CM Engineering Ashburton Street Sprints

[chch34]

Event dates are Saturday 12th May, and Sunday 13th May 2007

Entrys open at 10.00am this Saturday the 31st March, delivered to Shayne Adams, 45 Leeston Street, Ashburton. Limited to 54 entries, and if its anything like every other year, the places will be filled by lunch time. Entry is $100 for non Ash Car Club members, $80 for members.


Christchurch scrutineering:
5.30pm-6.30pm, Thursday, 10th May, Advance Automotive,129 Wordsworth Street.

Full info here;
http://www.ashburtoncarclub.org.nz/forms.htm

Ill be in Ash at 9.30, how many other TS fullas entering?

[matt dunn]

Event
Ill be in Ash at 9.30, how many other TS fullas entering?

I will be,

But I will be at the CHCH endurance race on Saturday.
Going tomorrow for practise and staying the weekend,
so have arranged for my entry to get there another way, lol.

Matt

[D-T]

I wont be in it... but i'll be out in support of any TS members in it =) look for me with Tim Cooks group with his GSR. =)

[Kahlua]

The Canterbury Car Club contingent will be there and racing.

Myself (in the Sentra Targa car) and Wayne (in the KE25 Corolla coupe) are competing again for the second year in a row. Allan Coker (CCC Club Captain) is entering for his first year at it, as are John Cottier (Toyota Starlet) and Nate the Maori who I'm letting race my car as well.

I believe (not 100% sure) Geoff Watson in his mega quick Green Starlet will also be there (he seems to be every year). I've asked around, not sure of any other CCC members entering. ACC members like Donny McLaren and Alan McCormick will definetly be entering.

All of us are working at the Southern 300 on the Saturday as well, so I've pre organised our entries for the Saturday. Hopefully I don't draw #5 again (Last year it was cold and slippery early in the pack on the Saturday (before it was rained out on the Sunday) at least I didn't get Chris Protheroes' #1 slot, lol)

Getting there the Friday night before and staying until Sunday.

Looking forward to seeing you guys there

Out of you guys entering - you going to the Social at the Clubrooms the Saturday night?

[Kahlua]

BTW, Matt - you are entering the Endurance race?

Are you a late entry? I was entering all the competitors in the Race system this evening, and didn't have your name there? I'll get it on Saturday so don't worry. As usual I'm part of the running of the Ruapuna Transponder system so it'll be good to see someone else I know out there. If you want to jump a few laps ahead, you know where to send the cheque too..

[matt dunn]

BTW, Matt - you are entering the Endurance race?

Are you a late entry? I was entering all the competitors in the Race system this evening, and didn't have your name there? I'll get it on Saturday so don't worry. As usual I'm part of the running of the Ruapuna Transponder system so it'll be good to see someone else I know out there. If you want to jump a few laps ahead, you know where to send the cheque too..

Not entering the enduro,

I will be working with the RWD 2JZGTE Levin team.
Car 137 from memory. Swayney/McDermid.
Have been with them for a few years now.
We originally built the car for them and still do lot of work on it.

Would be good to catch up and meet.

Was Last year your fist year entering the Ashburton Street Sprint too?
I have done many passenger laps around there, but last year was my first time as a driver. Was a shame it was rained out.

[Kahlua]

Not entering the enduro,

I will be working with the RWD 2JZGTE Levin team.
Car 137 from memory. Swayney/McDermid.
Have been with them for a few years now.
We originally built the car for them and still do lot of work on it.

Would be good to catch up and meet.

Was Last year your fist year entering the Ashburton Street Sprint too?
I have done many passenger laps around there, but last year was my first time as a driver. Was a shame it was rained out.

Yeah, it was a shame it was rained out, but I had the fun of doing my third run during the rain on the Sunday, got to the first hairpin and almost understeered into the gutter, so realise why they canned it, it was getting a bit too monsoon conditions to continue. Was my first year doing it (and seeing it!) and of all the 50 something racing events I compete in during the Motorsport year in all disciplines, I rate the Street Sprints my favourite. (A lot to do with the crowds, commentary, overall awesome weekend the Ashburton Car Club puts on).

And yep, I have McDermid / Swaney in a Corolla in my list so all good

Definetly come up and say Hi, just head up the stairs next to the Wigram Room and take your first left, and then into the Results area and ask for Nic. I'll be sitting in front of one of the laptops anyway. Definetly should catch up also in Ashvegas during the Sprints as well. We're staying in the Hotel Ashburton.

[chch34]

Yea we'l be going to the social, im in the Ash car club as we have family down there, so it should be a good night!! We're staying at my father in laws place not too far from Hotel Ash, if anyone wants to leave their cars in a shed/back paddock over night, sing out.

[Kahlua]

For those who want a look at the track before the event - (from the 2006 event)

Me in my Sentra - Outside View (I cringe now at the lines I took) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd9RLQKogEw

Wayne in his sideways KE25 Corolla - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh0dDkaobvY

Matt Dunn in his Toyota - Incar View - gives you the best view for a racer (hope you don't mind me posting this Matt since you put it on Youtube ) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=408xzPgsYXo

[Kahlua]

Yea we'l be going to the social, im in the Ash car club as we have family down there, so it should be a good night!! We're staying at my father in laws place not too far from Hotel Ash, if anyone wants to leave their cars in a shed/back paddock over night, sing out.

By the way - I'll check tomorrow, but might a bit safer than leaving them in the Hotel Ashburton carpark Awesome offer if all goes well. As long as he doesn't mind us turning up early - I think we left the motel around 7am or earlier last year to secure a good spot and grab some breakfast Majority of us are taking our cars down on A-Frames or Trailers so we can dump them there and take the road / towing cars back to the Hotel. (Good luck with entering in a few hours (Also talked Clara into entering, so I'll let her know as well)

Thanks for the offer again

[chch34]

No prob, i dunno if id leave my old shoes in the Hotel Ashburton car park let alone my race car.

I put my entry in at about 10.05am, and im still number 38 of 54!! Lucky we weren't 10 minutes late!

Cool so Clara entered aswell? Good stuff, it'l be an awesome weekend.


Any tips for a Ashburton Street Sprints virgin like myself?

Can i use Kumho V700s? Or whats a good tyre to use, ill shout myself a set before the event.

Also im using circuit race pads on may car, and they take about a lap of ruapuna to warm up, should i get some plain old Bendex pads or something? Im a bit nervous about getting to the first corner and having no brakes...

[Kahlua]

No prob, i dunno if id leave my old shoes in the Hotel Ashburton car park let alone my race car.

I put my entry in at about 10.05am, and im still number 38 of 54!! Lucky we weren't 10 minutes late!

Cool so Clara entered aswell? Good stuff, it'l be an awesome weekend.


Any tips for a Ashburton Street Sprints virgin like myself?

Can i use Kumho V700s? Or whats a good tyre to use, ill shout myself a set before the event.

Also im using circuit race pads on may car, and they take about a lap of ruapuna to warm up, should i get some plain old Bendex pads or something? Im a bit nervous about getting to the first corner and having no brakes...

You reckon you are lucky? I normally arrive 3 hours before daylight, and this time (because of the Endurace 300 at Ruapuna I had to work Saturday morning) I posted my entries early in the week to someone to hand in on behalf (5 of us - Me, Nate, Wayne, Allan and John) and we got 48th to 52nd slot!) - out of 54 available. Thats close

Yeah Clara entered and got in - I was convincing her yesterday to turn up on the weekend to hang with us and somehow she ended wanting to enter All good - more familiar faces the more fun

Any tips? Pat McMorran from Advance Automotives (who is doing the Scrutineering ) is a bloody good guy - as long as your tyres are road legal (ie dot rated) you are fine. If you are unsure, go get them checked now so no nasty surprises 2 days out from the event. He is the kind of guy you can take your tyres to to check saying you are entering the event, and he'll tell you without a fee whether they are ok or not. Let me know if you want to do that.

I used Dunlop Formula R's last time, and Wayne used trusty ol Hankooks, but maybe some other RWD guys can suggest better than I can.

Regarding brakes - I didn't change mine - maybe Matt can offer some assistance when he gets back from the Enduro meet? There is a strip before the start line where you can spend a minute or 2 launching (read: no burnouts) and braking to warm them up - but you never hit the speeds you do on Ruapuna (keep in mind the surface of a road is a lot different than the slicky surface of Ruapuna) and basically, you'll drive to your limits.

Come have a chat to me (or anyone whos done it before) and we'll tell all we know than drag my post on any longer - or even have a chat on the day. Basically - Golden rule- you aren't going to qualify for an elimination round or win the race on your first run - so remember as much as possible about the track layout on the Indian File, and then on your first run, give it a good go, but don't do anything risky, just get a really good feel for it, and prepare for attacking it the next 2 guaranteed runs you get. If you get to the top 32, you'll get to the elimination rounds. Then you'll know enough.

PS We're all going to the Social at the Ashburton Club Rooms on Saturday night - see you all there.

PPS Get there really really early on the Saturday - we'll all try and get a pit area together, pit areas are tight and if you get there late you'll be way out the back away from the action.

PPPS By the way, I'll bet it'll be one of the best motorsport weekends all year. All you other guys should come and watch too

[chch34]

Ill go see Pat Mcmorran some stage and have a talk to him. Im sure he'l have a fairly good idea about brakes and tyres to use etc

Ive been to watch the street sprints the last few years, and i worked at Spray Marks for 5 years (half way up the straight), so ill feel stupid if i get the course wrong infront of all my old workmates lol

Did i hear somewhere its gana be televised on Sky?

Yea we're keen to get there real early for a good spot

[matt dunn]

Did i hear somewhere its gana be televised on Sky?

Heard that rumour too.

I use the Khumo V700 there.
Just make sure they have been run in before the event.

And I use my race brakes too, which are race front and std rear's, and just have to be a little easy on them for the first part.
(I am not a late braking type anyway.)

[Kahlua]

Did i hear somewhere its gana be televised on Sky?

Heard that rumour too.

I read that rumour in the Ashburton Car Club bulletin.. but if I remember correctly, it read 'There is a possibility of it being televised, which would be shown on Sky'.

Hopefully eh.

PS Shane said entries were full in 20 minutes. They do sell like Chili Peppers tickets!

[fangsport]

Did i hear somewhere its gana be televised on Sky?

Heard that rumour too.

I read that rumour in the Ashburton Car Club bulletin.. but if I remember correctly, it read 'There is a possibility of it being televised, which would be shown on Sky'.

Hopefully eh.

getting it captured on camera is one thing, having the footage edited and aired on TV is another. i believe the main instigator of the of the TV idea, has been very busy trying to get deals together for some sealed events in the South Island as well, i guess it will be 'wait and see'.

on a side note, i heard a ronour that ACC may start to feel the wrath of MSNZ if they are to continue running it. i was talking to someone involved with both the Dunedin street races and the Easter street sprint in Waimate, and the red tape from Wellington in regard to street courses, is getting out of control. seemingly, at the 11th hour, it was requested that more safety barriers to be put in place (supposedly to put the organisers off) , but 2 local businesses found $100k to fund the extra requirements to make it game on, so then at the 11.9th hour, it was then requested that the catseyes be removed as potentially they could cut tyres and cause crashes???????

[chch34]

Was that for Ash Street Sprints? 2 local Ashburton businesses? Crazy...

At $15.50 to remove and replace each catseye, it might be cheaper to get the Red Hot Chilli Peppers to Ashburton...

[Leon]

on a side note, i heard a ronour that ACC may start to feel the wrath of MSNZ if they are to continue running it. i was talking to someone involved with both the Dunedin street races and the Easter street sprint in Waimate, and the red tape from Wellington in regard to street courses, is getting out of control. seemingly, at the 11th hour, it was requested that more safety barriers to be put in place (supposedly to put the organisers off) , but 2 local businesses found $100k to fund the extra requirements to make it game on, so then at the 11.9th hour, it was then requested that the catseyes be removed as potentially they could cut tyres and cause crashes???????

You're probably only hearing part of the story. The red tape on track licenses comes straight from the FIA rules in Geneva, as they control track licenses worldwide, so if you're trying to get a Grade X licence in Uzbekistanalovia, then you've got the same set of rules as somebody setting up a temporary track in Eketahuna.

Normally the problem with temporary venue licences is that you need to have the inspection done months and months in advance, and you then get a big arse list of things you need to do. The trick is to then remember, and action all of those things. This is really hard on volunteers, as all of us tend to have jobs and family, and setting up a track is almost a job in itself. Permanent tracks have exactly the same issues, and frequently sail very close to not getting track licences due to not fixing or changing stuff.

Track licenses are a constantly evolving set of rules, so you can never assume that the 2004 rules will be the same as the 2009 rules. It's a pretty scary and full on area, and I am glad that I never have anything to do with it.

But the reason it's such a difficult area is the fairly straightforward reason, that racing away from a permanent venue is more risky if the unexpected happens. You only have to look at the fatalities at the Queenstown race, where after that accident (and that's all it was) the Track Inspector and a couple of other officials were charged as though they were criminals who caused people to be killed. Thus, when it comes to track inspections, there's no half measures.

MSNZ is just the legislative body that issues the permits and stuff. We don't have "wrath", all that needs to happen is to follow the guidelines and timelines in the manual, and all will be well. Normally the issue is people missing deadlines.

[matt dunn]

Got my acceptance of entry today so I must be in.......

[Kahlua]

As did I.. I believe Wayne did too.