I'm going ice racing this winter, that much has been decided. I bought a set of Blizzaks and an E36 M3/4/5 upon which to stick them, now I just need somewhere to race. I'm looking for the analogue to autocross on ice, not wheel to wheel racing.
Where should I go? How soon does the season typically start? Learn me these things and more oh people of the north.
I did it last winter with Furrin Group up near Grand Rapids, MI. It was a bit of a long drive for me to only have 5-6 runs on the ice but I was up there for a rallycross the previous day so I stuck around.
Why no Durocco on ice?
Durocco has no heater core and a 90% chance of a debilitating failure. Also, no seat heaters.
RWD on ice 
Wasn't I just asking about this in the other thread? Maybe im on crack.
Doh! Just saw your thread... brb going to start another ice racing thread. 
I did an ice auto-x in college somewhere near Rochester, NY in my '94 2wd Toyota pickup. It was a blast! I did get stuck one run though. Went wide in a turn, the front stuck in the piled up snow from the plowed track, and the rear was stuck on the track. I crossed the finishline backwards...twice. I need to do more. Maybe i can talk my friend into converting the specneon into an ice racer this winter.
Not sure what you define as "within range".
SVSCCA runs in Beaverton, MI which looks to be about 5 hours from Columbus.
Furrin group runs at Turk Lake near Greenville, MI, which looks to be about 5 hours from you.
I'd imagine there's something closer NE of you, but not sure how hard the lakes freeze going south of where I'm at.
Al Gore killed ice racing in all of the lower 48 with the exception of NH, VT, MN, the dakotas and UP
Looks like there is a tentative schedule for ice racing in Beaverton, MI
From the Detroit rallycross forum: http://detroit-scca.org/e107/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?39365.60
Quote:
These are fun events. I highly suggest them. Fastest run counts and ONLY that is like autocross. The rest is more like RallyCross, except a lot more open and a lot more sliding. Ross Lake courses have been near 2 miles in length. Here is that tentative Schedule (all on Ross Lake in Beaverton, MI):
SVR ICE RACING 2014
(tentative schedule)
Ross Lake: Sunday Jan. 26th
Ross Lake: Saturday Feb. 8th (day & night events!)
Ross Lake: Sunday Feb. 23rd.
Alternate: Saginaw Bay, Sunday March 9th
Sweetness. I need to get a new clutch in the M3 and prepare for hilarity.
Adirondack Motor Enthusiast Club, Inc. (AMEC) will be starting the season in early January in the lower Adirondacks. www.icerace.com
so what type of vehicle would one show up in to ice race? is it against the clock? would one look like a tool showing up in a 2005 4x4 avalanche with a locking rear diff?
iceracer wrote: Adirondack Motor Enthusiast Club, Inc. (AMEC) will be starting the season in early January in the lower Adirondacks. www.icerace.com
I wish they'd lower those Adirondacks a little more. I went to an AMEC event a few years ago and it was great but it was a long haul.
patgizz wrote: so what type of vehicle would one show up in to ice race? is it against the clock? would one look like a tool showing up in a 2005 4x4 avalanche with a locking rear diff?
Look like a tool? Nah. Definitely a run what ya bring type event. Lots of sedans and winter beaters. Yes it's just against the clock, and I've seen a few trucks in the past. Often if there's much snow, big 4x4 trucks are nice to have as they can help "clear " the course and/or help pull cars out if they get stuck.
Did it once with the Saginaw Valley SCCA many moons ago, bring warm clothes and have a blast!
I would also suggest bring plenty of food. Warm food if you can. There aren't a lot of places to shop in the middle of the lake and many of the ones along the shoreline are seasonal.
I'm doing the Furrin group event Feb 9 at Turk Lake MI, much excitement. Planning on going up Saturday afternoon, hopefully finding some safe/legal ice to hoon on for the evening and then joining the event Sunday morning. Anyone local know other lakes in the area suitable for ice driving?
http://www.furrin.org/Events/CalendarofEvents/tabid/70/Default.aspx
The M3/4/5 in question pictured below, I bought a lightly used set of Blizzack LM-60's which are not ideal for ice but a lot better than all seasons.
There are two types of competition on ice. Both fun. Time trial/autocross. One car at a time. Car to car racing. Real racing. What AMEC does.
What are the Ice Policies at Alum Creek, Hoover or Buckeye Lake?
Can you get to the boat launches?
I suspect they are cold enough.
Near my house there is a good lake (some call it a Great Lake.)
Vehicles on it are not completely uncommon. Again, you need a boat launch ramp but I know where plenty are. I would even likely help to contribute to this kind of mischief (should you be the type that needs help with mischief??)
All the local rivers that I pass over while driving the highways have snow mobile tracks. I imagine that a frozen river must be like a cool, wide road course.
iceracer wrote: There are two types of competition on ice. Both fun. Time trial/autocross. One car at a time. Car to car racing. Real racing. What AMEC does.
Yeah that is what MIRA runs but I am unable to make a full season there this year for cash reasons.
So I will see you at SVR for both events (day and night) on feb 8th and then the FG event on the 9th.
I am not sure what you will find further south. I think we use Turk Lake because it is a bit north. It is also out of the lake effect snow area. Though there has been talk about plowing for next weekend.
We basically run and score it like a rallycross.
I'll split a hotel room for turk lake with furrin group on that Saturday night. I will be coming down later in the evening from Beaverton MI.
In reply to ansonivan:
Atlanta, but you just missed the first round...
On Weds I wrote, "come up to the big lake this weekend, it should be great."
And this morning I read, "Localy, Subaru Plummets Through Ice!"
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