Pahrump

[Steve Grosekemper]

I'll take some of that Timmy action!
Does 911 power count?

[gulf911]

Imagine that.... a n/a 944 driver that see's the track as it should be seen, a drivers track..

Sorry Tim, I will still have to pass you...having a 3.2 and all...

[jack miller]

Send in your registration today! Plus make hotel reservations...if you can. Otherwise you can stay in Vegas, which isn't a bad drive.

[Steve Grosekemper]

When I tried to get a spot at the nugget a month ago they said smoking rooms only so I looked around and found the best western pahrump station to be the best deal (and the only online hotel in Pahrump)

A little more but I'm hoping to be able to breathe

[Mike]

Just an idea for future long distance track weekend discussions…..

Some like the short track some like the new expanded track.
Some refuse to go if one track or the other is used.

Find the middle ground, increase participation and make this a double point’s event.
Keep everyone happy by running a points paying TT Saturday on the short course.
Sunday run a points paying TT on the long course.

With the transponder system it could be everyone’s best lap each day that counts.

I’d like to try this format at Buttonwillow too.
After you have run these tracks a couple times do you really need to spend 2 days in a row on the same configuration before attempting 2 timed laps?

Is it possible that varied track layouts on the same weekend and double points could increase TT participation? POC does it each year at streets when they reverse direction. At Buttonwillow try Saturday with Star Mazda Sunday without.

See ya at TT next year.
Mike

[Mike]

Jack,To me, this configuration doesn't seem very challenging or instructive.

I'd have to agree with John on this point:

The Fast Track configuration would be of no interest to me, and I'd stay home and save my time and money for more interesting and technical driving events

Just some ideas from a lower-HP driver. Not bashing anyone here.
DC

Perhaps it just sounds like “considerably less skills” are required for longer/faster tracks?
I would expect those with comments of not interesting or not challenging feel so because on long tracks they dominate their class.
If you feel that way and you can’t win your class then perhaps there is much for you to gain by competing on these long tracks.
A low hp car on a fast track is all about momentum, that’s get very technical to me.
Again not bashing anyone here.

Have fun at Pahrump, see you at a TT next year.

[Jad]

Mike, in a low HP car, most of the high speed tracks lose a lot of the challenging sections. Take Fontana, turns 1 & 2 are complete non-events, full throttle and drive whereever you want on the bank. In a high HP car, turns 1 & 2 are VERY exciting. Also, the chicanes can be very challenging with high HP, do you lift, can you make it full throttle? In a low HP car, you just drive through them. Yes, there are still a couple of fun corners, but not nearly as many and much of the time you just drive off line letting the fast cars blast down the straight so you never get good lap times. Been there, not as much fun. Image big Willow if you could take 8 & 9 flat out - boring track.

I do like your idea of the two events on different layouts, would keep things more exciting! Sure kills you for the season if you miss that event though....

[Dan Chambers]

Perhaps it just sounds like “considerably less skills” are required for longer/faster tracks?
I would expect those with comments of not interesting or not challenging feel so because on long tracks they dominate their class.
If you feel that way and you can’t win your class then perhaps there is much for you to gain by competing on these long tracks.
A low hp car on a fast track is all about momentum, that’s get very technical to me.

Mike, with all due respect, I need to put you in the right side seat to experience Cal. Speedway to see what it's like. As to dominating a class: I come in second in GS/GP to only the 911 drivers. Why? 911 have more HP and less weight. Yes, I stick to them like glue in the infields/corners. In fact, I've been given the "left hand finger" by 911 drivers at some venues coming out of the tight sections, only to be passed along the straights by cars who's top speeds are 10 to 30 MPH faster than a 944's. It's not about momentum or skill on the straights, it's about HP to weight ratios.

Here's a typical Cal. Speedway scenerio from the inside of a 944N/A:

Announcer inside my head:

"And coming on to the straight at top of 3rd gear, foot to the floor on the throttle.... Hmm Hmmm Hmmm....now forth gear, foot to the floor on throttle...hmmmm.... oh, point by Gary Burch....foot to the floor... Oh, point by Greg Phillips....Hmmm.... Hmmm..Oh, Point by Jad D., Dan, A., Curt A,. (in that order)..Hmm......Hmmm....Oh, point by Martha... Hmm.. Hmm.. there's the start/finish line.... shift to 5th, foot to floor.........hmm .. hmmm... hmmm..... I can just see turn 1 ...... Hmm.....hmmm...hmm..hmm.......Hmmm...hmmm....hmmm....Oh, point by Mark Tyler...Hmm..hmmm... Oh, point by Jack Miller...Hmm...... Hmm ..... and into turn 1, flat out in 5th at 4300 rpm's, about 112 MPH... ...hmmm.....hmmm......hhmmmm. ...gee, I wonder if I paid rent this month?....hmm...hmmm...hmmm.. oh, look at Stacy Smith take that fast line above me into turn 2....wow, he's actually throttle steering Turn 2....COOL! ..I wonder what that's like?......Hmm..hmm...hmmm.....did I send my Mom her birthday card? ........hmmm...hmmmm.......hmmm......hmmm......Oh, turn three! Well, that was nice..... now, let's start driving!"

So, Mike want to ride shotgun at Cal Speedway in my 944 next event? Bring a pillow!

[kary]

So, Mike want to ride shotgun at Cal Speedway in my 944 next event? Bring a pillow!

Dan, I would not do that if I were you, since you already feel slow by comparison adding a passenger will just make you slower yet

[Steve Grosekemper]

Dan,

I am thinking you both have valid points. On one hand I know I was much faster at our last outing to Big Willow because I worked on keeping my momentum up and not chickening out on T9 and T1. However I have also driven John Kincaid’s 944 (in stock trim) at willow just after getting out of my 914 and had to take caffeine pills to stay awake. It was just mind numbing.

That is why I think the "Most Popular Track" is the best call.

BTW- Thanks for the peek inside a 944 drivers head, that was hilarious!

As for riding with Stacy, be careful of what you wish for... The right seat in that car is terrifying!

[Tim Comeau]

.....and we have our first taker!

[JHPGT3]

Very entertaining comments one and all!
But, regardless of the merits of fast track vs. slow track, what about my original point about a little variety. We just finished WSIR. How about something entirely different this time?
And, Dan, was I the only one who didn't pass you (or was I going so fast that you didn't see me --just kiddin'?)

[Dan Chambers]

And, Dan, was I the only one who didn't pass you (or was I going so fast that you didn't see me --just kiddin'?)

John, that was you!?! All I saw was a silver flash of GT-3.

My mind-announcer went something like:

"Hmmmm.....hmmmm.....hmm.....hmmmm......(ZOOOMMMM!- John goes by!!) Hmmmmm......hmmm.... whoa! I gotta remember not to blink so long.........hmmm......hmmmmm........hmmm........gee, I wonder who that silver flash was, anyway........hmmm...hmmmmm...hhh-hhmmmm...........what's the date, today?........hhmm... hhmm......."

[Gary Burch]

You know Dan you do have valid points.

But, turns 1 and 2 at Fontana, even in my car, were still a little frightening, at leastr in the beginning. 125mph is fast in an old 911, I finally decided that the thing was going to stay together and started enjoying it. Same experience at Big Willow, it helps to have an off in #9 to keep #8 interesting. The Omega part is alot of fun. Momentum is the key.

I have not run Buttonwillow or Pahrump. But the most fun track in my car is by far Streets. Either way works. Like Mike says, it would be fun cw Sat. and ccw Sun.

It's all fun, but HP does make it alot easier.

[JHPGT3]

And, Dan, was I the only one who didn't pass you (or was I going so fast that you didn't see me --just kiddin'?)

John, that was you!?! All I saw was a silver flash of GT-3.

My mind-announcer went something like:

"Hmmmm.....hmmmm.....hmm.....hmmmm......(ZOOOMMMM!- John goes by!!) Hmmmmm......hmmm.... whoa! I gotta remember not to blink so long.........hmmm......hmmmmm........hmmm........gee, I wonder who that silver flash was, anyway........hmmm...hmmmmm...hhh-hhmmmm...........what's the date, today?........hhmm... hhmm......."

Dan, you get the Too Funny award along with all the others you've gotten . Hope to see U at Pahrump regardless of what is decided.
JP