{"id":22663,"date":"2020-04-15T15:40:23","date_gmt":"2020-04-15T19:40:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ss396.com\/cars\/?p=22663"},"modified":"2024-07-02T10:58:19","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T14:58:19","slug":"umi-performance-autocross-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ss396.com\/cars\/umi-performance-autocross-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"UMI Performance\u2019s Cruise-In & Autocross – August 11th, 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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UMI Performance\u2019s Cruise-In & Autocross<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the early morning of August 8th, 2018, members from the Ground Up team loaded up our truck and head west to 111 Mt Zion Road in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, the location of UMI\u2019s new Motorsport Park. The compound formerly known as CNB Raceway Park is a 5\/8th-mile asphalt oval track converted to a short road course used for the design, development, testing, and racing of UMI Performance, Inc suspension products.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

CNB Raceway Park was acquired by UMI Performance in 2017 and the 2018 Cruise-In & Autocross marked the grand opening of the new facility. The event took place from August 10th-11th at UMI Motorsport park. August 10th was devoted to the autocross event and August 11th was both the cruise-in and autocross. All the proceeds from the event were donated to the ALS Foundation by UMI Performance making it a great event that was backed up by a better cause!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Plant Tour<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When we first arrived in central Pennsylvania about 4 and 1\/2 hours into our drive, we were told to stop by the UMI manufacturing plant in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania before heading to the track. The Plant is conveniently located just 22 miles southeast of UMI Motorsport Park, making for a nice break from the long drive. Once we arrived at the Plant we were met by Ramey Womer, the performance engineer at UMI who graciously brought us on a short tour of their plant to see firsthand the processes that go into making UMI Performance products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"UMI<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Walking through the door and onto the plant floor left us amazed by how clean, organized and streamlined their production line is. We started out in the area where the raw metal material came in and was prepped for the manufacturing process. It was a stunning surprise to find out that almost all the material used by UMI is refined right here in the USA and it didn\u2019t stop there. In fact, almost everything inside the UMI plant is materials and products that are made in the USA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, Ramey brought us through all the different stations that make up the assembly line at UMI. From the giant laser cutting machines that deal with the cutting\/forming of the raw materials to the men and women who bend, weld, sandblast, powder-coat, inspect and pack the finished UMI products. The entire process is streamlined and products move right down the line until the products are cleaned, boxed, and loaded onto pallets ready to be shipped to Ground Up Inc. or any of their other vendors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, Ramey brought us into the research and development wing of their plant, where he showed off some of the new test cars UMI\u2019s building and products that we will see coming from UMI in the near future. This is also where we got to lay our eyes on the UMI 1973 Camaro Z\/28 for the first time that\u2019s currently being built by the UMI R&D team. Seeing this car was especially important to us as this is the first UMI car that Ground Up has had the opportunity to be involved with by supplying the Camaro with most of the sheet metal and interior products for the build. While the Camaro is still a way off from taking its first laps around UMI Motorsport Park, it was great to see the progress that the car has taken since the project started, and it was a great way for Ramey to end the plant tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Night Before the Event<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After concluding the Plant tour, we hopped back in the truck and followed Ramey up PA 322 to UMI Motorsport Park, where we laid eyes on the oval track compound for the first time. Our first impressions of the compound left a stunned look on our faces as we were mesmerized by all the progress that has been done to the track since its purchase by UMI. The infield had freshly laid roads that perfectly set up the track not only as a circle track but also as an autocross proving grounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During this time, we got a chance to walk the track and see how it was laid out for the main event taking place the following day (see image below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"UMI
Track Layout<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After walking the track, we also got the chance to take a seat in UMI\u2019s 1979 Monte Carlo Landau, dubbed the \u201cGreen Machine\u201d, as we went around the track with Ramey behind the wheel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"UMI<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The car roared down the straights and cut through corners putting UMI\u2019s suspension to the test. Ride along experiences weren\u2019t limited to us, as Ramey and other members from the UMI staff offered ride alongs to all spectators during the event on Friday and Saturday. Watch the video below to experience what it was like in the passenger seat of the \u201cGreen Machine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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