The Broken Spoke – May 13. 2024
The Broken Spoke
(Digital)
Monday, May 13, 2024
It’s only mid-May and we’ve already been out at speed on asphalt. We hope you’ve gotten tires
on tarmac, yourselves. If not yet, you should! There’s lots going on. Keep reading for more info.
n this issue:
DEBRIEFING! Let’s Break Down the Results of Some Recent Events
RACE CONCERNS – What’s Keeping You from Going to the Track
TINY KID AUTOX
WHAT’S ON YOUR WISH LIST? QUESTIONS FOR YOU!
WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?
REUNION AND 70-YEAR CELEBRATION
CSCC MONTHLY BOARD MEETING AND INFO
UPCOMING EVENTS THAT MAY INTEREST YOU
UPDATED RACE DATES SCHEDULE
ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES
DEBRIEFING! Let’s Break Down the Results of Some Recent Events
FAST TRACK: HOW TO GET ON TRACK
Fast Track was a free event we ran at the clubhouse, the goal of which was providing
information on how to get your car from garage to track (track being defined as any of
asphalt/ice/mud/forestry trunk road). Thank you to the following folks who spoke, demo’d,
and answered questions:
Car mods – Maxime McNeil (VEX Performance)
Tires and wheels – Kyle Ho (Spec R Motorsports)
Getting on track at a reasonable cost – David Gray (Driver/Instructor)
Ham Radio for Rally – Patrick Spencer (Calgary Amateur Radio Association)
MUDLARK TSD RALLY
By all accounts, the day was lovely, the scenery spectacular, and the going smooth(ish … it’s
a rally on back roads, so ….). Many thanks to Pete Chadwick and team for putting it together.
Here are the results:
CSCC LAPPING DAY AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN MOTORSPORTS
The first lapping day of the season was held at RMM last weekend. The weather was fantastic
for the drivers who came out to run some fast laps. Three cars had separate mechanical issues
but other than that, there were no incidents of concern. Thank you to Race Director, Dan
Smith, David Gray, who assisted him, RMM for hosting us most professionally, and the many
volunteers who came out to instruct and facilitate. Without volunteers, we do nothing! Please
enjoy this image of a lot of happy people at the end of the day, followed by a photo by Shawn
Bishop:
RALLY TEST DAY MAY 12
The test day ran under mostly-sunny skies on the south JumpingPound Loop, with drivers testing/shaking down their cars for Rocky Mountain Rally and Pacific Forest Rally, coming up soon in only a few weeks! Many thanks to Rally Director, Rob Jackett, for organizing and making this run. Shawn Bishop was there to take some stellar photographs:
RACE CONCERNS – What’s Keeping You from Going to the Track
In a recent e-mail conversation with Chris Tworek of the BMW Club, we got talking about the
issues that we struggle with in building our clubs. I mentioned that we figure that covid and the
oil/gas situation has caused a good number of folks to cash in their chips when it comes to
maintaining and running a dedicated track car. Chris said they count the following among their
main concerns (I quote):
• “Lack of knowledge of what it is all about – watching F1 on TV is one thing – actual
hitting the pavement is another
• Leased cars
• Insurance worries”
These are all valid reasons for folks to hesitate about signing up for a track event. We get it!
Let’s speak truthfully: it can be risky. But so is driving on the Deerfoot. We who drive the tracks
know, from experience, that there are very few incidents at grassroots-level motorsport events.
Safety is always the first concern. Always. Every vehicle is teched for safety before an event,
whether it’s owned, leased, rented, or borrowed from a brother-in-law. Instructors are often
available on the spot. If you want to try an event, but don’t know how to tech your car, just ask
us! We’ll be happy to connect you with someone who can help you. Incidents can still happen
because there are wear-item parts on cars that take more of a beating (brakes and tires usually),
but these are easily-replaceable parts. But a reasonably-maintained car is going to do fine. For
the fun experienced, we feel the extra cost is worth it. But this is just our opinion. What do you
think? Can you think of ways to encourage drivers to come out and drive on a track or lot at a
speed comfortable to them? For the skills learned, is it worth it to risk the family car? Weigh in!
I’ll publish responses in the next Broken Spoke.
TINY KID AUTOX
Picture this. The location is the main floor of the clubhouse. Traffic cones have been set up to form the layout of a small-scale autoX track. You see chicanes, 90 degree turns, 180 degree turns, maybe a small hazard like a canvas tube that racers have to crawl through from points A to
B. There are trophies, snacks, really little kids on bikes, trikes, skateboards, roller skates, anything with wheels …. and a LOT of fun! This is an activity we’d really like to do with kids under the age of 10 (to start). I’d call it a trial run. Then, if that’s successful, we could do the same again on the parking lot of the clubhouse grounds for bigger kids (up to age 13, say). We
present this idea as something that’s percolating. Let us know if you have littles that would get
into the fun of this!
WHAT’S ON YOUR WISH LIST? QUESTIONS FOR YOU!
We continue our quest to draw members back to the clubhouse for fun, get-togethers, and
education. It can be a challenge because we don’t have a lot of funds to work with AND we don’t
know what would be the best types of things to offer. But we’re keen! So, could you please let us
know what YOU’d like to see happening at the clubhouse? It’s a great space. We already do
monthly meetings and the occasional in-house event. Would you like to see more movies?
Ladies’ events? Televised international race viewings? Educational stuff? Wine tastings? (I don’t
know … maybe wine is what gets people coming to stuff …) Please let us know!
WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?
The Broken Spoke is just me yakking away. Blah blah blah. I’m sure you’d be interested in hearing from others. Such as your own good self! Send some of your own wordcrafts! Write an article. Debrief an event. Send photos. Have you taken an interesting road trip? Purchased a new
car? Would you like to review a car? How about getting a debate going: manual vs. automatic? electric vs. not? any other incendiary topic? Bring it! Your submissions are welcome and they don’t have to be grammar- or word-perfect. I’ll fix everything right up.
REUNION AND 70-YEAR CELEBRATION
When we did a reunion at the clubhouse last year, it was incredible to see about 60 people show up to catch up and reminisce. As that was so much fun and 2024 is the club’s 70th anniversary,
we’re going to do it all again. Please join us at our September board meeting (Thursday, September 5) at 7:30pm for a very brief board meeting followed by all the visiting and eating of cake (or consuming of beer) that anyone could wish for. It may be that we’ll have the new deck completed on the south side of the building and if the weather is lovely, we can enjoy that. Keep an eye on Broken Spokes and our Facebook page between now and then for updated information.
CSCC MONTHLY BOARD MEETING AND INFO
Please note that our June board meeting, regularly held on the first Thursday, is delayed to
Thursday, June 13, starting at 6:30pm if you want to start watching a racing movie with us and
7:30pm if you’d like to attend the business meeting. We finish the movie after the meeting. The
beers and pop are cold and we always have chips. See you at the clubhouse (4215 – 80 Ave NE)
– all are welcome, including the kiddo’s!
UPCOMING EVENTS THAT MAY INTEREST YOU
Right, there is a LOT of stuff going on already, and it’s just going to keep ramping up over the
summer. The following is just a selection of what’s happening in May and June. In addition,
attached is a document, for your info, that lists everything running from Fort Saskatchewan south
that’s come to our notice up to the end of the year. Because there are some stellar autoX events
happening with other clubs, the CSCC is not planning to host any, but rather we point you in the
direction of all the good stuff already going on, and we’ll see you there!
Note, in red, the two rallies that are coming up quickly. More information will be provided about
those, by separate notice. This is because there are a few ways you can get involved or view
them. Stay tuned!
Sunday, May 19 Edmonton Rally Club, Rallycross Championship #6
Monday, May 20 Rocky Mountain Motorsports, Beginner Track Experience
Monday, May 20 Track Junkies
Thursday, May 23 Rocky Mountain Motorsports, Members’ Race Series
Saturday, May 25 Red Deer Sports Car Club, Event #2
Saturday, May 25 Southern Alberta Solosport Club, Airdrie Air Park, Event #2
Sunday, May 26 Red Deer Sports Car Club, Event #3
Sunday, May 26 Rocky Mountain Motorsports, New Drivers Skills Clinic
Sunday, May 26 Calgary Exotic Auto Guild, Track Day
Thursday, May 30 Stratotec, StratoCross #1
Friday, May 31 Rocky Mountain Motorsports, Public Track Day
May 31 – June 2 RallyWest/Calgary Sports Car Club, Rocky Mountain Rally
Saturday, June 1 Edmonton International Raceway, NASCAR Racing, Season Opener
Saturday, June 1 Northern Alberta Sports Car Club, Sprint or Enduro
Monday, June 3 Stratotec, Open Lapping
Thursday, June 6 Calgary Sports Car Club, Monthly Meeting, 6:30/7:30pm
Thursday, June 6 Rocky Mountain Motorsports, Beginner Track Experience
Friday, June 7 Calgary Exotic Auto Guild, Track Day
June 7-8 RallyBC/WCRA, Pacific Forest Rally
UPDATED RACE DATES SCHEDULE
An updated race events calendar is attached to the e-mail in which this newsletter arrived to you.
Check it out! Sign up for some stuff.
ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES
Would you like to see your product or service featured in The Broken Spoke? Selling ad space
used to be the done thing when we were trying to cover the cost of paper, printing, and postage.
These days, we use funds to cover events. You can help out the club by advertising, and we can
help you by promoting your business. A full-page layout will run $50/issue. Contact me at
jamie.gray@cscc.ab.ca and we’ll sort it out.
That’s all for now! Enjoy this great weather. See you at something.
Jamie
President, Calgary Sports Car Club
jamie.gray@cscc.ab.c
