it is at El Toro! El Toro is one of the funnest places to autocross in socal!
Sign up here: http://solo2.motorsportreg.com/

[Chad-1stGen]

Another great SCCA outing this past weekend with Cal Club. Man I love running at El Toro. Since I drive about 90 miles to get to the San Diego events and 60+ miles to get to the Fontana events it sure is nice having an event less than 20 miles away but even better are the big and fast courses they can make at El Toro. There aren't other places in SoCal that allow these types of courses.

I went to the practice day on Saturday and the Championship day on Sunday. Sunday was originally going to have 6 drivers in 5 cars in CAMT but Efrain discovered a wiring harness gremlin that morning and Evan's crew chief and partner in crime had a family issue crop up so they both weren't able to run. Efrain came out and got to see some of the action though. Overall we had a good mix of all three classes of CAM cars with a total of 13 drivers.

A buddy brought his Daytona replica and ran CAMS with it for his first ever autocross. He has wheel to wheel racing experience on the road course so it was fun seeing his first time on the autocross course.

The old school muscle at the event.
https://scontent-lax3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13423697_1001242846657311_2069042037_n.jpg

Andrew with the 69 Camaro was trying his first SCCA course ever. He had previously done GoodGuys and Hotchkis. My wife also drove for only her second time ever autocrossing.

Some of the CAMC cars
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/452C1588-6255-4320-A0FA-0975E4A466DE_zpsdzo8cfld.jpg

And the times for the three CAM classes.
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/9F06D0CD-7BFE-4843-96D6-79510C38AF14_zpsozstoj2w.jpeg

The CAMT and CAMS crew just couldn't hang with the CAMC guys. Despite a first place finish in CAMT I couldn't help but feel I wa off pace compared to where I usually run against the CalClub CAMC cars. My wife was pretty happy to be in the same realm of times as the novice CAMT and CAMS drivers. Andrew had a 68 second run per the digital clock on his 3rd run but the announcers claimed he needed to do a rerun which he didn't hear and so he didn't get an official 3rd timed run.

I didn't get a pic of his vette but Tom drove up from San Diego and was even nice enough to let Richard codrive when Richard's ignition switch in his 68 Vette went out. I haven't heard how Tom feels about Richard beating him in his own car though... :warning:

The next Cal Club event is 7/10 and the next SDR event is 6/26!

[Tomswheels]

I feel like GB2...

[SSLance]

lol... :D

[Vegas69]

Nice results Chad, you are putting it on them. I just hope Dave gets his car running before you wear yours out. :)

[Chad-1stGen]

I feel like GB2...

LoL!! You are such a nice guy Tom! Did Rick at least give the appearance of guilt?

Nice results Chad, you are putting it on them. I just hope Dave gets his car running before you wear yours out. :)

Ha ha ha ha! You and me both Todd!

[Chad-1stGen]

With three SCCA events and one Hotchkis NMCA autocross I managed to autocross 6 days and every weekend in June!

The final SCCA event in June was down in San Diego where CAMT enjoys a ton of participation. The last three events have had between 15 and 16 drivers! It makes for awesome bench racing at the always tasty BBQ lunch made possible by Richard T. always supplying a grill.

San Diego Region 6/26/16 Event Recap
The 6/26 event saw 15 competitors and the first rematch between Alcino and I since the CAM challenge. It was also the first time Efrain has joined us down in San Diego too. Sadly (for me), Alcino bested me yet again. But Autocrossing nonstop does kill some tires and so I brought a built in excuse of half bald front tires.

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/7EC45242-37D9-4997-8467-4D9577FCDA6B_zpsixjvqelv.jpg

Some of the CAMT cars in attendance:
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/6-26%20pits%202_zpsl775kfeo.jpg

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/6-26%20pits%201_zpsasgpcmkl.jpg

I was lucky to escape the event with just bald tires as Tom blew the engine in his lowbuck 3rd gen Camaro. He was quick to pull it a few days later.
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/Tom%20blown%20motor_zpsyri75bhg.jpg

And finally the overall CAMT winner Alcino's stretched Mustang II
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/SCCA%20pits%203_zpsahj8cvkk.jpg

Event results:
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/CC0533A3-1983-46D3-859D-92C7B14277C7_zpszu9rhthp.jpg

[Chad-1stGen]

7/10/16 CalClub El Toro & SDR Qualcomm events recap

This past Sunday I ran what I've been calling an Autocross Double Header. I had so much fun at the practice event the Saturday before that when I got home Saturday evening I decided to try and compete in both the CalClub event at El Toro and then drive to San Diego and compete at the SDR event at Qualcomm.

It worked! To make it happen CalClub let me move my work group and SCAT in SDR let me check 45 minutes after they closed and my run group was lined up in grid already.

Stats for the day:
210 - miles driven
8 - auto cross laps driven
7 - miles of autocross driven
2 - cones hit
2nd - place in all of CAM out of 12 at El Toro
1st - place in CAMT out of 13 at Qualcomm

Here is video of my best lap from each event back to back.
zzQIP_fKlmw

[Chad-1stGen]

Keeping this thread updated is hard work when on average I go to two SoCal SCCA events a month! Not that I'm complaining about the autocross time, mind you.

Since my last update there have been two CalClub autocross events at El Toro.

7/31/16 recap

For overall CAM this is one of the better turnouts we have had at Cal Club and a nice mix of all three classes with 6 CAM-C drivers, 2 CAM-S drivers and 5 CAM-T drivers. The course was fun but was not favorable towards high HP cars as there just weren't any good spots to really put the pedal to the medal. It was a nicely flowing course but really required finesse on the throttle. This was also the weekend before COTA and my last chance to get some practice so I attended both the Saturday practice day and Sunday champ/points day.

It was great to have Ian S. drive his Mustang up from San Diego to run with us at El Toro and supporting the Cal Club CAMT class

CAMT cars in the pits.
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/E1AB9854-92B9-440D-84E3-DCA6D1167A15_zpsopevfzv9.jpg

CAM taking over grid!
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/AD08A055-9D09-4855-ACFF-2E7AD52BE608_zpsxqx7iajd.jpg

Sadly Chad H. who owns the beautiful 69 Mustang in the above pic snapped a throttle cable early on so he wasn't fully able to enjoy the day.

CAM results for Sunday
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/DEEC8A7B-06F7-47E4-9E02-D10AC5A839A3_zpsli40ohnf.jpeg

I managed to get the win with 1st in CAMT but my heavily heat cycled Falken's were really struggling. I was way behind Greg and Chris in CAMC. Right after this event I swapped to my fresh Falken tires for driving to and completing in Optima at COTA.

I didn't end up uploading video for this event as I was too busy getting ready for COTA as soon as the even ended.

[Chad-1stGen]

8/21/16 CalClub El Toro recap

And this past weekend I attended another Saturday practice and Sunday champ day with CalClub at El Toro.

We had one of the best CAMT turnouts at CalClub of the year with 6 drivers showing up. It was great to see Arlo try his first SCCA event and course and he picked a great one to attend. This was the last CalClub event before the national solo championships in Lincoln Nebraska in September so the course was a national level course that flowed very very well and was a ton of fun.

Efrain, Kevin and I are becoming regulars at these events which is great and in addition to Arlo we had his friend Joe try it out and Richard bringing up his Mustang from San Diego.

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/2091B07F-BF0C-4364-A1F1-CAA1C1DBBA1C_zps7oso31bu.jpg

Overall we had 10 CAM cars, 4 CAMC and 6 CAMT, which I believe might be the first time in a while that CAMT outnumbered CAMC in CalClub. I managed a first in CAMT and 2nd overall from all CAM cars. If I can get within about 2.5 seconds of the Brett's 99 Mustang aka Modzilla I'm doing pretty well. Especially since he had just recently upgraded to custom JRI shocks in preparation for Nationals.

Efrain got some payback on Kevin who beat him at the last event to take third place while Richard had a solid lock on second place.

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/FAEB1DD4-E43E-46BF-B213-91DFE1B41BF9_zps8oywfhhj.jpeg

Here is the video of my best run on this super fun course
h3MQI0QC7E4

[SSLance]

It is interesting to me Chad that you try to keep within about 2.5 seconds of Brett while I'm doing about the same with Keith Lamming and his 335 shod 2011 Camaro out here.

It's like a battle of the haves...and the have nots! Thanks for the update, love watching (mostly listening) to your videos.

[Panteracer]

Chad,
Love to hear you are still beating up on the car
and doing well.. not sure how you even manage
to keep tires on the car as you are burning them up

thanks for the update

Bob

[Chad-1stGen]

We had the final Cal Club SCCA autocross of 2016 this past weekend. Cal Club autocross events are quickly becoming some of my favorite driving events to run the car in.

Overall we had 10 cars run CAM. 4 CAMC and 6 CAMT cars.
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/DFEBD8B8-47B7-48E8-90EE-D14AA77128BE_zpsxkf3jdeq.jpeg

In the CAMT class we saw Kraig make his first Cal Club event and a tight race between second and fourth place. This was Danny's first event with his fender flares and fat 315 Rival S tires. He closed the gap nicely compared to past events.

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/633ACE0C-E522-4381-97C1-40CEE622D7D6_zpsovzlhxfq.jpg

The best part of my Sunday was placing do high in the PAX index. PAX is a handicap system that allows you to compare completely different cars to each other. I was the highest finishing v8 powered car and my first ever top 15 finish at Cal Club (out of 151 drivers that day).

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah189/chad-1stgen/2F69607F-C85A-425E-920D-2D0E880959AD_zpsvuictujq.png

I found out about Cal Club at the end of 2014 when I got my V3.0 build of the Camaro completed. Searching around on the 2014 results there was *nobody* running CAM. I did my first Cal Club event in the second half of 2015 and have been trying to spread the word on how fun these events are. I'm excited that for 2016 almost all of the monthly events had solid CAM participation. We also had several folks buy points cards and run for the season championship. Due to the historically low participation all three CAM classes are combined for season points using PAX. I ended up second behind the CAMC national champion. I'm hopeful that 2017 will see more people signing up points cards and running for the season championship in all CAM classes.

[Chad-1stGen]

First event of 2017 is this weekend (1/15)! Forecast calls for sunny weather with highs in the mid 60's. 13 CAM cars are signed up already.

Sign up here: https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/autocross-sunday-13-hosted-by-e-board-auto-club-speedway-scca-socal-solo-ii-848585

The following weekend will be the first event in San Diego too.