Autocross pops the clutch on the 2013 season
By Mario Marrello, UCR Autocross Chair
Photos by Mackenzie Katzel
May 19 marked the first date of the 2013 Autocross event calendar. In contrast to recent weather, this day brought us 25C temperatures and clear skies.
Hosting the event on the Sunday of this year’s May long weekend initially sounded risky, but even so the event was oversubscribed, putting a few people on the wait list. My apologies to those who couldn’t participate. We’ve learned we must maintain a limit on the number of participants to ensure safety of the event and spectators and also to ensure there isn’t too much wait time between runs. 26 registered drivers is a realistic maximum.
UCR Autocross is attracting a number of attendees who have made it a regular event for themselves. This is great news for the success of autocross and it improves the social aspect, as acquaintances are reestablished.
I would like to extend my thanks to Geoff Sheffrin who volunteered to help design the course and monitor participant registration and Kirk Katzel who monitored the course, cleared the stop gate and fixed fallen cones. As usual, my son Paul was also there to help with timing and registration, with added support from his cousin, James. Many people ask if it is OK to bring kids to this event. We encourage it. As autocross is a moving event, insurance regulations demand certain waivers be signed. Please check the autocross page on the website for details; follow the link to “Downloadable Insurance Forms and Instructions”.
The Toronto Star on Weston Road in Vaughan has graciously made its parking lot available to us for several years now and I would like to extend my thanks to all involved. To make autocross available to a wider audience, we continue to search out new locations, so please email me directly if you have any suggestions. I would also like to extend an invitation to anyone interested in taking photos. I’m looking to update my photo collection and the photos on the web (editor’s note: not to mention Provinz)!
As always, check the UCR website for up to date details on dates, locations and registration information.
