SO... YOU WANT TO GO RACING - JULY

TYPES OF OFF-ROAD RACING

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN GOING OFF-ROAD RACING THERE ARE MANY FACTORS THAT COME INTO PLAY. THE FIRST OF WHICH IS WHAT FORM OF RACING ARE YOU INTEESTED IN PURSUING?

THERE ARE BASICALLY TWO FORMS OF OFF-ROAD RACING, THE FIRST IS SHORT-COURSE. SHORT-COUSE RACING TAKES PLACE IN ARENAS AT FAIR GROUNDS, PRIVATELY OWNED PROPERTIES, AND DEDICATED FACILITIES. THE NOW DEFUNCT MICKI THOMPSON SERIES THAT GOT LOTS OF TELEVISION COVERAGE SOME YEARS AGO, IS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS TYPE OF RACING. SHORT -COURSE RACING IS AVAILABLE IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, AND ENTRY FEES ARE USUALLY FAIRLY LOW (COMPARED TO DESERT RACING). ENTRY FEES START AT $50.00 AND GO AS HIGH AS $500.00 PER RACE. THERE ARE ALSO RACE ASSOCIATION MEMBER DUES THAT ARE CHARGED ON A YEARLY BASIS, THESE ARE GENERALLY VERY AFFORDABLE. MOST VENUES WILL HAVE 2 TO 5 HEAT RACES OF BETWEEN 5 AND 25 LAPS, AND THEN THE MAIN EVENT RACE. MANY OF THE SHORT-COURSE ASSOCIATIONS HAVE "ROOKIE" CLASSES WHERE YOU CAN GET A START WITH A RELATIVELY LOW-BUDGET CAR, AS YOU GAIN EXPERIENCE, SPONSORSHIP, AND RACING KNOW-HOW YOU CAN ADVANCE SEASON BY SEASON INTO THE HIGHER CLASSES. SHORT-COURSE RACING CAN BE VERY EXCITING WITH SEVERAL CARS ON A SHORT, TWISTY TRACK, IT CAN MAKE FOR CLOSE QUARTERS IN THE TURNS!

THE OTHER FORM OF RACING, TRUE OFF-ROAD (USUALLY DESERT) RACING IS MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE TO COMPETE IN. ENTRY FEES RANGE BETWEEN $175.00 AND $2500.00. AS WITH THE SHORT-COURSE, THERE ARE ALSO YEARLY ASSOCIATION FEES. THERE ARE ALSO OTHER FACTORS WHICH RAISE THE PRICE OF DESERT RACING. THE COURSES ARE USUALLY LONG - 250 TO 1000 MILES, THIS MEANS MUCH MORE IN THE WAY OF FUEL, TIRES, SPARE PARTS, AND PIT SUPPORT. RACING FUEL IS VERY EXPENSIVE - 110 OCTANE FUEL AVERAGES $3.25 PER GALLON! SOME ASSOCIATIONS HAVE "ROOKIE" CLASSES, BUT NOT ALL DO. ANOTHER FACTOR THAT RAISES THE PRICE OF DESERT RACING IS THE FACT THAT YOU WILL NEED TO "PRE-RUN" THE COURSE. MOST ASSOCIATIONS PROVIDE MAPS OF THE COURSE SEVERAL WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACTUAL RACE SO THAT THE PARTICIPANTS CAN "CHECK OUT" THE COURSE LOOKING FOR PLACES WHERE THEY CAN PASS, PLACES WHERE THEY WILL NEED TO SLOW DOWN, WATER HAZARDS, AND SO-FORTH. MOST DESERT RACES WILL NEED ONE OR MORE REFUELING STOPS ALSO, THIS MEANS BUYING FUEL IN QUANTITY, SPARE TIRES AND RIMS, AND A GOOD CREW TO PULL IT ALL OFF. THERE ARE MANY WELL-ESTABLISHED TEAMS IN THE VARIOUS SESERT RACING ASSOCIATIONS AND THEY WILL PROVIDE STIFF COMPETITION, MAKING SPONSORSHIP MORE DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN (WINS = SPONSORSHIP). ON THE WEST COAST THERE ARE MANY DESERT RACING ASSOCIATIONS AND FINDING ONE THAT SUITS YOU IS NOT THAT DIFFICULT, BUT IN THE MIDWEST AND EAST COAST THERE ARE ONLY A COUPLE.

IN ORDER TO FIND OUT WHAT ASSOCIATIONS ARE NEAR YOU, TALK WITH THE LOCAL VW MERCHANTS AND CLUBS. THE BEST SOURCE OF OFF-ROAD RACING NEWS IS A PUBLICATION CALLED "DUSTY TIMES", THEY COVER ALL FORMS OF OFF-ROAD RACING AND MANY OF THE ASSOCIATIONS LIST THEIR ADDRESSES AND RACE SCHEDULES THERE.

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA WITHOUT SUBSCRIBING TO DUSTY TIMES OR IF YOU JUST WANT SOME MORE INFO ON A PARTICULAR TYPE OF OFF-ROAD RACING, YOU CAN E-MAIL ME BELOW. OR DO A SEARCH OF "OFF-ROAD", "RACING", "ASSOCIATION".

I HOPE I HAVE OPENED YOUR EYES TO OFF-ROAD RACING! IT IS A VERY ENJOYABLE HOBBY. SEE YOU AT THE RACES!

NEXT MONTH'S TOPIC - RACING VEHICLE CLASSES

FOR QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR TO SUBMIT YOUR PICTURES E-MAIL ME AT:
dirtbugz@oasisvw.com
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