Posted: August 26 2003 at 12:21pm | IP Logged

What did you guys think of the races? I thought they were a good addition to the event, but I'd like to hear from all sides; TT drivers, first-timers, the racers, everyone.

Was it a good addition?

Posted: August 26 2003 at 1:01pm | IP Logged

Yeah, that Z06 driver sucks!

As far as multi classes, etc, yes, we intend to do it based upon our general classing, but right now the race group is too small for it to mean anything. We hope to grow it and have a larger field of competitive cars, which will make it more fun to drive in and watch.

I think you're right, the Australian Pursuit (the reverse grid on Sunday) was a better method for our small field. But man, it's stressfull watching your mirrors for the faster guys while trying to pass the guys in front of you! Stressful but great

Posted: August 26 2003 at 2:58pm | IP Logged

The race addition was great!

The reverse order seemed to work out pretty well.

I would stagger the starts so that the cars finished at the same time.    That would make it a pretty interesting final lap, for sure.

Also, it seems like a lot of people were sandbagging in qualifying and hopefully there is a way to police that.

Either way, an awesome event!   Everything went well, a lot of people showed up and seems like everybody had a good time.

Kudos!

Posted: August 26 2003 at 4:38pm | IP Logged

What we did at Open Track Racing was if you turned a lap in the race more then 1 second faster then your best qualifying lap you're disqualified.

Posted: August 26 2003 at 7:03pm | IP Logged

Hmmm......  Good one!!!!   Never heard of that before.

Posted: August 26 2003 at 9:44pm | IP Logged

Hey John, I suffered at least twice the stress as you did waiting for everyone to pass me at some point (esp. during the full lap that you were behind me! then the vipers and you through riverside!!), and I was watching Joe in my mirrors the last lap+ trying to avoid being lapped twice!...then I saw him spin in my mirror .  Come to think of it, I think I spent more time looking behind me than in front of me the whole race.

But it was a lot of fun still, and would be more than willing to be the sacrificial lamb again.

Posted: August 27 2003 at 9:54am | IP Logged

Yeah, it was the back straight where we should have gone 3 wide, but I decided it wasn't worth the risk

But the story of Joe just coasting around, seeing Richard in front of him the last few laps, and trying to catch him because he thought he had one more to go is just priceless

Posted: August 27 2003 at 11:00am | IP Logged

Here's my video of that, Richard:

http://www.wurthmotorsports.com/videos/Buttonwillow_8-24-2003-Race_w_Richard.wmv

Posted: August 27 2003 at 1:33pm | IP Logged

rlaifatt wrote: Hey thanks John.  It's pretty funny, your text.  My line was so off on lots of the turns but that's because I felt the heat of you breathing down my back and I was spending more time looking at you in the mirror than on the road in front of me.  At least I stayed on track or didn't spin and get T-boned .

All the failed attempts to pass you were interesting...like the first in the Esses, there's no way in hell I would have stayed on track if I went through with that. Then the Vipers...that just seemed too dangerous with the kink there. It was fun though. I was hoping you'd feel the pressure and go off, but sadly it didn't happen

Posted: August 27 2003 at 1:58pm | IP Logged

After surviving Hayashi through cotton corners and the grapevine on Saturday without going off, you were a piece of cake!   (Though after the previous video I was worried that you might be a jinx following me with a camera .) 

Posted: August 27 2003 at 2:00pm | IP Logged

Took me a minute to figure out what you were talking about, but now I've got it yeah, I'll have to file that away as another "interesting" moment following Richard

Posted: August 27 2003 at 10:11pm | IP Logged

Hi, Vic here. Graduate of about 10 lifetime cumulative hours of track side seat time! 

Short story- During my first few hours of track experience, I was in the yellow group, but there weren't that many cars late in the day in the group, so they opened it up to all. SoCal decides he's gonna join the fray, and here he comes around Turn 2 at Willow, like a bat outta hell. I'm getting ready to brake for Turn 3, which was scary enough for a no-experience newbie like me, and I didn't wanna get squeezed in the braking zone. (I wasn't sure SoCal could have avoided impact, our speeds were that much different) So I dove off line, to let him by, but got a wheel off, and went spinning round and round. 360 one way, then 360 the other, for an algebraic net of "0" degrees. (Made some pretty marks on the track) (I know, I know, both feet in)

Whats the point? Don't worry about what's going on behind you so much that you move off line, or get intimidated. Let the chips fall where they may, and keep marching.

Posted: August 28 2003 at 12:57am | IP Logged

The race was a great addition for us non-racers as well. Fun to watch the battle of the Vipers from the tower.

It could definitely have been improved with an S2000 victory.

C'mon Rylan, Joe's Viper couldn't have had more than 4-500 hp on you; what's the deal?

Richard's "winning" the street car class was a plus though.

Posted: August 28 2003 at 6:31am | IP Logged

I'll just point out that my Z06 is driven on the street too, hey, it's basically a stock car, so...

Posted: August 28 2003 at 10:11am | IP Logged

Hey John

There was a platinum blonde asking everyone if we thought the guy in the Z06 would give her a ride.

Like your car, she was, ahem, basically stock, with only a few aftermarket parts and modifications.

Were you able to help that poor girl out?

Posted: August 28 2003 at 12:30pm | IP Logged

First of all, I wouldn't call her a "Platinum blonde". Secondly, it was all real, my friend. and Thirdly, of course I did my duty and took her out