Racing Ready

The SASCA autocross season for 2009 started early.  In the rush I failed to post the course map from the 1/18/2009 event.  My apologies…as always, click to expand: Although most participants enjoyed the course, some found the variety of sweeping chicanes open to some confusing interpretation.  What do (did, if your competed) you think? Steve [...]

There’s a loyal following of motorsports in Europe, but I’ve never pursued or investigated it.  Besides the local Europeans, I’m sure the variety of U. S. Armed Services personnel, at the various bases in Europe are avid motorsports fans.  As to amateur participants, there seems to be no lack, but methods & event titles differ. [...]

We continue the Simpson plant tour from yesterday’s entry… An additional & important part of helmet fabrication is testing & Snell certification.  The Snell Memorial Foundation is the entity that has continually set the ever increasing helmet safety standards.  They are reviewed & upgraded every 5 years.  The current standard is from year 2005.  For [...]

It’s already the third week of this New Year & I’m starting to get some racing industry activities scheduled.  Already the first 2009 autocross has taken place & there will be another SASCA autocross (#2) on February 1, 2008.  I’m excited about the Simpson visit I had last week, with some more additional details to [...]

One of the more recognized Simpson Performance Products is their helmets. This part of the tour was the most interesting to me.  Jaime Piña, Plant Maintenance Manager, was very helpful in showing me all of the various processes, taking time to answer my questions. These heavy, solid nickel 2-piece molds is where the process of [...]

Last Thursday, 1/15/2009, I visited the world headquarters of Simpson, a well-respected racing safety products manufacturer, in New Braunfels, TX. The plant Maintenance Manager, Jaime Piña, right away told me it was absolutely fine to take pictures and ask any questions.  This 80, 000 square foot facility is one of their 2 manufacturing plants.  Here, [...]

My ‘Big White Whale‘ (2000 Nissan Maxima SE) just recently had to get some $erious $ervice to keep it safely on the road.  A week ago last Saturday, I took it in to Just Brakes for some grinding brake noise on the front left wheel.  I had that same company do their ‘brakes & discs [...]