The countdown to COTA!

[bigjae1976]

I live not too far from a couple of tracks but not close to anything. COTA is the closest which is a solid 1.25 hours away. Or 1 hour if I drive a little faster than the speed limit.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

I live not too far from a couple of tracks but not close to anything. COTA is the closest which is a solid 1.25 hours away. Or 1 hour if I drive a little faster than the speed limit.

but its primarily private correct? i have Pacific Raceways(65miles), the Ridge(100miles), Portland international(210miles) and Oregon Raceways Park(300miles)

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by chriszeh

i have Pacific Raceways(65miles), the Ridge(100miles), Portland international(210miles) and Oregon Raceways Park(300miles)

Me...
COTA - 80 miles
Harris Hill road (San Marcos) - 90 miles
Texas World Speedway (College Station) - 113 miles
Motorsport Ranch (Fort Worth) - 138 miles
Houston MSR (Houston) - 230 miles

Also have Eagles Canyon and Grandsport...haven't been there yet.

Originally Posted by chriszeh

but its primarily private correct?

Who knows. At first, COTA was not going to allow DEs at the track. They have allowed a couple of DE orgs to do some events on a trial basis. This event by the Drivers Edge is the first one which seems to be going well. Although the organizer did screen drivers (read: eliminated jackasses)...I just made the cut.

The next is MVP 1-3 Feb and then BMWCCA 7-9 June.

I think BMWCCA may have a long term contract for 2 per year...not sure. You can increase your chances if you drive an HPDE or auto-x with a BMWCCA chapter in Texas (Tejas, Lone Star, and Houston). Those who have recently driven with on of those chapters gets first shot at registration. The Lone Star chapter has a DE at the end of Apr at MSR Cresson which might be a qualifier for the Oct COTA event.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Although the organizer did screen drivers (read: eliminated jackasses)...I just made the cut.

i would be in trouble then. looks like you have more choices relatively close. so far ive stuck with just the one track closest but need to branch out. would actually like to have a trailer so not driving that far all the time, going into oregon. i dont tend to like events that are to highly regulated.

[Koop]

Great video, thanks! Looks to be really rewarding. Was brake and tire wear as expected?

Looks like it was pretty slippery off-line! I imagine some clenching occurred at 12:20 or so... .

Some questionable lines from that vette. Looked to be struggling a bit. Pretty quick in straight line, though.

The track seems to beg for horsepower.

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Thanks!

Turn 19 is actually tricky. The problem is as I got faster through T16-T18, it puts you further track left. Which means you have less time to get back to the right. Its a very deceiving turn. If you have turn in early and cut the curb you have plenty of track and can carry a ton of speed. If you don't cut the curb, you can't carry nearly as much speed. There is a subtle elevation change where its tough to see that apex. until you get set up for it.

During the drivers meeting, the track exec who was there was saying there were lots of late apexes. More than any other track in Texas, this track seems to have more corners where the fastest line is an early, blind apex...those are the ones that make me nervous!

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by Koop

Great video, thanks! Looks to be really rewarding. Was brake and tire wear as expected?

Looks like it was pretty slippery off-line! I imagine some clenching occurred at 12:20 or so... .

Some questionable lines from that vette. Looked to be struggling a bit. Pretty quick in straight line, though.

The track seems to beg for horsepower.

Definitely soiled myself there! I was thinking about how much the Armco and air fence costs.

I'm not sure what that vette was doing...

I haven't checked the brakes yet...tire wear was a lot less than I thought.

[ortho281]

Bigjae1976
Thanks for posting vid. Nice driving! The track looks awesome. Glad you had a great time. Sorry, I could not make it. I hope to be there in June however.

El bimmer
Great pics, thanks for posting!

[El Bimmer]

Thanks!

[gobuffs]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

and then BMWCCA 7-9 June.

I think BMWCCA may have a long term contract for 2 per year...not sure. You can increase your chances if you drive an HPDE or auto-x with a BMWCCA chapter in Texas (Tejas, Lone Star, and Houston). Those who have recently driven with on of those chapters gets first shot at registration. The Lone Star chapter has a DE at the end of Apr at MSR Cresson which might be a qualifier for the Oct COTA event.

True and false. True- previous BMW CCA DE participants get first shot at signing up (tier 1). False- that the April event will be a qualifier...if the COTA event is not sold out by April we are SERIOUSLY doing something wrong. Registration opens at 6 PM TOMORROW for Tier 1 eligible people. Registration will open for Tier 2 (members of the 3 Texas BMW CCA chapters) on Jan 21. Any BMW CCA member regardless of region will be eligible to enter on Jan 28 (I think- can't recall exactly as I doubt we will get that far).

Link to registration page is here: https://www.motorsportreg.com/index....9#.UPNggfLNkhY

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by gobuffs

True and false. True- previous BMW CCA DE participants get first shot at signing up (tier 1). False- that the April event will be a qualifier...if the COTA event is not sold out by April we are SERIOUSLY doing something wrong. Registration opens at 6 PM TOMORROW for Tier 1 eligible people. Registration will open for Tier 2 (members of the 3 Texas BMW CCA chapters) on Jan 21. Any BMW CCA member regardless of region will be eligible to enter on Jan 28 (I think- can't recall exactly as I doubt we will get that far).

Link to registration page is here: https://www.motorsportreg.com/index....9#.UPNggfLNkhY

I was guessing that the April DE would be a qualifier for the Oct one. Sorry I didn't clarify.

[FrenchBoy]

This is so cool. You know we are all extremely envious of you.
Thanks much for sharing

[bigjae1976]

Since the countdown is in the negatives now...

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...6#post13303166

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by FrenchBoy

This is so cool. You know we are all extremely envious of you.
Thanks much for sharing

Thanks! Its not about me though. I hope that I helped in creating a positive image for HPDEs which facilitates more HPDE events there. I do feel honored and privileged to have the opportunity to drive there. More than anything, I hope this gets everyone REALLY excited about getting on COTA. Hopefully the MVP event is just as successful if not more. Not really worried about BMWCCA messing things up...I KNOW they'll do it right. BMWCCA can just top it off with a cherry. Then maybe COTA sees the value in doing HPDEs and allowing more access. I think people will pay to drive there, they just need the access.

In case anyone was not aware of the issue...COTA had signed an agreement with some DE orgs after a lot of negotiating, talking, and delays. Suddenly, COTA management cut off all talks and cancelled all contracts for DEs primarily due to concern that the facility will get messed up. Remember, the focus is F1. Then there was public outcry and then COTA entered into an agreement with a couple of HPDE orgs. Its seems like its a probationary period...if the facility starts getting trashed then I'll bet that HPDEs at COTA will cease.

[bdaddylo]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Thanks! Its not about me though. I hope that I helped in creating a positive image for HPDEs which facilitates more HPDE events there. I do feel honored and privileged to have the opportunity to drive there. More than anything, I hope this gets everyone REALLY excited about getting on COTA. Hopefully the MVP event is just as successful if not more. Not really worried about BMWCCA messing things up...I KNOW they'll do it right. BMWCCA can just top it off with a cherry. Then maybe COTA sees the value in doing HPDEs and allowing more access. I think people will pay to drive there, they just need the access.

In case anyone was not aware of the issue...COTA had signed an agreement with some DE orgs after a lot of negotiating, talking, and delays. Suddenly, COTA management cut off all talks and cancelled all contracts for DEs primarily due to concern that the facility will get messed up. Remember, the focus is F1. Then there was public outcry and then COTA entered into an agreement with a couple of HPDE orgs. Its seems like its a probationary period...if the facility starts getting trashed then I'll bet that HPDEs at COTA will cease.

You have it wrong. The contracts were not cancelled as a formal cancellation notice was not issued to MVP or BMWCCA. As for TDE, they didn't have an executed contract at the time of the infamous phone call, so technically there was no contract to cancel.

COTA still has concerns on renting their track to HPDE organizations and BMWCCA does not have a multi-year contract. No one knows which direction COTA will take after the scheduled HPDE's have been completed, but hopefully if the HPDE's occur without any incidents we will all have more opportunities to drive this track.

[ThunderMoose]

I suspect in time one of two things will happen - either COTA will adjust their standards a bit and open to more DE's or will be even more limited than it is right now. Dumping fluids and off track excursions are inevitable. I can't think of too many DE's that I've been to where one or the other hasn't occurred. I don't see COTA having much tolerance in the first few years. Eventually, they'll either be able to handle or will have established enough alternatives to avoid DEs altogether.

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by ThunderMoose

I suspect in time one of two things will happen - either COTA will adjust their standards a bit and open to more DE's or will be even more limited than it is right now. Dumping fluids and off track excursions are inevitable. I can't think of too many DE's that I've been to where one or the other hasn't occurred. I don't see COTA having much tolerance in the first few years. Eventually, they'll either be able to handle or will have established enough alternatives to avoid DEs altogether.

I think its a couple of things. First, the facilities getting destroyed and vandalized in the paddock area. The garages are NICE and the floors are flawless. I'm sure they don't want the stuff getting tarted up for the F1 drivers (although I think it would be funny to blow up your buddy's garage bathroom ). Next are outside guests running on wild pastures tearing stuff up. Lastly is the track. I don't think dumping fluids is the major concern. More like the stuff around the track. Its not like you can pre collect if you destroy lots of air fence and armco. So really its up to your personal honor to pay for that stuff if its destroyed.

Again, the track manager (forget the title) said upper management don't know what to expect. I think, at least in my experience, they'll find that most that go to HPDEs are pretty sensible and well mannered people.

[El Bimmer]

I just want to be part of it again, but this time I will love to get the car in the track. I highly doubt it will happen, cause I'm sure all of the Tier 1 & 2 will probably take all of the spots and since I have no experience in the track will probably just be a groupie again, which is fine anyways. Hopefully I get some track time before this event. I need to start to the research of how to get to the tiers.

[gobuffs]

Tier 2 is a member of any of the 3 Texas BMW CCA chapters. Tier 2 can sign up next Monday. I think if you apply today you can have your CCA number in time to sign up next week.

[El Bimmer]

Originally Posted by gobuffs

Tier 2 is a member of any of the 3 Texas BMW CCA chapters. Tier 2 can sign up next Monday. I think if you apply today you can have your CCA number in time to sign up next week.

I'm already a member but haven't driven at any track.

[gobuffs]

The you'll want to look at signing up for the event at Motorsport Ranch in Cresson April 27-28. You'll have to hope we get a COTA date next year.

[bigjae1976]

The countdown has restarted...just registered for the Jun event. Only 144 more days to go!

It feels so old school. I've got my checks...gotta find a stamp and an envelope. The things I have to go through!

[El Bimmer]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

The countdown has restarted...just registered for the Jun event. Only 144 more days to go!

It feels so old school. I've got my checks...gotta find a stamp and an envelope. The things I have to go through!

I have a chance to make it since I am tier 2. Yessssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hopefully.... I will need to get information on the registration process James. Are you doing both Saturday and Sunday James?

Checks!, what is that?