Anybody gonna be there on 12/10 Sunday?

 

for the Touring Car Club,
or

the SpeedVentures group?

 

i was planning for the touring car club.
are there 2 choices for that day?
i dont know much about this stuff since it will be my first time, but TRCA has a $125 open track day that has very few limitations and set up mainly for first-timers and non track junkies. I think all i need to do is show up with a helmet and my car and I am set.

 

there are TWO tracks there at Willow Springs.

the Willow Springs International Raceway
and
the Streets of Willow.


The Speed Ventures group are running the Streets.

walk over and check them out!

 

I heard the streets is a shorter course and not as desireable.
What is your opinion on the different tracks.
Do you have any advice for a first-timer.
I am going out with a few friends that have already been there but any other info will be helpful
Thanks

 

Raffi,
while I have never driven on either track, I have watched club racing at both tracks.
I did ask the guys over on the 914club site, here is the first Reply that I got:

>
First time? I'd have to take the streets. Safer because of the lower speeds, but there's still so much to learn. I think the fast guys are a bit less agressive there too because everyone knows there are a lot of beginners out there. I've been at it for several years and I still love the streets.
At the big track, turn 8 is the fastest part of the track. Look at the track map.
Do you really want to be going 120, 130, 140 through that your first day?
You'll have a blast at the streets and there will be tons of guys just like you. <


Raffi,
that reply is what I would've said also. I live in up in Modesto, so Sears Point & Laguna Seca are both 2hrs away.
While Laguna is in ALOT better part of the state, and a fun track in itself, Sears Point is quite a bit more challenging, and thus "a better place to learn".

I think the Streets, especially if you're a Beginner, would be a much better place to learn/experience.

Just my $.02 of course.
and
Wherever you go, drive the hell out of your car AND ENJOY yourself!

 

Streets is a smaller and slower track. For a 997s, I think it would be more fun by letting the car go faster in the larger track.
Either way, if it is your first time you'd enjoy the experience of driving on a track.
You should search the forum for track prep for your car. Make sure you got good tires and brakes and bring an extra quart of oil.

 

There are actually 3 tracks there if you include the newly opened Horse Thief Mile. Those are my home tracks and I've instructed at both extensively.

When making a decision on which track to go to, I guess it depends on your goals. If you are looking for a place to drive fast and hit high speeds, then go to the big track. I would not recommend this as a first time drivers experience without an insturctor in the car. Through turn 8 I can carry about 130mi/hr in a miata. In a higher hp car, you can really get into trouble quickly at those speeds.

If you are looking to improve your driving skills and learn something, then go to Streets. It is a highly technical track. Lower speed turns, but you will still hit 100+ on the back straightaway. It is a lot easier to learn the limits of your car and your driving abilities in a 40 mi/hr turn than a 100mi/hr one. Things just happen slower.

Even now I prefer Streets. It has more turns and is mre technical. A lot of people consider the big track just a "*****" track. Many people could go faster, but do you really want to enter turn 8 at over 150 mi/hr? If you have a wheel bearing failure, you're dead. I've seen cars role 8 times when they miss judge that turn. Both tracks are both more fun than you should legally be able to have. Where ever you go, you'll be hooked.

You'll need a SA2005 of newer helmet, and the track requires a fire bottle in your car. But most track groups don't check for the bottle.

If you are looking for instruction there, let me know. I'm there pretty often...

 

Never have run the big track, but my short time ive spent at springs it was a fantastic learning experience. Gotta great chance to see what my car looks like spinning round and round! (Note. never lift in a turn...)