Poll: Would you do Coronado Speed Fest DE again?

[mrondeau]

At least there isn't curbing like in Tijuana. But Hey, I don't mind that either.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t66MZ4x5whc

Hey, that's not racing in TJ. You were just trying to get to the toll road to Ensendada.

[chet]

At least there isn't curbing like in Tijuana. But Hey, I don't mind that either.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t66MZ4x5whc

Hey, that's not racing in TJ. You were just trying to get to the toll road to Ensendada.

I thought I noticed some guys with guns hiding behind the tire walls...

[jmenczer]

In summary, I find the DE track layouts at Qualcomm =far= more interesting than at North Island. If the track configuration could be changed, I'd definitely go back. Although using piles of tyres as apex markers is not at all acceptable to me. I want to put my wheels within 6 inches of my target, but I'm not willing to do that with a stack of tyres to destroy my car. More over, it was the unending series of 90 degree turns that, after 3 run sessions, left me uninterested. I headed home at 1pm (I =never= leave early!). I may be spoiled because I spend a lot of time at real tracks many hours north of SD. Indeed, I feel guilt sharing this opinion because I know and appreciate that the organizers spent a lot of time and energy to put on this event for us. However, I'd rather spend my day and $200 at Buttonwillow or Spring Mountain. Otherwise $60 at Qualcomm with a creatively designed circuit is far more appealing.

Sincerely,

Jesse.

[davidsq]

Just give me some more P Cars to EAT!!!!!!!!

i can't belive that was un touched...



i have a litte 3.0 ltr that i know you can't eat...

DQ

[RETII]

Ahhh don't turn on the fan somethings about to hit it!! Dave ya done it again my friend. Will flack jackets/ body armor be required at the next shared event?

[davidsq]

Will flack jackets/ body armor be required at the next shared event?

ralph my friend, i like the way you think.

WHERE'S MY NEW CAR

DQ

[rshon]

For me, the Coronado DE was a blast for the following reasons:

1) I've seen the Coronado historics before, and although the course is a little funky (because it's laid out on an airfield using runways and taxi-ways), it's fun to run the same course that the race cars run on the weekend. I even sat at the end of the front straight on Sunday and timed some of the car's lap times for comparison. Kind of exciting to see how a street Porsche compares to, say, a Trans Am car on the same course. It was VERY interesting to see when the historic cars would let off the gas and start braking for Turn 1.

2) The bumpiness of the course made it very challenging, but no more so than if you were going to run, say, Sebring. This is probably as close as a lot of us are ever going to get to run a Sebring-type course. And it turns out the most fun was during the last session when the white run group ran with the red run group. Although my street car didn't have enough motor to keep up with the faster red cars down the front straight, it was fun to try and keep up with some of them in the corners. The stiffer cars were having a particular challenge staying settled through turns 1-2, as it was fairly fast and very bumpy. And I had a front row seat!

3) The K-rail at turn 4 and the "Great Tire Wall" chicane were definitely to be respected, but that's what made the course so challenging. Had to be smart enough to balance speed versus riding the tow truck home to avoid the effects of "Sheetmetal Darwinism" (need to survive the day so you can run at Spring Mountain in October ). But if you asked anyone in the club "do you want to do a DE on the Long Beach GP course", you'd have a stampede on your hands. And that course is ALL WALL.

4) Since the track was in town, my kid got to see me drive the car on a track for the first time, and Leigh Raynor even gave her her first ride in a race car. (Thanks, Leigh!) She is still talking about it!

So I think it went great, and hopefully the Navy will let us make this an annual event. Letting other clubs participate made it even more interesting, and I can tell you that after the DE and our oppressively large car corral on Saturday and Sunday, our club was the envy of the region. Great job guys!

p.s. Even though the event is supposed to be a "Drivers Education", maybe next time we'll keep a little more track of "who eats who"...

p.p.s. I like Qualcomm DE's as much as the next guy, but when a car throws up a 2 lb. chunk of asphalt right at your windshield, where are you? (Hint: you're following somebody at a big old stadium...)

p.p.p.s I don't recall anyone asking us to choose between Coronado and Fontana. I want to do it all (oh what the hell, throw Holtville in too). Hopefully the great response will lower our apparent financial risk and make the price go down?

[John Straub]

Russell,

You'll enjoy reading my coverage of the Coronado Event in the November Witness.

John