Grass Racing Autosports Launch

[Tom]

GRASS RACING AUTOSPORTS LAUNCH

Grass Racing Autosports (GRA), the new name in the motorsports fraternity, will embark, together with BFGoodrich Tires on a quest to promote grassroots motorsports in Malaysia. On November 20^th, 2005, GRA will be organizing its first event, Grass Racing Autocross 05/06 Round 1, in Kuala Lumpur, right next to the famous Twin Towers. For the first time ever, enthusiasts and sponsors will team up to make motorsports a reality at grassroot levels.

Known for the brand’s commitment and its strong history in grassroot motorsports, BFGoodrich tires will be fitted on participating vehicles such as the MR2 and Subaru Impreza during the event.

 

This is the first time an autocross event of this scale has been organised in the country. Concentrating on making the event affordable and attractive to competitors, GRA and BFGoodrich Tires will set the path right for avid competitors to pit their skills against some of the top drivers in the country.

An Autocross, also known as Gymkhana or Solo Tour in other parts of the world, is one of the cheapest and most affordable forms of motorsports. Competitors only need to bring a road legal car, possess a valid driver’s license and have a club membership to be eligible.

 

Typically, courses are laid out in a large open area, such as an airfield or a car park, with pylons/cones. Short straights, tight turns, slaloms, and hairpins are built into the course to allow spirited and safe racing. The driver with the fastest time around the course wins. Cars are classified according to their capacities to ensure fair competition. Hence driving a powerful car does not guarantee first position in an autocross since drivers are classified by how powerful a car they drive

Key factors that separate a winner from an ‘also ran’ in autocrossing are precision, car control and speed through the course.

 

With all cars having near equal horsepower within a class, it comes down to traction and driving skill to determine a winner. Tires play an integral part in getting the traction needed to negotiate the course. Ineffective tires result in unnecessary time loss and ultimately slow times. Drivers require very precise skills to negotiate the tight course through the pylons. Thus it is all about traction in and out of turns, feathering the throttle as you clip the pylons and gunning it when the straights open up. There are occasions where one needs to flick the handbrake to get the rear end of the car round the bend – other occasions require a driver to ease off, to get the car to just about sit on the apex of a turn.

The concept of Grass Racing Autosports was formed at an unofficial ‘TT’ (teh tarik) session amongst some enthusiasts with a passion for motorsports. Now GRA is one of Malaysia’s leading premier autocross communities for enthusiasts. GRA, with the backing of BFGoodrich Tires, will be having regular autocross events in year 2006, to promote autocross as a good entry into motorsports and also to allow participants to have safe racing fun.

 

To a spectator, autocrossing looks really easy – behind the wheel, however, everything seems to move a whole lot faster. As part of the activities, members of the public will have a chance to see and feel what it is like in an actual competing car, if they come for the GRA Pylon Ride (taxi ride). The ‘Taxi’ car will be driven by Ivan Khong, a well known race and rally driver who is also a multiple winner of autocrosses in Malaysia.

 

 

[saltydogg]

walau the 3 girls.. cannot make it man..

 

[sakuraguy]

Good event, thnx for sharing it Tom.

 

[taisan]

so that means stock car also can go in loh..coz separate category by power of the car mah..

competition count by timing..means no group fight loh..

rally style competition..

 

[infernaL]

i want to sit inside !!!!!!!!!!!! details of 1st event ?

 

[sbirdz]

Still blur blur ler.. so err.. what is "GRASS" is r? I taught from Holland those type.. :D j/kidding..haha!~

but read a bit think it is a drag something liek that.. means? got a new drag parties r?

 

[infernaL]

Still blur blur ler.. so err.. what is "GRASS" is r? I taught from Holland those type.. :D j/kidding..haha!~

but read a bit think it is a drag something liek that.. means? got a new drag parties r?

Typically, courses are laid out
in a large open area, such as an airfield or a car park, with pylons/cones.
Short straights, tight turns, slaloms, and hairpins are built into the course to
allow spirited and safe racing.