Amery Airport Speed Run on June 20 (rain date June 21)

[tmhazen]

I wanted to wait until after the hillclimb to post this event, but apparently I waited too long because word-of-mouth advertising has been amazing and modern (1980 or newer) car advance registration is SOLD OUT. Sorry!

I still have lots of room for the August 22nd (rain date Aug 23) Amery Speed Run. Same registration process and cost.

At this point if you still want the chance to possibly drive at the airport in June, you can sign up to be a corner worker! Usually the crowd thins out in the afternoon, so if you find someone to work your station, you can usually (but not guaranteed) drive the course once or twice. And don't forget the free refreshments and free lunch!

PLEASE READ: I enjoy MAC events and have a lot of respect for MAC people, but it's important to remember that my airport event is NOT a MAC event. The culture is quite different. If you come to Amery expecting the same culture as a MAC autocross, you will be disappointed. The main focus at the airport is a fun social gathering while driving cars fast and safely. The pace of the day is MUCH slower than a MAC autocross. We stop driving during lunch to give corner workers a break and to socialize because we value that. There are no car classes, trophies, or places. At the end of the day, everyone gets a paper certificate listing their own personal fastest time of day. Bragging rights are your only prize. Everyone might not get the same number of runs. Drivers can take a passenger on every run.

We use dedicated all-day corner workers for several posts at Amery. Logistically it is not feasible to have drivers be corner workers down the runway due to the layout of the course. Please consider being a corner worker if you would like to be close to the action but not drive. I treat my corner workers very well, with free refreshments and free lunch personally served up by a local Girl Scout troop. Several MAC members can attest to the good quality of these offerings.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3613/3377701606_92ed2deed1_b.jpg

[phile]

Sue and I should have TR44SUE at the Back to the Fifties that day. I hope to have 74PHIL at Amery on August 22.

Meanwhile, if anyone wants high-rez versions of the photos on Tom's flyer, shoot me a PM.

[ludedude]

I'll be attending this!

Tom, I know it was repaved, but do you know what exactly was repaved? Everything? Was the gravel area near the entrance paved?

[Darryl]

Maybe next year I'll have a vintage car...

[tmhazen]

I'll be attending this!

Tom, I know it was repaved, but do you know what exactly was repaved? Everything? Was the gravel area near the entrance paved?

The areas that were repaved already had pavement. I don't think they paved over any gravel. This was just a surface sealing treatment.

[CivicLT]

I will be doing this race too..

[tmhazen]

We still need a few more corner workers at Amery this weekend. Free refreshments, free lunch, and a possibility to drive the course for free (later in the afternoon, once the crowd thins out, and if you find someone to cover your corner).

Please contact me if you want to help!

Thanks

[pachood]

Im in for the august event. Sounds like a blast!

[tmhazen]

We are GO for Saturday! Hope to see a lot of MAC people on the tarmac tomorrow!

[oldtoyota]

looking forward to it

[tmhazen]

Thanks to the Minnesota Austin-Healey Club for making this event possible. Here's the results description I just sent out to drivers:

Hats off to John Schmidt, who earned Fastest Time of Day honors whipping his 1998 BMW M3 through the autocross course in just 31.69 seconds. And that was on his first run of the day, before the pavement got all sandy. Nice driving, John!

Fastest Woman title goes to Julie Gujer who finished THIRD overall, beating all but two of the guys, with a 32.56 thanks to her smooth and skillful driving of her 1994 Corvette. She bested her husband, so he lost the bet and has to treat her to Dairy Queen!

Two high-horsepower cars tied for fastest speed at 137 MPH on the straight-away: Marty Kaye in his 2001 Porsche 996 Turbo and Eric Carver in his 2007 Corvette Z06. Marty's Porsche is for sale, by the way!

The Cone Award goes to Jeff Grant who managed to drive his 2004 VW Jetta over THREE cones on one run. I think I could actually see the cones shaking with fear when Jeff pulled up to the start.

63 driver/car combinations made a total of 276 starts. Drivers who stayed all day got to run six times, plus the "Girl Scout Fun Run" at the end.

The "AX" column gives your time going through the autocross section of the course, before the straight-away. "1AX" was your first run, "2AX" your second, and so on. DNF stands for "did not finish" and was usually caused by going around the wrong side of a cone, which disqualifies that run. All times listed in the "AX" columns are raw, actual times. They do not include the cone penalties, if any. The FTD (fastest time of day) column might include the penalty of two seconds per cone, if you hit a cone on your fastest run. Drivers are sorted by FTD, with the quickest at the top. In case of a tie in FTD, the driver with the fastest radar gun speed is listed first.

Numbers in the "C" column represent cones hit. Each cone hit adds two seconds to your time, but you will only see that reflected in your FTD time, if applicable, as all other times are listed as actual. So, your FTD might actually be your second-fastest "raw" time, if you hit a cone on your fastest run.

The "R" column shows your speed captured by my Bushnell radar gun as you crossed the finish line on the straight-away. Any radar gun will give its most accurate reading when the vehicle is traveling directly toward the gun, or directly away. Because the radar gun operator was standing on the side of the taxiway (for safety) and not in the middle, your car was not pointed straight at the radar gun, and that "tangential" effect means your actual speed was probably a couple miles per hour higher than the radar gun reading. My apologies that some of the radar gun speeds didn't get recorded.

Hope to see y'all at the next Amery Airport event on August 22nd (rain date August 23rd). Registration is open for all cars and filling up fast! Same costs and registration procedure. Flier here: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3542/3376886667_e843a841a8_b.jpg

Thanks again to everyone who helped out and smiled back at me all day. I have the time of my life running these events, and I love you all dearly.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2431/3647417603_39c6fd75dd_b.jpg

[colinshark]

Awesome!!!

Thank's a ton, Tom. That was a really great event. Some of those cars were insane. And that GTR was looking good.

[chico6997]

I would also like to thank those of you who helped out. I think these events that tom runs are top notch and we could not do it without the dedication of all who helped.

[colinshark]

...the radar gun operator was standing on the side of the taxiway (for safety)...
That got me thinking: Even off to the side makes me a little scared with cars going by at 130+. Is there any way to get the radar guy off the ground a good 5 feet, so a car cannot the person directly if it goes off the strip? Maybe some sort of tall chair or stand.

[shane86]

Whos got pix? i have a few friends that went to this, and i'd like to see 'em!

[tmhazen]

This driver took his father for a ride. The father is sitting in the passenger seat, holding the camera.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21826242@N05/3649521154/

Here's another one that a competitor just sent me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVxK_5v9gjo

I haven't received any photo links yet, but will post them when I get them.

[ada///M]

very cool. I assume that was the winning M3? I'm not sure I could handle my car in first gear like that... It would take a few runs, that's for sure. Has he been at any of the Mowog events? Don't recognize his name...

[tmhazen]

Yeah, that's John Schmidt at the wheel, scaring the crap out of his father. ;o)

[ricksellner]

Where we at with the August date? I think I have the brake issues resolved in the camaro. Are there any opening yet?

[tmhazen]

August 22nd (rain date August 23rd) is the date of the next event at Amery. Registration is filling very fast. I'm sure we'll sell out in advance again. I'm trying to reach out to owners of vintage (1979 or older) cars as well as exotics, supercars, and fully-prepped non-street-legal race cars.

[phile]

August 22nd (rain date August 23rd) is the date of the next event at Amery. Registration is filling very fast. I'm sure we'll sell out in advance again. I'm trying to reach out to owners of vintage (1979 or older) cars as well as exotics, supercars, and fully-prepped non-street-legal race cars.
Is the entry list available?

[aansorge]

How did the Mosely's get beat by a Yaris at the last event?

[ricksellner]

My entry is in mail.

[Speedracer 36]

Is there any openings for the 8/22 event?

[pachood]

Is there any openings for the 8/22 event?

I am also interested in knowing. Both vintage and newer vehicles.

[tmhazen]

The August Amery Airport event just sold out tonight, sorry. I still have plenty of room for corner workers. Sometimes I am able to allow corner workers to drive the course later in the afternoon, after the registered drivers start to leave, and if a replacement worker can be found. Corner workers also get free snacks, free lunch, and they get to blow whistles and talk on the radio. Woo hoo!

[94TOY]

I am planning on attending although my registration was too late i guess. maybe someone will not show up due to all the thunderstorms that are going to be there tomorrow ;) kidding..

[Bob86ZZ4]

My son, Eric, is registered for this event. He has had a minor medical issue and can't drive the car. So, he's willing to sell his spot. Looks to me like Speedracer 36 might be first in line, then 94Toy? I think since it's soo late better just put whoever is first to call Eric gets it. His number is 651-707-6584.

[Git Er Dun]

^^ Well as my Dad said my spot was for sale. However it looks like I should be good to go tommorow so I will be participating. See some of you guys there. -Eric

[ricksellner]

Well I'm a little late in doing this. Great event Tom, and to all who made this happen. It was the best weather possible for such a event. Harkens back to the old days of autocrossing. Were things were allot less hectic. Thanks again to a very fun event.

[94TOY]

Thanks Tom, great event. very fun event to watch if you are a spectator. you can see most all of the action from the grid.

[JK9K]

I had fun as I always do at these events! Tom, you and the volunteers do an excellent job putting these things on, a great mix of laid back fun and fast driving!

Many thanks!

PS - I hope you enjoyed watching the "sweat off" and the consumption of the 16" anchovy, jalapeno, sauerkraut, shrimp, and pickle pizza at the awards ceremony...for me it was almost as entertaining as the driving event!

[tmhazen]

I hope you enjoyed watching the "sweat off" and the consumption of the 16" anchovy, jalapeno, sauerkraut, shrimp, and pickle pizza at the awards ceremony...for me it was almost as entertaining as the driving event!

You guys and your pizza eating gave me nightmares! See you at the next one.