Clemson Sports Car Club

but then i have to drive all the way over there instead of just down the road :'(

haha

Umm, maybe if we got on campus we would finally have the extra money to do something cool with your photographic services! Like send a print of every participant's car to their address supplied. I think people would really enjoy getting a high quality print every time they autocrossed with us

(08-24-2010 05:31 PM)JB Wrote: [ -> ]So we are thinking about campus again. To my knowledge nobody REALLY tried to get us back on campus last year, well now is the time to try. If we can get autocrosses on campus our expenses would be cut by over 50%! We have a perfect safety record and promote a safe, non-alcohol induced environment for a student on a Saturday...I mean how can they say no with all the heat OTHER organizations (ahem...frat's) have been getting lately? We haven't screwed up, why are we being treated like we have?

i'm 100% for the idea, but what have you been smoking?

<<(edit, i don't think you are old enough to know)>>

no people have gotten hurt that I was ever around for...

(08-24-2010 10:50 PM)dave99rt Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-24-2010 05:31 PM)JB Wrote: [ -> ]So we are thinking about campus again. To my knowledge nobody REALLY tried to get us back on campus last year, well now is the time to try. If we can get autocrosses on campus our expenses would be cut by over 50%! We have a perfect safety record and promote a safe, non-alcohol induced environment for a student on a Saturday...I mean how can they say no with all the heat OTHER organizations (ahem...frat's) have been getting lately? We haven't screwed up, why are we being treated like we have?

i'm 100% for the idea, but what have you been smoking?

<<(edit, i don't think you are old enough to know)>>

I don't think the new Org. Director has been here for long, I doubt she will be able to prove "100% safety" statement otherwise. But with the current officers, we have had zero accidents in the past year...

(08-25-2010 11:25 AM)JB Wrote: [ -> ]I don't think the new Org. Director has been here for long, I doubt she will be able to prove "100% safety" statement otherwise. But with the current officers, we have had zero accidents in the past year...

looking back one year doesn't count.

More importantly, CSCC is not incident free at its current race location.

(08-24-2010 01:16 PM)JB Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-24-2010 10:20 AM)Gerbo Wrote: [ -> ]and these dates are definitely set in stone?

We are still talking with Anderson University. They are moving more and more soccer and volleyball games to Saturday which is making it very difficult to come to a conclusion on a weekend...

Ok I just ask because Im planning a car show up at ICAR on sept 19 which will hopefully be a monthly show and I was trying to avoid doing it the same day as another event nearby (especially CSCC autocross and clemson football games).

(08-25-2010 12:28 PM)dave99rt Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-25-2010 11:25 AM)JB Wrote: [ -> ]I don't think the new Org. Director has been here for long, I doubt she will be able to prove "100% safety" statement otherwise. But with the current officers, we have had zero accidents in the past year...

looking back one year doesn't count.

More importantly, CSCC is not incident free at its current race location.

Then why don't you fill us in instead of just saying we are not incident free. I would like to know anything they could bring up against us, especially safety related issues.

(08-25-2010 02:04 PM)JB Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-25-2010 12:28 PM)dave99rt Wrote: [ -> ]looking back one year doesn't count.

More importantly, CSCC is not incident free at its current race location.

Then why don't you fill us in instead of just saying we are not incident free. I would like to know anything they could bring up against us, especially safety related issues.

i would keep that to PM's... to protect the guilty

The "incident" Dave is referring to was a minor one. To be clear, the course was designed to current SCCA safety guidelines and the driver made a significant error judgment by not "putting both feet in" (taking the car out of gear and braking until the car comes to a complete stop) when he lost control of the car coming off of the sweeper. Immediately all the officers made sure everyone on course and the driver were not injured. Myself, Garret (the SCR autox director in attendance), and Zach went over how the incident occurred, measured and I documented the exact course layout. Upon reviewing this we all determined the course met ALL SCCA safety guidelines. After this, both Zach, myself and the other officers have made a point to consider this incident to ensure that we limit this from happening again, by reminding drivers when they just need to realize they should put both feet in if they're way past the point of correcting staying on course and in relative control of the vehicle AND by designing courses so we stay further even the SCCA guidelines from the incident area.

End of story. SCCA Guidelines were followed, verified (even by an SCCA director) and we've taken steps to mitigate any issues in the future.

As to incidents prior to this, I can't speak for them and feel it's best to move on from these with the understanding that we can only control what we do now by improving our events and ensuring they are run by the safest and most thorough national autox standards - that being SCCA. We are currently doing that and I recommend that we even put into writting in the "Club Constitution" that these standards be a requirement for any autox to be held, to ensure Clemson, Anderson University, our participants and viewers know we take safety seriously and will not waiver from it.

The safety record stands and in discussions, it is worth mentioning it. It is worthwhile to point out that there is a person in charge of safety at events and they check the course, monitor drivers and take steps to preserve peace and tranquility...oh and safety too.
In SCCA, we are constantly reminded NOT to use the term race or racing involving autocross. It is a "low speed competitive driving event where only one car runs at a time against the clock on a pylon course." Keep repeating that mantra... it's important. First time a reporter comes around (or a faculty member or parking services guy) and someone says "We love racing together..." or "Racing is a blast", the minds of faculty and admin starts spinning horrible images that are not indicative of the sport. Sound bites don't really portray what we do well... but sometimes, that's all the chance you'll get.
Several of the big keys to mention with discussions with admin or media are :
1. Clemson and USC each have a sports car club and are involved in autocrossing. On campus events will allow students to prepare to represent Clemson University in regional and possibly national competitions. Locally, we also have run autocrosses at BMW Manufacturing and Michelin's Testing Grounds in Laurens through SCCA.
2. Along with the driving competition, we are working together and learning how to modify our cars to improve them.
3. All competition is performed on safe closed courses.
4. Play up the history... been around a LONG time. Tradition on campus and some of our present members ran in the 80s.
5. Learning to handle the car on a pylon course makes drivers able to better control their cars in emergency situations. This has a positive impact on student driving and campus safety.

Ken may have a few more suggestions along these lines.

And if you need a "older guy" to go with you to meetings with admin, I will try to be available. Sometimes, it really helps to see there a graybeard around that looks semi-responsible.

Does this discussion need to go to members only section? It would not be the first time faculty/admin has read the forums...

I don't think anything more needs to be said about this "incident." Dave if you feel you need to discuss it more please do so in a private message.