BUTTONWILLOW RACEWAY - March 27

[SmokeyBear]

Here's the official notice from Speed Ventures:

Registration is now open for Buttonwillow Raceway on March 27. We expect this event to sell out, so sign up soon. Group discounts are still possible, but please contact us soon to make arrangements. To sign up: http://www.speedventures.com/events/eventdetail.aspx?id=215

Okay motor sports fans, time to ante up. I need a roll call of who is going. If three people sign up, I'll make it four. It's better to have somebody to play with.:)

[bgriggs]

Ron,

What do you think about the "Open Test" on the 13th? I'd much rather have that amount of track time vs cost.

[2159ClassicRed]

I will find out this weekend when I smog the car if I can attend this event (optimistic)

Sign up early, as they tend to up the price at the end :mad:

[SmokeyBear]

3/13 is a no-go for me. Schedule conflict.

[solo2_z06]

I'm already registered and planing on going down the night before.
I see Cliff is in.

[cap49]

Ron,

What do you think about the "Open Test" on the 13th? I'd much rather have that amount of track time vs cost.

Gary stole my thunder. I'm in!

Brandon it's a good trade-off; possibly a little less time on track for a lower price. The alloted time on a typical trackday is plenty and there are corner workers and tow trucks just in case. When you run in classified groups there are drivers and cars to compete against as opposed to running on the track looking in your mirrors.
What the Mini people do is go out in a group of comparable cars and drivers and see who can keep up with who. Makes for some interesting stories.

[2159ClassicRed]

Sorry, can't make it guys, car failed smog for the 3rd time :mad: !

[SmokeyBear]

Sorry, can't make it guys, car failed smog for the 3rd time :mad: !Uhh--- I don't see "Passed Smog Check" as an item on their tech. inspection form. It's OK to drive Buttonwillow with failed smog,,,;)

[2159ClassicRed]

Uhh--- I don't see "Passed Smog Check" as an item on their tech. inspection form. It's OK to drive Buttonwillow with failed smog,,,;)

True, but I've got to consider the unknown price tag to have it passed. Seems like the Miata's brains isn't too smart as today's brains :(

[cap49]

True, but I've got to consider the unknown price tag to have it passed. Seems like the Miata's brains isn't too smart as today's brains :(

I remember my little red 90 miata had a heck of a time passing smog. Put a new cheap one-size-fits-all cat, Sea Foam and retimed the cam sensor to get it to sqeak by smog. If the ignition is too advanced it is great for HP but is bad for cal emission standards. Good luck Kurt.

[2159ClassicRed]

I remember my little red 90 miata had a heck of a time passing smog. Put a new cheap one-size-fits-all cat, Sea Foam and retimed the cam sensor to get it to sqeak by smog. If the ignition is too advanced it is great for HP but is bad for cal emission standards. Good luck Kurt.

Did all that, timing is 8* vs. 10*. Diagnosed a problem with my O2 sensor acting lazy, so it's running lean. That's my next step.

[bgriggs]

What test is it failing? By how much?

[SmokeyBear]

I know I said that after three, I'd be number four, but I guess I'll be # 3. Just as I figured, Gary, Cliff & I are in, everybody else is bye-bye. :mad:

I figured I'd give this a go because it will be a long time before I get another chance to do a track day. Probably June at the earliest and it'll probably be hot by then. Hot track days - EEK!:eek:

[2159ClassicRed]

I have fun this Friday.

I did sign up for the April 18th event, so we'll save that for another day :).

[SmokeyBear]

Gary, Cliff & I had one heck of a good time. I went for a ride with Gary. WHOO-HOO! :D:D:
Unfortunately, as per the usual at Buttonwillow, my car would get warm so I couldn't push it like I wianted to. :mad:
Cliff was doing a decent job of spanking the rest of us in our group.:cool:

[solo2_z06]

I think we all had a good time. I really wish more of the guys would give this a try especially since our own schedule is so brief at this time. I'd be happy to offer coaching and ride alongs.

[SmokeyBear]

We were sitting and talking between run seesions and we realized we all three were over 50. (Some more than others.) so, I guess the logical conclusion is: You young kids got no balls!.:eek: OK, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and maybe you've not got the $$. :rolleyes: Still - is everybody broke?:confused:

[JFine]

Hey lets keep it down over there. I know more retarded....I mean retired guys have more time for track days. Plus I don't think any of you guys would want to be on the track with me.:eek:

[cap49]

Hey lets keep it down over there. I know more retarded....I mean retired guys have more time for track days. Plus I don't think any of you guys would want to be on the track with me.:eek:

Whoooo........gloves being throw down everywhere. Gary thanks again for parting with some of your hard gained knowledge of Buttonwillow. It would have taken me lots of track time to figure out what you gave me in just 20 min. I just wished I'd have asked you for a free ride. Ron thanks for hanging with me at the track it was a gas as usual.
Come on yuz pups show us old geezers what you can do. Nanner..........nanner............nanner!

[2159ClassicRed]

I'm signed for the 18th. No turning back now. Who's interested? Gary, Cliff, Ron?

[SmokeyBear]

No can do 18th. I'll be in Cahokia, IL - across the river from St. Louis, MO.

[cap49]

I'm signed for the 18th. No turning back now. Who's interested? Gary, Cliff, Ron?

Don't know if I can get on the track. I tweeked my back and have a painful time if I twist at all. The next car improvement will be a seat with more lateral support. If I show up I'll probably just be a spectator.

[2159ClassicRed]

Ouch! I wish you for full recovery Cliff.

A bucket with good support sure does go a long way for track days. The time spent on bracing yourself for corners can now be spent on going faster :). A bucket for daily driving, with near to no padding on the bottom is just torture.

[cap49]

Thanks Kurt. Thinking of buying a used OEM seat and just building up the lateral support on the seat back in order to keep it comfy.

Got the April 18 event as a NASA weekend. Is it a driving school mixed with racing?

[2159ClassicRed]

It's the trackday event with Speed Ventures.

[black_em2]

Id love to tag a long with you guys some time; to get a look at the track and watch a few laps!!

[2159ClassicRed]

More than welcome :)

[rob.ok]

Gary stole my thunder. I'm in!

Brandon it's a good trade-off; possibly a little less time on track for a lower price. The alloted time on a typical trackday is plenty and there are corner workers and tow trucks just in case. When you run in classified groups there are drivers and cars to compete against as opposed to running on the track looking in your mirrors.
What the Mini people do is go out in a group of comparable cars and drivers and see who can keep up with who. Makes for some interesting stories.

I know this is a little late but I just wanted to add my thoughts......

Open test days are just that. Its open for racers to test and tune for the race weekend. Usually most of the cars on track are true race cars with years of experince. There is no timing, no corner workers, no fire rescue, and no ambulance on site. You need to be at the very least a high intermediate driver or an advanced driver before you can drive safely with these guys.....they are not gonna wait for you and if they don't think your safe or up to par they will kick you off the track all together.

That being said....if you watch the calendar and know what organization is racing that weekend...you can usually find test days that are very light. In fact there are test days that are not tied to a race weekend...its just a random day.

For novice drivers go to the events...mainly cause all of the safety crews are there and secondly you'll be grouped with drivers of your same skill set. If you can hang with the SV red group then the test day should be no problem.