I HAVE to say something about Buttonwillow this weekend!

[Mmagus]

WOOOHOOOOOO!!!

[MTrotter]

im glad you had fun!

[Niraj]

+1

[mrondeau]

Great event, as usual. Thanks to Jack, Robert and Chuck for all your hard work on this event.

Mark Bray, Great driving at your first TT. Keep it up.

[Speedy]

Remember to sign-up early, and sign-up often for your Time Trials!

Also, I encourage everyone to support those events they would like to see continue!

Jack & Robert would greatly appreciate you signing up ASAP... It sucks for a chair to have to wait for those last minute sign -ups...

Cheers!
Katina "Speedy" Rondeau

[Steve Grosekemper]

Great event, as usual. Thanks to Jack, Robert and Chuck for all your hard work on this event.

Mark Bray, Great driving at your first TT. Keep it up.

This was a really great event with very reasonable weather overall. Sunday morning was perfect lap record time.
Ran my best 911SC lap in the second Sunday session with undersized RA-1's.

Sorry we didn't have many of the regulars with us and hope they will be at spring mountain.

Sorry to see some regulars pack up before timing as well.
Hey Mark...
Do you think there is any truth to the rumor I heard about Dan Chambers packing up early?

[Jad]

Do you think there is any truth to the rumor I heard about Dan Chambers packing up early?

No, he is just entering sunset on his first timed lap about now....he should have his time by the end of the week (Sorry, had to say something.....)

[Steve Grosekemper]

Do you think there is any truth to the rumor I heard about Dan Chambers packing up early?

No, he is just entering sunset on his first timed lap about now....he should have his time by the end of the week (Sorry, had to say something.....)

Jad Jad Jad...
That's not what I heard at all.
I heard his posterior was so sore he couldn't sit in the race seat any longer.
You know... from getting spanked all weekend.

[pdy]

I heard his posterior was so sore he couldn't sit in the race seat any longer.
You know... from getting spanked all weekend.

Well, Dan and the Black Pearl did beat Snickers (at least in Practice...).

[Niraj]

To add to my detailed post earlier...

First of all, it was absolutely wonderful to see everyone after a long time. It felt great to be back with the PCA crew and feel welcomed. This was my first time trial and my only third time on a track so I definitely had a few butterflies coming into this weekend (oh.. and the whole new racecar thing too). We had a bit of a late start but Ryan (@RSR) was working very hard to make sure we made this event and even aligned the car at the track! I admire his commitment to his work.

It was a great start as I had a chance to ride with Jad and observe how TTOD's happen. Wow. No really, wow. I'm not going to elaborate on the nausea that developed on lap 8 or 9 - no food, little sleep, hot weather make Niraj... a sick passenger. There was a part of me that was honestly frightened at the thought of going that fast and a bigger part of me that was excited at the prospect of what could be and how invaluable practice, practice, practice will be over the coming years. The delta between now and then was more encouraging than anything else.

While I waited for the car to get its final touches, I probably praaaaaaaised the Lord a million times for being this lucky. She was ready, I was ready and the 5 minute call for Yellow drivers was heard across the paddock. Jad and I went out for my first session. I just focused on getting used to the car while observing the very basics of Buttonwillow/1CW. It was a great session – I was SO happy to be back in the seat after a 3 month hiatus. The car changed immensely from the last time I drove it. The transition from Cayman S to CaymanSpec is big. Very big. Hopefully everyone had a chance to check out the car. Itsalottacar! I was able to get two sessions in on Saturday. It was awesome. Just awesome. The down time between sessions was filled just saying hi/hello to everyone I hadn’t seen in a while – PCA SDR rocks!

The track was great, the car was a BLAST to drive. I was grinning ear to ear (as I usually am). I had a great first session and I was starting to pick up the pace a little bit. It was a great learning experience seeing what a difference a few MPH can make on corner entry/exit and braking points. But alas my second session on Sunday ended a bit early. I was exiting the esses and turned-in a bit earlier and with more speed. I ran out of track and dropped two wheels. I heard a loud voice in my head saying “DO NOT TRY TO SAVE IT!” and I kept the wheel straight and drove off into the dirt. Unfortunately we went over the access road and I damaged the left side wheels along with some damage under the car (which we found later back at the shop) so I parked her on the trailer and called it day. A big lesson – build up your speed slowly, I know, I know. But everyone’s support was really encouraging and I’ll be back out soon! I was a bit bummed that I was missing the rest of the day. It was like as a young kid when I was sick, I’d look out the window and see all my friends playing outside! Haha. *sigh*

All in all, it was a great experience. I learned a lot this weekend and most of all had a great time. Thanks to Jack and Robert for putting on a great event. Jad, Jim and Otto for instructing me. Phil and Mark for even offering to help find another set of wheels. Annnnnd Katina for the cookies!

Thanks guys and see you at the next event.

[Dan Chambers]

Hmmm. I can see people's feet, shoes and ankles, the bottom half of other vehicle's wheels and tires, rain gutter outfalls, building footings, and curb address numbers from where I am .... under the bus! Nothin' like being thrown under a Greyhound to appreciate who your friends are.

My lack of "official" timed-runs was a comspiracy of decision making:

1) I had to change brake pads for our (Monica and my) final run sessions during lunch ... missing the meeting.
2) Monica wasn't going to run timed-runs anyway, so she would have to wait for me to finish before we could leave.
3) I started feeling poorly around lunch time, and thought it was just the heat. I didn't feel physically up for the Timed Runs and decided to pack it up early. A mistake at 110-MPH isn't my idea of fun, and I didn't feel I was completely in my head. (Maybe the fear of losing by 10+ seconds to Grosekemper in the same class made me feel punk. )

So, I finished the brakes, we ran one more practice session each on fresh brakes with "fresh confidence" (Monica drove so hard she did an off at Bus stop), and I turned a 2:14:06 in practice runs ... roughly 6 seconds faster than my betst time previously. That was good enough for how I was feeling.

We packed up right after I was done, and during the pack-up, I really started to feel lousy, no appetite, thirsty, weak, etc ... I figured it was the heat ...

Last night I was running a 102+ fever and had cold sweats until 3:00 AM.

Boy, the fear of loosing really affects your body!

Post-script: Jad, I'm just turning in at Sunset!

There's s slim chance I'll make Spring Mtn. Depends on $$ and time limitations.

All in all, a great event, with great friends, great driving by all, and smiles all around.

Steve: let's talk times once I get a little closer to your (Greg's) set-up. Or, I could just change tires downward and run in IP.

[Cajundaddy]

Hey Niraj,
It was good to see you out there. On Sunday I dropped in behind and paced you for a couple laps. Your lines looked pretty good and you were turning some quick laps right up until you went all "John Deere" at the esses. Thank you for driving straight off and not collecting me in the carnage . Get the topsoil cleaned out and come out to play at Spring Mtn. The opportunity to run in PCA-SDR time trials is an extraordinary blessing that we sometimes take for granted.

[Steve Grosekemper]

Hmmm. I can see people's feet, shoes and ankles, the bottom half of other vehicle's wheels and tires, rain gutter outfalls, building footings, and curb address numbers from where I am .... under the bus! Nothin' like being thrown under a Greyhound to appreciate who your friends are.

My lack of "official" timed-runs was a comspiracy of decision making:

1) I had to change brake pads for our (Monica and my) final run sessions during lunch ... missing the meeting.
2) Monica wasn't going to run timed-runs anyway, so she would have to wait for me to finish before we could leave.
3) I started feeling poorly around lunch time, and thought it was just the heat. I didn't feel physically up for the Timed Runs and decided to pack it up early. A mistake at 110-MPH isn't my idea of fun, and I didn't feel I was completely in my head. (Maybe the fear of losing by 10+ seconds to Grosekemper in the same class made me feel punk. )

So, I finished the brakes, we ran one more practice session each on fresh brakes with "fresh confidence" (Monica drove so hard she did an off at Bus stop), and I turned a 2:14:06 in practice runs ... roughly 6 seconds faster than my betst time previously. That was good enough for how I was feeling.

We packed up right after I was done, and during the pack-up, I really started to feel lousy, no appetite, thirsty, weak, etc ... I figured it was the heat ...

Last night I was running a 102+ fever and had cold sweats until 3:00 AM.

Boy, the fear of loosing really affects your body!

Post-script: Jad, I'm just turning in at Sunset!

There's s slim chance I'll make Spring Mtn. Depends on $$ and time limitations.

All in all, a great event, with great friends, great driving by all, and smiles all around.

Steve: let's talk times once I get a little closer to your (Greg's) set-up. Or, I could just change tires downward and run in IP.

Dan
It's just no fun giving you grief when you come up with all those sad excuses...
We hope you feel better soon so you can get your strenghth back for your next spanking at Spring Mountain.
Really hope you can make it.
It was definately more fun with you there.
I think this really illustrates the difference between a dedicated track car and a dual purpose car like yours...
It really wasn't a fair comparison... although great smack talk fodder.
Can't wait to give you a ride along at Spring mountain...Ye Haw!
Just don't forget your dramamine

[Dan Chambers]

Dan
It's just no fun giving you grief when you come up with all those sad excuses...
We hope you feel better soon so you can get your strenghth back for your next spanking at Spring Mountain.

Yeah, well I'm researching some steel-seated driving suits right now.

Really hope you can make it.
It was definately more fun with you there.

It was really fun for me, too. I really like that track. Riding with you was a real hoot. I learned heaps about where to take it to the limit of grip.

I think this really illustrates the difference between a dedicated track car and a dual purpose car like yours...

Yeah, In my car I was listening to the CD player, while enjoying the cool air from the fresh air blowers, while sitting in fully adjustable Recaro's, while shading my eyes with the sun visors, and resting my feet on plush Sliverknit carpeting. When I rode in Greg's SC, it was in an "all-tin-SC" (No carpet, headliner, side panels, etc.) squeezed into a shell-seat that would fit a 12-year old ballerina but barely fit my fat a$$, checking out the paint patterns on the dash where the gauges/air con, radio, dash pad used to be .... and saying ... absolutely nothing because of the din of engine, trans, tires, brakes. Truly Greg's is a race car.

It really wasn't a fair comparison...

Gee, ya think? And let's not forget the mechanical upgrades still yet to come on my car that you and Greg currently have (or most likely have): Adjutable aftermarket swaybars, solid bushings on suspension parts (mono-balls, Delrins, or whatever...), coil-overs(?), camber plates(?), limited slip diff, etc. I'm sure if I made just a couple of "inclusions" on my the car I could be within 4 or 5 seconds of your times at B-willow ... I would hope. And, I could still listen to the CD's, cool down with the fresh air, and adjust my seat-back "to the upright position."

although great smack talk fodder.

... as always.

Can't wait to give you a ride along at Spring mountain...Ye Haw!
Just don't forget your dramamine

THAT sounds great. And ... I had my Meclizine at BW, I'll be sure to bring it at S. Mtn. if I go.

Update: fever's down, strength slowly returning, kept down the latest yogurt this time.

[Mmagus]

Great work by all the organizers made for a fantastic event!

I wanted to say thanks again to everyone for the encouragement at my first Track event. Everyone made me feel welcome and wanted to know how things were going and how Tuffy was performing. Paul patiently transitioned me out of AX style driving and was my sounding board/test consultant through some experiments in lines and gears. One of my favorite comments from him came after I had to take a straight offroad corner cut on the back side of lost hill to keep from spinning, "Well, that was bumpy." (still with a big smile on his face!)

Jad took me out for a VERY enjoyable session, I love going fast...REALLY fast and seeing his lines and control while at speed was a really fun and informative.

Mark R. and Jackie suggested different gear selections for several corners (well...actually they said.. "No, It should be done this way") Of course they were right and after Paul and I worked out the timing of implementing them my laps completely changed. Mark graciously offered a ride along to assist and it really did as I changed another several corner approaches. Cathy followed me for a lap or two and suggested a change for Offramp that finally made that corner work.

It was a fantastic weekend and while my driving went well, its a simple fact that it wouldn't have been nearly what it was without the friendly assistance I received from so many of you.