CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA Members, DELAWARE, MARYLAND, SE PA, SOUTH NJ !!

[DarkStar]

No problem Fred. I'll keep this post running and let you know when the meets are! Actually, the next "meet" we're having is the Auto-X at Ripken on Sunday, April 3. I know I'll be there. Hope to see some of you guys there too!!

[PalmerWMD]

DarkStar I'll be out of town then but I'll make the next one.

Fred..

[DarkStar]

Sounds good. I actually posted the wrong date. Its April 3rd, not the 1st which is Friday. Yeah man, hope you can make the next one.

[Dattebayo]

Thought I would get some Info...

Oh well heres my information again:

Dave [email protected]: ME2BNS13

[Onizuka]

Name: BillCar: Black 1997 Nissan 240sx SELocation: Bel Air (10 minutes from Aberdeen)

J-Spec, I saw your car at the last auto-x at ripken. I was wondering whos it was. I'm down for some meets, also I have a bunch of subaru friends I hang out with in the area. Heres the link to our "Meetup" site : http://subaru.meetup.com/60/

We meet at least once a month and talk about stuff. I would like to see more nissan-heads out there though seeing as how right now Its just me, my friend Brian in his '92 SE-R. Join the site and introduce yourself. I'm not trying to be a post-pirate. But we have it pretty organized, all you have to do is join and we'll let you know where the meets and stuff are Enjoy!

What were you driving while you were there? I know I had the only 240sx in the competitors lot. Definatly come say hi if you see me on sunday, I'll also be there satuday for the novice school.

[Onizuka]

http://www.audicarclubna.org/chapters/potomac

This is the chapter that I belong to. Potomac does track events which are actually hi performance driving schools at Summit Point and VIR. They also do a joint one with the Ohio chapter at BeaveRun. All of the chapters do these performance driving schools at all the major tracks. By far the cheapest and safest way to get your own car on the track for not a lot of money and no special requirements. These are not racing schools, so there's no trading paint, How how fast you go is up to you (no paced laps). You will find your limits and you'll have an instructor with you to raise those limits. You're also permitted to ride in instructor cars, which is worth the price by itself. Run groups are determined by level of experience. After a attending couple of these schools, and provided you don't drive like a fool, you start to run solo. There are other car clubs that do the exact same thing. Some are more pretentious than others. Some require owning the make car of the club, some have different types of activities. Audi is just one of many, but owning an Audi is not necessary.

http://www.virclub.comhttp://www.summit ... aceway.com

I believe both of these tracks offer FATT (Friday at the track), where you are permitted to run your own car on the track. The requirements are that you had to have attended a school like Audi, or Barber, Derek Daley, etc at that track. I try to avoid FATTs it because it's a much less controlled environment, a bigger diversity of horsepower and driver skill. It's not racing either but gets your car on the track, but much more unpredictable.

http://[email protected]

One of several major racing schools. Very expensive but comprehensive.You use their cars, which makes a difference in how you drive. You don't have to worry about thedrive home. The instructors are all professional, so the level of experience is higher and more focused than a car club. My first barber instructor competed in the Busch series.

The downside is the cost, which runs in the thousands. But if your after an SCCA license, this is the best route.

Autocrossing is a very fun alternative, even less money and you use your own car. But if your looking to hit triple digit speeds, you wont accomplish it in a parking lot.

Wow, thanks for all the info. I've actually been eying up the skip barber 3 day performance school for a long while, I have my money saved up and just recently requested a seat for up at lime rock in late june. I want to do this so bad, its looks so fun, and im hopping the experience will help me nab a spot as driver for my schools formula SAE team too.

Have you ever had any mis-haps on the track? I've seen some pretty mangled cars that have gone offroad from NASA events and other club racing events (although thats all competitive).

[DarkStar]

I drove my car (240sx) but I parked up in the spectator parking because I wasn't running. But I didn't see YOU. Just your car. Took me a while to figure out who's it was. [email protected] shoot me an email and give me your #. I want a ride along at the next one! . I hope to be there on saturday as well. Please give me the details on the novice school via email because I can't find them and my internet is acting screwy. Thanks!

[Onizuka]

Heh, you can surely ride along, just dont expect to be impressed, im a super n00b. Im going to send an email right now

[Bubba1]

Wow, thanks for all the info. I've actually been eying up the skip barber 3 day performance school for a long while, I have my money saved up and just recently requested a seat for up at lime rock in late june. I want to do this so bad, its looks so fun, and im hopping the experience will help me nab a spot as driver for my schools formula SAE team too.

Have you ever had any mis-haps on the track? I've seen some pretty mangled cars that have gone offroad from NASA events and other club racing events (although thats all competitive).

Oh yeah I had many very memorable mishaps. Barber encourages you to find your limits....and I did (snicker). It began for me that 3-day school at Lime Rock. Wickedly fun track when it rains. I've done most everything that Barber offers. My most spectacular off course expedition was at Lime Rockin one of their formula cars. I was flying down the downhill and hit a small puddle at the apex of the downhill turn onto the main straight and lost it. Spun myself into cloud of white smoke and eventually landed in the freshly mowed infield. The car and I were completely covered in grass clippings. I got a standing ovation in the pits (they had a clear view), and one of the Barber guys asked me how I liked the car's mulching attachment.

The nice thing about Barber's 3 day school is that if you wreck one of their cars, they simply put you into another car. No extra cost. When you go into their race series, that's where you pay if you wreck.

The Barber race series is very fun, and extremely competitive. I enjoyed it. The only downside I had with it was that it was so expensive. I couldn't afford to do as often as I wanted.

NASA is like a bumper car derby at times. Some of the guys I hang out with at the Audi events do NASA. Their cars get a lot more "character" marks at NASA events than at SCCA events.

Barber is expensive, but absolutely worth it. Audi is a nice compromise as it's inexpensive and you use your own car. Both will definitely give you a jolt of adrenaline.

[Onizuka]

I was looking at the NASA SER cup, which has been getting quite a bit of coverage in magazines lately, grassroots motorsports for example. Seems like the entry costs are dirt chip (for racing that is), and uses cars that could easily be deemed "expendable".

But yeah for now im going to stick with autocross and skip barber this summer, wont have money for anything else

[DarkStar]

Hey man, you're probably better than me. At least you've entered! I don't know if I'm going to the school on saturday or not. May not be able to come up with the money and what-not. But I'll come by either way, maybe I can just ride along with you and we can chat or something. I'm off work all day saturday and wouldn't mind the atmosphere. I'll give you a call!

[PalmerWMD]

Good I can see we are begining to spark some community activity.

Fred..

[Onizuka]

I just talked to the guy running it on the phone, all 24 spots are filled for the school on saturday anyways. Make sure you get in your form early so you can attend the april 23rd novice school. Everyone tells me its worth alot more than the $85 you pay.

and for everyone else who is interested in this whole autocross bag: http://www.phillyscca.com

[DarkStar]

Yeah, I'll definately make the next one. Been wanting to do this for a while and my dad keeps annoying me about me "not using my car for anything important" so I guess its about time I get on the ball. I'll definately drop by on Saturday to at least introduce myself, and hopefully get a ride along. I just love your car. I was looking for the same thing before I stumbled on my S14. I'm really impressed by all the work you've done, and I'm looking forward to meet you, and whoever else shows up!

[Onizuka]

Yeah fred, thanks for getting the ball rolling with this thread, this summer is going to rock!

Darkstar, my car is simply the byproduct of a very unhealth obsession with nissan-brand products I dont think its the cleanest or fastest or most well built by anymeans, but it is the most fun I have ever had with 4 wheels (ok so I have 20 rims for my car, thats a different story).

See you this weekend!

[DarkStar]

Sweet god...20!? Can't go wrong with an unhealthy obsession like that though, now can you? LOL!

[Onizuka]

The only one thats crying is my pocket

[DarkStar]

I know how that is... haha

[PGrated]

Hi Fred!

Well, here's my info:

PGratedInfiniti G35X (family car is Subaru Outback wagon!! )[email protected]

Unfortunately, I can't make it this weekend but let me know about future events.

Paul

[TurboKA37]

Turboka37'95 [email protected]

I'll definatley make it out to a few of these meets. i live in chester county about 45 mins west of philly and about 15 mins north of delaware. i think ill go to the CarV2 Z meet and see if i can get a few of my friends to go down (not nissans but some nice cars) i havent gone to any autocross events but am very interested in doing a few this summer. damn, i need a job

[nothingFancy]

drifftinga240sx97 [email protected] cell is 856-498-3982

email me with a time and date and i might see if i can come out or not. i live in south jersey, 40 mins from delaware

[idriveaTTz32]

Lester300ZX [email protected]

[Chaotic_Warlord]

DUde I'd love to go to that Z Meet CarV2 is throwing, but that's the weekend I'm going up to Pittsburgh to finalize my enroll at Wyotech. We should start building up for the Carlisle Modified Madness Car Show on May 21-22. http://www.carsatcarlisle.com/...x.asp

It'd be a good chance to show the NICO love, and I believe Carlisle is a good source of parts because they usually have a huuuge swap meet on car show weekends. Hell, if you got any old parts laying around your garage or basement bring em with ya and make some money. Then you can afford to buy us all pizza, beer and maybe a bottle or 2 of Jeager. WOOHOO good times will be had by all.

Oh and let me just do a cheap plug for soon to be new alma mater <SP>http://wyotech.com/default.asp

I'll be going for Automotive Service Tech with a double minor in Auto Service Maintanance and Chassis Fabrication & High Performance Engines Again sorry for the cheap plug, but it's the best Automotive school in the country and if its students are good enough for Chip Foose and Boyd Coddington to hire then dammit it's good enough for me.

[Onizuka]

Just got back from autocross. Man what a weekend, driving school meeting friday night in philly from 7-10pm, got home at 11:30pm, woke up at 4:30 am to get ready and take the long drive to maryland for driving school, which lasted from 7:30 am to 4pm saturday. plus another 3.5 hours of practis after the instructers set up sundays course and left, strait to a 300zx twin turbo swap in delaware till 11pm, pizza and best motoring vids till 2am and ended up sleeping over. Then it was back to autocross on sunday in maryland from 10am till 5pm, 2 hour drive home to pennsylvania, and now, I'm going to get some freaking sleep!!!!!!

Oh, and I won a sweet glass cup in autoX, now I have something to put my beers in when we party

And, I rock the run-on sentence, too tired to bother fixing it right now...

[PalmerWMD]

Awesome!!!

If you have pics be sure to post in a seperate thread.

Also lets all remind each other to come to next weekends meet!

Fred..

PS: Just came from an awesome Kentuckiana meet, lots of nice Nico cars Z33,Z32,S13 S14. Maximas galore Sentras SPEC's B13's ( awesome ones) and much more

[DarkStar]

I was up at the rainy auto-x on saturday with Jspec. Didn't get too much sleep on saturday night and had to work sunday so I didn't make it back up there on sunday. Sorry buddy .

[Onizuka]

No problem at all dude, theres plenty of time left this summer to do all sorts of stuff. You car was really clean, got to love the manual kouki. I'm going to see when the next autoX stuff is and report back here, maybe we can all get something together

[Chaotic_Warlord]

Hey everyone, the first ever Formula D event on the east coast will be held at Wall Speedway in jersey April 16th. http://www.formulad.com/showin...tid=5

That's right, it's our chance to see the pro's duke it out for real in person and we won't have to buy a plane ticket. Tickets are kinda expensive, like $25 a person but it's an all day event. Gates open at noon and close at 10PM. So it's literally an all day event. Lets spread the word and get as many NICOnauts to this event as we can in the NE. The next event is in Atlanta May 6 & 7th so if you want to attend both that would be awesome. I am going to make every effort to get down there.

[Onizuka]

Heavy throttle is going to have their car there too which should be pretty cool. I dont know if I can go yet, but if im availible, I will.

[PalmerWMD]

I'll be there on the 9th and then on the 16th.

Fred..