For you DC-ish/East-Coast-ish fellas and ladies, come out and play for two days! (Also, mods, delete this if shameless promotion isn't allowed, but this is all very GRM-y and I hope it's okay)
I run Out Motorsports, an organization dedicated to getting LGBT+ car enthusiasts connected with one another AND more importantly, behind the wheel doing some high-performance driving as everyone can always use some polishing of their car control skills.
We are hosting a two-day Rallycross at Summit Point Motorsports Park on August 21 & 22, and would love to have some GRMers of all persuasions join us for the fun. Classing is going to be kept simple enough but will consider stock cars, modified cars, and our GRM/Top Gear-esque cheap car challenge series.
For the challenge: bring a car you purchased for $1,500 or less that is an orphaned make or model. "Orphaned" in this case means they don't sell it in the United States anymore. Any Oldsmobile counts, as does a Honda Prelude (Honda exists, the Prelude doesn't). Unibody SUVs are fine, body-on-frame trucks/SUVs are not. Convertibles need to have a roll bar.
Full details and regsitration are all here: https://nasaproracing.com/events/3592
It's set to be a super fun time, and I know y'all are good people so if we can have a few of you join us, so much the better.
I paid $450 for my '84 RX-7 in 2007, I paid $free for my '81 in 2016 (FMV $500, as he had been advertising it for that price for a few years). Hmm.
I paid $1500 for my Quantum Syncro, a vehicle for which VW actively refuses to sell parts, but even in my deepest, darkest fantasies I would not have it running and roadworthy in three months.
I have orphaned cars that run and orphaned cars that were under $1500, but not both. I'll have to enter in one of the other classes, but I do plan to be there. 
I've run an orphaned sub $1500 car at Summit before. It was surprisingly competitive. I highly recommend it.
Semi OT: Is the first motorsports event you guys are hosting? (I assumed you were piggybacking on a WDCR event until I saw the link).
A $1,500 beater was a $500 beater back in 2019.
Still waiting for the 2022 3000 Challenge.
ProDarwin said:
Semi OT: Is the first motorsports event you guys are hosting? (I assumed you were piggybacking on a WDCR event until I saw the link).
It is! We've hosted a few off-road events before but those don't require the official-ness and insurance and such of a motorsport event. Jon from Get-Fast (hosts trackcrosses at Summit Point frequently, works for TrackDaze, etc) is the one backing it all so I have some support and a more experienced buddy at the helm.
slowbird said:
I have orphaned cars that run and orphaned cars that were under $1500, but not both. I'll have to enter in one of the other classes, but I do plan to be there.
Sweet! You can always sign up now and update your car information later if you don't know what you're bringing.
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
I paid $450 for my '84 RX-7 in 2007, I paid $free for my '81 in 2016 (FMV $500, as he had been advertising it for that price for a few years). Hmm.
I paid $1500 for my Quantum Syncro, a vehicle for which VW actively refuses to sell parts, but even in my deepest, darkest fantasies I would not have it running and roadworthy in three months.
Bring one of the Mazdas, those sound perfect!
Would a Ford Escort count, or would it not as it's still sold in Asia?
If not I'll have to attempt to get the 323 more viable for the drive out to summit, as Mazda dropping the 23 makes it legal.
captdownshift (Forum Supporter) said:
Would a Ford Escort count, or would it not as it's still sold in Asia?
If not I'll have to attempt to get the 323 more viable for the drive out to summit, as Mazda dropping the 23 makes it legal.
"Orphaned" is as relates to the United States. Bring on the Escort!
Will there be some experienced hands there doing any instructing? Not sure yet if the schedule will work for me, but if I did come I'd def be down for some learning. My 4 total runs in a rallycross were fun, but I didn't exactly bathe myself (or the car) in glory.
And I'd be in a Microsquirt'd '85 MB 190. I vaguely recall I paid about $1500 for it when I bought it, but I really don't remember anymore. So I'd want the under $1500 orphaned, modified RWD class 
Are spectators allowed? Id bring a car but no time to get on board right now with work and such. Id love to come and just check it out.
NorseDave said:
Will there be some experienced hands there doing any instructing? Not sure yet if the schedule will work for me, but if I did come I'd def be down for some learning. My 4 total runs in a rallycross were fun, but I didn't exactly bathe myself (or the car) in glory.
And I'd be in a Microsquirt'd '85 MB 190. I vaguely recall I paid about $1500 for it when I bought it, but I really don't remember anymore. So I'd want the under $1500 orphaned, modified RWD class
There won't be official instructors, but I and others will happily hop in and ride shotgun while yelling "GASGASGASGAS" at you the whole time.
That Benz would be a great fit!
kevinatfms said:
Are spectators allowed? Id bring a car but no time to get on board right now with work and such. Id love to come and just check it out.
Currently we cannot have spectators - holdover rule from planning this mid-pandemic. If that changes I will be sure to share with everyone, but... you can always sign up and drive last-minute if we have spots open and work schedule allows it :)
Welp. Guess there's no turning back now.
Any updates on spectators or crew policies?
slowbird said:
Welp. Guess there's no turning back now.
Yessss! See you then!
No update yet on spectators/crew, I will reach out to try and get an update next week.
Small update.
Bridgestone Tires is giving away a set of tires – whatever you want – to the winner of the $1,500 Orphaned Make/Model Challenge class. They're gonna pay for mounting and balancing, too.
If anyone was on the fence, just sign up and drive hard and you might win a legit prize after two days in the dust and dirt.
You could make money driving a $1500 car.
I just had an epiphany.
I didn't think my daily driver would fit in the orphaned class. But then I realized: it's a Focus. They stopped selling the focus in the US. Also, I bought it for $500 and have been keeping tabs on the total budget in case I need to use it for the Challenge. As it sits I've definitely spent less than $1500 on it, even including tires.
I might need to go update my class.
slowbird said:
I just had an epiphany.
I didn't think my daily driver would fit in the orphaned class. But then I realized: it's a Focus. They stopped selling the focus in the US. Also, I bought it for $500 and have been keeping tabs on the total budget in case I need to use it for the Challenge. As it sits I've definitely spent less than $1500 on it, even including tires.
I might need to go update my class.
Put it in the Challenge class, that totally counts. Focus has been dead here for at least a year if not longer!
slowbird said:
I just had an epiphany.
I didn't think my daily driver would fit in the orphaned class. But then I realized: it's a Focus. They stopped selling the focus in the US. Also, I bought it for $500 and have been keeping tabs on the total budget in case I need to use it for the Challenge. As it sits I've definitely spent less than $1500 on it, even including tires.
I might need to go update my class.
It's just purchase price, by my reading. So the mongoid RX-7 is perfectly cromulent.
In reply to Brake_L8 (Forum Supporter) :
That's not a small update. That's an impressive job of using a partnership to create value.
Now I need to pull the front bumper cover off of the escort so that I can drive it harder in an effort to get a set of 205/50 Bridgestones down to the GRM challenge
In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :
"If you have money left over in your budget, you may use the remainder of the $1,500 to purchase “supporting” modifications, such as wheels, tires, shocks, etc. Modifications that make the vehicle more pleasant to drive (i.e. new radio with Bluetooth) for the trip to our event will not be counted toward your budget."
