Lone Pine Time Trials

I'm a lucky enough dude that my bucket list for events is fairly empty at this point. But one of the events definitely still in the pail is the Lone Pine Time Trials in Manzanar, CA. 

For those who don't know, the LPTT is a high-speed autocross held in the shadow of Mt. Whitney in the eastern Sierras in California about three hours north of LA (three hours once you get out of LA, of course). It's been taking place since 1970, which is, coincidentally, as long as I've been taking place, so it seems weird that I haven't been to a fairly legendary autocross that's been happening as long as I have. It's a really cool event with epic scenery that brings together the SoCal autocross, time attack and rallycross communities for an annual event on a unique WWII-era abandoned airfield. 

Anyway, would y'all read about this? Gimme something to pitch at the next editorial meeting so I can get work to buy me lunch or something. I feel like in this age when autocross sites in general are becoming increasingly hard to lock down, the day of special events like this one are absolutely numbered. I think we need to celebrate them before they disappear completely.

I ran my Datsun there, around 1990 I think.

Tom1200 said:

I ran my Datsun there, around 1990 I think.

And? Was it cool?

JG Pasterjak said:

Tom1200 said:

I ran my Datsun there, around 1990 I think.

And? Was it cool?

There was a big 180 degree sweeper at the top end of the course. 

I went round that corner at about 60 mph in a huge 4 wheel drift. For a brief shining moment I was a tarmac rally star.

It doesn't get any cooler than that.

I've run this at least half a dozen times. It is a unique experience given the higher speeds and deteriorating surface. I was glad to see it continue after the passing of the Angels. I'm hoping we can continue the tradition for years to come, but do worry how long it will be sustainable as the surface has been getting worse and worse over the years. It's as much a community event as it is a race.

In reply to Devolved :

I destroyed a right front tire on the rough surface.........and didn't care.

The event does have a great vibe.

I ran ther about 5 years in a row starting in 1979 (IIRC). Back then it was pre-SCCA and run by the Southern California Council of Sports Car Clubs (SCCSCC).

GREAT fun and fast. The way it was laid out was about as fast as you could run on an autoX course. The 180 sweeper (a connector path between the north "runways") never had cones.

Yes it was quite rough and time + weather have probably made it more so.

There was a banquet back then and everyone knew everyone (non- biblically of course). 

In reply to L5wolvesf :

I got a woman pregnant there once.

My wife and I went but didn't run. We only for moral support of LVR SCCA..............our son arrived 9 months later. It's a running joke among club members. 

In reply to Tom1200 :

I got tossed there once. My buddy was working on a ??? belt in Aikido and needed someone to toss. It was mentioned later that day over the PA when I got to the start line.

There used to be camping allowed at the airstrip back then. Recently, 10/2021, some friends (some who ran LP) stayed at Diaz Lake just south of town. A nice and fairly big place. No idea how crowded it gets in May. Wherever you stay make reservations now.

There is now a western movie museum in town too. It is a neat little spot if you’re into that kind of thing. Many, mostly older, Hollywood movies were made around LP.

So experiences run the gamut from martial arts to marital arts. Seems like a cool event.

In reply to JG Pasterjak :

After the event we got my buddies mini pick up stuck up by the aqueduct; there were some cool windy gravel roads we decided to try out. where I slammed over a soft rutted spot in the 1200 he decided to take the responsible approach and go slow. His 2wd truck immediately dug in.

We had to go back down to the site in my car and talk another buddy into yanking the mini pick up out with his 4wd truck. 

He wanted to know what two jackasses were doing to get stuck; to which I replied "being jackasses"

I opened this expecting autocrossing DeLorean reaching 88mph.

JG, 

This is an event that you will remember.  Yes, the surfaces is showing it's age.  But the location is worth it.

I have been standing in the sun at one end, watching it rain at the other.  It might be snowing in the peaks and no moisture will fall to the valley floor.

The track or course is dictated buy the clean line produced during the parade laps.  A small detail you should experience, once in your life.  Do bring extra tires.  The surface is dirty and abrasive.  The direction of travel is reversed Saturday to Sunday.  Your tires will get worked.

I have posted on this event, Hope to see you in '25.  David

make it even more interesting and try to run it in a car that people would have autocrossed when the site opened.  

I would also be interested in an article that talked through the history of the place ala a Jason Camissa like piece.  

jr02518 said:

JG, 

This an event that you will remember.  Yes, the surfaces is showing it's age.  But the location is worth it.

I have been standing in the sun at one end, watching it rain at the other.  It might be snowing in the peaks and no moisture will fall to the valley floor.

The track or course is dictated buy the clean line produced during the parade laps.  A small detail you should experience, once in your life.  Do bring extra tires.  The surface is dirty and abrasive.  The direction of travel is reversed Saturday to Sunday.  Your tires will get worked.

I have posted on this event, Hope to see you in '25.  David

Yes, a spare set of tires is a good idea. Also, expect there may be some mid day adjustments in the course as areas are torn up and pot holes open up. Gets really interesting with the loose dirty surface those first runs after a new line is established.

Location leaves is good for a trip up to Whitney Portal to escape the heat or off roading in the desert while you are there.

Tom1200 said:

JG Pasterjak said:

Tom1200 said:

I ran my Datsun there, around 1990 I think.

And? Was it cool?

There was a big 180 degree sweeper at the top end of the course. 

I went round that corner at about 60 mph in a huge 4 wheel drift. For a brief shining moment I was a tarmac rally star.

It doesn't get any cooler than that.

 

 

Hell, I'm on the wrong coast and now I want to get down to this event, haha. 

I'd love to read about it!  It sounds like a really cool event and old abandoned spaces are always intriguing to me.   The high speed/long runs/on questionable surface reminds me a bit of the Bay Bottom Crawl that used to run down in the FL Keys.