2007 PCASDR Time Trial Season!

[jack miller]

Hey folks, mark your calendars. Here's where we stand so far:

Feb. 3-4 - Big Willow
March 3-4 - Streets of Willow
March 30-April 1 - California Speedway
June 16-17 - Spring Mountain
Sept. 29-30 - Spring Mountain

I am still waiting to hear from Buttonwillow. I've begged them for an Oct.-December date. Odds of getting one are about 10%, I'd say. Better odds are that they'll offer an early June date, which we've had for two years. That will raise the question I have for you - Buttonwillow or Spring Mt. in June? Both can be hot. Personally, I'd rather run Sp Mt twice and not do BW because I like the track bette, I like the side trip to Vegas, and it's just 60 miles further from SD than BW. But I'd like to hear from you. The debate may be moot if we get a fall 07 date from BW.

Hopin' for the best,

Jack

[Greg Phillips]

Although I did enjoy the new track, I would prefer to go to ButtonWillow in early June rather than Pahrump.
I enjoy the variety and the drive is a little quicker on Sunday night over the Grapevine rather than the I-15.

Greg

[Dan Chambers]

Hmmmm. Tough choices. I like both tracks very much. Sp. Mtn. is really challanging, and I like the drive through the desert (yeah, geologists are freaks about seeing naked geology).

Buttonwillow is a really fun track, and I've had some great times there, too. It is a bit closer to SD, and the facilities are a little more built-in vs. just a patch of asphalt to sit my arse upon at Sp. Mtn. (it's nice to rent a garage with friends at Buttonwillow).

I'd have to say it boils down to raw logistics. After inching through Victorville and the Cajon Pass in first gear with 1,000,000,000,000 other cars all doing the "Vegas shuffle," to He**-Ah, I think I'd opt for getting home before 2:00 AM from Buttonwillow, and having more ammenities at Buttomwillow vs asphalt and an easy-up is nice, too . So, I'd choose Buttonwillow, heat notwithstanding.

My 2-cents.

[bibbetson]

Any other time than mid-summer and my choice might be different - the facilities at BW make it my choice. Both tracks are excellent and a ton of fun.

It's really too bad that the trip home from Sp Mtn was so nasty this year. That put a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths and made the track feel MUCH farther. I don't think 60 miles translates to 60 minutes in the distance comparison between the two tracks. It's not just the traffic but also the extra hill climbs.

[pdy]

I prefer the track at Spring Mountain, but the variety,
garage, and better drive lead me to vote for the event
at BWRP.

Paul Jr. obviously likes the track beter at Spring Mountain,
and says the fuel service there is better too

[Jad]

While I prefer the Sp Mtn track, and I found it great to head to Vegas Sunday afternoon for 1-2 days, which made the drive home a breeze (other than the flat tire), I think I would vote for variety. A San Diego time trial season without BW just doesn't seem right.

[kary]

I would not make two trips in one year to Spring Mountain because the the facilities at Spring Mountain are poor. Access during day, no tire changing, limited fuel availability, and no hook ups for rigs. Like the track though, but not enough to overcome the deficiencies.

Since the question was regarding Buttonwillow versus SM, I would vote for Buttonwillow in June over SM in June. SM would be much warmer than BW in June and as mentioned the facilities are better as well.

Stay with variety, if you want to add longer hauls like SM then consider PIR or buying a session from POC at Laguna in late August following the Monterey Historics.

[gulf911]

I will have to go with the masses here. Even though I love the SM track a lot , that drive and very liitle amenities make it good for 1 stop a year. Plus, I need to even the score with a couple of AM'ers at BW...

[Steve Grosekemper]

Like so many have said before me, SM is a really great track. Probably the best of everything in a track layout, but the facilities really leave a lot to be desired.

I would rather do BW with its great track and great amenities and slightly shorter drive.

And as was stated previously; it just wouldn't be a SDR TT series without a stop at BW.

[Otto]

I was unfortunately not able to go to Spring Mountain this year and try the new layout. However, regardless, I believe that Buttonwillow is a must for us to have in the TT calendar because it is one of the benchmarks for our region and has the attributes of a great track. Hopefully we can get a good date for it.

[Robert]

Since the sample of people who have responded thus far are all in agreement, should we be fortunate enough to get a fall Buttonwillow date, how many of you would be willing to go to Spring Mountain twice, once in June and once late September?

[Jad]

I think once is enough, especially with the high price. Might eat all of the budget if the turnout for both Sp Mtn events are good.

Once at each of the tracks seems to be a good season to me, spread out as much as possible.

[kary]

Since the sample of people who have responded thus far are all in agreement, should we be fortunate enough to get a fall Buttonwillow date, how many of you would be willing to go to Spring Mountain twice, once in June and once late September?

Robert,
I would only go once a year for the reasons stated above. Would it not be a risk for the club to try and do two events at SP where the costs are high? Seems like the turnout might be prohibitive to the TT budget?

[martinreinhardt]

Buttonwillow is one of my favorite tracks. I also prefer to go to Spring Mountain once a year, due the distance and poor facilities. Although, my wife got a tour from one of the managers and she said that next year there will be many more facilities. (garages for the members, condos, showers etc.)

[Red Rooster]

I'd vote for Spring Mtn once a year and BW once a year. I like the variety. Like Jad said earlier....a SDR TT season with out BW just wouldn't be right.

Plus I gotta keep a couple other AM cars under my thumb so-to-speak and running BW completes my "sufficating" effect on the class.