MCCI @ MAM 2, August 1-3, 2003
( Updated 03/13/2004 )
The weekend of August 1-3, 2003, 64 drivers converged on
the Mid America Motorplex for the second annual MCCI@MAM open track event. Participants
traveled from 11 states, including Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri,
South Dakota, Texas, Pennsylvania, Maine, and Florida to enjoy the performance driving
capabilities of their cars. Hosted by the Mustang Club of Central Iowa, and with special
guests the SVT Cobra Owner's Association (SCOA), the event enjoyed an almost 50 percent
increase in participants over the inaugural event held last year. As a special bonus this
year, the Midwest Ford Dealers helped to celebrate 100 years of the Ford Motor Company
at the event and even brought out an all new 2004 F-150. Ford's SVT group brought their
display trailer and several new SVT production vehicles, including a Mistichrome 2004 SVT
Cobra, SVT Focus and SVT Lightning, as well as an assortment of memorabilia for sale such
as posters, hats, t-shirts, etc. in honor of Ford's birthday. The Mid America Motorplex is
in its second season, offering road racing on its 2.23-mile asphalt course, and, new for
this year, a 1/8 mile drag strip. This wonderful facility was constructed with
club-type events in mind. The road course has a very technical layout, with 15 turns,
several of which are multiple-radius corners, and large runoff areas devoid of the usual
Armco barriers. The result is a safe, but challenging course suitable for beginners and
experienced open-trackers alike. The host club is based in the Des Moines area,
approximately two hours east of the track. Several groups caravanned to the track. The
group we were with left the Flying J truck stop on the west edge of Des Moines at 1:45 PM
Friday. By 4:00, we were registered and setting up our paddock spots. Early registration
and technical inspection were held from 4-6PM at the track Friday, and afterward we all
headed to our motel rooms to clean up, relax, and get something to eat. The Omaha/Council
Bluffs metro area has much to offer in the way of entertainment, and we enjoyed the great
Midwestern food and hospitality. Saturday dawned clear and unseasonably cool. In Iowa in
August, the mercury can soar to 100 degrees or more, so the mid-80's temps were enjoyed
by all. An 8:00 AM drivers meeting welcomed the participants and while Track Guys
Performance Driving Events provided the "rules of conduct" for the event as well
as offered basic driving school instruction for those who wanted some more brain-power to
go with their horsepower. Due to the advertising done by the Midwest Ford Dealers, there
was a lot of spectator traffic Saturday. The paddock area was full, and open track
sessions continued all day. There was even a Mustang Cobra R reunion of sorts, with eight
Cobra R's present for the weekend. A Saturday night fireworks display added a little color
to the celebration. Sunday was another cool day, and the sessions started promptly at 9:00
AM. Participants enjoyed all the track time they could use, and by early afternoon, the
number of cars in each run group was falling off. It was decided to combine the run
groups, and by 2:00 PM all four groups were combined into one green flag session. Both the
Mustang Car Club of Omaha and SCOA held car shows Sunday, and by 5PM everyone was
preparing to leave. Most had all the track time they wanted, and the weary smiles showed
they had a good time. We were lucky to enjoy a mostly incident-free weekend, with only a
few on-track problems. One participant had a tie rod end come loose, causing an immediate
loss of steering control. No damage done, though, and the driver was even able to find all
the lost parts out on the track, and along with help from his fellow enthusiasts, make the
repairs, and return to the track without missing one of his sessions! Another car lost a
belt, and later had a flat tire. Again, no damage was done, and once the damaged cars
returned to the paddock area, open track sessions continued. The Mustang Club of Central
Iowa would like to thank The Mid America Motorplex, The Mustang Club of America, the SVT
Cobra Owner's Association, the Shelby American Automobile Club, Track Guys and the Midwest
Ford Dealers Association for their participation and help in organizing and holding this
event. For those that didn't make it this year, make plans now to attend MCCI@MAM 3 in
August, 2004. Hope to see you there!
MCCI also has other events throughout the year that are open to
club members. Information relating to these events is listed in the monthly club members'
newsletter..
ving
capabilities of their cars. Hosted by the Mustang Club of Central Iowa, and with special
guests the SVT Cobra Owner's Association (SCOA), the event enjoyed an almost 50 percent
increase in participants over the inaugural event held last year. As a special bonus this
year, the 
Midwest Ford Dealers helped to celebrate 100 years of the Ford Motor Company
at the event and even brought out an all new 2004 F-150. Ford's SVT group brought their
display trailer and several new SVT production vehicles, including a Mistichrome 2004 SVT
Cobra, SVT Focus and SVT Lightning, as well as an assortment of memorabilia for sale such
as posters, hats, t-shirts, etc. in honor of Ford's birthday. The Mid America Motorplex is
in its second season, offering road racing on its 2.23-mile asphalt course, and, new for
this year, a 1/8 mile drag strip. This 
wonderful facility was constructed with
club-type events in mind. The road course has a very technical layout, with 15 turns,
several of which are multiple-radius corners, and large runoff areas devoid of the usual
Armco barriers. The result is a safe, but challenging course suitable for beginners and
experienced open-trackers alike. The host club is based in the Des Moines area,
approximately two hours east of the track. Several groups caravanned to the track. The
group we were with left the Flying J truck stop on the west edge of Des Moines at 1:45 PM
Friday. By 4:00, we were registered and setting up our paddock spots. Early registration
and technical inspection were held from 4-6PM at the track Friday, and afterward we all
headed to our motel rooms to clean up, relax, and get something to eat. The Omaha/Council
Bluffs metro area has much to offer in the way of entertainment, and we enjoyed the great
Midwestern food and hospitality. Saturday dawned clear and unseasonably cool. In Iowa in
August, the
mercury can soar to 100 degrees or more, so the mid-80's temps were enjoyed
by all. An 8:00 AM drivers meeting welcomed the participants and while Track Guys
Performance Driving Events provided the "rules of conduct" for the event as well
as offered basic driving school instruction for those who wanted some more brain-power to
go with their horsepower. Due to the advertising done by the Midwest Ford Dealers, there
was a lot of spectator traffic Saturday. The paddock area was full, and open track
sessions continued all day. There was even a Mustang Cobra R reunion of sorts, with eight
Cobra R's present for the weekend. A Saturday night fireworks display added a little color
to the celebration. Sunday was another cool day, and the sessions started promptly at 9:00
AM. Participants enjoyed all the track time they could use, and by early afternoon, the
number of cars in each run group was falling off. It was decided to combine the run
groups, and by 2:00 PM all four groups were combined into one green flag session. Both 
the
Mustang Car Club of Omaha and SCOA held car shows Sunday, and by 5PM everyone was
preparing to leave. Most had all the track time they wanted, and the weary smiles showed
they had a good time. We were lucky to enjoy a mostly incident-free weekend, with only a
few on-track problems. One participant had a tie rod end come loose, causing an immediate
loss of steering control. No damage done, though, and the driver was even able to find all
the lost parts out on the track, and along with help from his fellow enthusiasts, make the
repairs, and return to the track without missing one of his sessions!
Another car lost a
belt, and later had a flat tire. Again, no damage was done, and once the damaged cars
returned to the paddock area, open track sessions continued. The Mustang Club of Central
Iowa would like to thank The Mid America Motorplex, The Mustang Club of America, the SVT
Cobra Owner's Association, the Shelby American Automobile Club, Track Guys and the Midwest
Ford Dealers Association for their participation and help in organizing and holding this
event. For those that didn't make it this year, make plans now to attend MCCI@MAM 3 in
August, 2004. Hope to see you there!