Opentrack Willow Springs Dec-03-03

[Chino 240Z]

Hmm, interesting. The 280Z 5 spd with the 4:11s sounds tempting without giving much of the other up. I think now we hit the straight in 4th and 1/4 mile down I'm at 6000 to 6300 then shift to 5th and it drops about to 5500 and peak at 6000 not noticing very much MPH gain. I like the track because there is some tight turns, long high speed sweeping turns, some elevation and a long straight too. Stock cars are hitting about 165 down the straight and you can hit 125 to 140 in the high speed turn 8 depending on the car.

Yeah, I thought I had parked the car when a 911 with a huge wing screamed by me like I was standing still! Thats when I pick up the pace and try to learn their line.

Summit track looks like alot of fun!

Thanks Craig

[240ZX]

Regarding the open track day at Willow, what sort of car prep is required.....rollbar, fluid catch cans, etc., etc.

Would definintely be a hoot to do a little track time in my 240. The last time I was at Willow Springs was back in the mid to late 80's when I was club racing my Ducati F1B. If I remember correctly I was turning 1:38s with the duck.

[gmaki]

Actually the requirements are very minimal. Too minimal in my opinion when you consider the amount of instruction you are given. I feel they should really focus more on teaching people in yellow group to stay well within their limits, and that your limit should be lowered even further based on your safety equipment or lack thereof. But that's just my humble (yet experienced) opinion.

That being said, you need nothing more than a long sleeve shirt and a helmet, even a motocross helmet will suffice. You do your own tech inspection for which they provide the form. obviously things must be tight, no loose items in the car and no leaking fluid of any sort. And that's really about it.

I have run the big track twice now and streets twice. even though most of the open track events are on the big track I highly recommend streets for anyone going out for the first time. I think at the level I am at that the big track is about twice the risk for half the fun. Sure you get to come back and tell everyone you went 140 or 150 miles an hour but I have tons more fun going 60 miles an hour on a tight track.

[Chino 240Z]

Well put gmaki, but all in all you go as fast as you want and passing in only 2 places where it is safer and only with a point by from the slower car giving you the ok to overtake him. It is a blast! You learn alot about you and your car. There is class instruction in the morning and instructors that will ride with you or drive your car to show you too (if you need them). There are 2 faster groups too if you feel up to it, but only if it's is safe. I agree with the subject that the slower group needs to remember to stay with in their driving and cars ability or else you eat dirt and your pride, but even the instructors eat it too! For an E ticket ride for the day, you are exhausted by the end of the day, five 1/2hr. sessions and they serve you lunch for $125.00 My wife has been out there 3 times and she finally let me ride with her (if I kept my mouth shut) and she blew me away with her speed in the turns and handling it all, I am impressed with her growth in the car. I told her we need to take her out in the our F-body Firebird to a parking lot to get some sliding, sideways time in to see what it feels like when the car gives, breaks adhesion, gets away sideways. Just so she knows what the signs are when it is on the edge and to let up a tad, ya know. The Z just sticks too much, but I did feel some give in those Toyos a couple times while she was driving. Anyways we be addicted to it all now.

[gmaki]

Oh I agree the rules they set are very good and add to the overall safety of the participants. However, especially on the big track the consequences for driving over your head can be far greater than a ride in the dirt and injured pride. And that's really my point, I don't think those first timers really get the sense of the very real danger that exists. And you don't need to get involved with another car to experience catastrophe.

I don't want to scare people out of going, but I do want to scare people out of going too fast for their own abilities and safety provisions.

I learned this on my very first open track day (not with opentrackracing.com though), but not from the classroom. I learned it from a fellow first timer who took turn two a bit too fast resulting in two wheels off on the outside of the turn. He tried to save it by turning towards the track, which resulted in an immediate spin, this time off the inside of the turn, 3 barrel rolls, and this:

By the way he's alive, and so is the instructor who was riding shotgun, but only by a miracle.

[2ManyZs]

Open track days are similar to an SCCA Drivers School, there will always be a few out there with little to no experience driving a car at the limit, not enough commom sense to slow down to go faster, or listen to what others are telling them in order to improve their driving.

Best thing is, when you get near one, slow down, let them pass and avoid whatever kind of trouble they will eventually cause, or speed up and get away from them.

The last person that lost their life at Summit was at a FATT (Friday at the Track) which is what our "open track day" would be. Going too fast, with a hopped up Mustang (supercharged and all) and at the end of the 3000ft straight, lost his brakes and barrel rolled 5 or 6 times. Why did he lose his brakes you ask? All that money to make big horsepower, and left his brakes absolutely stock, right down to the rubber brake hoses......hell of a way to learn a lesson....:disappoin

Chino, if you are getting half the straight before you run out of RPM's, I think a 4:11 would be just about right, without losing out in the corners. Should be fairly easy to find a 4:11, since, with the 50 series tires, a lot of the IT racers have had to go to a 3:70 or 3:54 with their 4 speeds.....:cheeky:

[gmaki]

Maybe the real lesson here is "Don't drive a mustang on the track!" hehe

I wish I knew how we were geared, we were also too low for the track. Which was no big deal since with the brakes I had no desire to reach top speeds at the end of the straights. it was kinda nice because I was able to go around the entire track using only 4th and 5th, but 5th was not quite tall enough for the long straights. We have a couple other rear ends so we will run taller next time out but I want to sort out the "stopping" part of the equation before concentrating too much on the "going" end of it.

We were thrilled with the motor in this car, it's a Balanced and Blueprinted L28 built by JG Engine Dynamics. After all the sitting around it ran strong and sounded like it wanted to rev forever. I really expected it to blow up halfway through the day but it never missed a beat.

Anyway, I leave all that stuff to my brother since he is the knowlegeable one. hmm, let's see I have already given away that my brother is faster than me and that he does all the work on the car, so you might wonder what I am good for. Well, I supply half the money, and I get wrenches when told to.

[2ManyZs]

That's how I got started in racing... pit crew.

Seat time will help more than anything.. learning the car as well as the track. :cheeky:

[Chino 240Z]

Faster, well, faster is just fast but it's consistency (spelling?) is what I'm looking for. The same time each time. I can always find a little more speed after I find the right line to drive. Cindy drives a totally different line than I do. Made me feel uncomfortable in acouple places on the track where I would not have the same speed, but it works for her. We enjoy sharing the good and bad points of each of our lines. I have got some ideas I like to try after riding with her and seeing places she is fast. Also I would show her where she would brake too much into turn 3, but funny to see each others different ways in the same car.

It's always scarier from the passenger side.

[240ZX]

Thanks guys, sounds like one hell of a hoot to me! The price is more than fair too. Well, I just might have to force myselfROFL to join in on the fun. Time will tell. Anyway, thanks to all for the info.