HarshJay

Every Friday at race city in Calgary, Alberta there is drags and time attack autocross (really slalom cross, as there is no dirt just cones). It's cheap to race, $25, and $5 for a Snell 90 helmet if you don't have one (you don't get to keep it). Check out http://www.racecity.com for the details and rules. I've been watching all of Taka's racing videos in Australia and I want to have that kind of fun too. The Calgary Sports Car Club also puts on lots of Autocross or Slalomcross events through the year, check them out at http://cscc.ab.ca/cms/index.php?opti...tpage&Itemid=1 . I am going this Friday night, and hopefully from now on. I want to join the CSCC as well, just need to save up the cash.

Anyone else have any feedback or want to meet me at Race City?

BlueFrenzy

Welcome to the club. That sounds like fun. I think there were a couple of guys here (or was it Beyond) that use to go out. Everybody pretty much says it a good time (for $25 you can't go wrong). Ha ha ... don't get suckered into doing drag because our cars will get PWNED!

early 30's crisis

I hear this is a blast.. I just really want to go and watch and check out all the amazing cars and see what they can do..
No racy for me!

HarshJay

I went out last Friday to race, but they were using the oval so all they had were drags..... but WOWO.. it was like a Fast and the Furious movie!! The closer I got to RC the more crazy lookin cars would be turning onto the road. Porsche's, Vipers, Mustangs with jet turbine's sticking out of the hood, etc...

RC would make a good place for us Calgary RX8 folks to meet up!

early 30's crisis

Hey guys I think he's calling a meeting...

SlowLude

Yeah, it gets even crazier during the summer. The problem is that if you're spectating, you'll be mosquito food. And I baby my car too much to race it on the tracks. There are hundreds of other places where we can meet that is not mosquito infested!

HarshJay

Here comes another Friday!!!! I went out last week and it was cool. My girlfriend came with me and didn't want to hang out by herself.. so we just watched. Anybody can do it, and any car can run. Only saw one other 8 there, red one with a Platinum motorsport trim on the plate, hope to see more this week!

BlueFrenzy

HarshJay ... do you know if it's just dragging again? Or is there motorcross this time?

HarshJay

it should be both, it was both this past friday.. and there were only like 10 cars runnin it... two subaru's, lancer, speed6, firefly, golfcart, and some other cars I couldn't recognize from the bleachers

HarshJay

Ok so friday is here again, who's coming???? I can bring buy spray if that's the only thing keeping you all away. I even put a post on the rx-7 club page.

early 30's crisis

I might, depends on what time it starts/ends.. (I have to get up for work in the dead of the night..).

I cant believe I havent been to watch yet, I was so pumped about spring coming for this! And now its like... June...

HarshJay

boo to race city, they need to post when the auto is not on!!! That's twice now I've driven out to have the gate guy tell me it's not runnin.

HarshJay

Friday is here once again, come on out and give er' a run!

HarshJay

I'm a post hound to my own thread here. Finally got to race.......WOWSER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was the most fun thing I have done in my entire life..... you have no idea how f'in fast this car can be. I took the third fastest time for the night, beating out an STI. If you've ever read how you can completely turn off the traction control by holding down the button and then restarting it... don't do that anywhere in public unless you want a ticket. The 8 drifts through the corners with the best of them once that computer is put to sleep.. Man O Man.... you guys all have to come out and give that a try. Even if you don't want to drive your car, you can get in the car with someone else and have them take you for a drive!!! It's way too fun. I am going to have a hard time getting to sleep tonight

CHECK IT OUT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5U9f3H_41w

BlueFrenzy

Looks like fun. How many runs did you get to do out there? The MS exhaust sounds good.

early 30's crisis

Great video Jay, it does look like a blast...

I still havent gone, *sigh*.. soon....
Tell ya what, we'll all pile in with you and you can buzz us around the track.. with my luck I'd take a few pylons out (someone ask me about my recent lack of driving skillz..)

Car sounded great! How are your tires holding up after that..?

HarshJay

Tires are good, just a little rippling on the corners of the tread. I got there late at around 9'ish and did four runs.. could have done one more but called it a night. And don't worry bout the cones.. they rub right off! Heh!!

BlueFrenzy

Hey HarshJay, how was the condition of the track? I was actually thinking of taking my rx8 there to meet up with you but after I heard from some of the guys in the CMRA (Canadian Motorcycle Racing Association) talk about the poor condition of the track --> apparently turn 5 and 9 are so terrible that it caused 18 riders to crash!!! Now these guys aren't NOOBs or anything either --> 2 guys were sent to the hospital. All of the accidents happened at those turns. Here's a response about the situation from the general manager:

*quote*
Hi Don, Thanks for the link, If anyone of these idiots had the ***** to talk to me personally about
the painfully obvious problems with the track, then they may get a education in the real problems
of operating a facility of this type in our climate, but of course, they will never talk openly
about it as long as they can hide behind the forum curtain, this is why the Race City web site does
not have a forum. Only whiners and whimps say this kind of crap, when they could actually come and
see me, or call me and really get an education. The real problem is water, lots and lots of water
and no place for it to go, but of course, the rain and snow is my fault, mainly because I have less
money then God, and can't stop it from raining. Really the real issue is no one wants to put their
money where their mouth is and find a way to raise the $60,000.00 to repave turn 5 and turn 9! I
sure as hell don't have it, after all I only lost $150,000.00 last year, so I'm sure I can cough up
more blood as I fall once again on my sword. All I can say is if they don't like it, do something
about it, but as you are fully aware, that will shut them up. You can post this if you like, I get
really sick of this kind of bull and I await any call to speak with anyone one of these jokers
personally if they can carry on a intelligent conversation about the issues at hand, but I will not
hold my breath.

Rome Awde
Race City
*end quote*
http://www.roadracing.org/phpBB/view...=1903&start=20
post by Old Fart Racer

I would seriously rethink going there, not only due to the unsafe nature of the track but also the extremely UNPROFESSIONAL response/business practice. Calling your patrons idiots because you can't take care of your own facility? I understand that money does talk, but he is exposing his patrons to danger. He's also implying that the patrons PAY for the repair overtop of what they already pay for renting the facility. WTF! It's like you going to the hospital to get stitches, but they're using rusty nails to do work, and the hospital saying that it's your fault for not paying enough taxes so that they can get sterile equipment.

I can't quite remember, but I think a year or two ago, a fellow with a 2nd gen rx7 skidded out into a wall at one of those turns --> luckily he wasn't hurt but his entire front end had to be fixed up. So, I'd think twice about going

SlowLude

Wow, didn't know that Race City was so screwed! Thats why I prefer racing on the streets! Just kidding...

cloud7

Secret Street is run in the oval... there are also some issues there, but the people running secret street puts cones were there are hazards. I am no way defending Rome... asking people to put up money for a business that he is running is, quite frankly, ridiculous (sorry Rome). If Race City can't support itself and maintain its facilities, they should raise its entrance fees, parking fees, etc.

BlueFrenzy

^^^ That's what I gathered, that Secret Street was in the oval (from HarshJay's video) but still to have a sign hanging saying "Canada's Finest Motorsports Park" or something like that is a slap in the face. Granted in our cars, we would be a bit safer than when we are on our motorbikes, but still I would not want my car sliding into the wall from faulty maintenance. Still, I don't think I'm going to support a business that views its customers as nuisances --> I think there's a track in Olds, so I'd rather drive there and support a decent track.

HarshJay

hmmm very interesting. Well the auto is run in the oval, and there has been paving this year. I encountered no potholes, or problems on the course they had laid out.

early 30's crisis

Yikes!
See, there is a reason why I just wanted to watch... I hear you pretty much void your insurance when you hit the track anyway (if you have an accident you're SOL) Is that true?

Still wanna go watch though!

HarshJay

yah, insurance does not cover racing events. It is all at your own risk.

cloud7

Race City may be in bigger trouble than we first thought... recently they have double booked amateur events at the road course and a few groups aren't happy as a result. Rumour has it that it doesn't matter if you book the facility months in advance, if a person is willing to pay more, he would get the booking.... it's a sad day in grassroot motorsports in Calgary...