Messages

I just completed registering and am looking forward to getting out on the SM track again.   I had some issues with the car at Chuckwalla; but, I feel that it is good to go if I keep an eye on things.  Looks like probably a valve job in the cards this summer.

I am looking forward to the event!  I missed the day trip that you guys made out there in December; but, I got to drive the track last Saturday with Star Cars.   It was definitely a fun day and a fun track; but, then again, any day at any track counts as a fun day (unless it ends in damage to something ).   I won't be able to make a Feb 26,27 weekend there, though.

See you all in March.

I am definitely planning on being there !

Scott and Lance, Thanks for the great photos and videos.    I had a great time and appreciate everyone's efforts to pull this together.   It was great to see the ACRX's out there mixing it up, in addition to the VRL guys.

Jim Schlemm

The bad news is that it's the trans and not the clutch per my trans guy today.  It seems that one of the teeth on one of the gears broke and damaged the first three gears!
Dan

Wow.  Sorry to hear that, Dan.  It went from an easy, hoped for, bearing fix to an expensive gear replacement, as easy as a Viper can do a snap spin on old/cold tires.    Thanks again for the fill up of power steering fluid at Buttonwillow.  I finally got to looking and my problem was just a leaking high pressure hose.  Not bad enough to spray back at the header, so no big deal, especially when compared to the way your Sunday ended.   See you and the rest of the SoCal folks at SM in a couple of weeks!

Jim Schlemm

Lance and Scott:   Great pictures !  Thanks for taking the time to document this excellent adventure and sacrificing your valuable track time to do it !

Thanks to all that put together this event, and I am really looking forward to going back for the Viper Days event in October !

Jim

Here's a question that I would ask tomorrow if I was close enough to attend:   Does anyone recommend changing the coolant mix to something like 30% Dexcool / 70% water in order to better cool the engine during the hot track sessions?  Knowing that location, we could see some pretty high engine temperatures in the later sessions.  I plan on using 15W-50 Mobil One .

Jim S
02 GTS ACR

Lance and Dan, thanks for the inputs.   I hear what you are saying, and it sets me off thinking again. (dammit)  The rollover at BW happened to someone in my group.  I also had an issue where I was following someone close enough to get by when the opportunity presented itself, waiting for the point by, when they lifted at an extremely unlikely point and I was almost not ready for that.  I am also just learning, myself. 

See you all in June.

Jim

Dan,
I was about to buy a cheap single layer driving suit for the Spring Mountain event.

I just wanted to verify that they will accept a SFI 3-2A/1 suit  (Like what was hot-linked in the flyer) with no special underwear.

The reason that I ask is that I have been researching a bit on suits and find that NASA and SCCA require fire resistant underwear with a SFI 3-2A/1 suit, so, I wondered if that might be where the SM insurance company is getting their requirement from.

I will never be in anything but low intermediate and no racing; so, as far as I'm concerned, this is just window dressing for me.

Thanks,
Jim Schlemm

I definitely had some fun out there this weekend; but, I've never seen so many s2000's , Evo's , and WRX's in one place before!  I felt a little out of place amongst them. Especially when I had to point one (or more) by.  It's good that there were some fast Viper drivers out there in the advanced groups to carry the flag !    I definitely do not have the track time or skills that Dan and others here have; but, I bet that my fun factor is still right up there at a similar level !

I look forward to driving with you guys at Spring Mountain in June. 

Jim Schlemm
AZ

Just saw on the Chuckwalla Valley Raceway's Facebook page that they have completed laying pavement and curbs.  They are getting ready for opening day in a week or two.

Here is a video of the first lap on the new track:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUB05F7-17o

I was hoping for more elevation change than this shows, based on some info that they posted earlier; but, this looks fun to me.  Lots of safe run off room, just in case !

Jim Schlemm
AZ

I'm trying to get out as much as possible this year, and I now have a trailer; so, the distance is not a big issue, and no more worries about driving home afterwards.

If I lived closer to the fun tracks like the SoCal guys do, I probably would have gotten into tracking my car more often much earlier.  Of course, not having family obligations helps a lot also! 


Jim

I plan on being there; so, I guess that I will look into a driving suit.  Sounds like overkill to me; but, the price isn't bad.

Is there any reason why not to get a two piece suit? Jacket and pants?  Did they say ony 1-piece, or just any SFI rated suit? It sure seems that on a warm day, it would be good to be able to take the top part off between sessions.   Probably is not quite as protective; but, if I am comfortable just driving in denim, I'm OK with a two piece suit.  Yeah, I know a one piece looks "cooler"; but, it would take a lot more than that to make me look cool.  Besides, what's cooler than driving a Viper at speed on a road course ?

Looking forward to a mega-Viper event !

Jim Schlemm

With the absence of Viper Days, I am trying to find good opportunities to get some track time.  This sounds pretty good, and I'm planning on making the trip over to Buttonwillow to get another weekend fix !  opefully there will be plenty of the SoCal guys there to make it feel less like a S2000 event !

Regards,
Jim Schlemm