The snow is finally gone and the driving season is here. We are well on our way to finalizing the arrangements for "Bimmers Across the Border III" (BAB3) a joint driving school and club race weekend co-hosted by the BMW Club of Canada and the Boston Chapter of the BMW CCA. As most of you know, this event has quickly become one of the highlights of both the driving school and club race calendars.

Once again this year, the BAB3 weekend will coincide with the Tremblant Blues Festival. All the more reason to get your reservations in early both for the track events and for hotel accommodations. Do plan on attending with family and friends. Tremblant Resort is great fun for everyone. Check their web site for further details: http://www.tremblant.ca/. For brochures and hotel reservations at special BMW club rates call 800 461-8711 and mention group code G20354.

I've got a couple of surprise announcements too. First, track improvements will be made in time for BAB3. In particular, Turn 7 (AKA " The BUMP") is scheduled to be torn up and completely repaved. Those of you with race suspensions will cheer this news.

Second, the organizing committee has approved a short sprint race at the conclusion of track events on Saturday with a longer endurance race scheduled for mid-afternoon on Sunday. This and other scheduling changes should result in much better utilization of the track for everyone.

BMW CCA club races are of two sorts: sprint and endurance races. A sprint race can last almost one hour but is usually about 30 minutes in duration. An endurance race is anything one hour or longer, with some lasting several hours. At BAB3, we will run the shortest possible endurance race since ours is scheduled for one hour only.

I've included below the latest supplemental regulations from BMW CCA Club Racing which cover endurance events and which are otherwise not widely available. You'll note that a five-minute mandatory pit stop is required. This requirement adds a whole new dimension to the event as you will see cars pitting for fuel and driver changes. It will definitely add to the excitement for both spectators and racers.

If you are interested in volunteering to help and do more than spectate please get in touch with me by phone or e-mail. We may well need some help with timing and scoring and to assist in the pits (e.g., timing pit stops) during the endurance race. While this should be fun, there is definitely a serious side to things as the supplemental rules make clear. Helpers must have signed track waivers and I would prefer assistance in the pits from advanced students and instructors only.

All you shutter bugs can join in too. I'd like to capture some of the action on film and either add some photos to our web site or use a few in an upcoming newsletter report on the races. Either send me your color prints by mail or as e-mail attachments.

Most of all, let's cheer on all the Canadian club racers. See ya at the track!

• An enduro is defined as a race of 60 minutes or more.
• All entrants must make a 5 minute timed pit stop (wheels must be stopped for five minutes). Each team is responsible for timing their own stop. Organizers may have additional personnel timing stops, but they are not obligated to provide timing for competitors. Multiple stops during the race are allowed, but do not accrue towards the 5 minute requirement.
• The green flag and checkered flag cannot be taken in the pits unless the vehicle is experiencing a mechanical failure.
• All pit stops must be completed by the 50 minute mark of a 60 minute enduro.
• Mandatory Pit Lane Speed Limit 35 MPH (in and out).
• DRIVERS ARE REMINDED TO TEST BRAKES UPON LEAVING THE PITS!!!!!!
• Driver changes are allowed during pit stops. Alternate drivers must be registered with the event and with Timing & Scoring for the entrant's results to be counted and to be eligible for drawings or points. All drivers of record who have driven at least 25% of the scored laps are eligible for event sponsor drawings and points (if awarded). In the event of a shortened race, any registered driver who has not completed laps in the assigned car is not eligible for sponsor awards or points for that race.
• Re-fueling is allowed during pit stops, however any pit stop where re-fueling is done will be a minimum of 5 minutes in length.
  • Engines are to be off during fueling
  • Drivers and crew must be out of the car during fueling
  • Fueler must be protected by a flame retardant suit with no exposed skin. A balaclava or helmet with goggles, glasses, or shield is required.
  • A driver may be the fueler.
  • Each team must have a fireman with a minimum 10 pound fire extinguisher. The extinguisher pin must be pulled during fueling. Teams are responsible for providing extinguishers. It is recommended that the fireman also be in a flame retardant suit with head and face protection. Minimally the fireman must have long pants, long shirt and eye protection. The fireman will stand behind and back from the fueler during fueling and will have NO OTHER DUTIES EXCEPT FIREMAN DURING FUELING.
• All crew in the hot pits will wear a fire retardant suit or long pants, long sleeved shirt (both cotton) and shoes.
• Maximum number of team members over the pit wall is 6 including the driver(s).
• No smoking in the hot pits.
• No children 16 or younger in the hot pits.
• Rules in the event of shortened races -
  • No pitting under a full course yellow. If an entrant is already in the pits when a yellow comes out, pit stops may be continued.
  • Cars which have not pitted for the 5 minute stop when the race is ended prematurely will be assessed a time/lap penalty equivalent to their fastest race lap plus 5 minutes.
  • Cars in the pits when the race is ended prematurely will receive a pit time which is the greater of the actual time in the pits or their fastest race lap plus 5 minutes.