Speedventures Cal Speedway this weekend (Aug 13-14, 2011)

[mdpalmer]

Hey guys. There's a open track day and also autocross this upcoming weekend at Cal Speedway in Fontana. I'm spectating Saturday, which means video taping, photographing, and eating lots of hamburgers and hotdogs :) Holler at me if you plan on going.

Was going to auto-x both days but every time I'm driving I never get to hang out and try the other stuff like ride alongs and just BSing with everyone. Sunday I'm auto crossing, my gf is going to have her yellow rotary rx7 FD on the big track. It's pretty high speed... with my old rotary I was able to get to about 130+ before freaking out on the banked turn :) Man it's fun. I'm still shaking my ls1 swapped car down so I'm keeping it off the big track for now.

I would love to video some of you guys on the track, whether it's auto cross or big track on Saturday. Let me know if you're going and we can talk :) I have a gopro hero HD and also an older canon elura that takes OK video.. i have been mounting it to my rear shock tower bar and it works OK.

We should have plenty of shade, just make sure to bring water, sunscreen, a hat, and some $$$ for food. Although some of the rotary guys are having a BBQ, there is a thread on the club if you want to contribute... they're cool folks, I get little jabs about being a v8, but it's all good. Gate fee is something like $10/person.. yeah i know... lame :nutkick:

Some links:

Official site (http://www.mazfest.com/trackfacts.php)

Autocross (http://www.speedventures.com/events/eventdetail.aspx?id=323)

Big track (http://www.speedventures.com/events/eventdetail.aspx?id=357)

rx7club thread (http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=957301)

google map (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=9300+Cherry+Avenue+Fontana,+CA+92335&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&gl=us&z=16)

[AARP]

MazFest?

[mdpalmer]

MazFest?

^^ Yup :) That and all kinds of other stuff. It's kind of annoying b/c mazfest/miata challenge/corvette challenge/whatever challenge seem to get blended together. That's why I didn't specify :D

You coming? What are you rolling in?

[AARP]

^^ Yup :) That and all kinds of other stuff. It's kind of annoying b/c mazfest/miata challenge/corvette challenge/whatever challenge seem to get blended together. That's why I didn't specify :D

You coming? What are you rolling in?

I would be doing the Miata Challenge autocross but unfortunately it's right in the middle of hell week for football (really 2 weeks). Sunday is the only day off and I plan on sleeping all day :sm_laughing:

[mdpalmer]

Sunday is the only day off and I plan on sleeping all day :sm_laughing:

WTH. how do you "plan" on sleeping. I just pass out if i'm ready to die for the day :sm_laughing: just stop by for a little bit. do a little peel out for us or something.

[Redondo Jon]

I want to do this but my car’s just not track ready yet. Hey Mike, how ‘bout a little earlier warning. (just sayin')

[mdpalmer]

I want to do this but my car’s just not track ready yet. Hey Mike, how ‘bout a little earlier warning. (just sayin')

^^ Sorry Jon, I didn't think about putting the word out til last minute :( Good news is that the vette guys up the road from us are going to try and put another track day on in October :)

Here are some pics I took. I copied and pasted the VB code from rx7club so some of the smileys are not going to work. Deal with it :)

That was fun. I'm glad I didn't drive on Saturday/mazfest day, otherwise I wouldn't have had the chance to goof off and check other stuff out.

Here's some pics I took of things that caught my eye:

99 spec look alike FD
http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10125&g2_serialNumber=1

Boss 302 mustang, first one I've seen in person
http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10122&g2_serialNumber=2

clean black FD, I'm thinking of getting those wheels next :)
http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10134&g2_serialNumber=1

super clean and slammed FC. if i had an FC I would probably set it up like this. love it
http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10137&g2_serialNumber=1

clean & simple first gen, i love these cars. one day I WILL have another one. and I will probably keep it rotary, I said probably, although a v8 swap in that would be sick :cool:
http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10140&g2_serialNumber=1

rotary trucks. these guys must know each other :)
http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10143&g2_serialNumber=1

brad's FD
http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10152&g2_serialNumber=1

I actually like this mazda(speed?) 3. Clean, low, although I'm not a fan of tinted windows
http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10173&g2_serialNumber=1

-----------------------

some more pics.

joel's v8 BEAST
http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10176&g2_serialNumber=1

http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10182&g2_serialNumber=1

steve's 6 liter ls-fc. with a low restriction intake :)
http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10191&g2_serialNumber=2

RRR FD (same one in the old hp vs. handling video on buttonwillow, twins turbo cars?)
http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10206&g2_serialNumber=2

stupid fast viper. this guy was pretty much driving around everyone on the bank
http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10212&g2_serialNumber=2

rich guy from arizona with a sweet c6 vette. you should have seen this guys accommodations... he had a flat screen tv that folded out of his trailer. must be nice :bigthumb:
http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10239&g2_serialNumber=2

also, he had some hydraulic lift points built into each wheel corner of the car, so when it was time to pit, they could lift it up easily and put these tire socks on the tires. neat!
http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10236&g2_serialNumber=2

http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10245&g2_serialNumber=1

ultima GTR parked in the hotel me and meiogirl stayed at. sick, sick car. dry sumped LS7 with all the goodies. probably one of the quickest cars you can buy/put together in terms of power/weight ratio (last I heard, they weigh in around 2200 lbs... that motor is probably good for 500-600+ hp @ the tires)
http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10251&g2_serialNumber=2

[mdpalmer]

More pics.


meiogirl & friends in the pits (same tow hooks on the two FDs there)
http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10272&g2_serialNumber=1

---------------------
more pics.

robert's & fris' track FCs
http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10278&g2_serialNumber=1

hozzman's black turbo vert & rich arizona c6 race car dude's trailer in background :tonque:
http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10290&g2_serialNumber=1

another badass viper. with an attitude!
http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10308&g2_serialNumber=2

http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10311&g2_serialNumber=2

kill list LOL! :crackup:
http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10314&g2_serialNumber=2

http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10317&g2_serialNumber=2

http://michael-david-palmer.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10320&g2_serialNumber=2

[Vettezuki]

Awesome pics. Thanks!

[Redondo Jon]

Cool Mike, those are nice pics. Wow! These folks are bringing some pretty serious game to these track days. One of my many fears is that I’ll fail spectacularly at one of these events and get boo-boo’s on my feelings. I still want to do this though. I’ll see what I can do by October.

[silverscmustang]

awesome pictures, I have seen that red viper at irvine cars and coffee

[jedhead]

Great pics.

Bob

[AARP]

Cool Mike, those are nice pics. Wow! These folks are bringing some pretty serious game to these track days. One of my many fears is that I’ll fail spectacularly at one of these events and get boo-boo’s on my feelings. I still want to do this though. I’ll see what I can do by October.

Speedventures is definitely the way to go for your first track day. They run a tight ship and make sure everyone is in order. I'd keep an eye out for a streets of willow event.

[Kozak]

Sick pictures, I would do an FC with the cute little square hood scoop...I'm a sucker for a good hood scoop:judge:

[mdpalmer]

Sick pictures, I would do an FC with the cute little square hood scoop...I'm a sucker for a good hood scoop:judge:

How about the whale penis scoop on this one :)

http://www.norotors.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=7797.0;attach=8975 ;image

355 sbc, old school. check out his "new guy" thread

http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=7797.0

[mdpalmer]

Cool Mike, those are nice pics. Wow! These folks are bringing some pretty serious game to these track days. One of my many fears is that I’ll fail spectacularly at one of these events and get boo-boo’s on my feelings. I still want to do this though. I’ll see what I can do by October.

^^ Yup some of them do, most of the radical ones are trailered in and never see the street. And lots of them are actively competing and trying to earn trophies not just for an ego boost, but to please sponsors, etc.

For the guy who has a street driven car, that's not what it's really about IMO... it's about going out there and getting used to your car, enjoying it, becoming a better driver, and go fast without going to jail!! No such thing as failing at an open track day unless you drive like a dick and have no manners! Or driving way over your or your car's capability and run it into a wall or someone else :bang:

Example: late summer 2007 buttonwillow, redline was putting on the track day. spectrum of cars.... everything from stock miata to new 911 turbo porsche, amg sl65 (?) mercedes, c5/c6 corvette z06, viper, etc. 90% of the guys with massive power and huge egos, of course, couldn't drive for shit. every corner that came up, the miata (stock motor, sticky tires, upgraded suspension IIRC) was all over them. drove around them in corners only to get spanked in the straights. problem was that the big ego/hp guys never thought about letting the quick miata by before the corners so he could work the corners without having to dodge the egomaniacs.

I see this happen a lot. I think people should realize when even though they have a car with huge potential, and there is another guy behind you on your ass constantly thru corners with a lower potential car, just let him by, point him/her by. The person behind you is obviously a better driver, so accept it. You can blow by the slower car on the straights but he will whoop you in corners... happens all the time... When I say potential, I mean straight up power, not necessarily handling. Obviously the miata has a high handling and braking potential when setup right.

Anyway, you should get your ass out there, there is nothing like it. Take it slow your first couple times, you have to feel out the limits of the car in terms of brakes (very important!), handling, grip/tires, and how your motor runs (keeping water/air/coolant/fuel temps in check). No one demands you drive like you stole it, just have fun with it!

[mdpalmer]

Speedventures is definitely the way to go for your first track day. They run a tight ship and make sure everyone is in order. I'd keep an eye out for a streets of willow event.

^^ I totally agree. They are very organized in general, much more so than the redline people... although I'm not sure if redline puts on track days for your average joe anymore. How'd your miata challenge go on Sat? I watched them on sunday and the first car out drove over like 20 cones on the finish line on the 1st or 2nd lap :jester: Really fun to watch, miatas look like the perfect car for autocrossing.

EDIT: thought I would show this video of a fellow lsx-rx7 converter, on saturday afternoon driving his 2nd gen miata with worn out slicks. watch the big drift at the end, so cool!

Miata auto-x big drift - YouTube

[mdpalmer]

Here's a vid of my auto-x attempt on Sunday, the day after mazfest :)

LS1 FD Rx-7 @ Speedventures Auto-X, Shakedown - YouTube

[Shaolin Crane]

Damn from the looks of those pictures its time to bust out the front air dam and rear spoiler