Patoke...This is from the Norcal SAAC website.

Safety

Non-competitive - NO timing or lap scoring allowed
Track is fully staffed with USARM professional cornerworkers
Ambulance and Tow Truck on-site
Strictly enforced rules for driver conduct
Passing of other cars restricted to straight-aways (no late passes)
All cars must pass tech inspection

The Shelby club has been at Thunderhill since it's inception and helped fund it's construction. They run a fun-safe event and 99.9% of the people had a great time and fully understand why there is no passing in the turns. We encourage newcomers to come and learn to drive on the track. We provide volunteer instructors to help the guys just getting their feet wet. It sounds like this event is just not suited for the type of driving you want to do.

NorCal Shelby events should not be used to be competeitive. Too many noobs and the biggest hint is that they dont offer lap timing. All I was going to do out there is hang with the gang and make a few shake down runs to get a feel of the car with the new rear shocks and fuel cell. Stop watches are great but not as accurate as a an on car timing device.

I run and AMB transponder on my car. When I'm serious about tuning for faster lap times I run with NASA or NCRC. Point being NorCal Shelby events should not be used to try and kill your last best lap time.

Greg, I completely agree and track days are all about having fun, not our big shot at becoming the next Mario. The lack of passing in the turns is a GOOD thing in most groups. After 20+ years of wheel to wheel racing, I'm comfortable passing anywhere on the track but I definitely would want the others in my run group to be comfortable as well doing so. It makes more sense that they have a blue run group that just didn't run on Saturday.

For someone starting out, I think it is an excellent group to go with but I wouldn't recommend it for a very fast car unless the run the blue group because the difference in speeds without being able to pass wasn't much fun truthfully. But again, that's just my opinion and it sounds like Sunday would have been much better.

Since we did the friday event, we never planned to stay for Sunday. I can't afford to put on those pounds from eating at Casa Ramos twice, ha!!

Also, you're cars sound like fun! Just as an fyi, we ran 10 seconds slower on Saturday in the one session we did before we packed up because of the slower traffic, so that means you would have run a 1:58 on Friday!! :)

Maybe I should learn to read!! Obviously I didn't see the part about not passing in the turns on their webpage. It seems like a fun and well run organization. It was just a misunderstanding on our part about what it is. We are used to racing as well as track days that are completely open if you are a capable enough driver.

We have full data logging in our cars as well as transponders, there is no better tool for driver development than data logging as you can see your lines, corner speeds, shift points, etc. Then get a better driver to drive your car and see where you are losing time. The systems are relatively cheap now too, at least compared to what they used to cost.

Nice thing about the diversity of California tracks and local organizations is that there is a club and track for every style/experience level.

Here is a link to a build thread on one of our latest race car builds https://lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=46091

In Sprint trim versus endurance trim, we see hoping for sub 1:40. Over 700hp and 2000 pounds with full aero is going to be fast into turn one. We are expecting low to mid 170's mph at the end of the front stretch and some tremendous corner speeds through turn one (actually all of the high speed turns because of the aero).

NASA doesn't use the crows nest (silliest track feature in CA IMO) for the 25hr, note that outside of the high-downforce cars (open wheel, sports racers etc) that configuration is about 2.5sec a lap quicker for most.

The Wolf GB08S that was driven by Little Al and his son at the 25 this year ran a 1:37.6 in qualy. Porsche cup cars typically run in the high 1:45's. Highly prepped M3's run in the mid-low 1:50's and lower levels of prep put those cars in the mid-upper 50's. Very quick FWD cars like the Acura ILX's run this year by Honda Research run right at 2:00 and Miata's typically run in the 2:07-2:10 range.

I ran at a Shelby event a few years ago with a buddy. I really liked their attention to safety and zero-tolerance toward Hoonery. Track days aren't racing.

that is nice...don't you have a cup car too?

Vince, I recently sold my cup car. It was a blast to bang around the road courses but those cars were never meant to be on them. The only way to get them to rotate was to jump up on the curb. That's why you see the cup guys bouncing off the curbs at Sonoma.

It weighed 3,400 pounds so it was a little portly for road course racing!

So just out of curiosity Pat, what times was the black running on Friday?

We had a little motor issue early on Friday which ended that cars weekend early. We haven't looked into it yet but hopefully it isn't too bad. We only got about 4.5 laps at speed. The first two laps it was pushing pretty bad. We made some changes which really helped the next session but 2.5 laps into that session, the motor became very unhappy! ! Best time was a 2.036. The car should do under 2.00 with more tuning and some better brake pads.

Pat ---- If I ran a 1:58 --- that would be the "time" on the spins I'd be doing. I'd be too scared to actually drive at that rate! OMG

Seriously --- I think the Lotus can run a 2:00 = it's far faster than our old Mustangs.... and if I had the stones and seat time I'm pretty sure it's capable. There's some videos on YouTube of Andy doing 1:33 at Laguna Seca in his ... they're pretty quick little POS in the right hands. Mine would never be anywhere near those times.


I was really writing for the PT crowd that hangs here ---- that if they come to run -- and they "only" run a 2:15 or 2:10's or some such.... they should be real happy with that.... 'cause the "pros" in full on race trim are setting lap records in the very low 2:00's... and those are RECORDS -- so they're probably not "running" those times in traffic etc. It's more just to keep perspective and balance, that I make my comments.

Damn.....that's impressive. 1.3 faster than I've run so far. Hopefully these new shocks will make a difference. I'll be heading back to T-Hill again June 13th with NCRC. How soon before the black is back out?

It depends on what's up with the motor honestly. I have a full slate of race/track cars right now so if it's an easy fix, it should be back on the track soon. You're welcome to drive it if we ever have it at the same event to compare against your car, likes/dislikes, etc.

I'll be at the May 24th HOD event at Sonoma in the c6z and I believe I'm doing the HOD June 7/8th event on the new 5 mile track. Black might be there for that event.

I'm also contemplating selling black. That sounds crazy as its not even fully finished yet but I have an opportunity to buy a really special car and I already own enough track cars for the whole Brady bunch family to all drive at once! !

That Lotus you have is a very cool car! ! So is the mustang but I'm a GM guy so don't tell anybody I said that :secret:

Great to meet you Mike :thumbsup: Awesome to hear the boys want to go again!

Wait until the suspension is dialed in and it gets fresh shocks. That little pony's got some motor in it. GW's motor sounds great pulling off the corners accelerating down the straights!

I'll need to check my videos for times I think Ron and Dave said 2:14-2:15's. Twice I had somewhat open track with what I felt was good lap smooth lap going I got the meatball flag for sound. :bang:

I wasn't smart enough after the first meatball flag on Saturday to ask Dito (the photog) where the sound station was, I saw him on Sunday after my last session and secured the location. :sieg: They tell you it's roving if you ask......:secret: So after the first incident I went on a scavenger hunt through the pits and found a section of pipe and added the turn down figuring it would be the most neutral position......I should have turned it up. I only got one more run on Saturday and didn't get flagged and my two Sunday am sessions and Greg's one session didn't get a flag. Then my first session out after lunch I was meetballed again. Came in the pits and rotated the tip another 5* down (only option due to bodywork clearance) and went out for the last session paranoid and short-shifting until the last few laps of the day and had traffic issues on those. :waveflag:

If I would have turned the tip up there probably wouldn't have been an issue. Track limit is 103 db, Saturday I hit 105 db and Sunday 104 db. If you would have been there you wouldn't have believed the 2-Eleven would have been in violation.......at all!

Is that the car with the large weave carbon bodywork that's somewhat rough and slightly yellowing?

Sieg, that's the one. I didn't get a chance to talk to them much but we parked next to them. They seemed nice and the car was definitely fast. I meant stohr btw.

Greg and I went by when she was belted in with helmet on in their pit waiting for her session. I looked at her and knew it was a lady that appeared to be middle aged........would have never guessed she was a 60 plusser!

Didn't watch her run which I'm now regretting!

The car looked to be well used and there was no effort to make it "pretty" which told me it was probably sleeper quick. :secret:

Pat, just checked the NCRC website and didn't see your time posted.

If it aint posted it didn't happen. :rules:

Get that thing running again and lets see some ink :lol:

Gaetano, we didn't get the transponder on the car. I didnt even think we would get the car onto the track truthfully. Vince was a little behind in his schedule as you know. We were welding the quarters on the night before and installing a new steering rack. We put in a gpxpro though to datalog, but I hear ya on the "no post, no proof". Maybe I'll decide to keep it to show you the tail lights in person :)

FIGHT!

:popcorn2:


:lol:

Friendly track fun!! I was really hoping the orange car would be there, but I was also hoping to run the car two full days versus 4.5 laps.

Promise there wasn't any smack talk in our pit over the weekend. :whistling:

Bummer about your car. Losing sessions to due to meatball flags was bad enough for me. You certainly weren't the only one I saw benched prematurely due to mechanicals. I hate seeing that happen to people because I know the feeling firsthand.

Had a chance to figure out the issue?

I respectfully except that challenge my friend. :cheers:

Just a heads up just in case you didn't know, NCRC rents transponders and Dave and Luke are more than happy to take your money for the transponder rental and timing. :thumbsup:

No, I was at the hospital all day for my wife to have a procedure which went well and also really helped my lateral-g post count. There's nothing like 8 hours in a hospital with free wi-fi to boost post count!!

The car is still in the small trailer. I'm debating what to do with the car right now. I'll probably bring it back to Vince if he wants it!! That car gave him some fits but he has done a lot of really nice work on it so he might as well get to finish that work.

Keep the car. We need to boost the NorCal first gen track car count.

And you don't want to miss out on the September NCRC get together between the NorCal and SoCal crowd at Buttonwillow.

I included the before and after pit cruise for those that haven't attended a track day so they can see the entire in car process for a session.

I didnt know they rented transponders. Good to know for the future.

you wave like Charley :slingshot:

looks like a blast in that thing....so....did you find one yet? I know you looked.

I'll admit that four buddy's with four 2-Eleven's running in the same session would be serious fun. :unibrow:

Oh crap...you know he's running around the neighborhood stealing aluminum can so he can buy this and stick it in the Orange... https://lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=45677

He'll never make it to T2 on the green flag lap. Good spectator viewing from the hillside above the tower between T1 & T2 though. :D

So, who had the most fun?

I'd have to say everyone who had a running car had a pretty darn good weekend. Weather was perfect, NorCal Shelby runs a good track, and the drivers are observant and courteous. Didn't hear of any contact incidents and only one minimal oil-down incident that taken care of quickly.

You couldn't have asked for a better atmosphere in our immediate pit area or the entire pit area for that matter. There was just a lot of nice friendly people who attended the event. The Club had a great Saturday night prime rib buffet. I highly recommend NorCal Shelby events to anyone looking to get their car on the track where they can really enjoy it. :thumbsup:

I think the real question would be is who didn't have fun. Hell, me, Vince, and Allen worked on my car for at least 25 hours straight just to make it up there. Didn't get to T-Hill till 1:00 on Sunday. And even though they wouldn't let me run I still got to see my boys. Wouldn't trade that time getting the car ready with Vince and Allen and the 4 hours with my boys at the track for anything.

:thumbsup: :cheers:

oh speak for yourself....I still can't form proper sentences, haven't slept good and developed a nervous twitch every time I hear that stupid "Frozen song" and don't even get me started on Allen. He shaved his head bald, adopted a bleach white, over weight cat that he carries everywhere and keeps mumbling your name and something about destroying the earth with a fricken laser.

good times....HAAA, "spits on the floor

:lmao:

I was actually concerned for your well being when I saw Gae roll in at 0'Dave-Thirty on Sunday. :D

Vince, you need to "let it go".....