How about Buttonwillow for $99

[CurtiSS 69]

Did anyone get lap times?

Steve,



IMO Those are nasty words. This event was about having fun, and was not a competitive TT event. Lap times are immaterial. We don't want anyone feeling bad because they were not as fast. Plus the cars were so different, as were the driver skill levels. We had race cars with license plates that were trailered and daily drivers from Los Angeles and the Bay Area that were driven to the track. If you want lap times join NASA and run in your designated TT class (most cars would be in the Unlimited class) where you are judged by your lap times. Everyone did great and it was a great time. Some organizations do not allow lap timing of any sort.

Regards

CurtiSS 69

[Steve1968LS2]

Steve,

IMO Those are nasty words. This event was about having fun, and was not a competitive TT event. Lap times are immaterial. We don't want anyone feeling bad because they were not as fast. Plus the cars were so different, as were the driver skill levels. We had race cars with license plates that were trailered and daily drivers from Los Angeles and the Bay Area that were driven to the track. If you want lap times join NASA and run in your designated TT class (most cars would be in the Unlimited class) where you are judged by your lap times. Everyone did great and it was a great time. Some organizations do not allow lap timing of any sort.

Regards

CurtiSS 69

Wow.. calm down there.. I just asked. I seemed to remember that some people (ok, alot of people) rented transponders.. I guess they just did it for decoration.

1. where did I say it wasn't about having fun?
2. where did I say it was a competition?

IMO you're a bit touchy.

[CurtiSS 69]

OH MY GOD!!! You two look pathetically awful and can't imagine having to drive home looking like an advertisement for a Tide commercial. Where did you guys go off at?? And I bet you're still cleaning dirt out ...

Hope the cars came through unscathed and that everyone made it home safe. You never know what lurks on the outskirts of a race track and I have found a lot of interesting stuff while hiking the perimeters. I lost a magnetic number during a session at Buttonwillow and decided to go hunting for it during the lunch break. Not sure where exactly the number demagnetized itself, I hiked the entire track, snaking my way back and forth so I could check both sides for the errant number. During my trek, I found the following ... pieces of a broken spindle, a couple of tie rod ends, a 13/16" Craftsman deep socket which I kept, shredded fiberglass body panels, a door handle, a bumper, and finally what was once my number which was now a mangled mess due to it landing right smack on the apex leading to the front straight.

I had the most awesome time and it was fun getting to run with other Pro-Touring cars. Still have that pesky tire rub issue and the bottom of the headers did a most excellent imitation of a bump stop (glad you liked the spark show entering Magic Mountain, Craig) but everything else worked well and nothing broke. For me, it was a good lead-in for optima in November. It's been a year or so since I tracked the car and with a lot of new suspension parts, new Forgelines and Toyo R888's, and the new front Baer 6P calipers, pads, and rotors, I needed a shakedown to ensure all was well.

What's also neat is that everyone pitched in and helped each other out if they needed it. Tools, jacks, elbow grease, you name it ... everyone was there for everyone. It was also cool meeting a lot of the site members that just came out to enjoy the cars and get rides. Hopefully, your cars will get finished and you can get some track time soon.

NCRG is a very safe and fun track organization and they really liked having us there. They said that they're looking into having more events at Buttonwillow so the So. Cal. folks can have some fun. And they'll even have sessions for us if the numbers warrant it; the session would be probably more towards Point-By rather than Solo but as we all know each other, this would work. Very cool and so much fun is ahead. For me, this is what our cars are mostly about and it's what keeps us motivated ...


There's a two-day Buttonwillow track event on Thanksgiving weekend if anyone's interested. Check out http://www.greenflagdriving.com/ for their schedule and more information about specific events.

I need to get off this computer and get to work fixing a certain red Camaro ...

Cheers,
Mary Pozzi

We went off on the inside of I-5 after Cotton Corners. It was not that bad at all (check the smiles in the photos). It was just a 270 degree spin with the last 90 degrees off course. We were working on using more accelerator out of the turns, and the back got loose on the rippled part of the exit of Cotton Corners. If we could have removed some bump damping from the rear shocks it would not have happened. The rear was skipping and got loose. It seemed like we hit a massive pile of Nestle Quick once we left the track. We couldn't see for about 30 seconds, so it probably looked like Bakersfield got Nuked from a distance. As everyone can see we all had big smiles and everyone afterwords laughed like hell about it. The track officials all gave the thumbs up, the lady in the flag stand threw down paper towels to help clean the windshield. The clean up will be the worst part. I wish I could help with that.

Regards

CurtiSS 69

[Steve1968LS2]

We forgot to mention that Curtiss was also involved in the X Games action.

The caption possibilities for this photo are endless.. lol

Saw a little two seat drop top (top down) hit the dirt big time.. man, I can't imagine how long that would take to clean up!

And thanks to Carl for letting my use part of his garage overnight.

[CarlC]

Hey Steve, I think your Longacre tire gauge is occuping space in my garage. Give me a call on my mobile and perhaps we can meet on Tuesday since I'll be down your way.

Penny and my Camaro, a match made in heaven!

Nick and I had a blast out there for almost an entire session. We had a difficult time getting several laps in a row where we we're not hung up with traffic, but it was game-on when things opened up. Dave and I also had some fun during several of the sessions learning each others lines.

[406 Q-ship]

Just a little loose.. more like snug.

I KNEW I should have done a bolt check.. all we did was pound the snot of her all summer.

We spent all day today on her.. cleaned top and bottom and every bolt checked.

We removed all the unused parking brake crap and knocked off 5-lbs of unsprung weight!

Car looks good now.. except for that missing caliper.. DOH!


Great seeing everyone and I will work to get up a few pics. The sun angle (and my position) sucked, but I got a few good ones.

When's the next one?

If all that happened was the subframe got a bit loose for all that Penny has been put through this summer then that is a great testament of the quality of work that went into her. She is an awesome ride and will look forward to getting another ride in her, I am willing to help you with Penny anyway I can Steve. Now we need to get OLC and Penny to the same track at the sametime, sorry I know it will be a ton of work for Daivd and Mary if both are running the same weekend (you have my assistance when you need it). I have some pretty good picture of the worst attrition of the day, Penny's loss of a brake caliper. Let this be a warning to all of us that safety is more than just cages, fire exingushers, and safety belts, it includes a standard safety check list of to do things before a track day. Mary and I discussed this for a few minutes when we were there. Mary if you and David would not mind, I think that putting up the check list you go through for Mary's Camaro would be good for all of us here.

[Charley Lillard]

Mary cheats......

[camcojb]

Steve,

IMO Those are nasty words. This event was about having fun, and was not a competitive TT event. Lap times are immaterial. We don't want anyone feeling bad because they were not as fast. Plus the cars were so different, as were the driver skill levels. We had race cars with license plates that were trailered and daily drivers from Los Angeles and the Bay Area that were driven to the track. If you want lap times join NASA and run in your designated TT class (most cars would be in the Unlimited class) where you are judged by your lap times. Everyone did great and it was a great time. Some organizations do not allow lap timing of any sort.

Regards

CurtiSS 69

You probably misunderstood Steve, don't think that's what he was getting at. You sir are a hell of a driver, it was great watching you work your car around the track.............

Jody

[Orngcrush69]

What a great event! I've had such a bad year and this is just what I needed to cheer me up!!! I don't think I've seen so many of us together at one time, it's too bad we didn't get a picture of all of us together. It was great seeing old freinds and meeting new ones.

The Chevelle ran the best it ever has, I could do no wrong... probably due to the Nitto -01's. That is a great tire! The alternater problem just turned out to be a loose nut. duh and I drove back to Fresno with no problems. ;-)

[Steve1968LS2]

Hey Steve, I think your Longacre tire gauge is occuping space in my garage. Give me a call on my mobile and perhaps we can meet on Tuesday since I'll be down your way.

Penny and my Camaro, a match made in heaven!

Nick and I had a blast out there for almost an entire session. We had a difficult time getting several laps in a row where we we're not hung up with traffic, but it was game-on when things opened up. Dave and I also had some fun during several of the sessions learning each others lines.

Yea, it was a blast... how many more quarts do you need for your oil change.. three? I'll bring them to the prisoner exchange.. lol

You can give me Mary's funnel as well and I will send it up to her with the rest of the items I owe her.

Yep, you and Nick (in the 2010) were neck and neck.. blower on blower action.. lol

[Steve1968LS2]

Mary cheats......

She lies too.. but we forgive her

(inside joke about where we ate dinner)..

Jackass looked great out there, I will get you that vid of you on the straitaway, sounded wicked.

[Steve1968LS2]

If all that happened was the subframe got a bit loose for all that Penny has been put through this summer then that is a great testament of the quality of work that went into her. She is an awesome ride and will look forward to getting another ride in her, I am willing to help you with Penny anyway I can Steve. Now we need to get OLC and Penny to the same track at the sametime, sorry I know it will be a ton of work for Daivd and Mary if both are running the same weekend (you have my assistance when you need it). I have some pretty good picture of the worst attrition of the day, Penny's loss of a brake caliper. Let this be a warning to all of us that safety is more than just cages, fire exingushers, and safety belts, it includes a standard safety check list of to do things before a track day. Mary and I discussed this for a few minutes when we were there. Mary if you and David would not mind, I think that putting up the check list you go through for Mary's Camaro would be good for all of us here.

Yea, doing a bolt check was on my list but I ran out of time and didn't make it to the Pozzi's place to do it. Hell, it was fine in TN, but the truth is that it just hadn't broken yet. I checked around the car when I got there but with no lift I didn't get far under the car. Learned my lesson.

So the moral is to check ALL your bolts.. even the ones you forget about like the subframe bolts.

Good seeing you and we will have to get the One Lap and the Penster out to a nice autox to do battle.. he already has me beat in the "nice car" catagory, that thing is sick.

Considering all we did is run the car all summer I pretty happy that this was the biggest problem. Time for an oil change.

[CarlC]

Three more for a change + one for topping off in between.

[Steve1968LS2]

Three more for a change + one for topping off in between.

lol.. you give a mouse a cookie.. ;)

I will have four quarts of the sweet Torco juice in a plain brown bag for the exchange.

[nickdoe6]

Nick and I had a blast out there for almost an entire session. We had a difficult time getting several laps in a row where we we're not hung up with traffic, but it was game-on when things opened up. Dave and I also had some fun during several of the sessions learning each others lines.

Carl, you and me battling on the last session was epic. After that I was done for the day. I had nothing left.
That was the most fun I've had on track...ever.

Nick L.

[mpozzi]

Steve,

IMO Those are nasty words. This event was about having fun, and was not a competitive TT event. Lap times are immaterial. We don't want anyone feeling bad because they were not as fast. Plus the cars were so different, as were the driver skill levels. We had race cars with license plates that were trailered and daily drivers from Los Angeles and the Bay Area that were driven to the track. If you want lap times join NASA and run in your designated TT class (most cars would be in the Unlimited class) where you are judged by your lap times. Everyone did great and it was a great time. Some organizations do not allow lap timing of any sort.

Regards

CurtiSS 69

Hi Don,

Transponders were available if you wanted timing but not everyone did. A few in our group were curious and did rent them (I didn't so have no idea on my times). And where is Cotton Corner in relation to Start/Finish? Is it that 180 degree corner at the south end?

Cheers,
Mary Pozzi

[mpozzi]

Carl, you and me battling on the last session was epic. After that I was done for the day. I had nothing left.
That was the most fun I've had on track...ever.

Nick L.

I checked and found some very cool pics of the '10 shot by the track photographer.

Tried to get gridded close to both of you guys but there were too many cars in between. The three of us flying about would have been much fun. Gotta do it again and soon.

Cheers,
Mary Pozzi

[mpozzi]

Mary cheats......

Shhhhhh ... that was supposed to be a secret.

[nickdoe6]

Did anyone get lap times?

My best lap was a 2:24.822.
I've never driven Buttonwillow, so I have no idea what that means. I do know I had a freaking blast on that lap. I think that was a clean lap without having to pass any of the slower cars.
I found out that the stock Pirelli's went up 10 lbs in air pressure after a session. Once I brought the front tires down 10 lbs, the car loosened up quite a bit. It was still a little tight, but not nearly as bad as when they had 51 lbs of air pressure.

Nick L.

[nickdoe6]

Tried to get gridded close to both of you guys but there were too many cars in between. The three of us flying about would have been much fun. Gotta do it again and soon.

Mary, that would have been way too much fun.
Okay, so let's do it next time for sure...

Nick L.