As I have described the IMSA/Michelin Challenge race weekend at Road America, it is an event for the whole family. Part of the attraction of IMSA racing is that it is “up close and personal.”
For many years, our family attended Formula 1 races in Indianapolis. The racing in Formula 1 is exciting, but it is very “un-personal.” Fans were not allowed to get close to the drivers, the cars or the pits. Drivers were whisked away in private cars or helicopters, the pits are closed to the public and the only way to see the cars is on the race track. Crowds of people gather around the point where the drivers enter and leave the track, and if you are lucky, you could maybe get a glimpse of Michael Schumacher leaving in the back seat of a Maserati.
Just the opposite is true in American Sportscar racing. IMSA has made it their mission to make the drivers, the pits and the cars assessable to the fans. It is possible to almost touch the cars as they line up on the hot-grid. As the cars drive to line up, they actually need to avoid fans who are walking the grounds.
The Badger Bimmers tour of the pits is incredible as the teams take the group inside their race tent area and do a presentation to the group with time for questions and answers as they are preparing the car for the next practice, qualifying or race. You cannot get any closer from as a racing fan.. This is why I believe that IMSA puts on the best racing show in the world and why the fan base is growing and attendance is growing every year.
Besides the access to the drivers and pits, Road America is a wonderful venue to watch racing which allows fans to drive and walk almost anywhere inside the track. Over the past several years, many improvements have been made to the grounds with new walking trails which allow viewing the race from almost anywhere on the track that you could desire. Even if you are not a die-hard racing fan, this is one event you should see once in your life and experience the excitement of live racing.
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One of the most well attended tech sessions our Club has hosted in the past was at Merrill Axle and Wheel in downtown Des Moines. Responding to popular demand, Merrill Axle and Wheel will host their second Tech Session on March 21, beginning at 9:00 am. The experts at Merrill Axle and Wheel will answer every question you have about the suspension and handling of your automobile.
Merrill Axle and Wheel
1403 Walnut St.
Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: (515) 288-2131
Low-key spot serving Vietnamese & other Asian cuisines behind an unassuming brick facade.
January 25-26 we will see the very first endurance race of the 2020! That’s right the 24 hours of Daytona is January 25-26. What better way to celebrate the kickoff of the racing season of 2020 than having a watch and chili party with BMWCCA of Iowa?
The last few years the chili party was held at MB2 and combined with with racing but this year we are going to try something a little bit different. While racing and chili are both great on their own, a belly full of chili and high g-forces tend not to mix very well. What does mix well with a belly full of chili is sitting on a couch and watching other people endure high g-forces for 24 hours at one of the worlds most famous tracks.
The location of this great idea will be at Chris and Alison’s house at 6090 Notthingham Dr. Johnston IA. There you will find a large TV on the main floor and large TV and stereo system in the basement both tuned to coverage of the race from the drop of the green flag until the checkered flag waves. People are welcome to start showing up 1 hour before the green flag drops (race start is 1:35pm EST)and are welcome to stay as late as they desire or even stay over watching the race. They are also encouraged to bring their famous chili to have other people be the judge of if their’s is better or not. This may or may not be a contest so everyone plan on bringing their A game of chili Saturday!
There will also be board games and other activities if you are dragged along with your significant other and don’t find racing that enjoyable to watch. We can all be wrong at something.
If you do plan on watching the race from the green to the checkered and would like to stay the entire time please let Chris and Alison know a head of time by emailing Chris at chris.m.riester@gmail.com.
We look forward to seeing everyone and kicking off 2020 with BMWCCA of Iowa right! Now lets all gather together and cheer for a BMW M8 GTE to win!
Driving Events, Food and BMWs, National Events, President's Column, Social Events, What's New | Chris Kjellmark | 
February 17, 2020 11:37 pm | 
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