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Copyright © 1997-2002
Indianapolis Region
Sports Car Club of America

Clutch Chatter -- April 2000

RE News
by Mark J. Badgley

The big news is that Road Racing, Road Rally and the Solo II Seasons get underway this month. The Solo School and Rally Points Event will be held on April 2nd, the Road Racing Driver’s School / Regional at IRP will be on April 8 and 9th and the first Regional Solo II Points event will be on the 16th. For those who are ready to get the competition year started, it is now time to shake off the winter blues and re-acquaint ourselves with old friends.

The Worker / Stewards Seminar was held on March 4th and 5th in South Bend. Again the big news was fuel testing. Sven Pruett did his fuel testing road show and answered questions. The bottom line is that the Central Division fuel testing kit will be available for use at all Nationals within the division for the year 2000. Divisional Incorporation was to be discussed on Sunday morning; however, they ran out of time. This does not mean that this subject was any less on the minds of those that I met later in the day.

All CenDiv Regions were to vote by March 30th with regards to Divisional Incorporation. The Indianapolis Region Board voted in favor of Incorporation; however, I am doubtful that there will be enough regions vote the same way to actually get the incorporation accomplished. In my opinion, this may be a real loss. Given the method in which the division operates in terms of setting schedules, assessing fees and providing equipment for the operation of our events, having a defined entity in charge would be a real asset to all regions. Several other regions seemed to fear losing their respective individualism, but I feel that this concern is completely unjustified. The real loss is that all factions of the division seem interested in working together, but still did not want to actually be tied to a governing body.

Given the current intense state of readiness, the next two board meetings will be moved to different dates. The later April date will allow time for the proper accounting of the four early April events and last minute planning for the May event. The June meeting will allow us then to review May and to provide planning for the July Indy Grand Prix and BFG Series events. These meeting dates will be April 18th and June 13th. Please make a note of it.

Ingvar assures me that the Planning Committee is developing and they will have a meeting in the near future. Remember if you have any thoughts or action items for the committee, please get a hold of Ingvar and let him know what you want the region to be in the near future.

Overall, I feel that we are ready for the upcoming season and all we need is for you to come out and take part. See you all somewhere.

ROAD RACING SEASON SET TO OPEN AT IRP

Race Chairman Sam Crites is returning us to our long time traditional Saturday Driver School and Sunday Regional Race on April 8-9, 2000. This weekend will be a great opportunity to learn how to go racing, whether it’s behind the wheel or on the volunteer worker side. Those needing entry forms contact Sam Crites at 317-882-5721. Those interested in starting off as a driver can contact Indy Region’s Competition Chairman, Jan Castelluccio, at 317-898-9273.

One month later the racers return to IRP on May 6-7 when Race Chairman Terrence Garrett stages a double Regional Race. This weekend counts for the CenDiv Regional Championship Series, and with two chances to get points, a good field is expected. The double Regional Race format has become the most popular type of event in CenDiv in recent years, and Indy Region is joining the trend this year. It makes for a busy weekend, but the fields are usually bigger, and there are two chances to go racing. Typically, both racers and volunteer workers like the concept, so plan on coming out, whatever your level of involvement.

Anyone interested in volunteering to work either event can contact the specific race specialty chief or call Pete Hylton at 317-892-4206.

BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
March 13,2000
by Bob Burns

Treasurer's Report: Cash flow still negative as bills are being paid to get our activities started for the year.

Membership: 618 members.

Activities: No report.

Road Rally: April ready, May event coming along.

Solo: Fort Harrison site lost due to construction, new site being sought.

Drivers School/Regional Race: Ready to go.

Double Regional Race: Terrence is working on the supps, fee schedule approved.

National Race: No report.

Divisional Incorporation: Indy Region will vote in favor of incorporating Central Division.

The next board meeting will be 18 April 2000 at Laughner's Cafeteria on US 31 South. The next meeting after that will be 13 June.

CALENDAR

Apr 2--Road Rally Points Event (See ad on page 4.)

Apr 2--Informal Solo School, 16th Street Speedway (See ad on page 4.)

Apr 8-9--Driver School/Regional at IRP (See info on page 1.)

Apr 16--Solo II Event, 16th Street Speedway (See ad on page 3.)

Apr 18--Board Meeting

Apr 21--Clutch Chatter Deadline

May 6-7--Double Regional at IRP (See info on page 1.)

May 14--Solo II Event, TBA

May 21--Road Rally Points Event

May 22--Clutch Chatter Deadline

ANNUAL TECH INFO

Annual tech inspections are HIGHLY encouraged before going to race for the first time. Jay Quinn and Jeanne Spellman will be available to perform inspections by appointment. Anyone going to Gingerman for the opening National Race or the IRP Drivers School/Regional Race would sure take a load off of tech and themselves by getting this done early. They will tech gear, also, and they have the new helmet stickers in stock. You can make an appointment by calling 248-9626.

SOLO REPORT
by Dave & Cathy Hart

Location Change

Please note that the Fort Benjamin Harrison site is no longer available for our use and that the April 2 and April 16 Solo events will be held at the 16th Street Speedway. See advertisements elsewhere in this issue.

Our first event is April 2, (details elsewhere in this issue). It will be an informal school, suitable for beginners, with a test & tune session.

The school will include the new Kart program, which also includes the Junior Driver Program. The Junior program allows for competitors as young as 8 years old to autocross karts in a tightly regulated environment (rules were in March issue – contact Dave Hart if you need more info). We encourage anyone interested in exposing their future driver to our sport (or vehicle control in general) to get involved with this program. We will also be introducing the new regional level Novice class and Street Tire class (rules in March issue).

2000 Solo Rulebooks will be available for purchase at the April 2 event at $10 for members and $15 for non-members.

Our first points event will be April 16. See the ad elsewhere in this issue for details.

2000 INDIANAPOLIS REGION SOLO II SCHEDULE

Date(s) Points Event Event/Site
Apr 2 NO Informal School / Test & Tune / 16th Street Speedway
Apr 16 1 16th Street Speedway
May 14 2 TBA
Jun 6 3 Australian Pursuit / Speedrome
Jun 18 4 TBA
Jul 22-23 5 BFG #4 / Converse, IN
Aug 20 6 16th Street Speedway
Sep 17 7 Australian Pursuit / Speedrome
Oct 15 8 TBA

Indianapolis Region Solo II
16th STREET AUTOCROSS ADVENTURE

Points Event #1
SUNDAY, April 16
Rain or Shine

*** Location Change ***
16th Street Speedway Parking Lot
1501 West 16th Street, Indianapolis

Karts Welcome!
(Contact Dave Hart for Rules)
It is the judgment of the Solo Safety Steward whether the course design, surface, solid objects, and type of karts running present an unsafe mix (2000 Rulebook 2.1.D). Please contact the Solo Chairman prior to the event to determine the likelihood of limitation or exclusion occurring.

Registration & Tech--9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Driver's Meeting--10:45 AM
Event Start--11:00 AM

$15.00 Members
$18.00 Non-Members

Contact: Dave or Cathy Hart at (317) 849-2495 E-Mail: dave.hart@insightbb.com

Indianapolis Region Solo II
SOLO DRIVER’S SCHOOL "AUTOCROSS 101"
with TEST & TUNE SESSION

SUNDAY April 2
Rain or Shine
(It’s only April – dress appropriately)

*** Location Change ***
16th Street Speedway Parking Lot
1501 West 16th Street, Indianapolis

This event will begin with an informal school geared toward those interested in learning what Solo II Autocrossing is all about. First-Timers, Beginners, Novices, (and of course, all others) are welcome.

The new Kart, Novice, and Street Tire classes will debut here, along with the new Junior Driver Program.

Following the school will be a Test & Tune session to allow school participants to practice what they have just learned. The Test & Tune session is also open to experienced autocrossers interested in clearing the winter cobwebs from their vehicles (or minds), and anyone else with the desire to have a good time.

Karts Welcome!
(Contact Dave Hart for Rules)
It is the judgment of the Solo Safety Steward whether the course design, surface, solid objects, and type of karts running present an unsafe mix (2000 Rulebook 2.1.D). Please contact the Solo Chairman prior to the event to determine the likelihood of limitation or exclusion occurring.

School Registration--7:15 AM - 7:45 AM
School Session--8:00 AM - 9:45 AM
Registration & Tech--10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Driver's Meeting--10:45 AM
Test & Tune Start--11:00 AM

$12.00 Members
$15.00 Non-Members

RSVP is appreciated, but not required to attend. Contact: Dave or Cathy Hart at (317) 849-2495, E-Mail: dave.hart@insightbb.com

CSCC DRIVERS’ SCHOOL
T W C T: THOSE WHO CAN’T…TEACH

April 29 at Walesboro Airport

Registration and Tech--9:00 to 10:00 AM
Classroom--10:00 to 11:00 AM
Break
Personalized instruction in sections on course: Noon
Entire course instruction afterwards

Fee $15 for school.
$25.00 for school and next day autocross

Instructors:
Warren LeVeque -- 10 yrs road racing, 30 yrs autocross, McKamey Grad
Lee Miller -- 35 yrs autocross experience, McKamey Auto-X School Grad
Andy Bratt -- Novice Orientation--1999 student success story
Sherri DeCoursey -- Graduate of: Skip Barber, Panoz, and Lyn St. James Schools

Bring a fun attitude, a safe car, and a Snell 90 approved helmet.
We will have loaner helmets available.

For more information call Warren or Lee at 765/643-9290 and 765/779-4391 or LeVair@aol.com

RALLY REPORT
by Chuck Hanson

Because of the last minute change in the location of the Solo tuning session, Clutch Chatter is probably in your hands before the April rally. The first rally of the season is an easy touring concept TSD rally run entirely on paved roads. Touring rallies do not have any course following traps. In other words, nobody should get lost. The weather has been so nice that there is a good chance that there will be some color in Bartholomew County by April 2. Join us for a leisurely drive through the hills of south central Indiana.

Two teams from Indy Region made the trek to Michigan for the Moonlight Monte Divisional Rally. Steve Phillips and Paul Gilbert won the Limited Class with a score of 120 points for 22 scored controls. Outstanding. Let’s cheer them on as they are planning on running the entire Divisional schedule. For the record, Divisional Rally speeds are relatively brisk. Even a touring rally is challenging. Dan Cook and yours truly ran our first rally as a team in the Stock Class. We are rationalizing it as a learning experience because we finished last in class. The biggest thing that we learned is that old men need lots of light both inside and outside the car when the sun goes down. We averaged 20 points over 18 of the controls, and if we could have done as well on the other four we would have been in the middle of the pack. We hope to run again in May.

The May event is shaping up nicely. The course uses lots of interesting roads, mostly in Morgan County, and so far they are all paved. Scoring is planned to be similar to last years Wright Stuff event. A good event for people who are less than thrilled with calculations.

The June event will be a map rally similar to last years. It will be run in Hancock County. More details on it next month.

Indy Region Rally Points Event #1
DAFFODILS AND DOGWOODS

APRIL 2, 2000

The start and finish of the event is at West Hill Plaza on State Road 46 (about a half mile west of Interstate 65 on the west side of Columbus, IN). There is a traffic light at the top of the hill. Turn right to enter the shopping center on the north side of SR46 and look for the check point sign.

SCHEDULE:
Registration--11:30 - 12:30 PM
Drivers Meeting--12:30 PM promptly
First car receives route instructions--1:00 PM
First car starts course--1:01 PM
First car completes course--Approximately 4 PM

Members of SCCA: $10
Nonmembers: $20

Concept of the rally: This is a Time-Speed-Distance touring rally. Enjoy an easy drive through Bartholomew and Brown counties during their spring glory. All roads used on this rally are public roads, all are paved.

For further information: Charles Hanson (317) 780 - 9007 (Leave a name and phone number if you get voice mail. I travel a lot.)

From the Director’s Desk
February 7, 2000

News from SCCA Area 4 Director Pete Hylton
7217 Creekwood Court, Pittsboro, IN 46167-9798

Phone: 317-892-4206 Fax: 317-892-4206
E-mail: pete@petehylton.org
Web Site: www.petehylton.org

During the recent campaign that led to my election as SCCA Area 4 Director, much was said about the situation with SCCA Pro Racing. Any member not aware that our professional racing activities had lost over $1.25 Million during the past two years must have been living in a very isolated world. One of my campaign vows was to push for changes that would rectify that situation. And in previous updates to you, I have explained that the BoD was working on a solution which would build on our strengths and avoid our shortcomings. Well, much has happened in the past month, and I thought you deserved an update, so here goes.

Trans-Am: The cornerstone of SCCA’s professional activities is the Trans-Am, America’s longest running road race series. The Trans-Am has had its highs and its lows across 35 years. It has been a good series and a popular series. But it has never achieved the stature that many think it deserves. In part this is because SCCA is primarily a race organization body. Simply put, we stage good races. What we don’t do particularly well is manage and promote them. That is one of the reasons that SCCA Pro Racing was slow to react to the changing motorsports marketplace, which led to the financial losses of the past two years. As you have probably seen in the media, SCCA has entered into a strategic partnership in which we will provide sanction and organizational skills for the Trans-Am while its promotion and marketing will be handled by two major league names in American road racing, Don Panoz and Ralph Sanchez. The agreement extends to Trans-Am participating on several of the American LeMans Series race weekends and includes SCCA Pro Racing’s assistance in race organization for parts of the ALMS program. This lets us concentrate on what we do best, and lets our partners focus on what they do very well. With income derived from both a licensing agreement and from race operation services, SCCA Pro Racing should be able to operate in the black again. And the potential exists for the Trans-Am/ALMS partnership to take both series to new heights as a very desirable race weekend package for both track promoters and television networks. It is my belief that the deal was not only a good thing for the series, but frankly may have been the only way to simultaneously preserve Trans-Am and protect our financial health.

SCCA Pro Racing, Ltd.: SCCA’s professional racing subsidiary is being reorganized and redirected. SCCA Pro President, K.C. Van Niman will continue to oversee the operational aspects of the company, servicing the various pro series including the joint Trans-Am/ALMS events. Meanwhile, Nick Craw will assume responsibility for managing the Pro Racing budget and developing a long range plan for our involvement in professional racing. The BoD has made it abundantly clear that further losses in SCCA Pro Racing will not be tolerated. I have every confidence that Nick Craw understands these marching orders and that the objective will be met this time through.

Rally USA: One other area of professional involvement that has been in the news recently is the postponement of the proposed Rally USA international pro-rally event which had been scheduled for Colorado this June. This began as an exploratory venture to determine if there was interest in bringing America back into the world championship rally program. It generated significant interest from the FIA which wants a greater presence in the US. It generated considerable interest with the manufacturers who participate in the world championship series, with most of them committing to participation. And it generated some real support in the US Pro Rally community over the increased exposure that such an event would bring to the sport in this country. What it did not generate was enough sponsorship to pull off the event in 2000. In keeping with the BoD’s instructions that Rally USA had to be financially self-supporting, the staff had no choice but to postpone the initial event. There is still work ongoing to parlay the interest of the FIA, manufacturers, and US rally community into enough support to stage the event in 2001.

OIL CHANGING INSTRUCTIONS

NOTE: This was forwarded to us via racing friends from Ohio.

WOMEN:

  1. Pull up to Jiffy Lube when the mileage reaches 3000 since the last oil change.
  2. Drink a cup of coffee.
  3. 15 minutes later, write a check and leave with a properly maintained vehicle.

MEN:

  1. Go to O'Reilly auto parts and write a check for 50 dollars for oil, filter, oil lift (AKA kitty litter), hand cleaner and scented tree.
  2. Discover that the used oil container is full. Instead of taking back to O'Reilly to recycle, dump in hole in back yard.
  3. Open a beer and drink it.
  4. Jack car up. Spend 30 minutes looking for jack stands.
  5. Find jack stands under kid's pedal car.
  6. In frustration, open another beer and drink it.
  7. Place drain pan under engine.
  8. Look for 9/16 box end wrench.
  9. Give up and use crescent wrench.
  10. Unscrew drain plug.
  11. Drop drain plug in pan of hot oil; get hot oil on you in process.
  12. Clean up.
  13. Have another beer while oil is draining.
  14. Look for oil filter wrench.
  15. Give up; poke oil filter with Phillips screwdriver and twist it off.
  16. Beer.
  17. Buddy shows up; finish case with him. Decide to finish oil change tomorrow.
  18. Next day, drag pan full of old oil out from underneath car.
  19. Throw oil lift (AKA kitty litter) on oil spilled during step 18.
  20. Beer. No, drank it all yesterday.
  21. Walk to 7-11; buy beer.
  22. Install new oil filter making sure to apply thin coat of clean oil to gasket first.
  23. Dump first quart of fresh oil into engine.
  24. Remember drain plug from step 11.
  25. Hurry to find drain plug in drain pan.
  26. Hurry to replace drain plug before the whole quart of fresh oil drains onto floor.
  27. Slip with wrench and bang knuckles on frame.
  28. Bang head on floor board in reaction.
  29. Begin cussing fit.
  30. Throw wrench.
  31. Cuss for additional 10 minutes because wrench hit Miss December 1992.
  32. Clean up; apply Band-Aid to knuckle.
  33. Beer.
  34. Beer.
  35. Dump in additional 4 quarts of oil.
  36. Beer.
  37. Lower car from jack stands.
  38. Accidentally crush one of the jack stands.
  39. Move car back to apply more oil lift (AKA kitty litter) to fresh oil spilled during step 23.
  40. Drive car

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
with Aeron Hylton

The Phillips and Gilbert rally team took a win in the limited class (5th overall) at the March 4 Divisional rally in Imlay city, Michigan. The next stop for their trusty SAAB is The Wisconsin Glacier Tour in April.

Jay Quinn and Jeanne Spellman were headed for the 12 hour race at Sebring. We’ll be looking to hear how the combined ALMS and Trans-Am event went after everything Daddy has said about the new SCCA Pro Racing arrangement.

James Shanks got a first look at the newly reopened Virginia International Raceway. James says all the buildings look historic (even the new ones) giving the place the same feel that the track had when it was shut down over 20 years ago. He compared it to a cross between Road America and Disneyland (sounds cool, maybe I can get Daddy to race there).

THE CLASSIFIEDS

FOR SALE: 1973 Triumph GT6, British Racing Green. Runs good and looks good $1800.00. 1971 Porsche 911 Targa. Complete, but doesn’t run. $1500.00. Call John Holman at (812) 333-1623. (3/00)