In the next week or so registration will open for the Washington, DC Region's season-ending Something Different Relay Race/Sprints/Advanced PDX at Summit Point on October 6-7. That's right: it's not a MARRS race.

Here's how the relay race will work. We will have teams consisting of two, three, or four cars/drivers. Each team has to drive four 25-lap stints to get to the end (the race is 100 laps). Cars will take a standing start from pit lane, with the grid determined by each team's potential speed as determined by track records. The first car from the slowest potential team starts first. Theoretically, we could have 55 cars crossing the finish line at the same time!

The race will be open to all classes except big bore and formula cars. Teams can consist of any mix of cars; they don't have to be all the same class. The handicap start system guarantees that a team consisting of all ITC cars has the same chance of winning as a team of all ITR cars. In effect, the handicap system creates a giant specification class: the fastest drivers win on a level playing field.

You DO NOT have to assemble a team to register; just register like you would for any other race and put together your team later. OR, we will do it for you! Team assignments by random draw at the drivers meeting.

AND, we are offering a purse with a guaranteed minimum of $1000, with payouts to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 15th, and last positions.

I'll post a link to the supps as soon as they're available, but as one of the authors I can answer any questions you have now.

See you at Summit Point!

And registration is now open: http://www.wdcr-scca.org/

Bump. Early October in eastern West Virginia is usually wonderful racing weather. Please do come play with us.

Elizabeth,

We like the idea. Will steal with pride and see how it works out here for a 2013 race event!

Race Report

We ended up fielding eleven teams. Disappointingly low turnout but it did give us a chance to work out the kinks and things ran very smoothly. Over the course of 100 laps the weather went from overcast and dry to drizzly, creating a very slick track, but one not wet enough for anyone to pit in for a tire change, then back to dry.

The slowest potential team was composed of an ITC car running two stints and two SRFs, driven by Mike Amy and David Dickerson. Mike set the fast lap of the team with a 1'24.571", and this team finished third, which shows that the handicap grid system worked the way we wanted it to: it created a single multi-class specification group, with the advantage going to the fastest *drivers* (in well set-up cars). All three drivers on this team were able to drive close to the track records for their classes.

One other team had two SRFs (as well as an SM driven for two stints), driven by John Hagerman and Steve Schuh. John drew the short straw and was out in the damp, but Steve had a dry stint and ran consistently in the low '25s, with a fast lap of 1'25.155". This team started eighth and finished fourth.

The total race length was 2 hours 16 minutes. Everyone left with a big smile and so far I have heard only minor complaints (mostly operational issues).

If anyone else wants to try this format and would like advice, send me a message; I'll be happy to chat about it. We (WDCR) are thinking of ways to increase attendance for next year.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who was willing to try Something Different this year.