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Originally Posted by RexDog
I had an AWESOME time on Friday! It was great to see everyone that showed up - it really made it fun to see all these high performance cars stretching their legs on the track. I can't wait to do it again.
It was hard to say who was the fastest out there since we didn't have any lap timers, but if you go by tire wear I think DanRealtor had everyone beat....or maybe he came to the track in this condition. From the look of his side panels he could have come straight from some Nascar race.
You know you didn't want to pass him from looking at his bumper.
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Hmmm, Where to start?
Okay, so WagonDoc and I leave Scottsdale AZ about 10:30 am headed for GS Motorsports in Santa Fe Springs. We arrive about 4:20 pm (God I hate CA Traffic!) Scott diagnosed my fan as a dead fan motor (whoops) and then John completed Eddie's fan mod install and then we had to go. I needed to replace my right front tire but could not find even one 245 F1 in all of Phoenix! I brought one of my many EXTRA tires just in case, and found a Goodyear store right around the corner from GSM to to the install. I asked them not to pitch the old tire since I need to keep it. When the manager asked what for, and I explained that I have an extra set of rims and save my old tires for the dragstrip and/or drifting he told me he had a couple more f!'s out back. Then he GIVES me two beautiful 255/45 R20 F1's with LOTS of tread on them! They replace them for someone who picked up a couple of nails! They charged me $20 for installing my tire, and I tipped the tech $20 for the effort and off to the hotel in Lancaster. At the hotel we met some of the guys and gals who were already enjoying a cold one at the hotel bar. We joined in and over time CButler, Meister, Sleeper300 all showed up as well. The rest of the gang were new faces for me Mosie, Moses, GotLS1, Magnum8r, 300Touring&Proud, and whoever I left out (Sorry, I am SO bad with names). I made sure CButler had plenty of Jim Beam & Coke to drink (I'll take any competeitive edge I can get) and when it came time to settle up that guy (worlds largest midget) picked up the tab for everyone! (Thanks again!). The next morning I woke up at about 5 am, like a kid on Christmas morning. After breakfast we headed out with Moses showing us the way. When I saw the track going up the hillside from a distance it was like a dream come true. After signing the obligatory waiver and getting a wristband it was into the pits where a bunch of LX's were waiting for us! It was SO GOOD to see some familiar faces and some new friends. We had a driver's meeting (thanks Tim) and then a bt of classroom instruction. (I had a really hard time paying attention since the Carrera GT, Z06 and the GT3 were turning laps already, without me!). Then FINALLY we get to go drive, well, soon. The instructors took us for a ride around the track showing us the line, then had to certify each of us individually to verify that we were up to the challenge. NOW we get to go play. I decided before I went, that I would keep ESP on ALL DAY (anyone who has seen the left side of my car understands why). Lap after lap I got faster and faster, waiting longer and longer to brake for turn 1.
The track goes something like this:
Full throttle down the long (2400 foot) main straightaway, then at about 125 - 130 mph, on the brakes HARD, I'm talking ABS Hard, then off the brakes and 90 degree left hand turn, late apex, drift right (intentionally) then back to the left to set up for turn 2. Turn 2 is a constant radius turn that I ran consistsntly all day between 75 and 80 mph. Then drift left to the very edge (got two wheels off on the left here once, whoops) and then accelerate towards turn 3, Turn 3 was difficult to figure out. Late in the day our instructor with his M3 SCCA race car showed me how to hit turn 3 perfectly. Up the hill towards turn 4, turn in early and run way left out of 4 towards the edge again, turn left while accelerating twards turn 5, (also hard to get just right) and then full throttle up the hill, over the rise and stay on the gas through 7 headed towards 8 and 9. Early in the day I used my brakes before 8, later I just let off the throttle at 125 mph and coasted into 8, cutting the corner really close on the right than accleratng towards 9. I learned from our instructors in their M3 and Viper, to accelerate towards 9, brake, then stay way left before turning in way late for 9, then run way left, almost clipping the edge of the pit road turn off before barreling down the straightaway to do it all again!
Early in the day I got to race with a Porsce Carrera GT. He got so tired of seeing arear view mirror full of my SRT-8 through turns 1 through 6 that he waved me past! In my excitement I carried abit too much speed over the rise through turn 6 and got two wheels off on the left and then got back on track, waved him past (Dammit) and returned to the pits to check my tires (as we were instructed to do in the driver's meeting). Tires are fine back out I go. Now a Z06 wants to play! He is ON MY ASS through turns 8 and 9. Wnen we hit the main straight away he stays left, I go right and wave him past, I kept my foot in the gas the whole way, and he didn't pass me! Instead he tucked right in behind me into turns 1 and 2. Now I've got a rear view mirror full of someone else for a change! I carried too much speed out of two and dropped two wheels into the dirt on the left and then had too much speed approaching 3 and put the right side tires off going into 3! I waved the Z06 past and returned to the pits (again) for my second, and last, obligatory tire inspection. Later I did find the drivers of the Carrera GT and the Z06 and apologized for kicking up dirt in front of them. Sorry Guys.
As the day wore on I got to run with just about everybody. WagonDoc and I ran a bunch of times. CButler and I ran as well, unfortunately his RSA's on the back held him back this time. I NEVER got to run with Meister! Every time I'd see him and try to get with him, he was exiting into the pits, Darn!
At one point I let 300Touring&Proud take my SRT-8 out for a while. I LOVED hearing my car roaring past, and judging from his ear to ear **** eating grin, he LOVED driving her!
I watched as several of my esteemed colleagues ran out of gas. I berated CButler when he did it. Then at precisely 5:00 pm on the last lap of the day, my car died going down the back straightaway! The needle said I still had gas. It would crank but not start. Oh sh%t I thought, I hope that wasn't my engine. I coasted back to the pits and crawled to a stop on pit road, just short of the pits. A borrowed gas can and I had enouh gas to make it to the group photo op near the start finish line. Then strangely, my GSM Torque Mod somehow activated and I found myself doing an NHRA burnout right in front of Tim and his camera!
I got some more 100 octane, $4 per gallon gas then off to the restaurant. Most of us sat together outside with the instructors. Some of you (you know who you are) sat inside, because it had Air Conditioning (sissies). We had food and libations and shared track stories and good times. After that I drove my car (roasted tires and all) back to the hotel. Meister offered to let me drive his car. Why not. Holy Cr*p that car is fast. It may be faster then my SRT-8 now! Then we went back to the hotel bar for more libations and stories. We stayed (some of us) until they closed the bar (about 1 am) and the next morning I came down to find some of my brethren already at breakfast. I knew I had to change my tires before I went any further. I had two old tires on rims that would probably get me home, and a lug wrench, but no jack. I asked several people if they had a jack, nope. Then I asked Meister. "Of course" he said. Then offered me jack stands and a torque wrench too! Meister, you really are the man! After mounting up my other tires, WagonDoc and I started the 420 mile ride home. Along the way I had fun with several other cars. The most memorable was a spankin' new Bentley Coupe, black complete with temporary plates. He thought I was kidding at first, then he gave me the nod. I let him hit it first (big mistake) then I hitit. He got a jump on me but couldn't pull away. I stayed about 1/2 to 1 car length behind him until he lifted at about 110mph. I stayed in it until I hit 4th at about 120, and then slowed so we'd be side by side. He gave me the thumbs up, and I responded in kind. Then settled in for the rest of the ride home. Amazingly enough, Doc and I made it there and back with no "Road Side Chat's".
Yesterday I went and put my back tires on the front, my new 255's from the nice man in Santa Fe Springs on the rear, and got her all washed and looking (almost) good as new again!
This Saturday? Speedworld! Anyone else wanna go?
09-12-2006, 10:21 AM
Willow Springs
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