Ah, new 12 months, new occasions–wait, it’s already March? Thankfully, after chatting with a few of my GRM colleagues, I have already got an inventory of my prime occasions to attend in 2025.
First on the checklist–and developing quickly–is the Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge Presented by Tire Rack and Powered by AutoBidMaster.
Autocross, drag racing, automotive reveals, tenting and extra, all with the GRM group? Appears like my sort of occasion.
On March 29, I can be attending my first $2000 Problem, however don’t get me unsuitable, I’m not entering into blind. I’ve watched the recap movies, learn the articles and heard the GRM lore. I’m excited to satisfy extra members of the GRM group in individual and see the wacky, cool and progressive issues they provide you with for the Problem–a few of which I’ve been following on the GRM boards.
Subsequent on the checklist is Gridlife South Carolina, happening from April 11-13 at Carolina Motorsports Park. Earlier than becoming a member of GRM, I had solely heard of Gridlife in passing and didn’t know that a lot about it. So, I wasn’t actually positive if it was my factor. However all that modified after I began speaking with James Wooden and realized extra about what the occasions have been like.
James isn’t simply our affiliate writer, he usually attends Gridlife occasions along with his LS-powered, second-gen RX-7. He did, no less than, till final August through the Gridlife Circuit Legends Competition. Sadly, on that day, his RX-7 suffered a devastating engine failure when a piston kissed a valve.
[My goal: Drive the car back onto the trailer. My reality?]
That didn’t cease James from telling me all about Gridlife, and my curiosity? Piqued. A 3-day occasion that includes Gridlife Drift, TrackBattle Time Assault, GLTC and Rush SR–plus a full-course drift and skidpad drift occurring on the aspect? I wouldn’t even know the place to start out, however hey, who doesn’t like an journey? Plus, because of some nights in his store, there’s an opportunity we’ll see James and his RX-7 again on observe.
Now, I really like autocross and drifting as a lot as the subsequent individual, however how about a bit of selection? That’s why subsequent up on my checklist is the Pine Mountain Hillclimb April 25-27 on the Pine Mountain State Resort Park in Pineville, Kentucky.
Residing in Florida most of my life, I’ve by no means seen a hillclimb in individual. In spite of everything, Florida hills, the few we’ve got, aren’t thrilling sufficient to climb. And whereas watching on TV is enjoyable you don’t get the identical thrill and surroundings as a reside race.
This 2-mile, 10-turn Pine Mountain HillClimb structure options an elevation achieve of 650 toes, with timber, rocks and drops lining the highway. Whereas I believe each race automotive driver is a daredevil in their very own proper, to me, hillclimbers are in their very own league. Excessive velocity AND heights? I’ll not wish to compete, however I positive like to watch.
In a while within the 12 months, particularly September 1-5, I’m stoked to attend the Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Since beginning my autocross profession with GRM, I’ve joined so many teams–just like the Ladies on Monitor program–and related with some superb racers. So, in fact, the subsequent logical step is to attend all the massive SCCA occasions to satisfy them in individual and see them in motion.
The Tire Rack SCCA Solo Nationwide Championships is house of the perfect of the perfect. It’s an occasion that I imagine autocrossers–no matter the place they’re of their journey–ought to attend no less than as soon as. It’s an opportunity to satisfy nice individuals, see superior automobiles and, in fact, study from the highest runners.
Who is aware of, perhaps that dangerous behavior you’re attempting to shake is one thing another person skilled. And perhaps they’ve these phrases of knowledge that permit all of the cogs fall into place.
My checklist of occasions goes on and on, however with solely so many days within the 12 months, going to all of them is unattainable, so I would like some assist narrowing it down. What occasions are in your 2025 checklist? Have any you suppose I ought to add to mine?
Feedback
On my checklist
SCCA Nationwide Time Trial at LVMS; it is the one SCCA Nationwide of any variety I’ve ever performed and it has a terrific vibe
Willow Springs this weekend; it is the final occasion beneath the Huth household in addition to the All Japan Automobile Shootout.
VARA September race ib Buttonwillow’s new observe.
What occasions are in your 2025 checklist?
Sure.
For my severe reply, I’ve had Pine Mountain on my checklist because the very first one was introduced (as a result of I used to be born a stone’s throw away in Middlesboro), and I would actually wish to make it to an F1 race in some unspecified time in the future. I will additionally add the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Nürburgring 24 and perhaps even the Aurum 1006 km.
In reply to Tom1200 :
Oh I have not seen the All Japan Automobile Shootout. I hope you share some pictures after. Is it solely annually or have they got different smaller occasions?
In reply to Paris Van Gorder :
Ooops I misquoted it. It is the “All Japan Showdown”
A number of SoCal Japanese automotive golf equipment host it. There may be the standard VARA classic races together with a Japanese automotive present and an all Japanese automotive race on Saturday afternoon. There may be additionally a observe day session for non racers.
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