So, in a nutshell, I can barely remember driving my car on Saturday. I managed to meet Sieg and Ron, but somehow missed Greg. My timing sucked for pretty much everything, as it seemed like if I was not on the track, I was literally running to the "classroom," as I was in school. The "classroom" sucked, but it was necessary for a few key pointers; mostly, it sucked, and it sucked up my ability to truly enjoy the day, the other cars, or the social elements of the environment. Oh well...
My main problem was sleep deprivation; I did my 120-or-so mile drive down on Saturday morning on about four hours of sleep (no problem--I drove a truck for a living for many years). I had a really cool instructor in the car (Joe Praxel?)--the guy in the classroom not so much. The in-car instructor took me out for one of his red group sessions in his California Special and managed to do a disco-spin going over that little hill; that was some good added value.
My car held up well for three sessions; I thought my basic street tires would be disinspiring, but they were surprisingly not. The suspension and steering felt great; my only confidence issue was my brakes, which still worked fine. I'm just not used to track-like braking requirements (no, no drums are on my car). Still, I actually remember very little of the driving, although the Blue Milk guys took some great feelthy peekchurs that I'll be paying money for, when I get another minute...
I finally managed to ride solo in my third session, and things went okay. That said, it's funny how 340 horsepower quickly feels like a shopping cart on a track. After the session, I heard some frying noises that turned out to be a bunch of water on the top of my motor, so I cut my losses and hit the road. I was so freaking sleepy that all I wanted to do was hit the Starbucks in Willows and go home to bed.
I got black flagged on my first lap, thanks to my cool instructor encouraging me to pass in a turn. Who was I to disagree?
I'm pretty sure that the only guy who passed me in my flaming-fast sessions was Glassman--the guy in the blue Camaro, I think...
So, my instructor wouldnt even let me warm up. I was lined up behind you in session one and he wanted my to pass you before turn two, i was like "um you know that said no passing till 9-10?" and he goes, "oh yeah". He was intense, hitting my hand off of my shifter etc,, 73 years old and he took me for a hot lap in his Cayman S, that was fun!!!
Whoa whoa whoa, what if the AZ people want to come play too? Details?
Quote:
Originally Posted by intocarss
Sounds like fun..They allow pick up trucks?
Buttonwillow is a fun track to run but it gets hot as hell down there. NCRC has an event there every September and the temp's are a little more tolerable in September. We've managed to have two decent get together's there since 2010 and I'm hoping 2014 will give us another one.
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
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