Club News
In the fall, BMW CCA Club Racing looks forward to hosting an event with a local chapter that celebrates the BMW driving spirit. It is our way to honor and enjoy what the Ultimate Driving Machine was designed for—to be driven. This year we continue that tradition with not one, but two, chapters at the world famous Watkins Glen International Race Track.
On September 18 and 19 we join with the Boston Chapter to put on our BMW CCA Club Racing School sponsored by Bimmerworld. The race school was conceived and designed around giving top students and instructors a glimpse of what the next level looks like. The two-day school entails four classroom and on track sessions per day. Successful completion of this course allows you to gain a provisional or rookie license and can race over the weekend.
In the classroom you will gain instruction and advice from experienced racers who will cover all aspects of car prep, racer prep, budget, health, and most of all safety. It is also used to review on track performance.
During the driving session you may use street, track or race cars to perform the maneuvers and wear standard school apparel. This all allows you to see if the next level is for you before you spend the money for cages, suspension, race suits, hans, etc. On track you will do side-by-side, passing and start drills that will show you different lines around the track.
On Friday the 20 the GVC Chapter takes over the track for a test day and BMW CCA Club Racing Endurance event.This will be the third event of the series conceived by Patrick Spikes, a long time supporter and tech steward. With the hard work of Kish Galappatti and Mig Aponte Rios the new series has been gaining popularity and building up well as it gives a chance for a longer session on track that allows team and fuel strategy to come into play. We are expecting 30 cars to compete in a three hour race. Ending just before sundown, it will be followed by an awards ceremony and banquet.
On Saturday and Sunday the original Race Series gets into full swing with two sprint races each day. Being the large National Level Event we are expecting approximately 95 cars this year. On Saturday the first sprint race will pay the standard 100% for points and we will use the fastest laps to set the grid for the second race. The afternoon race is being designated as the feature race of the weekend which will award 200% of the standard points. It will also serve as the order for the trophy ceremony being held at the racers’ banquet that night.
On Sunday we will have two sprint races doling out points at 150%. The grid for the first race will be set by the fastest laps of the Saturday afternoon event. Then the fastest times from the morning race will be used to line the cars up for the second. We are hoping to complete these by lunchtime so that everyone can get an early start towing home. This is a ‘must attend’ weekend for those chasing the championship title.
This is my third year organizing this huge event which always proves to be a major party. I enjoy watching the new guys going through our race school program being tutored by some professional and club level champions who have come through the ranks over the years. Then spend the afternoon stewarding our new Endurance series on Friday and finally the Sprint Series on Saturday and Sunday. Lots of old and new friends enjoying BMW’s as they should be driven.—Patrick Spikes
