I just found out about you guys. How long has CDC been around?
How do I join the club?
How much does it cost to join?
I don't drive a sporty car. Am I still welcome?
Do you guys do anything besides autocross?
As a club member how do I get more involved?
CDC was started in 2003 by some sports car guys who were looking for a fun place to enjoy their passion for automobiles and racing. They were dissatisfied with what other local auto-x clubs had to offer: the stuffy attitudes, the cut-throat competition, the complex rules regarding allowable modifications, cheaters, classifications that made their cars uncompetitive against much newer machinery, etc.
CDC set out to create a friendly, relaxed atmosphere that prioritized fun and camaraderie. Don't get us wrong, we still love to drive fast and beat the competition. In fact, many of our members race with other clubs and regularly win their respective classes or FTD outright. However, we recognize that there are only so many hours in the weekend and there are a wide variety of activities that compete for your attention. Therefore, we wanted our recreational time spent playing around with cars to be an extension of our social lives.
When you become a CDC member, you are allowed to make a reservation for you and any guests when the event is open for reservations (typically about 14 days before the event). Non-members have to wait until the "open reservation" period starts (typically 8 days before the event) and will only be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis until the event is full. CDC members also pay the discounted "member rate" for the events (typically $10 less than non-members).
CDC only accepts members in person at our events. You may join the club by contacting one of the organizers at the event, fill out a membership application, and paying the annual dues. You membership will be valid for 12 months from the date of joining the club. Membership is valid for you and your family. After you join the club, we will e-mail you a permanent driving number (typically within 2 weeks). Use this driving number to make reservations, and to display on your car at the events. When our events get too crowded, we place a freeze on new memberships. If you have any questions, please e-mail us at capitaldriving@yahoo.com.
How much does it cost to join?
Membership dues are $30 / year.
I don't drive a sporty car. Am I still welcome?
Of course! Don't worry if you don't have a sporty car. All you need is a good attitude and interest in automobiles, driving, car culture, and camaraderie with like minded individuals.
Do you guys do anything besides autocross?
Autocross is our most popular activity but we do organize other events such as scenic drives in the countryside, car wash and tech days, go-kart racing, trips to places like The Eastern Museum of Motor Racing and the vintage sports car races at Watkins Glen, NY and much more. We get together to watch Formula 1 racing on television or play Gran Turismo on Sony PlayStation. Members are always helping each other out, whether lending a hand changing a clutch on someone's car or giving them a lift to the garage when their car needs servicing. We are a social club and encourage you to meet new friends and and have fun together.
In the future we hope to organize a road rally and maybe even a track day at Summit Point, WV. The club will continue to support members who participate in other forms of motorsports such as hill climbs, HPDEs, road racing, etc.
As a club member how do I get more involved?
All you have to do is speak up. We'd be happy to hear from you and what you can offer to the club. We'd really like our members to become more active and organize events such as road rallies, track days, scenic drives, movie nights, barbeques, whatever. This club is what we together can make of it.
How to Help Out at an Event
You don't have to spend money to help. The club pays for all supplies.
While you're still a novice:
- Arrive extra early and be a gopher during course set-up.
- Help sweep the course clean.
- Line the course, or mark the cones.
- Fill and bring water coolers if it might be a hot day.
- Offer to be pre-event gopher. Marking pencils, scoreboard cleaner or batteries?
- Drive the course designer around the parking lot to help verify course layout or determine average run time.
- Get water/lunch/whatever for the event officials stuck in the timing trailer or safety.
- Corral people to help clean up, or take a walk through the pit area to pick up things left behind.
When you get more comfortable with the way things run:
- Learn how to tech cars.
- Learn timing and scoring.
- Be a novice helper.
- You can go over course-work with the novices.
- Learn how to set up and operate timing equipment.
Get involved! It's fun to be a part of the action.