Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 6 [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/12/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-6-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/12/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-6-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/12/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-6-w-video/#commentsFiled under: ,

THE THAW

You had to know it couldn't last forever. Most recently our Subaru ice racer was in action way up north in the wilds of Quebec, getting sideways on a frozen circuit. As it turns out, if we wanted to keep on racing we should have stayed up there. This form of motorsport needs frozen lakes and some unfortunately turbulent weather in the northeast over the past month didn't do the local bodies of water any favors. But, we were able to make it to one final event before the season was put to rest. We have some highlights to share below, including footage of what it looks like to be inside a pirouetting WRX, plus some discussion about how to safely stow your winter racing gear for the summertime off-season.


Gallery: Ice Racing at Warner Lake

Continue reading Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 6 [w/video]

Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 6 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A TRACK DAY WITH SNOWBANKS



This week we're taking a bit of a break from the on-ice action that we've been covering so far this season, trading wheel-to-wheel antics for something more controlled. Way up north in the wilds of Quebec there's a facility called Mecaglisse that runs driving schools all year round. In the winter it hosts snowbound track days, events where people (generally in Subarus) show up and strut their stuff on a perfectly groomed ice surface bordered by tall snowbanks. It's like a stage plucked out of WRC Sweden, coiled around such that its end and beginning meet, and then presented for you to just keep on rallying over and over until you run out of gas -- which we very nearly did.

A track day at Mecaglisse was an opportunity for low-grip practice that we couldn't pass up, and we'll take you along with video of a hot lap on this frigid circuit. You'll also find some discussion about shifting technique below, so if you've ever wondered how to cover all three pedals in a standard car with only two feet, you'll want to click on through.


Gallery: Winter Track Day at Mecaglisse

Continue reading Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 5 [w/video]

Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 5 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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THE SEASON SLIDES ON

Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 4 [w/video]

If you've been following along, you got your first ever taste of wheel-to-wheel action on ice last week - and in that first event things didn't go so well. We delivered a mediocre performance and, sadly, saw others deliver some damaged bodywork. Things would improve, though. In this, the fourth installment of An Introduction to Ice Racing, we'll cover rounds two and three of the AMEC 2010 season, show you how we fared at both, and again give you plenty of in-car (and on-car) footage to demonstrate just how much fun you can have on ice - without studs.


Gallery: Ice Racing at Lake Algonquin, NY

Continue reading Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 4 [w/video]

Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 4 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HITTING THE ICE



The time has come to do it for real. We've walked you through the various classes offered by the club we'll be racing with, and we've shown you what it's like to drive at speed on the ice, so there's nothing left but to do it in anger. In this installment of An Introduction to Ice Racing we'll hit the first event of the season, tell you how to get ready to race once you're on the ice, and dazzle you with plenty of in-car video from first event's three heats - including footage of a few unfortunate incidents that left fenders crumpled and tensions flared.

It's all below, so click on through and check out the action. We promise not to put a single dent in your monitor.


Gallery: Ice Racing at Caroga Lake, NY

Continue reading Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 3 [w/video]

Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 3 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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THE WHAT AND THE HOW Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 2
It's time to delve a little further into the crazy, sideways world of ice racing - where grip is at a premium but the grins come cheap. In last week's first article in the series we gave you a little bit of information about the sport in general, or rather sports, and talked about the class structure used by AMEC, the club we'll be running with. We'll be participating in the street legal class with a 2002 Subaru WRX, a very early model purchased right after it finally hit American shores in 2001. It's mostly stock, but the club does have some required changes we'll cover here, and there are some other things you'll want to know before you show up on the ice.

What sorts of things? Well, one important thing is how to drive, or rather how to go quickly around a track of ice without getting yourself high-sided on a snowbank or bumper-locked with a competitor. So, we'll give you an overview of driving technique too, including a little demonstration video that'll give you your first taste of driving at-speed on-ice in a car with no studs. Click on through and join the fun.


Gallery: Ice racing preparation

Continue reading Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 2

Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"You race on what now?" This is the typical response given when the topic of ice racing comes up. People can't seem to get their head around the idea that you, a sane human being with as strong a survival instinct as the next guy/gal, would drive a car out onto a frozen lake at speeds upwards of 100mph - often sideways. Mention that the racing action is wheel-to-wheel against dozens of competitors at once and you're almost guaranteed to be labeled clinically insane.

Ice racers may be a little special but most are not insane, and if you live in parts of the world that get cold enough, you can join in their fun for a pittance. Ice racing is, dollars to seat time, one of the cheapest forms of motorsport out there. It's also one of the most thrilling and, for those of us who find ourselves driving in frequently inclement conditions, it's even a genuinely useful exercise. Sure, autocrossing is cheap, safe and educational, but where cone-dodging helps you find your car's limits, ice racing teaches you to drive far beyond them, to stay in control (or close to it) when by all rights you should be spinning wildly into a snowbank.

Just like we did last summer with karting, we're going to take you along for the ride and let you get a taste for ice racing. Naturally there will be some changes: instead of a racing suit we'll be investing in a set of thermals, and rather than sticky slicks we'll be budgeting for heavily siped snow tires. It's a whole different ball game, managing slip instead of grip, but the thrills are just as great. And, since you can compete with just about any car, it's open to almost anyone who has a need for speed -- and who doesn't mind spending the day hanging around on a frozen lake.


Gallery: Ice racing variety

Continue reading Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 1

Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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