Auto Cross - Get out and drive your car!
What is Autocross?
Autocross events are an all forward-motion driving skill contest. Each driver is individually timed to the thousandth of a second, over a short, miniature road-course clearly defined using traffic cones. Cars compete one at a time in a class with similar cars. An event can be held on any flat paved surface, usually a parking lot or airport apron or runway.
Autocross emphasizes driver skill and vehicle handling rather than just speed. The corners are tight, and there are lots of them, so the driving is exciting and challenging. Autocross speeds do not exceed those normally encountered in highway driving.
The skills you learn and practice here; smooth transitions, enhanced braking, and skid correction will have an immediate impact on improving the safety and skill of your street driving. Autocross is an excellent way to teach car-control to young drivers in a safe environment. A day of autocrossing is far safer for both car and driver than most people's daily commute to work.
Autocross is also a very social sport, filled with some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. The camaraderie of the drivers is a special part of autocrossing that is profoundly satisfying.
Cars are divided into categories and classes. Classes separate cars by performance, so that M3s compete against M3s, and 2002s compete against 2002s. Categories separate cars according to their level of preparation.
Michiana chapter members are encouraged to bring participating non-member guests to events. Non BMWs are allowed to run in the event. 2 people can share one car but each driver has to pay the event fee.
All, especially first-timers are welcome. While pre-registration is not required, please consider indicating your attendance on the Michiana Chapter Facebook events page to expedite the registration process at the event.
Where is it?
All autocrosses will be held at the The Tire Rack. Check out their website for information on the track and for great pricing and selection on tires, brakes, and more. We'd especially like to thank them for their generosity in letting us use their facilities. Since all of our events are on Saturdays, the Tirerack will be open which means we'll have access to a real bathroom!
7101 Vorden Parkway
South Bend, IN 46628
When is it?
Registration opens at 8:30 and runs until 9:30
There will be a Driver's meeting at 10:00 and the first car is off at 10:30
Autocross events for the year are May 14, June 18, July 16, and September 17
What are the rules?
The complete Michiana autocross Rules can be found here. We will be using the same categories of car classifications as the Windy City chapter except we won't have a separate Ladies class. Your car will need to have a technical inspection at the event, this is self performed. If it's your first time you'll be able to find someone willing to help walk you through it. The Michiana autocross tech form can be found here and will also be available at the event.
How much is all this fun?
The cost for the day is $30 per driver - this now includes lunch!
Autocross chairpeople
If you have questions, please contact Eve or Carl
Eve Dolenski - evedolenski@att.net
Carl Zmijewski - carl199@comcast.net
Autocross Results
May 14 2011
Spring is here, and that means rain, mud and bringing our cars out to play. For the Autocross-ers, May 14 brought us all the aspects of a typical spring day at the Tire Rack in South Bend, Indiana. The rain stopped before the first car was out, so we saw a progressively dry track as the day went on.
The two BMW "AA" class cars of Jason Powell and Carl Zmijewski showed us what could be done on a dry course – wow is they fast! Earlier in the day, Dave Dolenski & Abby Nuttall both showed us how a wet track can contribute to spins. We enjoyed watching them too!
First timer, Elyssa Hilaski was running a little too fast around one corner and found the mud next to the track. Question is, did friend and car-owner Kirsti Nuttall ask Elyssa to wash the car when they got home?
We had a record 9 "novices" at the event. Abby & Harvey Nuttall brought their son & daughter and a friend of each, demonstrating how Autocrossing makes a great family outing. Even more fun for the rest of us was watching Harvey & Abby battle it out in "C" class with his beautiful ‘new-to-him’ E30. Abby won out in the end, besting her husband's time by about ½ second! For this performance, Abby captured the "C/D" class title and "fastest rookie of the day" award!
The real speed was from the two "AA" cars of Jason & Carl. Jason Powell in his E36 M3 kept running faster and faster times, finally running a blistering 50.48 second time to win the class "A/AA" title and "Fast time of the Day" award.
The "E" (everything else) class was won by Chris Napatal who brought his Subaru from Chicago and was the fifth fastest driver of the day.
Carl designed a course that was challenging for the experts, yet easy for the novices to follow on the Tire Rack's re-paved and expanded the test track at their Headquarters in Sound Bend, Indiana. We appreciate their willingness to let us compete at their facility.
As Rookie organizers, Carl Zmijewski & I were thankful for the small turnout of just 13 drivers. Having worked out the bugs and learned how to run the timing equipment, we are now ready for a bigger crowd!
The timing sheet can be found here
June 18 2011
We had a great turnout of 22 drivers for the June 18 Autocross. It was great to see some of the club regulars and several of our Porsche-driving friends come out for the first time this year.
The morning was a nice, dry summer day. All was well and drivers ran well. For the most part, drivers ran their fastest times of the day in the morning. As soon as we got started after lunch, the single rain cloud in the area found us and it poured. Lakes formed on the track. Check out the photos on the facebook page to see just how much it rained while group 1 was on the track.
A question I asked myself while I was awaiting my turn to run – as an Autocross participant, do you prefer to drive in the wet, or work the course in the rain? Even though the course was wet, I think it was better to be in the car than out in the wet grass – after all, I ran my fastest time on my last run on a wet course in the afternoon.
Carl again designed a challenging course. This one tested your patience with tight turns in and around the keyhole. Ralph Sampson and Carl Zmijewski traded places a few times for fastest time in A/AA group. Ultimately, Carl ran the faster time (54.111 seconds vs. 54.610). However, since Ralph’s car has fewer modifications and competes in A class (vs. Carl in AA class), Ralph's time was adjusted by 1%, which allowed him to claim first place in the A/AA group.
Household competition continues to be alive and well in the Michiana chapter. Harvey Nuttall took first place in the B/C/D group, while wife Abby, driving the same car, took third in class. This win puts Harvey in first place overall, while Abby has moved to second overall. It will be fun to watch these two compete in the remaining two events!
Following along in family tradition, son Tim Nuttall captured the fastest novice of the day, finishing fourth in the B/C/D class in the same "BMR NUT" E30.
Jim Lynch and Dave Dolenski both brought their MINI's this week. Jim has further modified his, moving him up to "A" class. He turned quick times in the morning before the rain, earning him third in "A" group. Dave would have driven "Fudley" his E30, but while at Waterford Hills the previous day, the gear shift lever came off! So, he brought "Petey J," his 2007 MINI out to play and captured 2nd in B/C/D class.
The fastest time of the day belonged to Tony Koufos in his Porsche. No one could come close to his blistering 53.02 second time! Alan Ford and Ricardo Gonzales finished second and third, respectively in the "E" (everything else) class.
The timing sheet can be found here
July 16 2011
How many combinations of 9, 6, 4, 3, 2 & 1 can add up to 18, and, why do we ask? For Harvey Nuttall, Jason Powell & Carl Zmijiewski this is the number of points each has earned in Autocross this season. With one event remaining (Sep 17), we have a three-way tie for first place!
For Jason, this week brought him a first place finish in A/AA class with a blistering time of 46.232 seconds. Jason also finished first in the May event. So for Jason 18=9+9.
Carl, finished second in A/AA class. Carl wins the prize for most entertaining run of the day by taking out 4 cones in one dramatic sweep. He threaded his way through the cones quickly and cleanly on his fourth run with a time of 47.468 seconds. For Carl, ever consistent, 18=6+6+6.
Harvey, finished fourth in B/C/D class. He and wife, Abby, fought it out throughout the day. At the lunch break, Abby had Harvey by a full second. With coaching from Ralph Sampson, Harvey was able to close the gap and take fourth in class. For Harvey, 18=6+9+3.
Ralph not only proved a good coach, but also a quick driver, picking up a third place finish for himself in the A/AA class.
Winning B/C/D class was Chris Itterly, joining us for the first time this season in his E36M3. We checked the rules three times, and, yes, his car really is a “B” class car. Following Chris in B/C/D class with a second place finish was Matt Huizing driving a red 325i. We welcome Matt who just joined the club this spring! Third place in B/C/D class went to novice driver Joe Little in his pretty blue M Roadster.
Our Porsche friends joined us again for this event. Tony Koufos again took first place in the "everything else" class, with Ricardo Gonzales and Jeff Margush finishing second and third, respectively.
Fastest time of the day went to Scott Nardin. He ran through the course in 43.978 seconds!
The weather was hot, the times were fast, and fun was had by all. Go to our chapter Facebook page and check out the great photos that Harvey posted!
The next event is September 17th. Come on out for the last event of the season and the inaugural use of the new, wireless timing equipment! With a three-way tie for Autox champion, the final event is not to be missed!
The timing sheet can be found here
September 17 2011
Jason Powell wins 2011 Autocross Championship!
The 2011 Autox season came to a close with the final event on September 17. Going into the event, there was three-way tie for first place among Harvey Nuttall, Jason Powell and Carl Zmijewski. The day brought out what may have been a record turn-out of 29 drivers, several participating with us for the first time. The new timing equipment worked great!
Jason won the A/AA class with the fastest time of the day of 43.931 seconds, about 1-1/2 seconds faster than the next fastest BMW! By taking first in class in the three events he attended this year, Jason earned 27 points and the season trophy. Harvey Nuttall finished second in B/C/D class in this event which landed him second overall for the season with 24 points. Jim Voth, in his first event with us, won B/C/D class at the September event.
Full points standings for the season are included on this month's timing sheet. Photos and videos from the events can be found on the club Facebook page.
Our four events were a success this year, with participation steadily increasing as the season progressed. Rookie organizers Carl Zmijewski & Eve Dolenski were relieved that the first event had only 13 participants, giving them a chance to figure things out with a smaller crowd. The events proved to be a good family activity with several parents bringing sons & daughters along to participate. We had many novices join us this year, and, based on the grins on their faces at the end of the day, we expect many to return in 2012.
We thank The Tire Rack for providing an outstanding venue for our Autocross program. We also thank Bimmerworld and The Tire Rack for providing prizes in 2011.
The timing sheet can be found here