Fontana DE

[Gunter]

I just want to say "Thank You" to all the folks that put on another great PCA-SDR event:
Martin and Peter- another great DE( what a great idea to have a DE to Fontana!).I would love to have 3-4 DE events a year at this venue!
Joel-to the point great instructions-please do more events as CDI !!
Jackie, Angela, Debbie( 2.47 at Spring Mountain - you are my hero ), - thank you all.
Rick, Dave - thanks guys. Dave - thank you for taking my " Taste of the Track'" guests for a ride! They were scared but happy!
I know there are a few more folks involved to put on an event like this- thank you to all of you
Driving my Spec for the first time in 18 months and instructing my niece Kelsey was.. priceless! I had so much fun I may do an AX...

[genikz]

I second that. Very well run event and a good job at announcing the five minute call for each run group.

Thanks to all that put this event together!

[MR LIPP]

I am glad you all enjoyed yourself.
The best news is that there were no incidents and everybody played nice.
Fontana Infield is a great venue for beginners and advanced drivers.
We had about one third of our drivers from outside of San Diego and a bunch commented that they really enjoyed playing with us. They all wanted to be invited back.
Peter and myself tried to thank all of the volunteers personally, but in case we missed you.
Thanks for all the great help as this would not be even possible without the volunteers.

[LUCKY DAVE]

Three cheers for Team Martin/Peter
Fontucky's infield is the perfect venue for a DE, fast enough to interest advanced drivers, yet also suitable for first timers. And plenty of track time! I ran my car four times, rode with two students, and even took three laps in one of the Spyders.
I slept well that night.......
I'd be down to do this event four times a year.
please??

[3rd_gear_ted]

I got over a hundred + miles of track time. That's a good deal to me
Getting passed multiple times in a session by the Ferrari 512 F was a real learning experience for being on the track with a very high speed car. I got some serious DE for mirror usage in the one session he ran with us. Thanks for the great learning experience

[SDGT3]

I just wanted to thank all those drivers and instructors that came out to support the PCA San Diego Region and our DE program. Without your support, this could not happen!

A special thanks to all the volunteers behind the scenes like the Sharps and Jackie Corwin in Registration, all the people that helped out with on site tech, Joel as our CDI, Don M our DE Equipment chair and everyone that made the day go by so smoothly.

What a special day with Porsche North America showcasing their new Spyders and Panamera for us and the media that came out to cover it. I have a new and improved line on a participar section of the course after riding with Porsche's professional drivers.

The most unexpected surprise however had to be the Ferrari 512!!!!!!!!!!!! Someone told me that it was the overall 1971 LeMans winner, but I'm not sure about that. All I know is that it's not everyday that you have a car like that running in your DE! As that car was screaming down the bridge staight, the corner worker caught me drooling, turned and said, "Yea, you REALLLLLLY like that car".... that was probably the biggest understatement of the day.

Hopefully we can have more of these types of events down the line.

Until then...

[LUCKY DAVE]

The relative importance of driver ability vs car ability was clearly displayed to me at Fontana.
In my first outing in red, the 512 and a GT-3 cup car came up behind me together, passed, and were never seen again during the session. Fast drivers, and super fast cars.
Later in the day, I caught one of the Spyders at fast-closing-speed braking into the hairpin. The look I got in the mirror said "Not if I can do anything about it" and it was ON! The driver of the Spyder sped up to "Melt the tires in one lap" speed to try to get away from me. After two laps at that speed (with him leaving darkies in ALL the corners) it was about time for him to point, but he pulled off
It just goes to show how fast the "hired gun" drivers really are, keeping in front of a prepared car with R tires driving a street car with street tires

[Michael Dolphin]

I already heard from several fronts that the Fontana DE was a huge success. Congratulations to all!!

I'll have to try MUCH harder to make the next one -- just couldn't balance the "got stuff to do day" with Mother's Day in the same weekend...

[genikz]

Jackie Corwin was nice enough to let me be her 2nd student of the day to give me some pointers. Thanks Jackie! Here's the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3CKels666M

[Gunter]

[quote="3rd_gear_ted"]I got over a hundred + miles of track time. That's a good deal to me


So for all of you that did not go, think about this for a minute: in an AX you drive about 12 miles during the event. That translates into about $ 4 per mile.
DE: 100+ miles for $ 150= $ 1.50 per mile. Of course you have to ad gas and tires etc. but it is still a WHOLE year of AX in one day!!! The important thing is that you learn more in one day driving in a DE then you do in probably two years AX because you drive at a little higher speed and you get into a rhythm and sync with your car.No timing, no pressure- just learning to become a better driver. The improvements you will make in one day will astonish you. I know I am hooked. Well, I may be beyond just "hooked"...
Besides-it's just a lot of fun!!!

[JERRY B]

I just want to say "Thank You" To the Sharps for towing home my 944S After the #2 rod came out of the oil pan
And to the Corwins who also offered a tow. You guys rock

[LUCKY DAVE]

Jerry, you need a stronger oil pan......

[Rsylvestri]

Thanks to all who made this DE happen, 2nd year there and for sure my Favorite DE track. Maybe next year twice??
Newbies listen up, this is a great set up from AX and can get plenty of track time (5 sessions in your car and 5 sessions in your instructors car) @ 25min each!!
I was worn out after 10 sessions, part of it was the 25 or so cars Dave Q & I teched from 7am to 8:15. Be nice to the tech guys if you go and pre-tech if at all possible
Thanks for show'n up Dave Q, couldn't have done it with out you.

Great to see the smiles on all the students faces and the instructors too
Thanks Peter & Martin again for a smoothly run event.

Rick