(Words and Photos by Greg Rourke) –
Pre-registration is required, they limit the number of entries so everyone gets lots of runs. Today every slot was taken, and some pretty mean looking iron ended up just spectating. A trio of Lotuses were running, a Z06 Vette, a couple late model Mustang GT’s, two Fourth Gen Camaros, and a couple race only machines arriving on trailers. Of course there were plenty of Mazda Miatas on hand.
Rules are pretty simple. Knocking over a cone costs time. Hitting one but staying in the chalk lines and no time penalty is charged. Reverse lights coming on results in a DNF. This resulted in a few spinouts where the driver nails the throttle to try to get the car facing the correct direction and not having to back up. Helmets are mandatory, no roll bars required. Passengers welcome, and many drivers had navigators for the first time through the cones. Running over the timing equipment results in writing a big check and being escorted off the property.
Tech inspection is on the honor system, just make sure your ride is safe.
Race action was great. Many of the Miatas are forced induction, which resulted in the club adding a class for them. One Miata runs 12’s in the quarter mile on street tires, I’ve seen the video. One has LS power, which looked factory installed and still handled the course great. A young lady driving a Mercury Sable had three passengers on every run. Front drive cars along the lines of a Mini Cooper make most tight turns on three wheels.
I’d like to extend an invitation to a certain white 9C1 Caprice to come on out to the Windy City and get shown the fast way around the cones. (Editor’s note: invite a fuel tanker and I’m in!)
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