Hey Guys and Gals,
Just sent the following to NASA:
Hi Ryan,
I wanted to thank you on behalf of the So Cal Viper Club for your help arranging last Sunday's driving event. This was a bunch of work for both of us, but I think we pulled it off.
I don't think you or your staff could have been any better to work with. So .....
While at dinner on Sunday night after the track, Manny, Mike and I (along with a Mustang club guy) kicked around the idea of doing a special event with you guys, if possible.
The idea would be to promote, through NASA, an "American Muscle Car Track Shootout".
This would not be a race, per se, but a track day with Vipers, Corvettes, Cobras and Mustangs (or ?) running in their own group with say HPDE 3 or 4 rules. Hopefully, this would bring some folks out to watch and drive in other HPDE groups.
We thought this might be fun as a promotion for you to drum up some business during slow times.
My primary request would be that this event be held during cooler months and limited to say 30 or so in this run group. (This is really up to you – just don't want too many in this group).
Manny, myself, Mike Burgoyne, Ron Wasserman, Jonathan Martinez, likely Ben Kawata and some other experienced Viper Drivers would plan to attend. You probably know some Corvette guys and Mustang guys that would love a shot a driving with us.
Let me know if there is any interest and I'll get this out to our group.
Proposed dates are October 11 & 12.
Regards,
Dan
So Cal Viper Club
I'd like to know if there is any interest.
Im definitely interested, if novices will have a run group
Hey Kobi,
Yes, novices can run in NASA's HPDE 1 and then watch us kick some Corvette / Mustang butt!
Dan
Hey Dan,
Dai wants to kick some stang/vette butt... >k >g ^8 ^8 ^8
with her Lexus hybrid of course
oh never mind...
OK, so what mods have you done to the Lexus?
Hey Gang,
There is an open track day at Buttonwillow on Friday Oct 9 before this event, so we can make this a three day weekend or you can just come up for one or two days as you'd like.
Price is $200 for the open track day - 9 to 5 or $110 for a 1/2 day, 1 to 5.
OE seat belts, helmet, long cotton pants and long sleeve shirt, closed toe shoes, etc. so everyone can drive.
Check with Buttonwillow for more info at: www.buttonwillowraceway.com
Dan
I'm signed up. Cathy and I are going. Anyone else?
Dan <2
Wow,
I ran test and tune on Friday with the racers and got to chase National Champion Manny Coats around the track (Viper guy driving a Honda). He was remarkably fast in his race prepared Honda Civic.
Also spent some time chasing Jonathan Martinez in his race prepared GTS. Couldn't quite keep up, yet .....
There were about 50 cars in my run group, so I got to make a bunch of passes. Most cars were imports with a few Mustangs, Corvettes and Porsches. It's a bit harder to pass at Buttonwillow compared to Willow Springs as the track is a bit tighter. Never got a clean lap on Saturday or Sunday. We ran clockwise on Saturday and counter-clockwise on Sunday.
Weather was very cool in the morning and pretty good during the day.
New splitter worked well.
Dan
Wow 50 cars in your group.....really makes you appreciate the limited sized groups at Viper Days
Sounds like you had a lot of fun.
I'm betting it won't be long before you are being chased by Manny and Jonathon.
I actually got by Manny during that session and he couldn't (or didn't choose to - hard to tell - he's an awfully good driver) get back by me in that last session. I suspect he was just being nice.
After I led for a couple of laps, I was pretty fired up. He closed on me in every tight section of the track and I opened up a bit of a lead in every straighter section. Then I noticed that my gas gauge was bouncing around the E - empty line, so I came off track and went straight for the gas pump.
Most fun of the weekend.
Dan
I can only imagine how much faster you will be sitting in the 09 ACR !!!
I hear that the new SRTC ACR is easier to drive fast than the old GTS ACR, so I'm looking forward to driving it.
Best time on Friday without traffic was 2:06 in the GTS. We ran race #13 clockwise. Track was cold and the wind blew dust on the track all day making for a few "depends" moments. Nobody turned in any really fast times Friday. FYI, Manny normally runs 2:01s and 2:02s in this configuration.
New splitter (made it on Wednesday) was a bit low and rubbed a few times on Sunday when going counter clockwise through Cotton Corners.
I'll make more adjustments this weekend.
D
Holy #$%@ 2:06 is moving !!
Terri Rossi took me around the track at a leisurely 2:24 and I was scared to death.
Wow! You are getting fast Dan! Awesome!
See you at K1 tonight and at the Pantera event.
Ben
Quote from: PCH VIPER on October 13, 2008, 02:33:46 PM
I'm betting it won't be long before you are being chased by Manny and Jonathon.
Do I hear a wager? <9
Not from me Jonathan! Not in your GTS anyway.
But I will wager that you'll be looking into a Honda race car soon.....
You really seemed to have fun driving that little Honda and you were pretty much keeping up with Manny and almost keeping up with Renon. Impressive for your first time in the car.
Friday was fun as I said above. Checked my data logger and I actually ran a 2:05 with you in the car on Friday though it felt kinda slow. Vipers can be deceptive in just how fast they really are.
Now I see why you don't run the Saturday / Sunday events ..... too many cars, too many rules / meetings, etc. etc.
Dan
Well done Dan. Congrats on te 2:05. It felt slower because you were smoother. Using the lower gears through those specific sections I spoke to you about allowed you to pull harder out of those corners instead of the car lugging. Nice job Dan.