Spring Mountain
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,489
Likes: 1
From: Livermore California
Spring Mountain
Just got back from their Corvette Track Day. Bottom line . . . very fun place. Slower than our NorCal tracks, but very technical (2.2mi. Red Course). Well run. Very friendly. Very conservative on safety. 4-group format. Exceptional value. $300 for 2 days (4 sessions/day), including a banquet dinner and drinks, two catered lunches, and a friendly staff. Now top that off with Ron Fellows strolling around, open to chit-chat, photos, autographs, driving tips, and you have one heck of a fun weekend. I'd do this again in a heartbeat . . . just not every weekend as it is a serious commute! I actually do have an opportunity to go again in a few weeks to help at the WSCC event being held there, but it collides with the Lemons race at THill, so my "kitchen pass" is revoked.
FM
FM
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,138
Likes: 11
From: Fremont CA
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20
NCM Sinkhole Donor
There is an all Corvette day there for $150 per person on Monday, May 10th. It's hosted by the Western States Corvette Council www.wscc.ws and it's limited to only 60 cars!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,489
Likes: 1
From: Livermore California
FM
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,371
Likes: 5
From: Alamo CA
It can be done to Alamo in 8 hrs. I made the first Museum event there and it was a great
time talking to folks from all over the country. The three guys from GA stand out as they
hauled 3 Black C6 Z06's on an open goose neck behind a dual cab pickup with their ladies.
Many interesting folks including the always nice SM staff. I was even able to drive down
on my run flats and on the spot arrange with them to rent C5 Z06 tires and wheels for two
days running, they even swapped them on and off.
Glad to hear it is still a great event.
Randy
time talking to folks from all over the country. The three guys from GA stand out as they
hauled 3 Black C6 Z06's on an open goose neck behind a dual cab pickup with their ladies.
Many interesting folks including the always nice SM staff. I was even able to drive down
on my run flats and on the spot arrange with them to rent C5 Z06 tires and wheels for two
days running, they even swapped them on and off.
Glad to hear it is still a great event.
Randy
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,489
Likes: 1
From: Livermore California
It can be done to Alamo in 8 hrs. I made the first Museum event there and it was a great
time talking to folks from all over the country. The three guys from GA stand out as they
hauled 3 Black C6 Z06's on an open goose neck behind a dual cab pickup with their ladies.
Many interesting folks including the always nice SM staff. I was even able to drive down
on my run flats and on the spot arrange with them to rent C5 Z06 tires and wheels for two
days running, they even swapped them on and off.
Glad to hear it is still a great event.
Randy
time talking to folks from all over the country. The three guys from GA stand out as they
hauled 3 Black C6 Z06's on an open goose neck behind a dual cab pickup with their ladies.
Many interesting folks including the always nice SM staff. I was even able to drive down
on my run flats and on the spot arrange with them to rent C5 Z06 tires and wheels for two
days running, they even swapped them on and off.
Glad to hear it is still a great event.
Randy
FM
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,489
Likes: 1
From: Livermore California
T8 actually Doug. T8 is a right-hand sweeper (130 degrees or so I'd say) just before the dog-leg leading to the front straight. The school line is to turn in and apex early, drift out, then bring it back tight driver's right to the turn-in for the slow, 90 degree, left-hander that is T9. It is effectively a double-apex except you brake heavily on approach to the second apex and turn sharply left just past the second apex. Getting back wide right increases the angle needed for T9, but lengthens the 20-yard "straight" between T9 and T10 by at least a car length . . . significant if you get back to the gas like you should (most didn't).
And studying it since, I am confident the school line is geometrically better, though more difficult to judge. My line (apex later and just hug the inside edge until you reach max grip, then unwind and track out about a car's width from the edge under braking) was easier to judge. I was much faster than most through there, but if I learned the school line I'm confident now it would be faster still.
Ron was doing it more like my line . . . of course he was in a race car and is a better driver in MY dreams than I am in reality!
FM
And studying it since, I am confident the school line is geometrically better, though more difficult to judge. My line (apex later and just hug the inside edge until you reach max grip, then unwind and track out about a car's width from the edge under braking) was easier to judge. I was much faster than most through there, but if I learned the school line I'm confident now it would be faster still.
Ron was doing it more like my line . . . of course he was in a race car and is a better driver in MY dreams than I am in reality!
FM
Wil Cooksey #256
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,814
Likes: 24
From: Sacramento Kalifornia
T8 actually Doug. T8 is a right-hand sweeper (130 degrees or so I'd say) just before the dog-leg leading to the front straight. The school line is to turn in and apex early, drift out, then bring it back tight driver's right to the turn-in for the slow, 90 degree, left-hander that is T9. It is effectively a double-apex except you brake heavily on approach to the second apex and turn sharply left just past the second apex. Getting back wide right increases the angle needed for T9, but lengthens the 20-yard "straight" between T9 and T10 by at least a car length . . . significant if you get back to the gas like you should (most didn't).
And studying it since, I am confident the school line is geometrically better, though more difficult to judge. My line (apex later and just hug the inside edge until you reach max grip, then unwind and track out about a car's width from the edge under braking) was easier to judge. I was much faster than most through there, but if I learned the school line I'm confident now it would be faster still.
Ron was doing it more like my line . . . of course he was in a race car and is a better driver in MY dreams than I am in reality!
FM
And studying it since, I am confident the school line is geometrically better, though more difficult to judge. My line (apex later and just hug the inside edge until you reach max grip, then unwind and track out about a car's width from the edge under braking) was easier to judge. I was much faster than most through there, but if I learned the school line I'm confident now it would be faster still.
Ron was doing it more like my line . . . of course he was in a race car and is a better driver in MY dreams than I am in reality!
FM
Definately not the fastest line but I can tell you it's the most exciting. That stuff on my hood is pollen from one of those 6' bushes I mowed down. Clearbra was torn up but paint was undamaged.
The class line thru T8 is the fastest and you don't heel&toe until after the first apex when the suspension is set. If you do it right its fun, but if you do it wrong it can be exciting...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,489
Likes: 1
From: Livermore California
Try my line at T8, leave the track at 115 MPH....
Definately not the fastest line but I can tell you it's the most exciting. That stuff on my hood is pollen from one of those 6' bushes I mowed down. Clearbra was torn up but paint was undamaged.
The class line thru T8 is the fastest and you don't heel&toe until after the first apex when the suspension is set. If you do it right its fun, but if you do it wrong it can be exciting...
Definately not the fastest line but I can tell you it's the most exciting. That stuff on my hood is pollen from one of those 6' bushes I mowed down. Clearbra was torn up but paint was undamaged.
The class line thru T8 is the fastest and you don't heel&toe until after the first apex when the suspension is set. If you do it right its fun, but if you do it wrong it can be exciting...
Makes sense. I was at ~120 on approach. I'd tap the brakes, turn in (beginners . . . do not listen!!!
), heel/toe to 3rd approaching the 1st apex, maintenance throttle hugging the inside until I began to lose grip. I'd then unwind and heel/toe back to 2nd under threshold braking, then turn sharply left into T9 and back on the gas for a second . . . a real yeehaw moment to be sure. I caught a lot of folks in T8. Had my brakes failed I'd have pushed the K-Wall into the grandstands! But the corner geometry really does call for a double apex like the school line . . . weird since the 2nd apex and the T9 turn-in are about an inch apart! 
They were not fond of me getting my RIGHT wheels on the LEFT berm on the T10 track-out apron, though.
Just like T4a that NASCAR uses at Infineon . . . if you don't get back to the active track in a hurry, there is concrete in your future. I tried to be good, honest, but if they're gonna pave it, I'm gonna use it! Very fun place. I'd love another shot at it soon to work more on the line. Hmmm. Dave Ray told me that if my Lemons car breaks early I can still catch a flight in time for the WSCC event!
FM
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,138
Likes: 11
From: Fremont CA
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Ouch! A couple of C5Z's went seriously ORE. One damaged some suspension, the other just got very dirty in T8.
Makes sense. I was at ~120 on approach. I'd tap the brakes, turn in (beginners . . . do not listen!!!), heel/toe to 3rd approaching the 1st apex, maintenance throttle hugging the inside until I began to lose grip. I'd then unwind and heel/toe back to 2nd under threshold braking, then turn sharply left into T9 and back on the gas for a second . . . a real yeehaw moment to be sure. I caught a lot of folks in T8. Had my brakes failed I'd have pushed the K-Wall into the grandstands! But the corner geometry really does call for a double apex like the school line . . . weird since the 2nd apex and the T9 turn-in are about an inch apart!
They were not fond of me getting my RIGHT wheels on the LEFT berm on the T10 track-out apron, though. Just like T4a that NASCAR uses at Infineon . . . if you don't get back to the active track in a hurry, there is concrete in your future. I tried to be good, honest, but if they're gonna pave it, I'm gonna use it!
Very fun place. I'd love another shot at it soon to work more on the line. Hmmm. Dave Ray told me that if my Lemons car breaks early I can still catch a flight in time for the WSCC event!
FM
Makes sense. I was at ~120 on approach. I'd tap the brakes, turn in (beginners . . . do not listen!!!
), heel/toe to 3rd approaching the 1st apex, maintenance throttle hugging the inside until I began to lose grip. I'd then unwind and heel/toe back to 2nd under threshold braking, then turn sharply left into T9 and back on the gas for a second . . . a real yeehaw moment to be sure. I caught a lot of folks in T8. Had my brakes failed I'd have pushed the K-Wall into the grandstands! But the corner geometry really does call for a double apex like the school line . . . weird since the 2nd apex and the T9 turn-in are about an inch apart! They were not fond of me getting my RIGHT wheels on the LEFT berm on the T10 track-out apron, though.
Just like T4a that NASCAR uses at Infineon . . . if you don't get back to the active track in a hurry, there is concrete in your future. I tried to be good, honest, but if they're gonna pave it, I'm gonna use it! Very fun place. I'd love another shot at it soon to work more on the line. Hmmm. Dave Ray told me that if my Lemons car breaks early I can still catch a flight in time for the WSCC event!
FM
Wil Cooksey #256
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,814
Likes: 24
From: Sacramento Kalifornia
Ouch! A couple of C5Z's went seriously ORE. One damaged some suspension, the other just got very dirty in T8.
Makes sense. I was at ~120 on approach. I'd tap the brakes, turn in (beginners . . . do not listen!!!), heel/toe to 3rd approaching the 1st apex, maintenance throttle hugging the inside until I began to lose grip. I'd then unwind and heel/toe back to 2nd under threshold braking, then turn sharply left into T9 and back on the gas for a second . . . a real yeehaw moment to be sure. I caught a lot of folks in T8. Had my brakes failed I'd have pushed the K-Wall into the grandstands! But the corner geometry really does call for a double apex like the school line . . . weird since the 2nd apex and the T9 turn-in are about an inch apart!
They were not fond of me getting my RIGHT wheels on the LEFT berm on the T10 track-out apron, though. Just like T4a that NASCAR uses at Infineon . . . if you don't get back to the active track in a hurry, there is concrete in your future. I tried to be good, honest, but if they're gonna pave it, I'm gonna use it!
Very fun place. I'd love another shot at it soon to work more on the line. Hmmm. Dave Ray told me that if my Lemons car breaks early I can still catch a flight in time for the WSCC event!
FM
Makes sense. I was at ~120 on approach. I'd tap the brakes, turn in (beginners . . . do not listen!!!
), heel/toe to 3rd approaching the 1st apex, maintenance throttle hugging the inside until I began to lose grip. I'd then unwind and heel/toe back to 2nd under threshold braking, then turn sharply left into T9 and back on the gas for a second . . . a real yeehaw moment to be sure. I caught a lot of folks in T8. Had my brakes failed I'd have pushed the K-Wall into the grandstands! But the corner geometry really does call for a double apex like the school line . . . weird since the 2nd apex and the T9 turn-in are about an inch apart! They were not fond of me getting my RIGHT wheels on the LEFT berm on the T10 track-out apron, though.
Just like T4a that NASCAR uses at Infineon . . . if you don't get back to the active track in a hurry, there is concrete in your future. I tried to be good, honest, but if they're gonna pave it, I'm gonna use it! Very fun place. I'd love another shot at it soon to work more on the line. Hmmm. Dave Ray told me that if my Lemons car breaks early I can still catch a flight in time for the WSCC event!
FM
Well done
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,138
Likes: 11
From: Fremont CA
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20
NCM Sinkhole Donor
By the way, if anyone is considering going to the WSCC track day, I will be hauling our club trailer down and will be offering up space for tires. $80 gets you 4 tires / wheels and a plastic tool tote round trip from San Jose to Spring Mountain and back.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,224
Likes: 3
From: San Jose Ca
Randy,
Is that tire/wheel rental an ongoing 'amenity' at SM? Do you think I can rent a set for the C6Z during the upcoming WSCC track day?
Man, have to go thru getting/installing all the mods again!
Phil
Is that tire/wheel rental an ongoing 'amenity' at SM? Do you think I can rent a set for the C6Z during the upcoming WSCC track day?
Man, have to go thru getting/installing all the mods again!
Phil
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,489
Likes: 1
From: Livermore California
FM