UMI Autocross Challenege 2021 - July 23-24 Options

[IROCZman15]

I saw that Ryan made a post here a few years ago about their 2018 Autocross event. I have been participating at it these past two years and I am signed up again this year. There are about a dozen thirdgen f-bodys on the list and also a good handful of 4th gens. I know they have a facebook page, an actual webpage, and there is a post on www.thirdgen.org about it too. Curious to see who from this web-forum might be going since I think I have only met one of you guys in person.


https://www.umimotorsportspark.com/autocrosschallenge/



This is a fantastic event. No wonder it sells out in a matter of hours. Two days of autocross with lunch and dinner meals provided by UMI. Two years ago they had an open house at their UMI shop and everyone could walk around and see all the machines they use to build the products as well as their project cars and test mules. Covid didn't allow that this year, so instead they put on a kind of outdoor party at the racetrack which included a country singer/concert, activities for kids, food trucks, and I think fireworks too. Great people who run the event and awesome participants.

(IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48418814052_aaf7d7cd03_c.jpg)



I usually get my butt kicked, but I know it comes with being a beginner and having a car that us a combination of street, strip, show, and autox platforms.

Who is signed up and what are ya bringing?
- I will have the red 87 Iroc there looking like this with hopefully some much better tires:
(IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50160380836_b67e34c412_c.jpg)

[SuperMacGuy]

I've been there several times. I have a Saturn Sky for this year. I don't have a good photo to share.

And I gotta plug our SCCA region just a town over at Mid State Airport (Philipsburg/State College), that's a great venue for some nice high speed courses too.

[Eredin]

I'll be there again for the fourth year in a row, best event I've ever attended. The rest of the Safety 3rd crew will be in tow as well.

[Crazy Canuck]

I’m thinking going next year

[IROCZman15]

I’m thinking going next year

well, it usually sells out in about an hour once tickets become available, so keep that in mind.

[trackbird]

I was coming last year and I found a broken battery hold down/coolant overflow bottle a few days before I was set to leave. Parts arrived after the event was over and I wouldn't have passed tech. So, I didn't make it. This year the car is likely ready and I'll even have a camper. But I can't tow the camper and the car at once.

[Crazy Canuck]

I’m thinking going next year

well, it usually sells out in about an hour once tickets become available, so keep that in mind.

Will keep that in mind but will make sure with Ryan i have a spot for me and kid.
The border is still closed due to Covid. So hopefully next year is fine and we’ll have fun with a nice drive too

[SuperMacGuy]

Here's a permalink on my new car: https://pin.it/31ANBr6

[IROCZman15]

Here's a permalink on my new car: https://pin.it/31ANBr6

um, WHAT?!?

[SuperMacGuy]

yeah yeah, it's a FUN little car. Super nimble compared to the FBody. MUCH lighter. Easy to work on. Great brakes.

side note: I had the opportunity to drive a C7 Grand Sport vette the past 2 autocrosses as a course test car... WOWOWOW. Friggin amazing. I want one.

I'd say the Sky corners/slaloms almost as well as the C7GS (on street tires). But the biggest problem is turbo lag, and the gearing is not great, 2nd only goes to 50, so a fast course requires 3rd and thus maybe downshifts. But on the tight stuff it kills. I wish for the v8 torque, or maybe electric boost or something.

[slowTA]

LS swap it for CAM-S!

[GCrites80s]

Isn't there 50+ hp in there with a catback and a tune?

[SuperMacGuy]

It's got the GM tune, worth +30hp and +80tq above factory, no cat removal or exhaust change needed. But the LS swap is a popular thing to do, I'm mulling it over. Or other turbos+tunes. The stock internals are kind of borderline reliable over ~350hp.

[IROCZman15]

1 week away !

[IROCZman15]

what a fun event. I had major fuel injector issue to work out and I never got a suitable replacement that left me with reduced power, but I am glad I was able to salvage the weekend by putting down some laps. Actually, I am quite happy with the lap timers I put down. Lots of it has to be due to the new tires. I took a ton of photos and some videos too, but I have yet to get any time to upload any of that.

Great meeting a bunch of you fellas too! What a cool crowd and atmosphere. Great event overall!

[trackbird]

That's awesome. I have been registered the last two years and didn't make it due to random issues. This year I didn't register and I wound up with the car ready and actually ran a few events before the UMI event. So, next year is the plan....

[IROCZman15]

That's awesome. I have been registered the last two years and didn't make it due to random issues. This year I didn't register and I wound up with the car ready and actually ran a few events before the UMI event. So, next year is the plan....

awesome. It is a very enjoyable event. They provide lunch, dinner, small concert/singer, clean facility, and really really a nice group of cars and people.

[GCrites80s]

I would have been SOL since my fusable links went out a couple days before the event and I didn't know why the whole car had no juice even though the battery, the cables and alternator had full voltage. Hopefully get them done this weekend. Really wish they were up by the battery like on a Ford instead of way down there underneath in starter hell.

[Eredin]

Was a great event as always! Bunch of third gens this year, which is awesome!

[SuperMacGuy]

The "interesting" part this year was the 180 degree turn around on the main track, it was pretty tight for everyone. Your best bet was patience, overdriving it just put you way off the apex. Going downhill on the banking wasn't too bad except the braking area (headed toward the wall) was really low grip and broken up pavement. Going uphill required (in the Sky) going to first gear. And then putting the power down you were on the low grip area for the launch. No one hit the wall, someone *almost* did going uphill. This person has actually too much HP and not enough restraint sometimes, after the almost wall hitting and backing up, gassed it in anger, got into big tank slapper, almost hit timing lights, and then went into the grass. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)