2009 Ultimate Track Car Challenge signup is open

Preregistration for spots in the 2009 Ultimate Track Car Challenge at VIR Full course on July 24 is open! In fact, more than 50 cars have already signed up in the hopes of getting a spot in the event.

This should be the best one yet, don't miss your change to be there. Lear more at THE UTCC INFO PAGE.

Can you guys pick that AllTrac this year PLEASE?

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2758765

This thing is AWESOME.

How is this event for spectating? I've never been to VIR and thought it may be a nice event to check things out.

I can't answer your question, but heck...I'd go to VIR just to look around. It's a nice facility (or was several years ago when I was there once). ;)

Clem

So it looks like the "green" class was killed off this year?

Bryce

Last year there seemed to be a dozen Mustangs and no F-bodys to battle them... DIdn't many enter? Great article, btw. The IMSA Buicks were cool.

So what is the focus GRM wants to see before we go through the process again? Signing up last time only put us on the cardomain spam list....

At its core the UTCC is a NASA Time Trial, so you won't see wheel-to-wheel racing as a spectator, but you should see a pretty amazing variety of cars. When the groups roll out and you see and hear such a wild collection all at once it's very impressive, and VIR is gorgeous. There will be NASA racing on the weekend, so you can make a three-day trip out of it and take in a bunch of racing and track stuff.

Varkwso, I'm afriad I can't give you a magic formula for what we'll be accepting. We try to pick a solid mix for the event from the list of hopefuls, so something that makes your car stand out from the crowd performance-wise is a good thing. We don't need five Spec Miatas, for example, but we might well pick a regular Miata and a turbo Miata and a V8-powered Miata since they all cover different bases.

On a side note, it also helps a ton if you've got your licensing in order well ahead of the event, we've had a few hopefuls who had awesome cars but neglected to read the bit about needing a Time Trial or equivalent license as recognized by NASA.

NASA TT is not W2W racing but it sure can look that way with the mix of cars on track and open passing rules. NASA-SE will have TT events in March at Road Atlanta (5 slots left last I heard), May at CMP, May at Barber, and July (1 day) at Lowe's (Charlotte). Anyone who is a "hopeful" can come run with us here in the Southeast to see if they can qualify for a TT license - but as Scott says it takes a lot of (documented) experience before you are comfortable getting passed on both sides coming down the hill at T12 on Road Atlanta or for Danny Popp/Mike Skeen to pass you in the uphill esses at VIR....

Normally TT checkrides are at NASA events but we have given TT provisionals at other open passing events. NASA TT looks for car control, courtesy and comfort level.

Looks like the Vette quotient is covered in the UTCC

Scott Lear wrote: Varkwso, I'm afriad I can't give you a magic formula for what we'll be accepting. We try to pick a solid mix for the event from the list of hopefuls, so something that makes your car stand out from the crowd performance-wise is a good thing. We don't need five Spec Miatas, for example, but we might well pick a regular Miata and a turbo Miata and a V8-powered Miata since they all cover different bases.

Scott, on the topic of acceptance, and out of curiosity, how many cars were accepted vs the number that applied?

We've only done it one other year at VIR, and that first year we had far fewer spots due to a shorter circuit and fewer sessions than we will have this year. Therefore, it's hard to provide you with a meaningful figure as for accepted vs. applied. Mostly we'll be looking for performance and variety when we pick our group.

I plan on being there, throwing flags. Best seat in the house, far as I can tell.

Nashco wrote: So it looks like the "green" class was killed off this year?

Yes/No? Scott or any other GRMployees care to comment? Thanks.

Bryce

Scott Lear wrote: We've only done it one other year at VIR, and that first year we had far fewer spots due to a shorter circuit and fewer sessions than we will have this year. Therefore, it's hard to provide you with a meaningful figure as for accepted vs. applied. Mostly we'll be looking for performance and variety when we pick our group.

Scott, thanks for the reply. That makes sense. I look forward to seeing who makes it this year!

To my knowledge, we have not killed the Green class. Also, there is plenty of other NASA racing that weekend and VIR is the best track to hang out at and bring the family too. All readers are welcome to spectate, check out there cars, and most of the staff will be there.

Tim Suddard wrote: To my knowledge, we have not killed the Green class.

Thanks Tim, that's good news!

We only saw two "green" entries last year, so we'd love to get more participation in the class for 2009. We'd love to promote them if they show up.

Personally, I'd love to see one of the new West WX10-T electric sports racers on track.

The Green class is still in effect, I neglected to include that paragraph in the rules. It's been added:

We're also going to continue to offer a Green Class for alternatively-fueled or powered vehicles. If your car runs on something other than gasoline, be it ethanol, biodiesel, hydrogen, electricity or turnip juice, you'll be eligible for the Green category in addition to your regular class. For example, a professionally-prepared biodiesel-powered six-cylinder turbo Mercedes would be in the Shop Varsity (Green) class. Such a car would be ranked among its peers in the Shop Varsity class, but it would simultaneously be competing against other Green-class cars.

I will be there...and hope to be a part of it.

Hi everyone, Jon Felton from NASA Mid-Atlantic here, i.e. one of the hosts of the first annual - and now the third annual - UTCC. I thought I would subscribe to this thread and share a bit more information as well.

As others have mentioned, this is a NASA TT run by UTCC classing instead of NASA TT classing. It will be much like the first annual event at VIR two summers ago, except this time we are on the 3.3 mile full course instead of the 2.2 mile North course, and also I believe this time around we may have two run groups instead of just one. Both those things mean more cars will be involved one way or another, so please don't hesitate to get your Cardomain pages set up!

Once invites have been sent, registration will take place through http://www.nasaproracing.com . All drivers will need to be NASA members and all cars will need to have an AMB transponder on board (we will have rentals available.) All cars will also need to pass a NASA HPDE pre-tech and drivers will need to bring a completed copy of that form (we double check it and issue the tech sticker on site, starting at ~6:30pm the night before.) M95/SA95+ helmets, long pants, long sleeve shirts, and closed-toe shoes are mandatory. NASA- and VIR-approved rollbars are required in convertibles. Further safety equipment (cages, harnesses, H&N restraints, etc) is optional but highly recommended. Please note though, further safety systems will need to conform to the NASA CCR (i.e. Schroth 4-point autocross belts aren't allowed.)

On event day, registered drivers can expect a warmup session then at least two, but possibly three, 20+ minute timed sessions per group. Passing rules are "anywhere with or without a point-by" and fastest lap of the day counts. Session times will be DQ'd for drivers who have any contact, 4-off, spin, or significant loss of control. Repeat offenders will be dealt with harshly - although we didn't have any repeat offenders at the '07 UTCC, so I'm hoping that trend will continue. Also, later timed sessions will be gridded by prior session times to hopefully give everyone at least a few hot laps before having to deal with traffic.

If anyone has any further questions about the NASA end of the UTCC, please don't hesitate to contact me privately... jon@get-fast.net, 804-545-3949 office, 804-397-FAST mobile. Thanks & see ya at VIR in July!

Jon

Varkwso wrote: NASA TT is not W2W racing but it sure can look that way with the mix of cars on track and open passing rules. NASA-SE will have TT events in March at Road Atlanta (5 slots left last I heard), May at CMP, May at Barber, and July (1 day) at Lowe's (Charlotte). Anyone who is a "hopeful" can come run with us here in the Southeast to see if they can qualify for a TT license - but as Scott says it takes a lot of (documented) experience before you are comfortable getting passed on both sides coming down the hill at T12 on Road Atlanta or for Danny Popp/Mike Skeen to pass you in the uphill esses at VIR.... Normally TT checkrides are at NASA events but we have given TT provisionals at other open passing events. NASA TT looks for car control, courtesy and comfort level.

In addition to those great NASA-SE events, NASA-MA has TT's at VIR Mar 28-29 and Summit Point Apr 25-26. We usually don't do TT license check rides at non-NASA events, so any that need to be handled in this region before the UTCC will need to take place at VIR or Summit during those dates I just mentioned (Summit on Jun 20-21 is also a possibility, but not likely as that is Hyperfest, aka our biggest and busiest event of the season, which is part of why there is no TT that weekend.)

Now back to the beginning as far as driver qualifications go. Keep in mind, safety is of utmost importance as far as NASA and GRM are concerned. Also that this event will feature a wide range of cars with a theoretically larger than usual spread in terms of lap times and closing speeds (just ask Roy in the ITC 510 about getting passed by Tommy Archer in the factory Viper Comp Coupe at the '07 UTCC!) Combine that with our open passing rules, as well as the aforementioned fact that cages and soforth are recommended but not required, and you will understand why we can only allow highly skilled drivers with significant related experience.

Having said that - everyone driving in the '09 UTCC will need to have one of the following:

-a current pro (ALMS/Grand-Am/etc) roadracing license; -a current SCCA regional/national non rookie roadracing license; -a current NASA non rookie roadracing license; -a current NASA TT license (hard card); -a NASA TT license (paper provisional with two signatures) and a written waiver from me personally.

How does this last requirement work? I'll explain after the break...

Jon

getfast wrote: everyone driving in the '09 UTCC will need to have one of the following: -a current pro (ALMS/Grand-Am/etc) roadracing license; -a current SCCA regional/national non rookie roadracing license; -a current NASA non rookie roadracing license; -a current NASA national TT license (hard card)

Any of the above will automatically qualify you for a UTCC run group wristband when you show it on event day.

But presumably some people setting up Cardomain pages for UTCC invites might not have one of the above. Which is why we have this one:

getfast wrote: -a NASA TT license (paper provisional with two signatures) and a written waiver from me personally.

The document I mentioned is here:

http://www.nasaproracing.com/images/rules-forms/Time-Trial-License.pdf

There are two levels involved if this applies to you (i.e. you don't have one of the things listed way above.) The first level is equivalent experience. If you have proof of this, and possibly specific history & references if needed, I will double-sign and fax or snail mail you the form with two signatures and the written waiver. These are essentially the tickets you will show to get your UTCC run group wristband on event day. These qualifications include, but are not necessarily limited to:

-NASA instructor certification with chief instructor references -SCCA and NASA rookie roadracing permits -BMWCCA and PCA rookie or non-rookie roadracing permits -various regional organization rookie or non-rookie roadracing permits -various vintage organization rookie or non-rookie roadracing permits

The next level is minimum experience. Specifically we need proof of at least 4+ weekends of NASA-MA HPDE3 Advanced equivalent, passing-in-corners, non-instructed road course driving experience in the last 2 years. We will need to see groups, dates, and references. Depending upon who this was with, when it was, and what your references say, this may or may not require a check ride at any NASA roadcourse event anywhere in the country between now and the UTCC in July.

Across the board we handle these licensing issues on a case by case basis, and I'm the main point of contact for those purposes.

Also, just as before, if you have a hot car that gets accepted - but you aren't quite qualified as a driver - you are welcome to bring a 'ringer' for those purposes as long as that person meets the driver requirements stated above. I can think of several pro drivers offhand who are interested & available, so if that's the way you want to go, please don't hesitate to contact me so we can get the ball rolling.

Thanks!

Jon

Tom Heath wrote: We only saw two "green" entries last year, so we'd love to get more participation in the class for 2009. We'd love to promote them if they show up.

Do recycled cars count as "green"? If I recycle the powertrain from a 1998 Camaro and put it in an old MG, that's a lot greener than a new electric car.

Keith wrote:

Tom Heath wrote: We only saw two "green" entries last year, so we'd love to get more participation in the class for 2009. We'd love to promote them if they show up.

Do recycled cars count as "green"? If I recycle the powertrain from a 1998 Camaro and put it in an old MG, that's a lot greener than a new electric car.

It would qualify if it's running E85. Totally do-able.

Jon, thanks for chiming in! I suspect that'll answer a lot of questions for hopefuls. For the record, the NASA guys have been extraordinarily helpful with the logistics of every UTCC event so far, I'm delighted that we'll be working with the Mid-Atlantic crew again this year.