Jack Pine Sprint Double Regional and TransAm race - BIR

[RonInSD]

Well since I did not make it down to Hastings for the double rational due to issues with car prep, don't ask, I went up to Brainerd International Raceway for the SCCA-LOL Jack Pine Sprints. I have not been to BIR since 2004 and lot of things have changed but a lot of things have stayed the same.

The road course as been reconfigured to allow road racing and drag racing to take place on the same weekends. Which it was this Labor day weekend. Along with the 3.1 miles road course that uses the drag strip for the front straight and has a great banked turn 1. They now have a 2.5-mile road course that by passes the drag strip but still uses exit of turn 1, along with the turns 2 to 8 of the long course.

This weekend was a double regional race with an additional run group for vintage and also hosted the SCCA Pro TransAm race. BIR was also hosting their 24th Annual Muscle Car Shootout on the drag strip and a Car Craft, cars show too. This was a big busy event with a large number of spectators for the Muscle Car shootout that also got to watch the TransAm race and the regional club racing on the same ticket. There were a number of spectators that came over to watch both events and a number of people walking thought the road racing and TransAm paddock asking questions. Which was a new twist for an SCCA event. I saw a number of car magazine staff talking with teams in the SCCA Pro TransAm paddock and heard a number of announcements on the drag racing PA about what was happening on the road course. The road course also had a track announcer for all race sessions which was nice.

Since I switched up my plans to go to BIR in stead of MPH and being Labor Day weekend in the northern lakes area of MN hotel prices were through the roof. I choose to camp out at the track which is when I was reminded of one of the things BIR is famous for since it opened in the late 60's.....THE ZOO. BIR is one of few tracks that allow spectators to camp for free with the purchase of a ticket and has become famous for what goes on in the ZOO. About the only thing that BIR really limits is racing around on ATV's after 10 PM. You can see motorized picnic tables and motorized bar tables with stools and umbrella shade. BIR has camp fire pits/bonfire pits everywhere around the facility and they had some large fires going made from large stacks of wood pallets. MN has allowed fireworks in the northern lakes area the last couple years and they got put to use this weekend. There were some of the loudest and biggest "fireworks" I have ever seen/heard in a long time. The trouble is they did not stop until 4 AM. It is hard to get a good night sleep when that is going on but ear plugs helped. The good thing is TransAm had first warm up at 8 AM on Saturday so they got those people woke back up.

Since it was a regional weekend the grouping were a little different. Prod was grouped with GTL, EP, FP, HP, SSB, SSC, LC, ITA, ITB, ITC, ITS, ITJ, ITE-2, STL, SMT, Spec944, BSpec, SM5, and T3 in group 1. The weekend started off with 3 EP cars and 2 FP cars but ended with only 1 EP and myself in FP at the end of Sunday. A number of prod cars had engine problems and pulled out. I was having a number of teething issues with the new engine and had to work a lot between seasons to keep the car going but was able to get a finish both days. I have some work to figure out the tune and setup.

One of the low points of the weekend was an accident by SSC driver Steve Hendricks during the group 1 race on Sunday, which Prod was in. Steve spun and hit the bridge abutment between turns 12 and 13 with the drivers side of his VW. I have just heard that Steve should be released from the hospital today. He had been unconscious for a while while they cut the roof and roll cage off the car. He does have a broken pelvis but they have him moving around. I guess he came too on the helicopter ride and asked what all the noise was about. I am glad to hear Steve is on the road to recovery. If you know Steve, I am sure he would like to hear from you.

If you have not been to BIR in a number of years it is time to check back into what they are doing. SCCA-LOL is doing a double Rational over the Memorial Day weekend at BIR. This event is also held with their Street Car Showdown which is the start of the BIR Muscle Car Shootout series and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.

 

[R. J. Sorensen]

I've been to BIR a couple of times in the last few years. Once was a double regional only, and one was a regional combined with some drag racing championship series and a car show.

What a contrast! The combined event activity is worth the admission. Star Wars canteen scene, non-stop, all night. Much interaction between participants of each activity.

Ya; sleep hard to come by until 4:00 A.M. or so. Very annoying.

Still, an experience worth having.

But another missed opportunity to promote the SCCA to other motorsport enthusiasts with an official, printed handout, like the folded tracts most churches have, with real life examples.

RJS

 

[RonInSD]

But another missed opportunity to promote the SCCA to other motorsport enthusiasts with an official, printed handout, like the folded tracts most churches have, with real life examples.

RJS

I don't know it is was a missed opportunity, LoL has signed up more new drivers then any of the other region in CenDiv. LoL was able to pull off a profitable race, from my understanding, with only 69 entries. Some of the cost was picked up by TransAm and also BIR that brought TransAm in. Yes, LoL may not be taking full advantage of the events. What they needed was a display/booth over by the drag race/car show and another one by the grid area. It was talked about at the drivers meeting on Saturday morning. I hope both the LoL are able to grow and bring in some great racing.

I know LoL was short on volunteer staff for the weekend so it would take some more out of region support. LoL is still getting back up to speed on putting on racing events after taking about 10 years off because of issues with the old owners of BIR and SCCA. The new owners are all about road racing. They were trying to build a course by the twin cities but ended up scrapping the plans and purchased BIR instead. They want SCCA back at the track and doing these combined events are part of that plan. They want to host a big multi-style racing event to attract more people. I think it is a great idea. I don't see them doing NHRA POWERade and road course racing at the same time but some of their other events could support road course racing at the same time.

I remember going to BIR as a kid for an IMSA race and remember seeing the old BMW turbo 320i flying bricks driven by David Hobbs.....maybe that is why I race a 320i. But for the life of me I can't remember the ZOO. I guess I was too young to know what I was seeing....LOL

 

[R. J. Sorensen]

Not suggesting LoL or BIR didn't attempt to promote the SCCA.

New SCCA membership has pretty much always been "by word of mouth". I'm suggesting a Topeka developed, folded, 4 color "tract" be included in every driver's pack, to be given to any interested guest, relative, neighbor, etc. Instead, each Region is left to their own devices to attract new members. Participants need to become zealots for there sport, with a unified message.

Incidentally, BIR still does NOT appear on the regional maps posted on the SCCA home page even though they have been racing there again for 3-4 years, but IRP or ORP DOES appear on the regional maps, even though they haven't raced there for about the same amount of time. Topeka notified months ago; not corrected yet.

RJS