Bay Area Autocross, What are the options Options

[r_towle]

Mainly PCA.
I have some friends that were very active here in the Northeast...yet they told me they recieved a not so warm welcome at the event in SF and are looking elsewhere.

Is there a club near Santa Clara???

If so, would someone care to reach out to these guys...they are really nice...they ran the autocross here for many years and just need a nice group of people to join so they are not so homesick for our club.

They are also perpetual volunteers...alas Boxter owners.

Thanx in advance.

Rich

[nebreitling]

at which event did they recieve a luke-warm welcome?

although i've encountered some attitude here and there, i'll say that most of the PCA events around here are pretty welcoming, feature quite impressive competition at the larger events, and lots of seat time compared to an SCCA event. you can run 2-3 AX's per month if you don't mind driving around the bay a bit.

you can certainly give them my email....


n e b @ s t a n f o r d . e d u

[r_towle]

cool and thanx. I will send one a copy all of you.

Rich

[Mueller]

Golden Gate region PCA


tons of info, plenty of events......

meetings in Santa Clara (???)

[DanT]

I would be suprised by a not so cordial welcome. At most of the events in the bay area there are usually quite a large number of Boxster owners, like myself and at least 10-12 others that frequent the GGR, LPR and RR events.
Do you have any idea what event it was or what the circumstances were? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/unsure.gif)

[ArtechnikA]

QUOTE (nebreitling @ Jul 25 2005, 07:41 PM)

i'll say that most of the PCA events around here are pretty welcoming, feature quite impressive competition...

i agree on both counts. but that means if you "just show up" when guys are trying to set their cars up to compete for points, they may be a bit too focused to be really gregarious and welcoming.

(i've found that few West Coast guys realise that only Zone 7 & 8 have Zone-wide yearly competition series...)

[grantsfo]

Yeah I agree with Nathan. It may have just been a circumstance where they drew a conclusion about a GGR event. I think in general all the events are pretty low key and welcoming. I think GGR can be big and somone might feel lost in the shuffle. If thats the case a Redwood Region or Loma Preita Region AX would be more personal. I'd be happy to hang out with them too if they are new to the area. I know Nathan offered his contact info, but here's mine too: grantsfo@earthlink.net I'd be ahappy to introduce them to some of the people I know etc at an LPR event or just hang out with them at GGR etc.


Oh yeah I'm a Boxster owner too so I can talk Boxster. "RMS" (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[nebreitling]

actually, it was the RW region zone event where i got the attitude. most places when you break down, you have a few guys offering to help. here, i had RWR officials telling me that they expected me to hurry up and get out of there PRONTO, so they could go drink wine. five pinky lifters watching me struggling to fix my tow vehicle, while they sat openly complaining to me and each other how i was holding then up. although i felt bad that my truck broke down and held them up, they made me feel quite unwelcome.

GGR can seem a little impersonal, but that's just the nature of the beast when you get so many drivers. it helps to already know people there, as the regulars can seem a little cliquish imho. LPR is always fun and friendly.

[grantsfo]

QUOTE (nebreitling @ Jul 25 2005, 05:41 PM)

actually, it was the RW region zone event where i got the attitude. most places when you break down, you have a few guys offering to help. here, i had RWR officials telling me that they expected me to hurry up and get out of there PRONTO, so they could go drink wine. five pinky lifters watching me struggling to fix my tow vehicle, while they sat openly complaining to me and each other how i was holding then up. although i felt bad that my truck broke down and held them up, they made me feel quite unwelcome. GGR can seem a little impersonal, but that's just the nature of the beast when you get so many drivers. it helps to already know people there, as the regulars can seem a little cliquish imho. LPR is always fun and friendly.

...Well you were holding up cocktail time what do you expect? I forgot about that element there. But they do have a Boxster remeber! Perfect car to keep the wine and cheese crowd happy.

[Randal]

QUOTE

Mainly PCA. I have some friends that were very active here in the Northeast...yet they told me they recieved a not so warm welcome at the event in SF and are looking elsewhere.

Tell them to park next to the 914 crowd and just join in.

My e-mail address is: randal.barrick@intouchdigital.com

[Trekkor]

I've experienced the snubbing as well (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/dry.gif)

As you establish yourself in the rankings, it's pretty tough for them to ignore you. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/w00t.gif)

There are always plenty of 914 guys around who will help, walk course, loan tools, etc with your buds...

trekkor@willstile.com

KT

[Steve_7x]

As others had suggested they should just introduce themselves.

There are so many venues and options in NorCal... GGR, LPR, Redwood, SVR etc... and each group has it's own personality, quircks and hospitality. If you look past the little things you will find a core of really nice and helpful people...

August and September will present lots opportunities to get to know some of us - with in Santa Rosa (Redwood Region), Marina (Zone for LPR and GGR) and Stockton (Zone Sac Valley and Yosemite). Your friends will find different styles, types of courses etc... Running the Zone series can be rewarding as it is competitve but typically a little more low key. Another benefit of these weekends is the 'benchracing' (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/beerchug.gif) (includes all the excuses you can think of (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) ) on Saturday evening - since they run autocrosses on both days of the weekend.

Steve

[nocones]

Getting that sort of treatment after experiencing a break down stinks.
Was that RWR event at the Sonoma County Airport by chance?

I have not raced with RWR for a few years now, but I am somewhat active with the 'other' sports car club in the area, Empire Sports Car Association.
The two groups use the Airport site currently.

If it was there I can offer this possible explanation...
The clubs have had to jump through major flaming hoops to have events here. Among the airports restrictions:

Only club members (who are driving) may be admitted to the site.
Strict noise limits.
And ... absolutely everyone has to be off site by 5:30pm (At least I think it's 5:30)

Any infringments of these or other regulations will result in being banned from use.

Trust me, if we could find another site in the N. Bay I'd be the first to abandon that one.

Hopefully the poor receptions were isolated incidents and won't keep anyone away.

[Steve_7x]

I believe your are right...

RWR starts their events later (10:00am) due to noise restrictions, and they have to be out of the site by 5 or 5:30 - that's why the zone events end at 4:00pm. I believe with that weekend we were pushing the 4:00 time limit (if I recall correctly).

Steve

[Trekkor]

QUOTE

(10:00am) due to noise restrictions

It's true. What cracks me up though, is that everytime I get there at 8:00am there is a constant stream of mammoth sea planes, vintage fighter planes and private jets...Sometimes large helicopters. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/dry.gif)

Guess what? They are WAY louder than any of us.
I'm confused on that one. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif)

KT

[nocones]

Tell me about it!

I have to laugh at the chuckleheads who bought houses around the airport, then complain about the noise!
Such is life. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/headbang.gif)

[EdwardBlume]

LPR is a tame bunch. Ask for Cathy..... tell them Rob sent you...

On GGR, it's all good folks, but its run like a swiss watch. Newbies can get swept up pretty quick especially when they volunteer in the trailer....

A good rule of thumb is to buddy up with the 914 crowd... not a bad seed in the bunch (now that I'm gone).

but will I be back???

Ha ha ha

[ConeDodger]

QUOTE (grantsfo @ Jul 25 2005, 05:53 PM)

Well you were holding up cocktail time what do you expect? I forgot about that element there. But they do have a Boxster remeber! Perfect car to keep the wine and cheese crowd happy.

Not sure if I should be offended... I own a Boxster... and a 914... and an MGB... and a 240Z. I don't hang with any "wine and cheese crowd". I show up early and take pictures of other peoples cars... I help when they break down. I think anyone who doesn't like the Boxster either can't afford one or their wife will not let them buy one. It certainly handles and no matter how Porsche chose to market it, it was a direct decendant of the 914. The marketing was Porsche's mistake not the Boxster owner. Give it a break. There aren't many 914 owners that would pass up a Boxster or a 911 if they could have them too. These are all fine cars.

I do recall Nathan getting "attitude" at a RWR event but not because of a truck breakdown. I think they wouldn't let him run because he missed part of a drivers meeting IIRC... Pretty chump, but Nathan was cool about it.

Tell your friends to try to make the SVR two day regional in September and we can make an effort to introduce them around... Tell them to see me or Steve. Preferably me as Steve has a lot of competition to get ready for and well.... I only drive a Boxster. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wub.gif)

[Trekkor]

said plane and jet (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/dry.gif)

(IMG:http://ground-speed.com/photogallery/pca_rr_7_23/thumbnails/0.plane_8524.jpg)
(IMG:http://ground-speed.com/photogallery/pca_rr_7_23/thumbnails/jet_8887.jpg)

KT

[grantsfo]

QUOTE (Rotten Robby @ Jul 26 2005, 08:51 PM)

QUOTE (grantsfo @ Jul 25 2005, 05:53 PM) Well you were holding up cocktail time what do you expect? I forgot about that element there.  But they do have a Boxster remeber!  Perfect car to keep the wine and cheese crowd happy. Not sure if I should be offended... I own a Boxster... and a 914... and an MGB... and a 240Z. I don't hang with any "wine and cheese crowd". I show up early and take pictures of other peoples cars... I help when they break down. I think anyone who doesn't like the Boxster either can't afford one or their wife will not let them buy one. It certainly handles and no matter how Porsche chose to market it, it was a direct decendant of the 914. The marketing was Porsche's mistake not the Boxster owner. Give it a break. There aren't many 914 owners that would pass up a Boxster or a 911 if they could have them too. These are all fine cars. I do recall Nathan getting "attitude" at a RWR event but not because of a truck breakdown. I think they wouldn't let him run because he missed part of a drivers meeting IIRC... Pretty chump, but Nathan was cool about it. Tell your friends to try to make the SVR two day regional in September and we can make an effort to introduce them around... Tell them to see me or Steve. Preferably me as Steve has a lot of competition to get ready for and well.... I only drive a Boxster. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wub.gif)

...I own a Boxster and I'm a wine guy. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) In fact just this past week I went to an incredible French wine and food pairing in the Boxster. Hence I am a classic wine and chese guy who likes 914's. ..I was just giving Nathan a hard time! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)