B-Line

Speedventures is running the ROVAl (road course, oval)..

I've never been to California speedway.. So who else is coming? Greg?

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Alan Smithee

I'm planning to be at the Willow Springs event on Saturday the 22nd...

Edgy01

Quick! Sign me up...oops, I still DON'T have my car back from the factory!

B-Line

Alan Smithee, (I'm probably one of the very few people on this site that actually understand the origins of that name.. LOL, btw.. Your my favorite director.

-- Why not join me at California Speedway next Friday. They are running the ROVAl (road course/oval) it should be a great day..

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Alan Smithee

B-Line, you must be in the biz...

I can't get away Friday, but would otherwise love to go...CA Speedway is a lot of fun, especially getting up on the banking...it's my 2nd favorite So Cal track next to the big track at WS.

B-Line

Yup, I'm a director/producer. Recently got my MFA from AFI in Directing. Doing the film festival circuit now with my Thesis.

Too bad you can't make it to the track on Friday. Looks like I'm going to be alone out there.
I'm also surprised to hear you say that WS is your favorite track in So.Cal. I hate Willow SPrings and I've never hated a track before. I do however, LOVE Buttonwillow. Never been to California Speedway. I've lived in SOCAL for 4 years but was mostly busy with school. Just starting to get my seat time again after a few years of down time.

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cdodkin

B-Line, I'm going to try and get trackside on Friday with the camera, and get some action shots.

I love shooting Cal Speedway, it's got some great infield corners for getting both left and right-hand action shots.





And the banking and central straits are great too...





So far SV haven't replied to my PM, checking I was ok to bring the pro equipment on Friday - so fingers crossed I get in!

Chris.

B-Line

Wow,

Amazing shots.. I couldn't imagine them not letting you in..
I only ask, if you see me in your lens, please don't snap the shutter under any of the following conditions/events:

1) If I point anybody by
2) If I go off track
3) If I am picking my nose
4) If I miss my Apex
5) NIP SLIP
6) If I have a coach in the passenger seat showing me the line.
7) Camel Toe

And please make sure to snap these pictures:
1) Me passing a much faster (HP) car
2) Me with a nice slip angle or booty shaking rear end out
3) Me checking my tire pressure (makes me look like a wrench)

--LOL--

Hope to see you there.

cdodkin

OK - I have my shot list down

Maybe we can get you suiting up in the pits



Or reaching for your keys when you've dropped them into the engine bay!



My only problem may be if SV have an 'official' photog at the event... we'll see.

Chris.

Alan Smithee

What's to hate about WS? Especially in a high-horsepower AWD car...

B-Line

A 1997 C2S (280 hp) (rwd) is not exatly high horse power or AWD..

I don't particulary like Willow because there is not a lot of shifting/braking..
It is a track that requires a lot of *****.. I prefer tracks that require more technical.. Maybe I'll feel different about it in the future, like in the TT.

I just don't get excited about that track in any way.

Alan Smithee

Ah...since you're getting a 997TT, I assumed your 993 was a TT as well...now I see that it has the Aerokit.

I guess the lack of braking at WS is why I've grown to like it...technical tracks like Buttonwillow were tough on my stock E46 M3's brakes and tires during long sessions, so I tended to avoid them. Not to mention WS is closer, making a one-day event easily do-able, and it's typically merely sweltering rather than Hades-hot.

Looking forward to seeing how the 997 does there.

B-Line

correct.. It's a na 993.

To me, the most fun and challenging part of high performance driving is BRAKING. And, Buttonwillow is just as close to Los Angeles as WillowSprings. Buttonwillow is 120 miles door to door. Willow ain't much closer than that?
And I'm shocked to hear that your E46 M3 had problems during long sessions, but hey, now you own a Pcar..

B-Line

Oh yeah,

Don't feel bad about not knowing my car is na. Most people don't realize and, it's got the "delete model designation from factory" So besides the missing air intakes above the rear wheels, my car looks exactly like a TURBO S.. It's got Turbo Twist wheels, Aerokit II, etc.

Funny thing is, when I used to be fast, (when I used to track a lot) I would pass guys in much, much faster cars. After the session I would always get the, "YEAH, of course you passed me, your in a AWD Turbo"

I would just laugh.

On the flip side of the coin. I have friends who are very Porsche familiar. They call me a poseur because they think I'm trying to make my car look like a Turbo S. I have to remind them, the car came from the factory, looking like that.

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Alan Smithee

Willow Springs is about 75 miles from LA...so you can wake up at home and be at the track in about an hour.

The E46 M3 is notorious for cooking brakes. 333hp really gets it going on the straights, but being 3,500 lbs, continuously bringing the speed down for relatively low-speed turns is tough on the brakes. With a stock setup, brake preservation becomes the focus of a Buttonwillow event. While this may be an issue that 'real' racers must deal with, lapping for fun and needing the car to get you home and then to work the next morning requires modification of the brakes...or enjoying faster tracks like Willow Springs and Laguna Seca.