Willow Springs Time Trial Registration is OPEN!

[Jad]

Monte,

You can ride with me as well. I should be under 1:30's with decent tires, closer to 1:26 in good conditions. My ride will not be as on the edge, as speeds increase, things need to smooth down. I have decent hp at 320, but more is better as Willow. My top speeds are closer to 135mph. Willow is about driving at 100%, so the car really matters as the minor differences in car can really change the line and how different parts are driven. One key is apex speed at 9. Some cars this means carrying as much momentum as possible, others it means braking late, turning hard and using HP to get the speed up. Aero cars it means closing your eyes and keeping your foot floored the entire time .

See you there!

[pecivil]

That should be an E ticket ride! I think for the NA lotus momentum is the key for 9. I felt more comfortable turning in later and tighter, but my car does not have the oomph to make that work. I know my apex speed at 9 is way way too slow, which really hurts as it is before the longest straight. If I can get a better handle on how to hit 9, that should really help my times.

One great thing about this region is all the really good drivers who are more than willing to help teach how to improve. Us slower guys appreciate the giving up of the secrets of speed!

So Mark R
Steve G
Jad D

my list grows.....

I will try to sneak a ride with Robert B and Jack M to get a feel for the Lotus line too. it is going to be a fun weekend.

[mrondeau]

One key is apex speed at 9. Some cars this means carrying as much momentum as possible, others it means braking late, turning hard and using HP to get the speed up. Aero cars it means closing your eyes and keeping your foot floored the entire time

That's good news for me. I've already mastered the closed eyes and keeping it floored. I think that style is referred to as "faith based driving".

[Jad]

Unfortunately, you don't have an 'aero' car Or are you already planning for the next car...

[mrondeau]

Unfortunately, you don't have an 'aero' car Or are you already planning for the next car...

I'll have a little more aero than I had, but I wasn't really planning on closing my eyes and flooring it through 9. If I closed my eyes, I'd miss all the excitement.

I'm planning on bringing my speed up slowly and carefully as I learn the new car.

[Jad]

Now that's funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mrondeau]

[pecivil]

Hey, uh Mark, you don't like...um....like ever crash do you? I don't remember
You crashing? Did I miss any? You have driven 911's before right?
Maybe you should drive the trusty 'ole 944, eh? Lol!

[Steve Grosekemper]

Hey, uh Mark, you don't like...um....like ever crash do you? I don't remember
You crashing? Did I miss any? You have driven 911's before right?
Maybe you should drive the trusty 'ole 944, eh? Lol!

Ya, Mark.
Why dont you post that picture of your first 911...
Monte should see that picture in the spirit of full disclosure before he takes a ride.

[mrondeau]

Hey, uh Mark, you don't like...um....like ever crash do you? I don't remember
You crashing? Did I miss any? You have driven 911's before right?
Maybe you should drive the trusty 'ole 944, eh? Lol!

Ya, Mark.
Why dont you post that picture of your first 911...
Monte should see that picture in the spirit of full disclosure before he takes a ride.

Monte, don't worry. You can ride with me on Saturday morning while I'm getting used to the car and learning it's quirks. It can't be that bad. Some of my students ride with me for the entire session. It's like I told Jad at Chuckwalla, everybody who's gone out with me comes back undamaged, physically speaking.

Steve, shhhhhh.

[Steve Grosekemper]

A picture is worth a thousand words...

[mrondeau]

That's what happens when you're first 911 is a 1975 911S on skinny radial tires and you haven't been through the PDS.

10 West to 215 South freeway overpass at about 75 at 11:30 pm (mistake #1 - too fast for conditions). Two lanes merge into one which then merges onto the freeway. Two cars merging, both of which decide to let the other car go first. Both cars hit the brakes. Rookie driver in 911S makes mistake #2 and lifts while in a corner as he tries to steer around the two cars. Car spins out of control across the freeway and hits the center guardrail with front left fender, crushing battery which kills the lights. Drunk driver in pickup hits 911 in left rear and knocks the motor completely out of the car and down the freeway. Pickup driver keeps going and is caught about 3/4 mile down the freeway when his truck dies. CHP pulls up with lights going. Driver in Buick doing about 70 is so busy looking at the CHP with it's lights on that she never sees the 911S and rams into the passenger door. Driver gets cut out of car and transported to Loma Linda Hospital and treated for bruises from head to toe and sew his ear back on with 17 stitches. Driver calls mom at about 4:00 am and asks to be picked up as soon as they sew his ear back on. Sorry mom!

Lucky for me, it wasn't my time to go.

[Robert]

Today, Friday September 7, is the last day to register before the late fee kicks in. Registration is at http://msreg.us/WSIR0912.

[Steve Grosekemper]

Come on people...
You don’t want to miss this one!
We only get to run the big track once a year and it is always were the bench racing stories are made.

Let me give you a few event teasers:


• Mike Avitt thinks he has his electrical gremlin fixed after his last Parade woes in Salt Lake City. Mike is always super fast at Willow. Thinking personal best for Mike if the GT-3 gremlins stay away.

• Jim and Mike in the Smurf car... Big Willow is no AX... there is a battle there all in one car.

• Can Rochelle Booth keep her car clean this year? (be sure to ask her when you see her)

• Mark Rondeau... formally the guy who thinks he is driving a 911 in a 944 will be in a 911. Will he look like he is driving a 944 or a fork lift. (You see a fork lift steers from the back) Ed: Everyone be sure to remind him how shiny the paint looks… and how there are no detail shops at the track.

• Dave Quesnel has a new 3.6L motor in the fastest 912e on earth... But will he loose to a 3.2L car??? (Stir, Stir, Stir)

• Greg and I have made a few minor changes to the car and have new stickers for timed runs. So no tire excuses this time I swear!


• Jad Duncan and Anthony DiLanzo - two 911's 30 years age difference and less that a second apart in lap times I will predict. (more Stir, Stir, Stir)

• Otto Returns! After lots of issues and missed events Otto returns with a vengence and I hear is coming to win (just not in my class hopefully) BTW- otto first ran this car at Big Willow in 1986... and has missed few events there. Keep your eyes peeled!

• Plus lots, lots more!

You do not want to miss this one...

http://msreg.us/WSIR0912

[Jad]

Ummm, 1970 to 2000 is 40 years, wow, I am older than I thought... Guess that is excuse #1, more to follow....