DAC 1958 Deutscher Automobil Club Canada

The Basics for Getting Started
Updated 2019-12-04
The Why, Where, When, What and How to's
DISCLAIMER: this is only intended to answer the most frequently asked, basic intro questions about getting started in the sport and should not be considered as complete in any way. This covers Rubber-To-Ice (Winter/Ice tires) classes only

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https://www.dac1958.ca/icerace.htm

Official Ice Race Minden On. FB Page

Series sponsored by:

Important Links (these same links are listed at bottom of this page)
Ice Race Trial Licence Program - see links at right side of page
CASC Ice Race Division - see links at right side of page
CASC About Ice Racing - see link on page
PMSC Ice Race Pamphlet - good source of info
FaceBook Official Ice Race Minden On. (Page) - Events, announcements etc.
FaceBook Ice Race (Discussion) - ask questions, discuss, for sale/rent, parts etc.
CASC Ice Race Forum - ask questions, cars for sale/rent parts
Forms - Entry, C Licence, Waivers (see links right side of page)
Online Entry/Payment - event lists only a week or so prior
Season Schedule - see links at right side of page
Rules And Regs - see links at right side of page
Registration - instructional covering various registration procedures
Scoty's Ice Race Journal - A personal journal of experiences on (and off) trak in Minden from 1999-2013

Video
Essence Of Ice Racing - CASC
Playlist of In-car Footage car#24

email additional links to scoty@rogers.com

Why
- dramatically improves your car control skills and confidence whether on the street or on the track
- probably the least expensive form of motor racing
- makes winter enjoyable and short and improves your driving chops
- no prior race experience necessary

Where
Minden, Ontario at the Minden Kinsmen Fairgrounds on Bobcaygeon Rd. MAP

When
Date: the 1st of 6 consecutive weekends typically scheduled towards the end of January weather/track conditions permitting
Schedule: click Schedule (link at right side of page) then go to the bottom of the page to
"Competitor Information", choose most recent dated link
- if a weekend is cancelled it is rescheduled to the end of the season on one of the 2 "rain dates"
Tech Inspection: typically available on the weekend preceding the first scheduled weekend of racing
and subsequently on the Friday and Saturday of the first weekend of racing.
Entry Registration: register/pay online for your weekend entry fee in advance (note: not all organizing clubs use this feature).
Typically available during the week preceding the race weekend. Alternatively bring your printed entry application form with
payment (cash or cheque) on Saturday morning to the timing/registration trailer trackside at the start/finish line.

Costs - Licence, CASC Membership, Car Club Membership, Entry Fees etc.

Ice Race Trial Licence Program
Try ice racing for under $100 !
Not sure if you're ready to make the commitment to a full season of ice racing?
There is now a special one day, one time licence available for the bargain price of $10.
To take advantage of the program, you will need to do the following:
- borrow/rent/buy a car prepared to the ice racing rules that has passed annual tech inspection
- borrow/buy a helmet that meets the CASC Ice Racing Regulations
- complete a licence application, a waiver, and a short test on flag signals and race procedures
- pay $10 for a one day licence
- arrange an experienced ice racer to go with you as a "coach" (if you don't know one, we'll find you one)
- pay a one day entry fee to the event (between $65 and $85 TBD)
And you're racing, wheel to wheel!

Full/Part Season - if you want to enter for the season ...

1) Car Club Membership: $40-$60 - must join a CASC recognized car club to be allowed to apply for ice race 'C' licence.
    Annual club membership fees vary but can be as little as $40 when you Join The D.A.C. (Deutscher Automobil Club)
2) Ice Race 'C' Licence: about $85 - you must purchase a 'C' race licence - no test required - from CASC after you've
     joined a car club - Ice Race 'C' Licence Application Form. You must have a valid drivers licence and provide a head shot photo.
    Login in to Members on CASC site and you can then pay for membership and licence online
3) Entry fee: About $150 per class per driver per weekend
4) Typical Budget: approx. $3000 for full 6 weekend season* ... Rough Cost Full Season Example 2018

Tips:
- Share** the car - one car can have 2 drivers. Each driver is issued a separate registered driver number. This number is
displayed on the number board secured to the top of the car when the driver registered to that number is driving the car.
Each driver pays their own separate entry fee, each races the car in their own race and class. Points are awarded to
the driver's number, not the car.
Any shared costs are split 50/50 eg. car, tires, accomodation, travel
- Car can be left at the track for the entire season - trailering costs therefore are just once each way per season or...
- Store car all year at the "Gravel Pits" 2 kms north of track - about $50/year
- Rent a car for weekend, (around $250 +/-) check icerace Forum and FaceBook for availability

What
What is ice racing?
So for a single class entry, covering both Sat. & Sun., you get a practice both days (approx 15 minutes),
a 12 lap qualifying race Saturday morning, and a total of four 15 lap races for about $150. Race length averages 12-15 minutes.
Picture street cars racing on a man-made ice track shaped like a kidney bean
approx 1 km long with 1 meter high by 2 meter wide snow banks on either side to keep the
cars safely on the track. Track width is about 6 car widths on the straight and wider
in the corners. Cars are gridded 2 abreast with standing starts.
A typical weekend's ontrack activity involves a practice session Saturday morning followed by a
qualifying race then lunch during which mandatory rookie school is held where first time participants
learn the elements of car control from an experienced ice racer. The afternoon has 2 races.
On Sunday there is only racing in the afternoon starting with a practice followed by 2 races.

How to
You'll need to do a few things like: get a vehicle, lights, strip things off the car, helmet, make/install a
number board etc.

1) Vehicle Drive Configuration:
    Decide on Rear Wheel (class 1 & 11), Front Wheel (class 2 & 12) or All Wheel (class 4 & 14) drive and preferably a
    manual transmission. Each drive configuration only competes against cars of the same drive configuration/class,
    although if a class has a low car count they be gridded with another class

2) Vehicle Purchase:
    - Purchase a vehicle (or retire one you own), preferably one that has recently been driven, requires as little
    work as possible to get it race ready i.e. starts in cold weather, no leaks, brakes work, heater works,
   seatbelts etc.
   - Horsepower is not so much a factor so stock is fine, don't worry about rust or wrinkles, try Kijiji
   - Check the Ice Race FaceBook and Forum for used already prepped racecars for sale $500-1000
   and they usually come with loads of spare parts, extra rims, tires etc.
   - No car insurance required

3) Car Prep:

Read and reference the entire/current Rules And Regs (link at right side of page) for proper and complete car prep!!!
What follows is a very abbreviated and basic ABC's of car prep to show you how simple it really is...
a - Breakable Items - remove them from the outside of vehicle except mirrors eg. lights, markers, trim etc.
b - Bumpers - intact, secured/serviceable, not able to hook/lock with another car, bridge any gaps at bodywork
c - Lights - install two rearward facing brake lights (you can use the ones you removed from the car) and
     one rearward facing 55 Watt amber fog light either on top of car (recommended) or inside as high as possible
d - Number Boards - each driver, not car, is issued a number when they register for ice racing.
    That number has to be displayed on a board attached to the top of car and a smaller forward facing board,
     preferably towards driver's side as it makes it easier to reach for changing if you're sharing the car,
     whichever driver is racing the car has to have their number used on the car - points go to the driver not the car.
e- Exhaust - stock is fine, must be properly/securely attached, exit beyond the body aft the
     drivers/passenger doors, meet minimum noise rules
f - Roll Cage, Side Bars, seatbelts - a roll cage is not required but vehicle has to have manufacturers side
     impact bars in doors otherwise install some, minimum 3 point seatbelts must work and be worn
g - Battery/Starter/Alternator - 3 things that typically fail in older vehicles in cold weather. Fix them now!
h - Brakes - should work really well and at each wheel, ebrake free and functioning well
i - if there is to be a passenger you need to install a grab handle
j - Radiator/Heater/Blower/Anti Freeze - replace/repair in advance rad, hoses, heater & blower motor,
     water pump, anti freeze, these can fail in older vehicles in cold weather. Fix them now!
k - Windshield/Windows - no cracked windshields, all side windows must close or else install a window net
l   - Install a tow hook or strap front and rear
m - Remove airbags
n - 1st year drivers (rookies) also need a rearward facing orange rookie triangle
      (slow moving vehicle triangle) on the car

4) Tires: dedicated ice/winter tires recommmended, better tires = better grip = more car control. Choose a soft
     compound with tons of Sipes and then run the tire on a tractionizer which creates even more sipes.
     Tractionizers and/or the service are available for rent through some of the car clubs and certain individuals.

5) Helmet: manufacturer must be Snell approved (always check there's a Snell sticker inside)
    and meet the current minimum race reg's expiry date (as of 2018 - Snell 2005M or SA) . Open face type are
    allowed - less expensive option

6) Tech Inspection: car & helmet has to pass tech every season and receive a sticker on car
    & helmet. Make sure you've read, understood and applied the rules & reg's correctly!
    They're found in the Ice Race Rule Book which is updated/revised every year and is typically
    available online on the CASC website after November or you can get hardcopies at the
    Annual Ice Race meeting in November

7) Accomodation: research and book in advance and consider bunking with several other racers
    which can help reduce costs. You can ask around on Facebook's Ice Race Discussion Group

8) Licences/Memberships: See Costs above

9) Registration: click Here

Who
Current Ice Race Director: Steve Manol
Anyone from teenagers to people in their 80's goes ice racing. From professional road racers to
people with no race experience. The level of comraderie and help found in the ice racing community is seldom
found in other motorsports. Help is usually available from the person pitted right next to you. Help and advice
is available before the season and anytime via FaceBook, the Forum or during a race weekend.
There are people who have been ice racing for decades and people who are experiencing it for their
first time.
Volunteers: it takes many able bodied and qualified volunteers to make the season happen. Volunteers
perform various tasks and functions from flooding the track, plowing snow to form the banks,
to the people from the 6 car clubs that organise and perform the various duties and responsibilities
of running each of the 6 race weekends on the schedule.

Important Links (these same links are listed at top of this page)
Ice Race Trial Licence Program - see links at right side of page
CASC Ice Race Division - see links at right side of page
CASC About Ice Racing - see link on page
PMSC Ice Race Pamphlet - good source of info
FaceBook Official Ice Race Minden On. (Page) - Events, announcements etc.
FaceBook Ice Race (Discussion) - ask questions, discuss, for sale/rent, parts etc.
CASC Ice Race Forum - ask questions, cars for sale/rent parts
Forms - Entry, C Licence, Waivers (see links right side of page)
Online Entry/Payment - event lists only a week or so prior
Season Schedule - see links at right side of page
Rules And Regs - see links at right side of page
Registration - instructional covering various registration procedures
Scoty's Ice Race Journal - A personal journal of experiences on (and off) trak in Minden from 1999-2013

Video
Essence Of Ice Racing - CASC
Playlist of In-car Footage car#24

email additional links to scoty@rogers.com

* Based on a full 6 weekend second season with the minimum of car prep/cost and minimal expenses.
Will vary dependant on many factors whether upfront or consummable: initial car purchase, where/if you stay overnight,
fuel, tires, distance from Minden, number of weekends entered, if car is shared or not
** shared costs - expenses like vehicle purchase price, prep costs, tires, accomodation, travel