To All,

Come run Willow Springs with the Pantera / Ferrari Club.

Run groups are available for all skill levels and instruction is available.

This is a very friendly group to run with (and is sometimes a bit crowded on Saturday) as prices are very low for two days of driving Willow Springs.

At this event, you'll get lot's of opportunity to practice passing "other cars", like Panteras, Porches, Corvettes, Ferraris, Mustangs, Hondas, etc.....and the weather is usually very good.

For more information, email Jim Saxton of West Coast Racing at:  [email protected] or (626) 285-2024

See you at the track,

Dan   <2


HOTEL:

West Coast Racing has set up a deal with Oxford Suites in Lancaster  (661) 949-3423 (http://www.oxfordsuiteslancaster.com/) (14 Fwy @ K Street)  Mention you are with West Coast Racing Inc.and the rate is $89 a night with a full breakfast.

We'll be staying with the Izards at Homewood Suites by Hilton (http://homewoodsuites1.hilton.com/en_US/hw/hotel/PDLHWHW-Homewood-Suites-by-Hilton-Lancaster-California/index.do;jsessionid=D37EE58C3BCAF1AC5E4A1A0FCDDE53F1.etc31?brand_id=HW&brand_directory=/en/hw/&xch=501532634,N23PXODRE34FWCSGBJBMVCQ) in Lancaster.  Our AAA rate is $116 per night + taxes.  New facility, nice rooms and it includes breakfast.  Right off of the 14 Fwy at I street.

Hey Dan, I think you can run in the "race" with your ACR the way it is. Unless it's changed I was allowed to run my Gen 2 a few years back with no roll bar. You may wanna check.

BTW, you're right, this event used to sell out fast, 120 cars on a Saturday.

So Cal Rebel,

Yeah, they invited me to run in the "race" last time out in my GTS ACR.  I was running in the red-race group but passed on the race.  My GTS would get hot if I ran it hard too long and I didn't want to kill it.

This year I'll run in the red-race group again and may run in the "race" too.  My 09 ACR does have a roll bar and a fire bottle but I still wouldn't want to get hit by a fully caged race car.

You coming out?

Dan

Hey Guys,

Bob Blizzard, ex-Viper Days chief driving instructor, is putting together an all day driving instruction class on Friday at Willow Sprigns before this event.

This is an 8 hour classroom session discussing your car's handling.

Price is only $100.00 each or two for $150.00.

More info to come.

Dan  <2

Here are the registration, tech forms and event info if you want to print them out.

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x203/socalrebell/Scan10047.jpg)

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x203/socalrebell/Scan10048.jpg)

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x203/socalrebell/Scan10049.jpg)

 Hey Guys,

Here's the info on Bob's program :

PERFORMANCE CORNERING SEMINAR
WILLOW SPRINGS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2009.  9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Bob Blizzard will be giving his Performance Cornering Seminar on Friday, October 30th.   This seminar is for road course drivers who want to adopt a proactive approach to rapidly maximizing both their driving skills and their car's potential.   It is designed to enable a driver to fully understand track analysis and suspension dynamics in applying appropriate cornering and braking techniques; to assess car handling while on-track and to adjust tires and suspension components for optimum performance; and to integrate a broad spectrum of understanding in the areas of car preparation and  practice techniques to maximize performance driving proficiency.

This is NOT your run-of-the-mill driving instruction class.  If you are one of the many who have put on fresh tires and/or bought new parts, have driven as fast as you think you safely can around the track and have still not obtained the lap times that you desire, this seminar is for you. 

Visit
www.performancecornering.com
for complete course content.

$100 per individual, or $150.00 for two (bring a buddy or your mechanic).   Call or e-mail Bob direct to sign up, or with any questions.    Sign-up closes Friday, October 23.   

Bob Blizzard
(858) 748-0304
[email protected]
www.performancecornering.com

Dan,
I am signing up for this event (although there is a chance I will not make it if my shooting schedule gets behind).  This may be the one of the few I will make this year, so I am looking forward to it, and hanging out with the viper gang.
Cheers, Ray

Hey Ray,

Hope you can make it.

We have reserved a garage for this event so our group can hang together.

Regards,

Dan

Add me to the list.  I am also going to take the class on Friday if anyone wants to join!

First timer!  Woo Hoo!

Glenn...................


F.Y.I. Sunday, Nov. 1st is the big guy's 56th B-day!!! <w Double Woo Hoo!!!

Steph

I had nothing to do with that up above!

F.Y.I.   Antelope Valley Inn is CLOSED!   No more one eyed cocktail waitress  no more Karaoke     >o
sorry Lance .
Planing to stay at the Homewood suites Lancaster.  A few bucks more then the rest but looks very nice.
And Dan there is a professional Baseball field across the street and Cathy it's puppy friendly!

Glenn...............

http://homewoodsuites1.hilton.com/en_US/hw/hotel/PDLHWHW-Homewood-Suites-by-Hilton-Lancaster-California/index.do

The cars in Japan have Karaoke stereos and mics in them....serious.
Takes the stress out of traffic, and if you sing bad and loud enough, everyone gets out of your way.

Hey Gang,

Anyone else going to join "Greased Lightning" and I running this event?

Looks like the first Viper Days event next year will be run at Willow Springs instead of Buttonwillow - trying to avoid rain in late Feb / early March.

Get some practice for VD in at this event. 

See you at the track,

Iceman  <2

Hey ICEMAN I'm  'Grease Lightning.' On that note I would like to say Thanks for letting me join the Sidewinders
before my debut.  Spent the day cutting holes in the carpet looking for the bolt from the pics "Wing Man" 
posted on installing the six points.  So now can I tell my friends that I have joined a gang?  Leather jackets or Hawaiian shirts?



B T W Happy Anniversary  Dan and Cathy >2

Hey Sidewinders,

Looks like Michael "Deadhead" von Quilich will be joining us along with "Bullet" Bob Blizzard.

Iceman  <2

I signed up for Sunday only. This will be my first time on the track with the new car so excuse me if I'm running off pace with you other red group guys.
Ben

I'd say that after the 2nd lap you'll be up to speed and already a few seconds faster than the old bumble-bee.

You are gonna love it !!!!   <2

Hey Ben,

You will be surprised how quickly you'll get up to speed.  The car is very forgiving and the traction is so good as to be a bit scary at first.  My recommendation is to stay smooth and work up to it.

We'll be in a garage at the front, the La Grande I think.

I'll bring a camber gauge so we can check your alignment.  These new ACR's have so much traction that without proper negative camber up front, you will wear the left front tire out pretty quickly at Willow Springs.....and with too much negative camber up front, you'll wear the right front tire out pretty fast (corded one two weekends ago after only 4 sessions.)

Speaking of tires, what tires will you be running?

Look forward to seeing you at Willow.

Iceman  <2

I think I will run the track wheels I used on my gen2 car, assuming that they fit ok.
They have Toyo R888's.

I think the alignment on the car now has -2.3 camber. You think that is about right?

Hey Ben,

The fit will depend on the wheels and you will need an Ebrake relocation kit on the back of your ACR to run 18's.

Dan  <2

Iceman,

Did you get some good passing practice out there?

Dr. Fangs

Hey Kobi,

I ran in the race group, so I didn't pass as many as usual and the attendance was way down so the track was very open.

We did get a good group of Vipers out as we made up most of the advanced group.  It almost looked like a Viper Days event in the advanced group.

Weather was warmer than expected, but air temps were pretty good, 80's on Saturday and almost 90 on Sunday.

Highlights were:

1 - Ex-pro racer Michael von Quilich (Deadhead) broke 1:29 in his 08 ACR for a personal best - congratulations to Michael!

2 - We met another new Viper owner, ex-pro racer Paul Poisner (Poison), who was also very fast and challenged Michael in his 08 coupe with APR Aero wing and splitter.

3 - Michael Greenberg (Cheeseman) was there in his comp coupe and also ran his GTSR.  He and Bob Blizzard (Bullet) had fun chasing each other around the track.

4 - Ben Kawata (Banzai Ben) brought his new 08 ACR out to play.

5 - Glenn Izard (Grease Lightning) "popped his cherry" (his words for taking his Viper to the track) in his Silver SRT-10.

6 - Viper owner Pat ran some 1:36's in his supercharged SRT-10 Vert.

7 - Scott Hirko came out and ran with us on Sunday.  Nice to see Scott again.

8 - 79 year old John Wiegel (Johnny Yuma) continued to amaze us with his driving skills in his 08 ACR.  When the Cheeseman admits he had trouble catching Johnny, you know Johnny was haulin'.

9 - Michel Szostak (The Champ) and son Adrian (Spinner) came ran and some fast laps in their 06 VOI9 coupe.

10 - I ran a personal best at Willow in my 09 ACR of 1:32 with many 1:33's.

11 - Lance (Flyin' Hawaiian) and Art (Neck Breaker) came out to sing happy birthday to Glenn.

Hope to see you at Fontana Nov 21 & 22.

Iceman  <2

What a beautiful day out at WSIR !    I wish I could have gone out on the track...but had just as much fun taking pictures  >u and visiting with everyone.    

Seemed like there were more Vipers there than Panteras !  You guys beat them up on Sat so bad that they didn't want to come out on Sun ??  >m

I posted up the pictures on my site  www.kouchicentral.com (http://www.kouchicentral.com)

Here are a few:
(http://www.kouchicentral.com/images/09-21%20wsir/DSC_7499.JPG)
Glenn in turn 5

(http://www.kouchicentral.com/images/09-21%20wsir/DSC_7502.JPG)
Jim, Art, John, Ben

(http://www.kouchicentral.com/images/09-21%20wsir/DSC_7520.JPG)
Hirko in turn 3

(http://www.kouchicentral.com/images/09-21%20wsir/DSC_7604.JPG)
Bob and Michael going head to head

(http://www.kouchicentral.com/images/09-21%20wsir/DSC_7640.JPG)
Dan at turn 6

(http://www.kouchicentral.com/images/09-21%20wsir/DSC_7740.JPG)
Ben in turn 4

(http://www.kouchicentral.com/images/09-21%20wsir/DSC_7838.JPG)
Roughing it......REALLY!

(http://www.kouchicentral.com/images/09-21%20wsir/DSC_7873.JPG)
Glenn did a great job for his first time out and will come up to speed VERY quickly I'm sure !  Good job and Happy B-Day Glenn!

Hey Banzai Ben,

How did the car feel after making the adjustment to the shocks?  Care to share your times?

Lance, Great pictures!!



Look's like it was a viper club test and tune day, lot's of open track, wish I could have been there!

Congrats on getting below 1:32 Dan!
Sounds like you all had a blast.
Wish I could have been there also.

First post and first time with all the Viper Dudes...Had a blast and cannot wait until Fontana Roval..Hopefully we can get a few guys out there. Also Thanks to Dan for "lending" me his Hoosiers after my Cup tire blew the sidewall on the second lap >s

Hey Paul,

Welcome to our group.  If I had known you were that fast, I would have loaned you some older tires so I would have had a chance!

Dan  <2

Welcome Paul !

(http://www.kouchicentral.com/images/09-21%20wsir/DSC_7729.JPG)

I can say that you are definitely FAST.   I was sitting up at turn 4 taking pictures.  You and Blizzard were the only 2 cars that were ATTACKING  turns 3 and 4.  Pretty cool to sit there and observe the different lines people took through there.  Most guys were coming up from 3 at moderate throttle, You and Blizzard sounded like you were practically wide open and the tires were singing through 4.   

Very impressive driving.   >v

Thanks guys, Dan BTW the last session on Sunday, the track was bad but I pulled my tires yesterday and had corded 3 of the 4 Kuhmo V700's, lucky to make it home I guess...I don't think those tires hold up too well in the heat at Willow. Probably do OK at Fontana but I will try some new tires for sure, maybe Hoosiers???  =27

Hey Paul,

Welcome aboard, it was nice meeting you this past weekend.  I love the Red and Graphite stripes combination on your viper it looks very mean.

Thanks to all I met, very warm welcome...I would love to see more pics of us from this weekend also!!

>l

Hey Paul,

The good news is you were running very fast on a hot, mediocre track day.

The bad news is, of course, the the V700's won't hold up very long at your driving level.

I'd try the Hoosier R6's next.  Call Luke at Tire Rack:  800-428-8355 x362 and tell him I sent you.  Best prices and great service.

Don't forget to have them heat cycled as it is well worth the price.

And let me know where your tires corded and your alignment specs - maybe I can help you a bit with tire wear.

Willow Springs can be very hard on tires if you're driving fast in a Viper.

See you at the track.

Dan  <2

I'll take some pics of the corded one's and try to post them here..... >l

PICS OF TIRES

MORE PICS

Hey Paul,

You chunked your Kumhos big time.

One thing that will help is shaving them and heat cycling them before you run.  Another is checking tire pressures regularly.  They seem to like about 35 or 36 psi hot.

Even with all of the above, you just ran too fast for them!

I ran Kumho Ecsta V700s on my GTS for about a year, then began chunking them at about 1:35 Willow Springs lap times.  One of my tires lost a 4 x 6 inch piece of rubber right out of the center at Willow Springs one day.

I suggest you step up to the Hoosier R6s and have them heat cycled.  They are pricey but won't chunk at your driving level.  You can still cord the inside or outside edges without a proper track alignment though.

Call Luke at Tire Rack, 800-428-8355 x362

Tell him I sent you.

Dan

Ordered the R6's Dan for Fontana!!!   Thanks..... =15