Slalewalking: be your own Max Verstappen

Okay, we're getting F1 races at Zandvoort again. But what do we get out of it? Well, we can see Max Verstappen driving and because we have not been able to cheer on an Eleven Cities winner for ages, that is good. But whether classic fans want to have something to do with the current state of affairs in F1? The wonderful mix of large capital and almost digitally driven drivers and their cars is a few bridges too far for many of us. Can circuit sport be more accessible? Absolutely! That is possible with the oval races and with the slalom courses.

This form of motorsport has also developed many years ago in the Netherlands. This has resulted in several “Oval” circuits such as the Midland circuit in Lelystad with the Dutch Ovalracing Association and the North Netherlands Oval organization in Ter Apel Groningen. These asphalt circuits vary in length from 300 to 600 meters for the shorter ovals, with fixed track widths and with concrete or solid walls, the so-called 'boarding', for safety. To make it even more spectacular for drivers and public, the fastest runners have to start at the back of the grid and then work their way forward, resulting in very spectacular races. During rides against the clock, the participants take to the track individually. And the bends are not just left. And they are not 'contact races', not crash track rides.

There is a much nicer alternative.

To see. To do it yourself: Slaleways. And then we talk about clarity in terms of perspective and finances.

The Midland Circuit was founded in 1982 by the late Ieke Van De Wal. The founder Ieke, once a major driver in the auto speedway and oval racing, passed away in October 2013. Over the years, he has continuously expanded the circuit. To a multifunctional car and motor sports center. You can walk around and a day in Lelystad is often just a family outing.

The length of the small oval is 425 meters, the large oval measures around 600 meters. So literally everything happens under the appreciative supervision of the public. If at least that is not busy with other things such as picnics from the trunk. There are grandstands with 1500 seats, a canteen with 250 seats and a competition tower with a small canteen with 60 seats below. The large canteen is used for large events. But usually the terrain is nicely organized. The small canteen on the course has 60 seats and snacks such as sandwiches, coffee, lemonade, candy and soup are sold here. At large events there is even a more extensive catering service. Moreover, there are more than enough parking places. And for a whole day you only pay 15 euros as a visitor. But access to Team Wimedo's slalom days is free. And great fun.

So slaleways

Slaleways. That goes piece by piece and against the clock. The Lelystad circuit is used improperly in this form of motor sport. Because not only bends are driven to the left.

A car slalom is like a ski slalom, but with cars. A well-marked slalom course is all curves with alternating fast and slow turns. Because car slalom is above all (hard) work. A slalom course is about a kilometer long and can be completed in around one minute. Autoslalom is also known as 'stamp racing'. Auto slalom is primarily about driving skills, but whoever has completed the course the fastest wins. Your skill and your car determine whether you can win or not.

The course is plotted with the help of 50 cm high cones. Red cones must be held 'right', yellow cones 'left'. Anyone who hits a con on the way gets a five-second penalty for that performance. Timekeeping is done electronically to a thousandth of a second.

The start takes place by means of a starting light, when it turns orange you have to pay attention and with green your time starts running and the intention is that you drive away. After approximately 20 seconds, the next participant will start on the same course, but if you do well you will not meet each other.

Team Wimedo is the only Dutch association that has focused purely on car slalom

Each year the team organizes nine slalom contests that count towards the Dutch Open Car Slalom Championship. Nationally Team Wimedo is still the only motorsport club that organizes auto slalom (agility competitions). And on the parking lot is tinkering and picnicing. With the whole family.

Because the requirements and costs are very accessible, 'everyone' is involved

Also owners of the more dynamic classics. You can enjoy erasing on the small circuit. Cars that drive there under their own power often do so with a set of extra tires on board. You have a lot of fun yourself, but the audience is also enthusiastic. Certainly because many people from that audience also go out on the track or belong to the supporters of the drivers. Due to the twists and turns in the track, which can be overseen in its entirety, the driven speeds seem extra high, while the risk for people and equipment actually ends with a strong spin if a bend is taken a little too dynamically. But how happy the mother of one of the participants, clearly a Corps member, was when she noticed that her son and some friends had borrowed her BMW for a day to slalom?

Just driving there and back or on the tandem axle