This was honestly the best day of my life. There is no tickets, no traffic, no limits except what you and your car provide.

My first track event and it went great. I got there late for the meeting but in time to drive:buttrock

We were split into 5 groups: red 1, red 2, blue, white, yellow (beginer with instructor).

each group had a total of 5 runs 25 min each.

So the first yellow of the day is up and the instructor jumps into the pilot seat of my car. "I'll take it easy so you can see the race lines and braking zones." Exactly the instructions you need, I was lucky all I learnt was in my car not in class. You start slow, use up all the lanes and hit apex to apex. Figure out the braking zones and entry time. After that its all finetuning and more smoothness.

So I get in thee pilot seat and I'm on the track for the first time in my life....butterflies, can I do this...The instructor put alot of faith in my car when he was driving, "What have you done to this car it just sticks!"
"Nothing much just RG-Rs with SO3s (285 in rear), eibach sways and PSS9s, and factory front strut brace with -1.3 camber."
Now I have to see what this kit is capable of. first 2 laps go quick, quite rough though with more steering input than needed.
I can't say how fast my lap times were around race configuration 14 counter clockwise setup in the first run, so I decided that I need to keep track.

Run 2 I go alone in the car with the transponder. I pass 4 cars in the first 2 laps, then I get 2 laps of open traffic for me to work on the track with open road for some fun. Then on lap 4 I get stuck behind 3 corvettes C5s, through thte esses the corvettes gets swallowed, come the sweepers I'm still behind them and the straightaways they pull harder with their V8s. Lap5 same thing happens they block me atleast 4 different places not allowing any passing opportunities and again same scenario around the turns only my speed in the straight aways is going upto 105 MPH and around 80 on the esses. So I finish that run in 4th behind 3 vettes.

Lunch break is on there is one hamburger stand with a very, very long line that never moves. Anyways 40 minutes later while listening to a short meeting about allowing faster cars to pass on the left I get to order the double cheese burger.
I go look for my times and they had dropped from 2:54 to 2:42 when I was stuck behind those C5s. I ask some guys in line about todays records and the all time records and I heard of a 1:40s for street modified car on slicks with todays best at 1:50 in a modified NSX on slicks and 1:51 on a stock VIPER GTS on slicks.
40 min later my burger is ready and I have about 35 min before my 3rd run so there is also time for a cigarette. Well 10 min later John H in the Euro (321 HP) dakar E36 M3 pulls in and offers me a ride around in his group (white, novice).
Thats is where I learn more breaking and entry techniques as John was pushing his Euro M3 hard and very effective with his coil overs, sway bars and slicks. Very impressive, I'm glad those 3 pt harness worked well and kept my burger in my stomach. John had an impressive 2:09.

I'm up right after that, I was lucky that I had refueled right before lunch, the 100 Octane is pretty expensive stuff, I refueld 3 times about 4 gallons each time to keep the weight down.

My oil temperature during the first 2 runs hit upto 220 or 230 F. Now the track is warmer and I'm ready to pass those vettes. 3rd run is on and my sport button is engaged, I never had the DSC on all day. Quick shift into 2nd with a chirp and off the pit lane into the first right hander. From apex to apex through the esses in a straight line with slight brake and left into a hard brake and hard left and the sweerper unlocking the wheel and get lined up for the vettes. Now I'm hitting those apex curbs at speeds over 100 those SO3s proved their sidewall strength. The drivers in this group are mainly beginers with some novice or advanced, the good thing is it wasn't as crouded as the red and blue groups. Anyways 1st vette I passed was a convertible, ok wheres the next. A couple of more cars down and the the C5 coupes are in my rear view mirror. This run flew buy so quickly and I started hiting 120 MPH in both straights and 95 in the esses. One light brake at the 1st turn and the 120 washes down to only 85 and I feel the turn was gonna be too fast and I'm off on the dirt for the 1st time, phew I wait for the car behind me to pass and I'm back on its tail through the esses and I pass it by the next turn. Remember guys when youre black flagged get off the track, I missed that part of the meeting this morning operarting on 3 hrs of sleep. eventually 2 laps later I realise and I go the pit lane for a tire check. I'm back on track for the final 2 laps and then RED 1 are up for their 4th run.

I left the transponder with my friend and I didn't get lap times this run, although I know I was atleast 10 -15 sec faster cause I passed 6 cars and hit 120 on both straight aways. Sport helps nicely, but I recommend getting to know the track before using it to be easier on the turns and your drivetrain.
Anyways I opened my hood to cool down the engine as I hit 260 F at the end of my 3rd run and my brakes were smoking!!! That run on the dirt must have decreased my braking efficiency and all together the day was getting hotter.

Anyways 4th run is up and now I'm battling all around, there was an E36 M3 and another E46 M3 on 18s in my group and an E39 M5 that I passed, the vettes are history and now I spot a black Z06 up front that I need to get ahead of. I battle some more and this really fast honda prelude fights very hard and stays behind me on the straights at 120 and very close on the turns until I felt he was to close at the end of the back straight away where you go over the bump and take a left into the blind corner right behind, I forgot names of the turns I need that map. I was told I should have just braked and worried about my truning than him in my rear view mirror, well anyways I go off onto the dirt. I learnt this wasn't the way to do it if soimeone is right behind you since he might just follow you on the dirt and some impact might happen ooops, so just brake then turn. so I get back on track into the pits for a quick checkup and back on track finishing about 2or 3 cars behind that light prelude. Ok so my laps times here were in the 2:17 range, I'm happy but I need more speed the honda gotta stay in the rear view mirror.

So the hood is left open again for some more air cooling, the air right above the head looked like the air over a 4th of july grill. I take a break talk to some drivers, unfortunatley I only had the 1st run with the instructor I just couldn't find one when I was going, better that way less weight right. So I hear that modified NSX that ran the best time today was going upto 140 MPH on both straights and over 100 throught the esses. ok so now I have a better reference point I need more speed!!!

final run of the day is up and I get about 7 laps, 2 quick runs with the white group followed by another 5 in the yellow. The girl at the pits was so nice to let me in for more. So I hit the esses hard now after those warm up laps with the white group, I'm over 100 through the esses in my first lap now. I fly through catching up with the black ZO6, nice car , really nice torque existing the turns, ok so I need more speed again. I'm tailing the Z06 for 3 laps his torque ready exits show some oversteer that eventually helps with my 130 MPH runs. Through the esses again now at 105 and the ZO6 taillights almost became part of my kidney grill
:clap:
He lets me pass by the sweeper and I'm off for my last laps. What a beautiful final, I finally stayed ahead of all the cars in my group I really felt like montoya for 20 some minutes and my engine screamed all the way to 8,100 all day. The 100 is at home in the S54, I highly recommend it also take a liter of 10W60.

I go with the Z06 guy to see the lap times and I'm caught by surprise to see my last 3 laps to be at 2:03 over this 2.5 mile circuit. I matched my instructors best time of day. Everyone was shocked shouting you fucker this can't be your first track event, I smiled and replied I used to pretend the public streets and canyons were tracks at 4 or 5 am, now I can do it all day under the sun, oh and safely as well as legally.

Got to run to the dealer before they close, I need a liter of oil should have had it with me 300 miles ago on the track, oh well the oil temp went down below 200 F on the ride back.

I'll post pictures and video clips after the weekend.

Guys enjoy modifying your M, enjoy cruising, enjoy dreaming and reading stuff, it all builds up to this day make sure you pack as many as you can.:redspot

Nice writeup... :D

Next time I am there, really I am :)

MPILOT,

I can't remember... do you have stock brakes on your car? Did you experience any brake fade?

yes I do have the stock US brakes. I had the front rotors and pads replaced at the delaer on Thursday. My rear brakes were replaced only 6 or 7k miles ago, but I think I need a new rear brake service now.

Once I'm done with the supersprint headers install this week and the CF airbox and ECU soon after, I will look out for a deal on the new brembo front brakes. The 6-piston 14" should be the solution after 390 HP.

MPILOT - you expect 390 hp from just the headers, intake, exhaust, and ecu?

awesome post, made me feel like i was in the car with you :D

Yes around 390 Hp from headers, x-pipe, muffler, CF airbox and ECU from Delage sport.

I'm installing the supersprint headers this week, I'll run some dynos and post them.

Heres a shot of the Euro 321 HP M3

http://www.stanford.edu/~jhovell/buttonwillow.jpg

The S50B32 meets the S54

http://www.stanford.edu/~jhovell/gilroy.jpg

Originally posted by MPILOT
Yes around 390 Hp from headers, x-pipe, muffler, CF airbox and ECU from Delage sport.

I'm installing the supersprint headers this week, I'll run some dynos and post them.

Where are you going for the dyno? I would like to dyno my car as well and get a good baseline.

Sticky he is talking about crank hp, not wheel hp. If you want to dyno your car take it to evosport www.evosport.com e-mail Vadim or any of the others would be fine. They are in huntington beach and are a great shop.

yes EvoSport had a dynojet facility talk to vadim or tom. I still haven't seen an SMG dyno'd. Sticky can you post your sheets when you get them?

Thought about whether or not to respond to this but in the end I couldn't help myself. As Ice Man said to Maverick "you my friend are dangrous". First track event and you are off two times and describing the event like it was a race. Don't know if you were running a BMW CCA event or a PCA event but likely you weren't. As poorly controlled this event must have been. You clearly should have had an instructor in your car for the day to keep you under control. Had this been up here in the northwoods and I was your instructor you would not have been on your own. I've had a couple of guys in new 911s thinking they were Mario needless to say they never saw the track by themselves.

The objectives of DEs is

1. The safety of others.
2. The safety of other cars.
3. Your own safety.
4. Your cars safety.
5. Learn something.
6. Have fun.

I think you got it backwards.

Originally posted by eurorides
Sticky he is talking about crank hp, not wheel hp. If you want to dyno your car take it to evosport www.evosport.com e-mail Vadim or any of the others would be fine. They are in huntington beach and are a great shop.

Evosport did not treat me nicely when I went to their shop. Is there anyone else I can go to?

Originally posted by MPILOT
yes EvoSport had a dynojet facility talk to vadim or tom. I still haven't seen an SMG dyno'd. Sticky can you post your sheets when you get them?

Yes, it is just a matter of finding a place that knows how to dyno the smg m3 (I don't want to go to evosport unless I have to).

[QUOTE]Thought about whether or not to respond to this but in the end I couldn't help myself. As Ice Man said to Maverick "you my friend are dangrous". First track event and you are off two times and describing the event like it was a race. Don't know if you were running a BMW CCA event or a PCA event but likely you weren't. As poorly controlled this event must have been. You clearly should have had an instructor in your car for the day to keep you under control. Had this been up here in the northwoods and I was your instructor you would not have been on your own. I've had a couple of guys in new 911s thinking they were Mario needless to say they never saw the track by themselves.

The objectives of DEs is

1. The safety of others.
2. The safety of other cars.
3. Your own safety.
4. Your cars safety.
5. Learn something.
6. Have fun.

I think you got it backwards.

Hey MAB why don't you bubble rap yourself and stay home thinking about how dangerous it is out there. Yes MAB stay home and watch it on TV like everyone else does it in wis. :help me I'm scared :emo

hey Sticky there is a dyno jet facility in Gardena, I'll look for their no and post it soon.
Its the one RMS uses, they charge $75 for 3 runs.

Your response and view is as expected immature, uncontrolled and easily manipulated. Bet your the youngest!

When I am on the track I know the difference between DE, lapping and racing. It is my expectation that those around me understand the difference and except their responsibilty to behave appropriately.

how did evosport treat u badly???

MAB --

The group MPILOT was running with was Speedventures. These people rent out transponders to everyone for the day, and all sessions are timed.

It's basically the polar opposite of CCA or PCA (which I don't even think lets non p-cars in any more)... these events are all about lap times. And of course since it's timed, all street insurance is out the window.

People who sign up with Speedventures know what they are getting into. I watched someone smash up a brand new 350Z and also saw a NSX come about 2 feet from a collision with a wall.

Most cars have rollover protection, and those that don't are advised to keep speeds reasonable in the 2 places on the track where you could get into serious trouble.

Overall, Buttonwillow is one of the safest tracks I've been to, and I think people are generally pretty smart about driving straight off if they go into a corner too fast and lose it. The one collision of the day was the result of someone trying to save their car when they didn't have the means.

There were no vehicle-to-vehicle collisions, which are governed by the 13/13 rule, like in CCA club racing.

Really, it's just a matter of preference. Like in any high risk sport, there are those who think it's worth it and those who think it's not.

Oh, and lastly I will add I was *really* impressed with MPILOT's 2:03. Like he said, he matched his instructor's best time of the day, and was only about 10 seconds behind my instructor in a race prepared Viper. It takes skills to get a time like that even in a Ferrari. I don't think MPILOT was a typical first-day student by a long shot... nor do I think he was out there "hot rodding" it.

I don't mean to start an argument or flame war here... I just wanted to come to his defense and explain what sort of group this was.

Cheers,
john
'95 S50B32 M3
ps. Oh, and I got a *2:08* not a 2:09 like MPILOT said ;-).

Hey John I remember you told me about your 2:08 time, sorry I just posted the times of the 5th run thats where you got the 2:09. So what you think of the SO3s, some more power and CF trunk. See you at willowsprings April 17th and bimmerfest before that on the 11th.

Fun drive on the way back although the extra oil and better brakes were much needed.

Sweet motor on your car, look up Delage sport and MK-Motorsport and digi-tec.de for some power upgrades for your S52. Digi-tec has a kit that goes up in stages from 360 HP using MK-Motorsports kit (header,exh,ecu,CF airbox) and their alpha N and cams for the 400 HP total and 180 MPH top speed.

Who's hosting the 4/17th event?

its at willowsprings I think beverly hills motor club. Its the same event organisors of last event on 3/13.

Originally posted by eurorides
how did evosport treat u badly???

I went over there to ask how much it was to install springs. They quoted me 700 bucks. I said that was a lot of money for just springs and then they told me I did not know what I was talking about. I just left after that.

hmm... big willow on the 17th? man, i hadn't even been thinking about that one.

that would be one *fun* week for me:
17th: willow springs
18th: t-hill with unlimited laps
19-20th: infineon with speedventures

yikes! is Beverley Hills discounting the 17th date again? I'm not sure I'd pay full ride to run with those guys. I found you realistically can only get about double the track time at a normal event. So $400 is probably the upper limit of what I'd be willing to pay.... not to mention it is over 5 hours from my house :(.

oh, and i had been thinking about tagging along with the lotus club at laguna on wednesday the 9th:
http://www.gglotus.org/trkdays/ggtrkday.htm
anyone interested?

oh, and mpilot -- it's the s50b32, not the s52 (that was the US engine for 96+). i'm a little skeptical that you can get that sort of power out of the s50b32, but i'd love to see your results tuning your s54, since they are pretty similar engines.

cheers,
john

John H --

Thanks for the explaination of the event. Obviously not a DE or controlled lapping.

What exactly is this whole "DE" thing you guys seem to be arguing about?

Originally posted by Sticky
What exactly is this whole "DE" thing you guys seem to be arguing about?

D1ck envy you whippersnapper!

Originally posted by mpowerme
D1ck envy you whippersnapper!

So as quoted from earlier in this thread, this is what dick envy is for? ;)

The objectives of DEs is
1. The safety of others.
2. The safety of other cars.
3. Your own safety.
4. Your cars safety.
5. Learn something.
6. Have fun.


I did not know dick envy was so important...

Originally posted by Sticky
So as quoted from earlier in this thread, this is what dick envy is for? ;)



I did not know dick envy was so important...

:mdrbig
It's for the safety of others!:laugh

I just signed up for Willowsprings Int'l Raceway.

This is a great deal for $399 on Thursday April the 17th.

There's gonna be unlimited driving, well until someone dehydrates.

DE is drivers' education. Like a PCA event - you just how to control your car better - it just takes place on a racetrack.

I'm really kind of horrified after reading your initial post, MPILOT - it sounds like you had a great time, but I signed up for a speedventures event in Florida this weekend, and I'm kind of apprehensive about going on the track with people who are gung-ho about faster lap times and higher speed thresholds.

Speed is awesome dude - I love it as much as everyone else here - but not at the cost of wrecking my car, someone else's car, or, more importantly, hurting someone else or myself.

MAB BadgerBimmer really knows what he's talking about. Thanks for your comments. The more I think about it, actually, if that speedventures event in Florida this weekend turns out like yours on the west coast, I'm leaving. Just to be on the safe side.

I guess I'm boring because I'm not going to scrape fenders with other drivers.

Well there is no fender scrapping or hotrodding, just safe adrenaline flows. You drive to your limit which grows each time.

There is safe passing rules as well as regulated inspections at all times.

Its recommended to drive off the track at buttonwillow since there is the room and its often safer than over correcting and spinning out which may lead to a crash.

I did push my car each run a little more with the instructor and organiser applauding my results.

Originally posted by MPILOT
Well there is no fender scrapping or hotrodding, just safe adrenaline flows.

No hotrodding? From your cavorts with the Corvettes and the NSX, it sounds like there is quite a bit of hotrodding! Chasing people down straights with the intent of "catching" them is absolutely hotrodding. Not letting people pass you is also hotrodding. Not that hotrodding is a bad thing - it's very cool as long as everyone else is into it too.

I'm just not too pleased about the prospect of some random guy getting all excited because my track car this weekend says 'turbo' on the back, and he wants to race all day.

Originally posted by varsitydramat
No hotrodding? From your cavorts with the Corvettes and the NSX, it sounds like there is quite a bit of hotrodding! Chasing people down straights with the intent of "catching" them is absolutely hotrodding. Not letting people pass you is also hotrodding. Not that hotrodding is a bad thing - it's very cool as long as everyone else is into it too.



I think you are over-reacting a bit. He went on the track and had fun. People yell at you when you drive fast on the street, mpilot goes on the track and goes balls out and then people also give him shit. Make up your damn minds.

Originally posted by Sticky
I think you are over-reacting a bit. He went on the track and had fun. People yell at you when you drive fast on the street, mpilot goes on the track and goes balls out and then people also give him shit. Make up your damn minds.

Agreed. It's kinda funny when you go read the Kill Stories forum where people get praised for driving agressively on the streets because some BMW beat some brand X car and then MPILOT posts a story about his track experience and everyone hammers him for driving agressively. :conf:

Originally posted by Sticky
Make up your damn minds.

Dude, nobody's "hammering" MPILOT for anything. He can drive as hard as he wants on the track or on the street - his own prerogative. All I'm saying is that I'm doing a speedventures event this weekend and I don't want anyone tailing me the way that he tailed that Z06 guy. I believe he wrote
Originally posted by MPILOT the ZO6 taillights almost became part of my kidney grill.

Maybe I'm a dork who needs to be driving a Ford Aerostar instead of my M3 or 996 Turbo, but I don't want my taillights to become part of anyone's grill. If you want to fool around on the track driving that close, just be sure that the those on the track with you feel the same way. That's it and that's all.

Originally posted by MAB Badgerbimmer
Thought about whether or not to respond to this but in the end I couldn't help myself. As Ice Man said to Maverick "you my friend are dangrous". First track event and you are off two times and describing the event like it was a race. Don't know if you were running a BMW CCA event or a PCA event but likely you weren't. As poorly controlled this event must have been. You clearly should have had an instructor in your car for the day to keep you under control. Had this been up here in the northwoods and I was your instructor you would not have been on your own. I've had a couple of guys in new 911s thinking they were Mario needless to say they never saw the track by themselves.

The objectives of DEs is

1. The safety of others.
2. The safety of other cars.
3. Your own safety.
4. Your cars safety.
5. Learn something.
6. Have fun.

I think you got it backwards.

Hey Guys,

I wanted to comment about this thread since I was at ButtonWillow during this event.
Some of us (other folks that went) were puzzled of all the cars going off track, improper passing etc.

Honestly seeing this post scares me since I realized after reading MPilots thread that you missed the morning meeting and you’ve never been to a track event before... this is where the rules of the track comes in. i.e. Flag colors, point by pass, signals to tap on the car if you wipe out... tow signals etc, black flags mean for you to come in... everyone got this if they went off the track

This was your first event so I'm not sure how much of the track etiquette and safety you know but my friend thinks you don’t know what a checker, cool down lap is since you passed him almost cutting him off during the cool down lap. And he did not do a point by.

Info about .. Speedventure.net the organizer.
Welcome to the home of Speed Ventures on the Web! For those new to us, we organize
Track events for street cars, providing a safe, fun environment to learn the limits of your car and improve your driving abilities. We offer instruction in track-driving technique, timing at all events, and an opportunity to affordably live your dream of driving on a real racetrack.
Yes timing is optional, however, you need to consider which group you are in and the rules they have.
The Red 1's had a lot of track cars, with all R Compound tires with Red 2 being mostly street cars with mix tires. I only saw roll bars on couple of cars and white and yellow were mostly street cars with street tires.

Since you missed the morning meeting MPilot, this is what was said.
Group Info.

Red 1 (Fast)
Red 2 (Fast)
White (Medium)
Yellow (Slow)

For the 2 Red's use Point by Pass however since the Red's are experience drivers, use your good judgement.

White and Yellow, use point by pass, passing on the Left straights.
If you go off the track come in for a chat (black flag).

My guess is that you were racing the other cars... but they weren't racing you. Coming in 4th behind the Vettes is hard to say since folks went out and came in during the sessions.

The first 2 laps where you passed the vettes... these were the laps for the instructors to use... I too could not pass during these because of new comers not knowing how to signal so if you've passed without them signally, that was not cool.

You did not mention the Honda that was riding you at 120mph passed you, if you did not do a point by he would have not passed you, part of the track and speedventures rules they talked about.

There were couple of posts that I agree with where Track Safety is key. It's not about who can you pass by taking someone Apex before they make the turn... anyone ... I mean Anyone can pass using these methods of passing or taking the apex of the inside lane, it just forces the other driver to either slow down and let you pass or gun it to cut you off. Since it’s not F1, guys in front will let you pass to avoid a collision.
I say this since you took my left lane before the right turn. This gave me very little choice for the turn since I could not use the entire track for the right turn. This is the last turn before the front straights, a dangerous turn since many kiss the wall if they go off here.
Also since part of your car was already in the left side behind my car, I could not track out of the turn, making it difficult for me to drive at normal turn speeds.
Maybe you remember me. I was in the E39 and after this turn, I stuck my entire arm out give you the point by pass. You must have seen me there since you mentioned an E39, it wasn’t you passing me... it was other letting you pass.

I'm not blaming you completely since the corner workers could have been more active but the accountability is still behind the driver. That Lunch meeting you speak of, that was a safety meeting after the many mis haps on the track... improper passing, going off track etc.

Without knowing the track rules of passing, flags, it was not cool. It's just dangerous.
Running for best times in the white and yellow groups is plain stupid cuz you have too many cars in your way...because there were up to 30 cars on the track at a time. It was a low priced event, the track was very crowded and it became more important than ever for people to follow the rules...its lucky that there wasn't a serious crash

Here’s my friends video when you passed him.
Other drivers on the same track’s view Mpilot..

First turn, the back straights. He never pointed you by, you came up on the left and took his turn / Apex which forced him to drive on the right edge of the entire turn as both of you drove a few seconds side by side before the pass.

The second pass was during the Checker Flag, the cool down lap where you cut him off on a turn. It’s a cool down lap...

OtherDriversViewVid (http://www.corystarr.com/mug/buttonwillow/MPilotButtonwillow.wmv)

Mola

Wait a minute, are you allowed to pass like that on those kinds of turns? In all of the High Performance Driving Schools that I have attended I was told to only pass on the straights.

Those "passing" turns are very dangerous especially that last clip.

What is the point of racing if you can't pass in a turn?

Originally posted by Jon Caldito
Wait a minute, are you allowed to pass like that on those kinds of turns? In all of the High Performance Driving Schools that I have attended I was told to only pass on the straights.

Those "passing" turns are very dangerous especially that last clip.


In the White & Yellow Group, No passing around turns at all.
It's Passing w/ a Point By (Hand out the Drivers Window) on the Straights Only as the car in front moves to the Right.


In the video, the first turn was hard to judge since MPilots car is out of the camera's view during the turn. But take a look at the line the camera car driver is taking... he turns a tad to the left but a car is there so he drives straight on the right edge of the track to make the left turn. MPilot pops into the cameras view after the turn.

I was in the white E39 in front of the camera looking at the rear view mirror as two M3's take the turn side by side which is a no no.


Mola

Originally posted by Sticky
What is the point of racing if you can't pass in a turn?


Umm, it was NOT a racing school, unlike what MPilot thought. It was a high performance driving SCHOOL! :nono

MPilot, consider yourself lucky, as Mola said, that you did not get into a bad accident, like the blue 350Z did.

Listen guys, there has been a lot of commotion about my post, and I want to set the record straight.

This was my first track event, and I have spent my entire life dreaming of pushing my car to its limits, so this day was THE DAY. While we were all out there obviously watching out for each others' safety, we were doing what we all love to do: push ourselves and our cars to the limit. Anyone who isn't in that mindframe should stick to CCA events. If you can't have the fun of imagining finishing positions on such a day, and fostering a healthy competitiveness to push yourself further, then make sure you let the rest of us pass the second we approach you, otherwise you will only be a slow car in the way.

This was my first event and I might have made some etiquette errors, but that's why I was in the Yellow group and ran in the white at the end of the day, not the Red. When I went off it was because I made a mistake, and that is part of the learning process. While searching to find the limit, sometimes you go over it. It is however the better and smarter thing to do as 3 or more cars attempted such fast entries and ended up spinning out or hitting the wall.

I appreciate constructively critical posts, but if you are just trying to bitch about my beautiful day, when you weren't there like the track officials were, then go elsewhere to vent your frustration. The organizers found nothing wrong with my intensity.

This track event was timed, and thus was designed to maximise your self, your car, and ultimately your SPEED, that why its called speedventures. That is what I was trying to do, and I apologize to anyone on the track that day if I was on their ass. I was trying to lay down quicker and quicker lap times, and you were in my way. Most people were very courteous, as I was, when being passed. I know there are many more positive people out there who get a glimmer of joy in their heart when they read posts like mine, and it is for them that I share my experiences.

"I was trying to lay down quicker and quicker lap times, and you were in my way."

It's all about me, Mpilot. F*** everyone else because it's about me! Must be wonderful going through life in state of oblivious peacefulness.

Hmm....

I must say that I find it interesting that EVERY single person who was there seems to think your driving was scary, MPILOT. And going by that video, you're frightening.

This is a hard one, I think it's great that MPILOT could take his vehicle on a track and drive the HELL out of it and do very well (e.g., came home in one piece and so did the car :D). MPILOT - which run group were you in, white or yellow?

If anyone is to blame, it's not MPILOT. I think the organizers should have bumped him up to the red group or blue group at least. I think he was just in the wrong group.

For myself, I know in my group, there were people that were out there for the first time as well. However, they were good drivers and hauling ass. For me, it was a bit intimidating, because I am not a good enough driver if something goes wrong, hence, the purpose of me being out there. I think it's the organizers responsiblity to move the person up. The really fast people in our group moved up and out of our group.

Not only because they were faster and better; but, because we were beginner-novice ... the faster people made me more scared and apprehensive; because I didn't want to get in their way and it was difficult enough to keep my eyes ahead ... but I also had to keep my eyes on the flag people and I also had to keep an eye behind me. Even after doing different days at summit, for myself, I like remaining in the novice group ... I can work on my smoothness ... and keeping my eyes ahead.

You can't fault Mpilot for being a good driver and having a great time. The organizers should have moved him up out of his group.

Damn guys -- is that $400 for one day??? I thought Car guys at $500 for two days was hella expensive.

I looked forward to my first time at VIR ... a little apprehensive, my co-worker flipped his car there, another wrapped it into an Oak Tree...they said you can hit 150+ on the back straightaway (I think it's 3000 feet long)...the full course is around 3.4 miles???

I'm doing that with the Porsche club ... hella cheaper, 2 days and one day of unlimited driving, only for $340 .... :buttrock Can't pass that up ....

A couple of friends are driving their 996 turbo's ... that outta be a sight to see!!! :buttrock

Glad you had a great time Mpilot -- it's intoxicating and exhilarating!

Hey MPilot, you shouldnt be passing people until your on the straights. When you gain a little more experience and advance to higher groups you can do all the passing you want. Its just dangerous because the other cars arent prepared for you to pass since they think its no passing. But you car sounds fucking great! Lets meet up in im the valley, I would love to hear it.

Originally posted by MPILOT
...snip...
I appreciate constructively critical posts, but if you are just trying to bitch about my beautiful day, when you weren't there like the track officials were, then go elsewhere to vent your frustration. The organizers found nothing wrong with my intensity.

...snip

Most of the criticism here seems to be constructive. You weren't allowed to pass in the corners. You were suppose to attend driver's meetings. You were suppose to understand the rules. That's what everyone else is trying to point out to you. Learn the rules, learn track ettiquette and show some respect to other drivers on the track and perhaps EVERYONE can have fun too.

You're not the only one that's allow to have "fun" at the track at everyone else's expense. The organizers should have black-flagged you and had a one-on-one driver's meeting with you.

I guess I can cross SpeedVentures off my list of organizers as well.

Thats not true, I did have a driver meeting with my instructor after I was black flagged in my 3rd run. I understood the rules then went back on the track and had more fun.

The video you see was before I had that meeting. I will post a video showing better footage and more real time.

This event was very well organized and like I said by the end of the day I had learnt alot and had the best fun of my life. I highly recommend it.

Its just so funny that everytime something is posted anywhere on the internet people start arguing and beating at each other.

Hey MPilot. Thanks for sharing and letting yourself be known.

I'm a Speedventure guy too and I'll be certain to request that the organizer's put me in any run group..... but yours.

I've heard the same about the NASA events, can anyone verify or deny this?

Hey guys, I'm the one who posted about being scared of speedventures events earlier. I went to my first speeventures event this past weekend at Sebring in Florida, and it was terrific.

Only nineteen cars were there - 3.7 mile circuit. Most of the guys out there were in Miatas and Corvettes, there were some 350Zs, and I was one of three Porsches. It was a great time, most (if not all) of the drivers were courteous and nonaggressive in the white and yellow groups, and I'd honestly recommend this group to other people.

All I want to do is clear speedventures' name, despite MPILOT's track antics. Also, the corner workers on the track are probably the people who see the most "action" and they can always blackflag people too.