MichRX7

I think you need to get some sort of unique RX-8 disease that forces you to miss.

Hey guys, at least I want to say thanks for considering it. If any of you make it out make sure to look me up and slap me around for bugging you so much. :D

MilesBFree

Go Bugeaters!

Here are some tips from when we started up the Chicago club:

- Just do it. The best way to start a club seems to be to simply start and build up. Have a few meetings, and figure out how to make them better. The first few meetings of the Chicago club consisted of a few guys standing around in a parking lot. Those guys came up with some ideas on what / where to do the next events, etc.

- Pick a regular time, such as the second Saturday of each month. By going with a regular time, people start to get in the habit of turning out for the events. The end and beginning of each month seem like bad dates: e.g.- end of March early April is about Easter time, end of May is Memorial Day, beginning of July is the 4th, beginning of Sept is Labor Day. People typically plan vacations around these times, and those often chew up the weekend before and the weekend after. So the middle of the most months are easier for most people

- Pick a regular location at least to start with. In Chicago we were holding meetings at A-spec Tuning (the Midwest's best rotary shop!). People knew where to go, and along with the regular time this allowed us to get people in the habit of turning up for meetings.

- Get a web site up, but it doesn't have to be anything fancy to start with. This is another thing that can evolve over time (or should I say RX-Evolve? The Chicago club did just fine with the basic site I out together with no Flash, Shockwave, or other fancy web technologies. Straight HTML. Just something to advertise your presence, and list the events/meeting schedule

- We added an email list on a list serve, although my ISP did away with that function, so we are now looking at maybe a Yahoo group. The forums (rx8club.com and rx7club.com) work fine, but people often don't check these every day, but a lot of people will check their email hourly or more.

Let me know if you have any questions and I would be happy to help.

Cheers,

Steve
Vice Prez, Rotary Car Club of Chicago

Kain

I was gonna call you nuts so tuesday??? how about west omaha this time>? famous daves or pepperjacks>? I am down for anything

Kain

I really like the suggestions for our club! we do need to pick a day to meet (night) every month and get a site up to remind people of events- also we could put a download section of desktops and what not (with our logo and future club pics) it would be nice to get some seven owners- there was a guy on here who responded to a thread about vivid wanting to spnsor a club in the NE and I think the guy thought it was nebraska cause he asked about a good rotary shop in omaha- anyway I pm'd him and he has not wrote back? ALSO KUDOS to Gomez acknowledging our little friends tornados!! thanx for noticing!!

blizz81

Wow...RXH's ride is quite the piece of work, I definitely need to see that thing in action again Exciting stuff about the track - the MAM road course seems like a cool deal if you have the dough.

I'm done with school as of yesterday and should be graduating on Friday, so I'll have more open time to come out and check out your guys' 8s. I need to go hit the driving range today in case you guys open up a RX Husker Club challenge on the links

Is the new westwest-O pepperjax open yet?

RXhusker

Phil -- congrats on graduating!

I don't think the 176th & Q PepperJax is open yet. The Noodles place next door is awesome though.

I just got my midpipe and highflow cat :D I need to get it installed ASAP.

Jeff

RXhusker

I am going for my track training at Mid-America Motorplex tonight. Just got my helmet. Did anybody else sign-up? Still time to get in for the last training session (tonight) I bet.

Look like we get 6 (SIX!) 20 minute runs on the road course. Not sure a complete novice like myself will actually be able to handle 6 runs. Originally said we only got 2 runs. Should be a total blast :D

RXhusker

Brent -- Class is free if you have signed-up for Saturday's charity racing event ($150). It is at 5:00 today at the track and includes certification of your car for the track for any future racing, classroom session and then on-track driving with instructor. Just called to confirm my reservation and I think you could still get in if you want. -- you need a helmet, fire extinguisher, and to wear long sleeve cotton shirt and pants.

You can get forms for Sat. event online at www.midamericamotorplex.com

RXhusker

The link to the event info is on the right hand side of their homepage -- basically just goes to the pacificpals site info. This is really a charity event for Make-A-Wish -- not a regular MAM track event. All the forms are on the Pacific Pals website.

They said the fire extinguisher can simply by attached with a bunge cord underneath the passenger seat. Extinguisher was $25 at Advanced Auto Parts.

Not sure of the cost without going to the charity event -- the training tonight is for those people only.

I just called the track (Natha) and she nicely answered all my questions.

All in all -- track training, certification and an all day event for $150 without having to pay to join or enter the track (also includes lunch) is a pretty sweet deal IMO.

RXhusker

Tonight is an hour of classroom training and vehicle certification. Then from 6 to dark you go out on the track with the instructors for on track race training.

I think they said it is also possible to get certified on Sat. if you can't make it tonight -- but you obviuosly wouldn't get the hands-on track training.

RXhusker

Track training was a BLAST :D

One hour going over rules and proper edicate.

Then two 20 minute on track sessions with a private instructor. I started to get the hang of it and actually passed two cars in the straights (because they couldn't keep speed coming out of the corners) -- now take this for what it is worth -- and I preface this by saying that I was smoked by one Corvette -- but I did PASS a Vette coming out of the tightest corners into a short straight away. I also passed some sort of track only racing car that is apparently sponsored by a local hair salon (based on the decals). Got up to a top speed of 118 on the back stretch. You really use 3rd gear most of the time -- two spots to get into 4th and a couple of shifts down into 2nd.

The instructor was a Porsche club guy -- he was very impressed with the 8.

MichRX7

Yeah, the 8 was definately meant for the track and twisties. I spoke to each RX8 owner at the Revolution as they got off the track and autocross and they all had the biggest grins on their face I've ever seen.

Almost as big as the one's on my and Aron's face as Jon Dunan from Mazda had the bud girls sit on our laps in front of our wives.

http://images.rotarynews.com/images/...4/IMG_1437.JPG

I'm on the left...I think I got the cuter one, this photo is quite *revealing*

There's plenty of 8 photos in action in the write-up over on rotarynews.com :D

RXhusker

I had the DSC on for the first set of runs and the instructor said that most guys will overheat their brakes with the tracs on (my DSC never came on during the first set). So I turned it off and you know what -- I never lost control in the corners :D I had my JIC's set at 4 from softest setting -- may crank down a little more on Sat. The instructor said that the car had amazing stability in the turns :D

RXhusker

Wish you were coming Hskr8 -- would be fun to have two 8's on the track at the same time. Probably be mostly Vettes, BMW's, Porsches and Mustangs. BTW -- as I was first going on the track a Cobra did 2 360's (you enter on the main straight and the tightest corner is just before it) -- the Cobra couldn't handle the corner -- the instructor said the high torque muscle cars have trouble their because they are really trying to hit that corner so they can use their power on the straight but the poor corning ability costs them if they are too aggressive.

I won't be the only Renesis on the track however -- the Rotary Rocket formula cars (Renesis powered) will also have a run group -- should be fun to watch.

MichRX7

I think Aron posted the autocross times and what car everyone was running over in the revolution forum area. It was fun to watch them actually gain on the FD's in the corners during the road course event. I know a few were in the runoffs for fastest times at the end of the day in the autocross.

I'd say they held their own and impressed some people.

RXhusker

Call the Pacific Pals number rather than the track -- they are the ones actually registering people. They told me today that there will be late entries and encouraged me to still sign people up. They are having a training session at 8 am -- and will actually have an instructor ride with you for a few laps if you would like.

There was another guy in my training session -- he had a WRX -- about half way through the classroom session he just left without saying a word Oh well -- I had two instructors all to myself and at no charge :D Guess he might have been a little intimidated by my 8 and left before he embarrassed himself.

RXhusker

I saw a few other cars there as mentioned but the only people I saw were my two instructors. There were only 4 or 5 others cars on the track while I was there -- almost had the place to myself :D

RXhusker

Great! I'll see you in the morning.

Isn't it going to be tough to shift while you are holding the video camera

MichRX7

Double check that. In Michigan and Indiana if it is classified as a "Driver's School" it is covered by your insurance.

RXhusker

If this were a race I might agree with you -- but it isn't a race -- it is a charity track event -- no passing is allowed except on 3 straight aways and only if you are signaled by the car in front. There is no racing -- they will keep track of your times if you want. Cars are grouped by class and driver experience and only 10 or so cars are allowed on the track (2.5 miles) at one time.

If your dad races snowmobiles -- how did he get so risk averse

There will be many more expensive cars than ours there and I would assume that the last thing any of those guys want is a wreck (which my trainer told me hasn't happened in the 3 yr. history of MAM).

I plan on having fun and driving my 8 as it was meant to be driven :D

RXhusker

Here is my write-up on the track day:

RXHusker's Track Write-up

RXhusker

Here's a pic from the track ...

RXhusker

Sounds good to me! But nobody except us has posted here in about a month

I'm still planning on going out to Denver in 2 weeks to the Rocky Mountain meet -- should be a fun time.

mooneycj

Sorry I've been off line for awhile, just busy. Another lunch sounds great. Unfortunately, Wed doesn't work for me this week. Monday, early Tuesday or Friday would work.

mooneycj

Kain

hey guys- would LOVE to meet! ben trying to get some stuff done with my 8 lately as well= my sitter already called in sick for tomorrow so monday will not work mcKenna's sounds great though! so is tuesday or friday good for anyone?