Greetings All....

I've had this cool purple business card in my wallet since the beginning of the month.
Seeing as nobody else has posted it yet, here is the 2007 Sierra Sports Car Club Event Schedule totalling 11 events.

The plan (last I heard) is to alternate among the 3 sites (SVMA, BHS and BDI Airport).
I have been told that the club is once again approaching the Fort about running out there.
The base commander who uninvited us is retiring in June, so hope springs eternal.

All events are the 1st Sunday of the Month, with the exception of July, where we run on the 8th.

January 7 Sierra Vista Municipal Airport (primo concrete site in all of Arizona)
February 4
March 4
April 1
May 6
June 3
July 8
August 5
September 2
October 7
November 4
December - No event, Christmas party instead, with date and location TBA

As in the past, check the website for the latest detail regarding locations and times.
We typically run 3 series, Jan through April is our Winter Series (best 3/4)
May through July is our Summer series (Best 2/3)
August through November our Fall series. (Best 3/4)

Had enough yet?

Thanks Harry.
I have the SSCC wesite update on my list of things to do, but two track events in two weekends have been keeping my busy. Then there's that whole Christmas thing. I will get a calendar up on the news page as soon as I can.
I am also trying to decide whether to mount R compound tires on the stock wheels or the BBS wheels- leaning towards the latter. I'll be running January on the street tires still unless I shred the fronts drifting this weekend. (Yes, drifting hurts front tires, too)

Primo indeed, but for us older folks who no longer relish the drive down in the wee early morning hours, necessary since the Az Region Banquet is the night before (precluding traveling then), we will have to forgo this adventure. Bummer.

A true shame..... it was on my calendar until I saw the (for me) conflicting dates.

(And I do realize, as with us, that you have little choice as to the dates offered......)

if one went to the banquet, and then got up at 5am to leave, one could be there by 8am. not too undoable unless one's consumption of adult beverages was a little over the top (or under the table!).

tempting, VERY tempting...

Hello hello!

I have been emailing back and forth with Don about SSCC autox as I will be moving to Sierra Vista in a few weeks. I just started this year in Maryland and hit about a dozen days worth of autox and seven days of HPDE, so I'm looking forward to continuing these ever-addictive and fun habits in Arizona.

I won't be in there in time for January's event, but I'll hope to meet at least some of you in Feburary. Judging by how many VWs I notice in your results from '06, I should be easy to spot.

Welcome Jeff...

Too bad.

The January event at the Airport should be a hoot.
It's my course design, and it's been described as psycho.

So expect some technical features, some NASCAR and some yee-ha.
If you do get here for January, consider this an invite to ride in the blue turbo sissy car
If not, see you in February.

Forecast for Sunday is Sunny and 65.

What time do you start again? Or better yet, when does registration close?

I need to plan a drive like this out in advance a bit.

(I should make a concerted effort to change my oil before this event. )

EDIT: You also have loaner helmets, right?

Jeff,
I'll second Harry's welcome. You will find most of the people willing to help you. See you when you get here.

Manfred,
The club's normal schedule is on this page.

http://www.sierrasportscars.net/default_004.htm

See you Sunday.

We have helmets.

I'm not sure how well this is going to go for me. I made some changes that will necessitate some other changes

John,
But the Neon is a heck of a grocery getter!

It will please you to know that I am running a supercharged Miata in SM2 at this event. Tom from FastForward Superchagers is bring it down for me to drive. It is really a track car with long gears but is does have about 210 RWHP. If I like it, I may do the same thing to my car.

I drove in Phoenix a few weeks ago. The drive was in downtown Phoenix and on the Interstate so it was hard to get a good idea of its autocross ability. I was very impressed with it on the street. It started, idled and ran in traffic just like my stock car. But...when you got on the gas it took off. Great fun!

Thanks Mike, I should've looked for that...

Is there much competition in STS? Would anyone object to me running GS in street tire?

Or should I run the PAX class for "competition"?

Manfred,
No problem there is also a map to the event site on the same web site.

Since it is the first event of the year how many should up in any given class is an unknown. I the last few events of 2006, there where only a few STS entrants. Who knows what happened over the Holidays. I know a couple of people have or are changing cars/classes.

Unless your car is actually GS, I am not sure that they will let you run in Street Tire.

I will definitely not be there for the January event as we are not even leaving Maryland until the 14th. Then there is the small matter of 2300+ miles of driving... heh.

You guys get much snow in this area? I swear I read something about breaking ice on the course with broomsticks? That would surely make things interesting.

I'm planning on heading down as well as a couple other Phx regulars.

Mike, I actually rode in Tom's car a couple years ago. You're going to have a good time....I just hope he's put some real wheels/tires on it since then.

See everybody Sunday.

Brian,
I will have fun with it! I think he is bringing it on the RA-1 tires but I don't their size. It also has a lot of other mods, JIC coilovers, swaybars and big brakes on it. It is really set up as a track car, that is why it has a 3.6 rear ratio, since that is what he likes to do.

I really enjoyed driving it on the street. It retained all the good things I like about a Miata. It was light, nimble, provided good feedback and very responsive to control inputs. It just went faster when it responded to the throttle. With that much horsepower, I expected it to be a real handful accelerating out of turns like most other FI Miata I have driven. It wasn't. It was very natural and you didn't realize how fast you were going until you looked at the speedometer.

My intent is if I like it, I will arm wrestle my wife for the checkbook, after we settle with Uncle Sam. I might even consider selling the MazdaSpeed Protege, which I love.

the nice thing about a supercharger is the direct drive from the engine. not one of those kick-all-of-a-sudden turbo things. i sure liked and miss mine! so much so, that i am getting another one!!!

Wasn't Gene getting all excited about a supercharged Miata too?

Good grief Mike, now I still have to chase you. Should I change my signature block again?

Stripethree, any ice/snow we get down here generally melts off when the sun comes up. It's pretty uncommon, but the snow on the mountaintops is picturesque. You can see it from the airport where we play.

Dave,
Is that a 1.6 or a 1.8? I think that Tom is working on some stuff for the 1.6 and just did a CARB for a coldside MP62 94-03 Miata.

John,
Gene has a 99 leather Package with the JR M45. I don't know if he has ever autocrossed it. I think he is looking for a trailer car of some sort.

Other than this month in Tom's car, I don't know what I am going to run the rest of the year. As you well know, it takes time to buy and set up a car for a class. This would be my first since the late 1970's. Since then I have been autocrossing stock cars.

Stripethree,
I remember only a few significant snowfalls here. The last was probably 97 or 98? So this is not usually a problem. This lack of snow is often offset by people's inablilty to drive if more than three snowflakes fall on top of each other.

Lets start another subject line and keep this one on topic.

Setup for the Sunday event is 7am.

Registration opens sometime between 8 and 8:30.

Drivers Meeting is on for 9:30.

First car out between 9:45 and 10am, depending how efficiently we get:

a. The course setup
b. Registration underway.
c. Tech inspection
d. Walk throughs completed.
e. Timers and display working properly.
f. Relative long winded-ness of the drivers meeting.

This sounds like Maryland.

So does this.

Thanks guys.

it started on the 1.6 car for the street, and ended up on the Beastie for EMod. i am getting another kit and trying to decide where it will go. not sure yet...

back on topic, i sure wish i could go on Sunday!!! can't call out "sick" (of it) because of their stupid rules, and thinking about taking a personal day. hmmm... i sure do miss sticky concrete !!!

Mike,
The only STS mod is a transmission cooler. Absolutely no performance benefit, it's there to help prevent (or delay) the transmission fluid from cooking itself (as has previously happened). Otherwise it's your average daily driven G Stock car.

I have no problem running STS. I just enjoy good friendly competition.

Proautosports on Friday and Sierra Vista on Sunday!

I call a ride!

Meh, I would make the journey, I just dont feel like it. You guys have fun

Come on, Max...

It's the best site in the state. The concrete is so grippy it literally grabs the rubber off the tires. Enough that I could physically feel the tire dust against my legs while working course.

If you've ran this site before, you would feel like making the journey.

Lol. One day! I dont think my stock all-seasons would love me very much Plus there is a Euro car drive the same day

I went last year in March on all seasons. IMO the tires are too hard and don't suffer as badly as the performance ones do.

You'd be more than welcome to borrow my water sprayer, which will help. Besides, would you rather drive your car, or drive your car?

Your skills as an autocrosser are obviously great. You've always got an excuse in hand!

Thanks for the offer on the water sprayer, I might get my lazy butt off to Tuscon, but you never know. Yes Driving your car is always fun, but not having to drive it to Sierra vista, can be just as rewarding.