THSCC Forums

Good event this past weekend at VIR-S with the "laid back pasta eating" crowd of the MAARC. The small bore theme did hurt there number of entries (and their financial bottom line I'm sure) but it certainly did work well on course. Heck, we only had 12 cars in my run group!

I can't speak for any other of the run groups, but in mine (Blue) it was the best group of people I've shared track time with to date. We had several slow cars and never developed a single train. Point-bys we given early and generously the entire weekend. Also every point-by was preceeded by the "hey I see you, I'll point at the next passing zone" wave which really, really, really helps. Prevents people from riding other bumpers. Ron, may I suggest that this concept be taught, not just mentioned in at least the Blue Group classroom sessions? Stacy was there and I'm sure will attest that we had a great group as well.

Overall, hats off to all the MAARC folks for putting on a good event. I only had one complaint the whole weekend, which I'm sure will be addressed, as it was noted on many of the feedback forms. That being the 3.5 hour gap between run sessions for our run group on Sunday. That was just waaaay too much down time.

PS. A visit to the North paddock revealed that I didn't have enough money to even look at some of the cars over there. The Ferrari/ Lambo crowd has waaaaay too much extra ca$h laying around. The sticker price on the new pearl-yellow Lambo sitting outside the Pagoda Grill was only $227,995.

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Vincent Keene
'06 Ford Mustang GT (track rat)
'15 Dodge Charger R/T (yeah, it's got a HEMI!)
'07 Ford Fusion SE (205,000 miles and counting)
'98 Chevy Z-24 (retired)
'93 Acura Integra (Team SWB 24HOL Car)

I couldn't agree more. I encourage this with my in-car students every time!

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

I really enjoyed the weekend a bunch as well. They put me in the Green group which hurt my ego a little since I was in yellow with us the last two events, but it turned out great. After the first session they got better at the pass signals and I learned to get out first or second and I would have 5 or 6 laps until I caught the slower cars. I really really liked the small bore thing but I am small bore. I liked being the big dog for once!!

Vincent, as far as the gap between run times on Sunday, I assumed that was because the vintage racers were paying more of the bill and wanted it that way so they could have their mechanics pack up their Ferrari 250 GT Berlinettas and get back to the mansion at an early hour!

The Vintage crowd was great, I really enjoyed watching the races and talking to the people. Peter Krause had a walk through the paddock and talked about several of the vehicles and their history. I felt like I was on a Speed Channel show!

Being their with the Ferrari club was cool too! I stayed at the lodge and I can't remember ever coming out of a hotel and finding 4 Ferraris parked with my car! They did have other makes running with them (including a Mini), I tried to get on their website and find out how much it cost but it said the registration was in their news letter.

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2002 MCS, 2003 MCS Track Rat, 2003 Generic White Yukon, 2003 BMWk1200rs, 1973 CB350F, 02 996. 08 Cayenne Turbo
http://www.clinehallagency.com

I am really dissapointed I couldn't make this event. S course is one of all time favorite venues, and you can't ask for a much better crowd.

I am glad we had so many there to make there event closer to successful.

I, too, very much enjoyed the whole weekend. I've never been to this course before (which is to be expected as this was my third HPDE ever) but i thought it was a great piece of track to drive. Fairly easy to learn, but a couple of challenging corners that will take a LOT more driving to get to know (such as turn 7 and oak tree). Thank God i never had to use the runoff room that we had through turn 1...unlike some previous events. Guess those new brake pads really did make a difference.

I liked how (relatively) small the run groups were...especially on the shorter course. I can see how it could get crowded real fast. The only thing i would like to see change was the time between sessions, as has already been expressed. But i had a great time and can't wait to do it again.

Never did get to meet Vincent with the Cavalier. You were never by your car when i came by to try and figure out who you were. Ah well...mebbe next time, eh?

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'93 Mazda RX7, touring ed., 5 spd.

Man, your weekend was a total waste!!

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2002 MCS, 2003 MCS Track Rat, 2003 Generic White Yukon, 2003 BMWk1200rs, 1973 CB350F, 02 996. 08 Cayenne Turbo
http://www.clinehallagency.com

Like everyone else so far... I must say I had a great time out ther too

This was actually the first event I've done since I took over from John Downing that wasn't OUR event. Words cannot express how nice it was not to have to worry about ANYone else but ME!!

I was able to log 5 FULL sessions over the weekend, even with less than 100% braking... and the new car never faltered. That's definately the most I've driven in probably the last two years... maybe even COMBINED!!

The time between sessions, if you didn't plan for it, was a little excessive... but then again, this WAS the Alfa Club... you know: The Laid Back Pasta Eaters club. Plus it allowed for plenty of time to make sure the car was ready for the next run group, or go drool on some Ferraris. Or better yet, just RELAX!!

I'll do it again, thats for sure!

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Stacy King
Midlife Crisis Participant

Did you figure out what the problem was? Was it the rear pads?

Regards,
--Ashraf

Well... it was a combination I think. Rear pads obviously were on the backing plates. When I left you the meeting, I immediately could hear the vent holes of the rotor on the left rear brake pad. Found some Bendix pads at Advance auto, and that salvaged my Sunday. Pedal pressure was better, but we think the lack of pads in the rear (for probably most of Saturday) generated enough heat to put air in the AP fluid. When we went to bleed the brakes, we also found two of the four bleeder screws broken off, and snapped a third with the lightest of torque trying to at leat bleed a little fluid out.

Got me through two more sessions, but the pedal was basically on the floor before really grabbing.

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Stacy King
Midlife Crisis Participant

What the record for the most rolls of painter's tape used on a single car? These two are definitely in the running! Those Ferrari guys...geez.

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Vincent Keene
'06 Ford Mustang GT (track rat)
'15 Dodge Charger R/T (yeah, it's got a HEMI!)
'07 Ford Fusion SE (205,000 miles and counting)
'98 Chevy Z-24 (retired)
'93 Acura Integra (Team SWB 24HOL Car)

LOL... that had to have taken him half a day to do that... its so PERFECT!

Griot's Garage is now selling a spray-on bra... looks cheesy as hell, and I can't imagine it works well... but basically, you spray-paint the car black in front, and when you want, it peels right off.

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Stacy King
Midlife Crisis Participant

He paid someone to do it for him....

They charged $1K, and the tape is a SPECIAL type that runs $100 a roll.

i'm still waiting to see the body of a car completely covered in blue painter's tape at the track...someone local needs to be the first, i'll pitch in on the tape (edit: unless its that 100 dollar/roll stuff mentioned above!) and labor

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David White
95 M3 - #275 BMWCCA JP, NASA GTS-3
02 M3 - street/track
05 Suburban 8.1L

Your guy should've done the side mirrors too.

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

Please tell me you are kidding!

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Vincent Keene
'06 Ford Mustang GT (track rat)
'15 Dodge Charger R/T (yeah, it's got a HEMI!)
'07 Ford Fusion SE (205,000 miles and counting)
'98 Chevy Z-24 (retired)
'93 Acura Integra (Team SWB 24HOL Car)