A day or Weekend on the Streets of Willow [May 17-18, Rosamond CA (near Lancaster)]

[Cpt_kludge]

Raven Wing Performance ( A Miata support group) is sponsoring a day or weekend at Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond, Ca May 17th and 18th. Their cost is almost half of a normal day at Danny McKeever’s Fast Lane Driving School.

I received this in response to my email asking about us Sol's joining them like we did last year.

We ran Sol’s, GXP’s, Sky’s and Redlines under the Danny McKeever Racing School 2 times last year with no problems having the cars on the track.

Here is their response. I plan on attending!
Please contact Janet directly

Hi Joe,

That sounds great. We are hoping to wait until our new website
launches before we start advertising the event. It will be open for both
Saturday and Sunday. Anyone that has already gone through the classroom, once
they check in Danny will then go directly to the track.

The dates are:

May 17 $275 includes lunch
May 18 $260 no lunch (drivers are on their own for lunch)

When we have a 2 day event, we try to set up a dinner on Saturday night
with Danny and his staff at a local restaurant.

The hotel will again be the Best Western, that gives the students a
discount.

See you at the track!

Janet Wyrick
Office Manager
Raven Wing Performance
raven-wing@ca.rr.com
951-817-5644
FAX 951-371-5175
Raven Wing Performance, your source for the coolest alternative accessories for your Mazda Miata MX-5!

[AdamVIP]

Hmm anyone whose been to this care to share what you go over. Ive been looking into driving classes lately

[Cpt_kludge]

Originally Posted by AdamVIP Hmm anyone whose been to this care to share what you go over. Ive been looking into driving classes lately

Here's my review of my first time at Willow Spring in May 07 posted on the GXP Forum


OK, It's Official.
Willow Springs is OFFICIALY the most fun you can have on 4 wheels And the "Streets of Willow" track is a BLAST!
Danny McKeever's "FAST LANE" Driving School is WORTH the money.

There were 7 kappa cars there. 1 GXP (me), 2 SOL's, 1 Sky and 1 Redline as well as 2 SOL's that came out to watch.

Ths started about 8am. Danny gave us about 1 1/2 Hrs of classroom instruction then we headed for the track. First we all grouped up to about 10-12 cars each. the first group had been through the class before, so they got to go play on the track while we were in class. Then there was the red group of about 12 cars and the orange group of the same. Most of the cars were Miata's (this was sponsored by the Miata club, but there were a couple of Lotus's, a 350Z, a 240z, and some others. I figure we got around 50 laps of track time in about 2-5 sessions. We took our cars out onto the dry skid pad and got to do Bootleg and "Dukes of Hazzard" turns in the school cars.

All in all well worth it and more fun than should be allowed on the streets!
BTW, I found out that the car drives fine in normal mode, but when you turn off the TC and SC you open up a whole nuther level of performance. You can slide, drift and generaly drive it like a RACE car. I prolly ran 10-15 laps total with the TC & EC on in normal mode, but as soon as my tires heated up, I turned both off and just went crazy. Of the cars I ran with in my group, the only one that I could not leave in the dust was the 350Z. The combo of good diver and good car kept me at bay. I could not beat the Redlines down the straight (the only place we were alowed to pass) but I was able to out drive them so they waved me by.
My thanks to Carpe Diem for letting us know about this this.
Joe

[AdamVIP]

OK whens the cutoff for signing up?

[Cpt_kludge]

Originally Posted by AdamVIP OK whens the cutoff for signing up?

I think it cuts off when full.
Givem a call
Joe

[Carpe Diem]

Originally Posted by AdamVIP Hmm anyone whose been to this care to share what you go over. Ive been looking into driving classes lately

Cpt_kludge summed it up pretty well. One thing I might add is that while I at first thought I knew how do drive on a track (I'd done it before a few times in years past) and that the classroom session was just something I had to do to get to the track, I was wrong. Danny McKeever's classroom instruction is all about tire and traction management, and minimizing lap times, and is easy to grasp. Further, the time on the skid pad learning about oversteer and understeer was nearly worth the price of the event in itself. This skid pad was about basic car control, not the 'Dukes of Hazard' trick stuff, which was also kind of fun. They don't do the trick stuff every time. Anyway, I learned a lot, and had all the track time I was comfortable with.

A map of the track is attached below.

They do limit enrollment to about 30 or 35 'students'. First come, first served.

I will be signing up for this May event.

[AdamVIP]

Im officially signed up for both days. Who else is in?

[Carpe Diem]

I just checked the Sky forum, and there are about a dozen Sky drivers who are expressing serious interest in this event and are champing at the bit to sign up. Check out this thread - Gauging SoCal interest - Willow Springs track day - Saturn Sky Forum

I'm wondering how many Solstices might show up. I can think of three so far.

[cerberus]

Online registration is now open for Sat May 17th and Sun May 18th here. Raven Wing, the organizers, do not profit from this event, as it is an open day for enthusiasts.

[Carpe Diem]

I am booked with Ravenwing for the Streets of Willow for May 17 & 18. See you there.
26 spots open on Saturday and only 6 on Sunday.

Just for the record, this is the same track where they are shooting the TV show "Set Up" this year.

[AdamVIP]

When I talked to joyce she said something about 8 slots total on sunday I think. We may be the first two takers on Sunday.

[Crimson Avenger]

I'll be there both days.

I'm not sure how many spots are left for Sunday, because when I signed up on Tuesday Feb 26, there were only 2 spots left after I took mine.

There were quite a few more spots on Saturday.

Carpe Deim's discussion of the classroom instruction was spot on. I have been going to the track since late 2004 (usually about 12 track days per year), and Danny McKeever's class taught me things I had never understood. Basically, the more you drive on the track, the more you'll realize just how much you really don't know. I proudly raise my hand on that one and say that I am still learning.

Anyway, that I'm aware of, this is a unique opportunity to get your Solstice or Sky out on the track where you're not limited to parade laps.

See you there!

[Cpt_kludge]

Originally Posted by Crimson Avenger I'll be there both days. I'm not sure how many spots are left for Sunday, because when I signed up on Tuesday Feb 26, there were only 2 spots left after I took mine. There were quite a few more spots on Saturday. Carpe Deim's discussion of the classroom instruction was spot on. I have been going to the track since late 2004 (usually about 12 track days per year), and Danny McKeever's class taught me things I had never understood. Basically, the more you drive on the track, the more you'll realize just how much you really don't know. I proudly raise my hand on that one and say that I am still learning. Anyway, that I'm aware of, this is a unique opportunity to get your Solstice or Sky out on the track where you're not limited to parade laps. See you there!

Crimson,
Could not agree more!
I'm signed up for both days although I may have a conflict and not be able to make it. Wanted to make sure I got a spot before they closed

This is the best chance to get on the track and drive at the limit without having to cut up the car and install a roll bar.
Joe

[Carpe Diem]

Originally Posted by Cpt_kludge This is the best chance to get on the track and drive at the limit without having to cut up the car and install a roll bar. Joe

This is about as much fun you can have sitting down (well . . . alone anyway)

[Carpe Diem]

Here is a list of the folks who have said they are registered for one or both days at The Streets of Willow. There might be some others that I missed. If you are going to The Streets of Willow on May 17 and/or 18th, post a message and let us know.

Cpt_kludge – Solstice GXP
Crimson Avenger – Non-Kappa
AdamVIP – GXP (edit with aplolgies.)
HappyAmI – Sky Redline
Moline – Sky Redline
vfx – Sky
cerburus - Sky
Carpe Diem – Solstice GXP

Last fall I stayed at the Best Western in Lancaster (44055 Sierra Highway, Lancaster, California, 93534) where they give discounts on the room rate for enrollees in Danny McKeever’s Fast Lane school (who is running this event for Ravenwing.) I am registered to stay Friday and Saturday nights at the Best Western. Maybe we can have a Kappa drivers get-together one or both evenings at the hotel. (Lotuses and other non-Kappas always welcome.)

For any first-timers, unless you live nearby, it is a good idea to stay in on eof the local hotels the evening before your day(s) at the track. It makes a very long day (too long for most) to drive to the track near Rosamond, CA, and be there, all gassed up with proper tire pressures in time to start the sessions at 8:00 a.m.

Janet at Ravenwing said, “When we have a 2 day event, we try to set up a dinner on Saturday night with Danny (McKeever) and his staff at a local restaurant.” Last spring, Danny and crew were at the Best Western.