Grassroots Motorsport Autocross Event at KLCC November 20th 2005
Grassroots Racing to make a comeback at KLCC this weekend
Petaling Jaya, 16 November 2005 – If you haven’t put in your entry for the inaugural grassroots motorsport event scheduled for this weekend at the KLCC Kuala Lumpur, then you will just have to come as a spectator, because Grass Racing Autosports, the company organising it has stopped accepting entries at 90 cars due to overwhelming response.
This shows that there are many people who are interested to take part in events so long as they are affordable. At the very low entry fee of RM65.00 per vehicle, the GRA autocross event certainly is headed in the right direction. The main sponsor of the event is BG Goodrich, a brand name associated with high performance tyres.
At the soft launch of the event in Petaling Jaya tonight, Ian Khong, the initiator of Grass Racing Autosports said, “This is the first time an autocross event of this scale has been organised in this country. Concentrating on making the event affordable and attractive to competitors, GRA and BF Goodrich 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 in a motoring club to be eligible.
Typically, courses are laid out in a large open area, such as in a car park or an airfield, with pylons or cones. Short straights, tight turns, slaloms and hairpin turns are built into the course to allow spirited, yet safe driving. The driver with the fastest time around the course wins. Cars are classified according to their capacities to ensure fair competition. A fast 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.
The event at KLCC starts from 7.00 am and is scheduled to end at 6.00 pm. Lucky spectators will be treated to a ‘taxi’ ride round the circuit in an actual competing car, driven by veteran racing and rally driver Ivan Khong.
