West RX-7 Forum Serving California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii

Ensenada Grand Prix Oct 2nd & 3rd - Road Circuit Racing you can Join

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-16-10, 12:31 AM
  #1  
Rotary Enthusiast

Thread Starter
 
John Magnuson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Ensenada Grand Prix Oct 2nd & 3rd - Road Circuit Racing you can Join

Ensenada Grand Prix Oct 2nd & 3rd - Street Circuit Racing YOU can join

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ok, I'm going to make a shameless plug to my fellow rotary racers regarding one of my favorite racing events of all time:

After a 10 year absence the Grand Prix is returning to Ensenada, BC this October 2nd & 3rd, 2010! This is a fantastic racing event held on a coastal street circuit in Baja California just an hour drive south of the San Diego border. Have you ever dreamed of racing at Monaco or Long Beach? Well, unless you fre either very rich or extremely talented keep dreaming! However there is still hope for the rest of us because the Ensenada Grand Prix can delivers all the excitement of a beach front road race in an exotic location. You would be hard pressed to find a more enjoyable road racing venue anywhere in the world. Plus, this event is more than just a race - the atmosphere is fiesta like with large crowds of cheering spectators and numerous street vendors. Most racers take advantage of the wonderful cuisine and drinks available at the resort host hotel. This race was a regular event in the 90's and some vintage footage is available here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BobFV4bxGJ0




I fm sure you have a lot of questions so I'll try to answer some of them now:

What do I need in order to enter this race? You fll need a race car that has been prepared with a minimum of a 6 point roll cage and racing harnesses. Any car that meets the standards of a major racing organization (SCCA, NASA, etc) will be perfectly acceptable for competition. You should also have enough racing experience to be comfortable racing on a street circuit. Street Circuits require additional level of driver discipline as any off track excursion will most likely result in damage. You will be able to purchase your racing license at the event for $75.00 and the entry fee is $225.00. So, basically, all you need is a race car and $300 bucks! If you have a car that is not race prepared the event does offer several sessions each day where you can drive your car on the circuit at a fast pace and get a taste of the action.

Where exactly is this race? The Ensenada Grand Prix will be held in the City of Ensenada located about 40 miles south of San Diego, CA. The climate is wonderful and the city has a lot of charm. Ensenada is well known for its cuisine and is a popular tourist destination. The race itself will be run on closed public roads along beautiful beaches. A track map is available here: http://www.calderapromotions.com/ima...senada2010.jpg

Is the racing safe? This race is an FIA sanctioned event and run in full accordance to FIA safety regulations. The event is fully staffed with emergency personnel and competitors do their best to run a clean race. This race is no more dangerous than any such event anywhere else in the world. However, as this is a street circuit you need to exercise extra caution as an off track excursion could be dangerous. Racers with no previous street circuit experience are encouraged to race conservatively.

Is Mexico safe? Many people are concerned by the frequent news reports of violence in Mexico these days. While this violence it almost exclusively contained to conflict with and between drug cartels we still take a number of precautions to ensure your safety. Most American racers meet in San Diego and then cross the border and drive to Ensenada as a group. Many of us are long time veterans of racing in Mexico and will be more than happy to guide you through the whole process. Once at the track security is provided and the event hotel has a secured parking lot for your cars and tow vehicles to park at overnight. Ensenada also is a relatively safe city due to the large tourist trade and upscale clientele. By taking a few basic precautions this can be a very safe place to visit.

How are the race car classes organized? Car are broken into four basic competition classes - C, B, A and Open. C Class is for relatively unmodified four cylinder cars. B Class is more extensively modified or faster four cylinder cars. A Class is for cars with more than four cylinders, rotary engines and turbo cars running the stock turbo. Open is for highly modified cars. As you can imagine this results in a wide variety of cars which only adds to the fun. We fve seen Porsches, BMWs, VWs, Hondas, Nissans, Alfa Romeos, Ferraris, Classic Muscle Cars, Mazdas, Corvettes, Rally Cars and just about everything else you can name.

What is the event hotel? The host Hotel is the San Nicholas Hotel: http://www.sannicolashotel.com Secure parking for your car, trailer and truck will be provided. $70 per night if you mention the Grand Prix.

How can I get more information or details? The event has a website: http://www.calderapromotions.com with some information. You can also, e-mail me, John at magnusracing@aol.com with any questions.

Ok, I want to race, what now? Go ahead and reserve a room at the host hotel. Then contact me at magnusracing@aol.com and I fll give you details on when and where we are all meeting in San Diego to cross the border. You don ft have to pay for anything in advance - you pay your entry fee at the track.

I hope you fll consider joining us for this unique experience. I promise you'll enjoy it. Feel free to contact me with any questions at magnusracing@aol.com

You can also post your questions in this thread. I race an RX-7 and check the forum regularly.

Thanks,

John
Old 09-16-10, 01:14 AM
  #2  
Im a tall midget.
iTrader: (28)
 
Juan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: So Cal, USA
Posts: 3,131
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 5 Posts
This is awesome! What do we FDs do for gas? Does someone provide American gas or do we have to rely on Pemex? Hopefully this race goes down next year too. I'd love to try this out!

It would be nice if the tracks didnt have so many long straights. My car isnt powerful and long straights are my weakness. Maybe you can bring that up to the officials? A more technical track layout would be way better!
Old 09-16-10, 12:28 PM
  #3  
Rotary Enthusiast

Thread Starter
 
John Magnuson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by wan
This is awesome! What do we FDs do for gas? Does someone provide American gas or do we have to rely on Pemex? Hopefully this race goes down next year too. I'd love to try this out!

It would be nice if the tracks didnt have so many long straights. My car isnt powerful and long straights are my weakness. Maybe you can bring that up to the officials? A more technical track layout would be way better!
Your right that the Ensenada track does have a lot of straights. However, it's more technical than you'd think from just looking at a track map. A car with strong brakes and good cornering can still do well. My RX-8 that I race down there doesn't beat much in the straights but I still do well.

There is race gas available at the event. My RX-8 has a stock motor so I just run Pemex (never had a problem) but if you need race gas it can be purchased from the vendor at the event.
Old 09-16-10, 11:15 PM
  #4  
Corea FD
iTrader: (8)
 
FDSeoul's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: San Diego
Posts: 4,378
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I'll be shooting this event with a friend who is covering this event for the local publication. it should be a great event. No one does it quite like the Mexicans in Baja BC.

Hey John when are you guys heading down, maybe i'll caravan with you guys.
Old 09-17-10, 11:41 AM
  #5  
Rotary Enthusiast

Thread Starter
 
John Magnuson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by FDSeoul
I'll be shooting this event with a friend who is covering this event for the local publication. it should be a great event. No one does it quite like the Mexicans in Baja BC.

Hey John when are you guys heading down, maybe i'll caravan with you guys.
Awesome! I look forward to seeing you there! We don't have a definate meeting time and place for Ensenada set up yet but most likely it will be very early Saturday morning somewhere near to main border crossing.
Old 09-17-10, 05:33 PM
  #6  
Im a tall midget.
iTrader: (28)
 
Juan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: So Cal, USA
Posts: 3,131
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 5 Posts
I dont need race gas since I use regular 91 pump gas in my FD but Im kinda worried about Pemex's fuel. Ive had experiences where their premium fuel makes our normal run of the mill car run crappy while other times its fine.
Old 09-22-10, 09:41 AM
  #7  
Rotary Enthusiast

Thread Starter
 
John Magnuson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by wan
I dont need race gas since I use regular 91 pump gas in my FD but Im kinda worried about Pemex's fuel. Ive had experiences where their premium fuel makes our normal run of the mill car run crappy while other times its fine.
The race sanctioning body tests the fuel at the gas station by the track to confirm it's ok. (test kits are pretty easy to and inexpensive). Basically the test checks to make sure the gas isn't diluted. Pemex fuel itself is as good or better than US Gas and sometimes even comes from the same refineries as our US gas. However, you are correct that sometimes you will get a bad tank of gas in Mexico - this is because the gas station itself might have a tank that is unclean or more likely polluted with water. Usually you will only find this is old out of the way Pemex stations but the gas station nearest the track will be tested just in case.
Old 09-22-10, 02:29 PM
  #8  
Mac Attack

iTrader: (5)
 
MaczPayne's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: California
Posts: 5,668
Received 19 Likes on 9 Posts
Good to know!
Old 09-22-10, 02:30 PM
  #9  
Full Member
 
seang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: vista, ca.
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
nice since i live in ensenada im gonna check this out.
Old 09-22-10, 04:51 PM
  #10  
Im a tall midget.
iTrader: (28)
 
Juan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: So Cal, USA
Posts: 3,131
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 5 Posts
Originally Posted by John Magnuson
The race sanctioning body tests the fuel at the gas station by the track to confirm it's ok. (test kits are pretty easy to and inexpensive). Basically the test checks to make sure the gas isn't diluted. Pemex fuel itself is as good or better than US Gas and sometimes even comes from the same refineries as our US gas. However, you are correct that sometimes you will get a bad tank of gas in Mexico - this is because the gas station itself might have a tank that is unclean or more likely polluted with water. Usually you will only find this is old out of the way Pemex stations but the gas station nearest the track will be tested just in case.
Good to know! This event was very short notice for me this year but I'm shooting for next year. Should be lots of fun! Just to clear things up... if we want to compete in the official race, our cars need a full cage?
Old 09-23-10, 02:44 PM
  #11  
Rotary Enthusiast

Thread Starter
 
John Magnuson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Yes, you need to have a six point roll cage with door bars.
Old 09-23-10, 06:37 PM
  #12  
Im a tall midget.
iTrader: (28)
 
Juan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: So Cal, USA
Posts: 3,131
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 5 Posts
Gotcha. If our car doesnt have a cage, we can still drive but our results wont be official, correct?
Old 09-24-10, 08:38 PM
  #13  
Rotary Enthusiast

Thread Starter
 
John Magnuson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by wan
Gotcha. If our car doesnt have a cage, we can still drive but our results wont be official, correct?
Without a cage they probably won't let you race. You will allowed to lap the tracking during some lapping sessions.
Old 10-08-10, 02:17 AM
  #14  
Platinum Certified tuner

 
Siverturbo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Houston TX
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Shoot , I just saw this thread .....I was down in Ensenada this past weekend ( to eat good fish tacos )and saw the road closed detour due to Grand Prix sign , and wonder what they had going on over there , I would of kill 2 birds in one shot and taken the FD down there .
Old 10-08-10, 04:59 AM
  #15  
rotard

iTrader: (15)
 
Spirit Rx-7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 1 Post
Originally Posted by wan
Gotcha. If our car doesnt have a cage, we can still drive but our results wont be official, correct?
time to get our cars caged up!
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Th0m4s
Build Threads
25
02-26-19 02:04 AM
mustanghammer
Race Car Tech
28
11-22-15 07:10 AM
lt1_rx7
Blue Ridge Rotary Run
46
10-09-15 03:11 PM



Quick Reply: Ensenada Grand Prix Oct 2nd & 3rd - Road Circuit Racing you can Join



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:22 AM.