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

[ClearBraInstall]

Thanks for the pics. It was truly an awesome experience. It was damn HOT tho. I couldn't get more than 5 or 6 laps before having to bring it in to cool down. Tons of fun, will be sure to get in again next year. With a bigger radiator of course!

[EndiSky]

we're gonna have to wait for adams story, he's still running today. Not sure if you knew, but his camera WAS running at the time. Cant wait to see it on here again!

[cerberus]

Yup. That heat kicked my butt. The car took it better than I did. 207-208 throughout the day with full sessions. I'm gonna have to thank Eloy for that one.

We may not have to wait till next year. I know I won't. I need to correct a few things once I get used to this last mod. This is a longshot but tossing it out there. I missed the group pics as I got tied up with the Fastlane folks. If there's enough committed interest, we may be able to get our own club day in Sep or Oct. If that doesnt come together, they run every month at full rate.

[Cpt_kludge]

Originally Posted by cerberus Yup. That heat kicked my butt. The car took it better than I did. 207-208 throughout the day with full sessions. I'm gonna have to thank Eloy for that one. We may not have to wait till next year. I know I won't. I need to correct a few things once I get used to this last mod. This is a longshot but tossing it out there. I missed the group pics as I got tied up with the Fastlane folks. If there's enough committed interest, we may be able to get our own club day in Sep or Oct. If that doesnt come together, they run every month at full rate.

That sounds great!
My temps peaked at 237 ran fine
JOe

[Cpt_kludge]

Originally Posted by EndiSky we're gonna have to wait for adams story, he's still running today. Not sure if you knew, but his camera WAS running at the time. Cant wait to see it on here again!

Ya I cant wait for that

[astra]

WOW.. I never saw those kinds of temps.... N/A FTW!!!

Kappasphere has a track day on June 16.. it's in the middle of the week but its a day that a Solstice can run!!!

I very well might be there..

[Carpe Diem]

Originally Posted by Cpt_kludge Ya we all had a great time. . . . We do need to get some input from Carpe Diem and AdamVIP on their particular exploits

Me? Exploits. What exploits? I was in bed early . . . alone.

Originally Posted by Cpt_kludge I did not actually see either, but Carpe was right behind me when I heard tire screeching I'll let him and Adam tell their own stories (liar's club you know) LOL I'm hoping my BIL got video of Carpe LOL He's one up on me now Yall need to come out!!!!!!! Joe

Oh . . . that exploit. You mean the excursion into the dirt coming out of the last turn onto the straight when I was having trouble trying to press you through the twisties.? Well, . . . uh . . . er . . . It was so hot my tires had too much air in them, and lost traction. Or, my turbo kicked in when it wasn't supposed to, before I finished my turn onto the straight, and . . ., or Mysti wanted her back end in front of her front end, and . . . well it just wasn't my fault. Besides, I heard a couple of guys saying that if you don't run off the track at least once, you just aren't trying hard enough.

I have to say at this point that my instructor on the ride-along complimented me on my driving and my line, was impressed with my handling of the chicane. Also, all day long, no one, in any kind of car, ever passed me or pressed me when I wasn't held up in traffic, and I did a lot of 'soft cruising' following slower cars. I feel good that I was able to press every Lotus that was ever in front of me.

I also have to say that the funnest (??) parts of the track for me was turn 1 and the chicane. By mid-way through the afternoon, I was able to take turn one full throttle without letting off. Even then, I was a little trepidatious about, and had an adrenalin rush doing it. I'd guess about 97 mph and still accellerating. I was too busy concentrating on what I was doing and hitting the apex correctly to be looking at my speedometer, but I remember seeing 97 a couple of times shortly before entering the turn. The most fun for me were the chicanes. I got to where I could take them, never touching the brakes or even letting off much, at close to full throttle in third. I noticed that that is where I usually closed any gap between me and the car in front of me. Love it, and the way Mysti handles and how she is so compliant and predictable. Gotta love that GXP.

I have determined that I have all the engine mods I need or want, at least for now. I had all the power I could use (or handle) in most area of the track. Future mods will be limited to tighter suspension, stickier tires, and better brakes. (BTW, on the way home, I 'engaged' ABS on the freeway. Noisy. Kinda scarey. I was hoping big time the guy behind me was paying attention.)

I tried the Angeles Forest Highway to the 2 to the 5 and on home. Fun drive. It's the only way I will take to and from Willow from now on (unless there are brush/forest fires.) Essentially no traffic except for one little p***k in an old Honda Accord who thought he could out drive/corner me, and tried to keep me from passing during a passing lane opportunity. Actually, I kinda made some sport out of it. More fun.

I have 15 or 20 laps of video of Saturday at Willow taken from my side mirror-mounted camera. I tried to upload to YouTube last night, but it took so long the connection timed out. I'll try again tomorrow.

Anyhoo, the whole day was great fun, if not a little HOT. Engine temp got up to 237-244 a couple of times. Tire pressure went to 40 psi (started at 34.) When I torqued my lug nuts, after a couple hours there, when I was done, the socket was almost too hot to touch.

[cerberus]

Great writeup to read Carpe. It helped me last time to have the instructor drive my car and call out throttle positions throughout the lap. We have completely different cars, but yeah, 1st is 4th gear full throttle to the breaking zone into 2. At least when the track isn't short and you're not melted. Course if you have a GXP behind you, ya can always nearly stovepipe it in to catch 2nd gear into 2. I am glad I didn't bail for our last session. Wasn't feeling well. With the skidpad clear I did get a chance to at least try a few times to square up the last turn at full throttle. Not quite there, but I understand it. Had to get used to the crossmember through the esses f/t first and that didnt happen till end of day, but ah, there's always next time.

[ClearBraInstall]

Originally Posted by astra WOW.. I never saw those kinds of temps.... N/A FTW!!! Kappasphere has a track day on June 16.. it's in the middle of the week but its a day that a Solstice can run!!! I very well might be there..

I hear that Kappasphere might not be able to have Kappas at the event without roll over protection. Due to the fact that they are not part of a PDS (performance driving school). I put Brandon in touch with Ravenwing to see if they can get something worked out.

Clear

[Carpe Diem]

One amusing thing I didn't mention . . . several times when pushing hard through turn 3, OnStar would call me. "Is everything all right?" she would ask. I didn't want to answer as I was busy setting up for turns 4 and 5, so the first time, I just reached up and jabbed one of the buttons. Then on the next lap, she called again, same turn, when I didn't respond, it just started beeping. Finally, I shouted, I'm OK. Please leave me alone."

Several laps later, same turn, she called me again, and asked if I was OK. I figured I would have to deal with it, or she would just keep calling me, every lap, all day. So, I backed off, and told her I was OK. She then asked me if I needed directions. (I should have told her 'yes, can you help me find the fastest line?" But I didn't.) I calmly told her (with my engine revving toward red line) that I am OK, and that I am in a driving school, and if OnStar would just ignore me for the next several hours that would be just fine. She said she understood and that she would do that. They didn't call me again . . . not even when I spun out.

[AdamVIP]

Sunday was HOT. It hit 108 at the track. My poor victoria was only good for about 5-6 laps before I had to bring her in cause she was heating up. I ran some great laps on Sunday and at one point our group was down to just two of us on the track.

[AdamVIP]

OK heres my story. For whatever reason I believe I coasted through it at this lap and at the very end I slammed the gas with the wheel turned and the back end went out. Corrected the first spin but that just brought me into a second and off the track. Im working on a way to make the video a smaller size and cutting out the laps before the "incident". We can analyze when its up.

The guys at Ravenwing gave me a car package of a wash glove and some microfiber cloths when I saw them back at the hotel. They really were fun people to hang around.

BIG THANKS to Wayne who helped me clean up Victoria at his house. By my count we were out there for about 2 hours.

Sunday was fairly calm. Only one incident. Unfortunately Terry from Ravenwings battery caught fire. He was ok and nothing but the battery and some trunk carpet seemed damaged.

Theres lot more to tell but I need to get to work.

[Carpe Diem]

Originally Posted by AdamVIP OK heres my story. For whatever reason I believe I coasted through it at this lap and at the very end I slammed the gas with the wheel turned and the back end went out. Corrected the first spin but that just brought me into a second and off the track. Im working on a way to make the video a smaller size and cutting out the laps before the "incident". We can analyze when its up. . . . Theres lot more to tell but I need to get to work.

We'd like to hear more when you have a chance, and see the video.

[gothunda]

Hi, I am putting together a calendar for 2009. Did anyone get some good shots of your run? If so I would love to get 3 or 4 of them of your group. Thanks Barb, GoThunda
p.s. here is a link of some ideas of pages for the calendars
2009 WCKCC Calendars - Saturn Sky Forum