Noob Willow question
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Noob Willow question
Say I want to give it a shot, what am I required to do/have? Ride with an instructor for a day? Do I get to run solo?? (Have a helmet)...What is the streets of Willow?
Just looking to try it out this year at some point...Ill let you guys know when I go so you can stay home that day and not get wrecked by some maroon in a C4
Im liking drag racing but want to see how I do throwing it around some curves.
Just looking to try it out this year at some point...Ill let you guys know when I go so you can stay home that day and not get wrecked by some maroon in a C4
Im liking drag racing but want to see how I do throwing it around some curves.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,345
Likes: 232
From: SoCal
Say I want to give it a shot, what am I required to do/have? Ride with an instructor for a day? Do I get to run solo?? (Have a helmet)...What is the streets of Willow?
Just looking to try it out this year at some point...Ill let you guys know when I go so you can stay home that day and not get wrecked by some maroon in a C4
Im liking drag racing but want to see how I do throwing it around some curves.
Just looking to try it out this year at some point...Ill let you guys know when I go so you can stay home that day and not get wrecked by some maroon in a C4
Im liking drag racing but want to see how I do throwing it around some curves.
You need a properly rated helmet and full fingered gloves.
Willow Springs has three tracks:
1. WSIR: this is the high speed track (this is the one I prefer)
2. Streets: this is more technical
3. Horse Thief: new.....I havn't tried it.
Your first time out you will have an instructor in the car with you and you will be out on the track with other clueless drivers
Drop me a PM if you want to go out with me next month.......
DH
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,919
Likes: 107
From: God's Country, ID
WSIR is the big track and has some fairly high-speed turns. Def a fun track.
Streets is slower, has one decent straight. Suited better for a motorcycle rather than a car IMHO. Although I ate s**t on my GSX R1000 coming out of the bowl (turn five I think?). My clavicle was never the same after that!
Streets is slower, has one decent straight. Suited better for a motorcycle rather than a car IMHO. Although I ate s**t on my GSX R1000 coming out of the bowl (turn five I think?). My clavicle was never the same after that!
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Howie, if I can get it back together in time I will definitely go up there with you. Im not too concerned with a tight course (although Im sure Ill be surprised) but taking turns at 80+mph makes me a bit sqeamish, Im not super familiar with how this car would act. Gotta try it!
Sure looks like fun
Sure looks like fun
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,345
Likes: 232
From: SoCal
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,345
Likes: 232
From: SoCal
Howie, if I can get it back together in time I will definitely go up there with you. Im not too concerned with a tight course (although Im sure Ill be surprised) but taking turns at 80+mph makes me a bit sqeamish, Im not super familiar with how this car would act. Gotta try it!
Sure looks like fun
Sure looks like fun
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,566
Likes: 2
From: Goleta CA
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Howie, does your wife know that you're dating now? 
I also ate s**t in the bowl on my GSXR 750. 
Was going CCW. Lesson learned: the warmup lap is still critical during the last session of the day. 
Dumb mistake, won't make it again!
I think it's fine if you're already comfortable hauling *** in your car. That was my first track experience. In stock trim (including runflats) doing 110 in T8 is really pushing it. I think I didn't take it at more than 100 my first time. Haven't worked up the courage yet to not brake before it. We'll see how that works out without the runcraps. 
Streets is very technical. Go there if you want to be humbled and see how difficult it can be. That's not a bad thing. Lots of fun, and very technical. The big track has less of that, but is the best place to really let your car strecth it's legs. Either way, you can't go wrong.
Was going CCW. Lesson learned: the warmup lap is still critical during the last session of the day. Dumb mistake, won't make it again!Streets is very technical. Go there if you want to be humbled and see how difficult it can be. That's not a bad thing. Lots of fun, and very technical. The big track has less of that, but is the best place to really let your car strecth it's legs. Either way, you can't go wrong.
Last edited by mlongo99; Feb 15, 2007 at 01:07 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,566
Likes: 2
From: Goleta CA
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
I know. The vette hasn't seen the track since june. 
Right now has been a very expensive time for me, I just happened to get bombarded with all kinds of bills/expenses at once, so I've been very budget consious lately. But I'm dying to go back, and the emails from Kailo aren't helping. I just found out that one of the bike trackday providers lowered their price for The Streets to $105, so I will probably do that in April.
But I'm really wanting to take the vette again before it gets too hot, so I will try to do that. The vette recently got new rubber (no more runcraps!) and I just installed Rich's "old" rotors and pads, so with a quick bleed for fresh fluid it's ready to go. I'm just kind of worried about thrashing my new tires. The tread is very deep, and I've only got -0.5 degrees of camber. I'm torn between springing for a better alignment, or going as-is. Decisions, decisions...
But don't worry, Colleen ALWAYS comes to the track. Hope to see you there soon.
Right now has been a very expensive time for me, I just happened to get bombarded with all kinds of bills/expenses at once, so I've been very budget consious lately. But I'm dying to go back, and the emails from Kailo aren't helping. I just found out that one of the bike trackday providers lowered their price for The Streets to $105, so I will probably do that in April. But I'm really wanting to take the vette again before it gets too hot, so I will try to do that. The vette recently got new rubber (no more runcraps!) and I just installed Rich's "old" rotors and pads, so with a quick bleed for fresh fluid it's ready to go. I'm just kind of worried about thrashing my new tires. The tread is very deep, and I've only got -0.5 degrees of camber. I'm torn between springing for a better alignment, or going as-is. Decisions, decisions...
But don't worry, Colleen ALWAYS comes to the track.
Hope to see you there soon.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 843
Likes: 9
From: Laguna Hills CA
Couple comments, guys. Based on:
I'd really recommend a lower-speed track like SOWS, SpringMountain, or one of the shorter ButtonWillow courses.
Yes. It's comfort factor, and I'm sure we've all been thru T8 at more than 100 once we're comfortable. The last thing you want to do however, is be a rolling roadblock thru T8 when you're focusing on car control. Otherwise . . . some pr!ck will use you to bank shot into T8 at 140. (not like I know anyone that's done that, but I've got the video somewhere) ( *edit* didn't find the one I was thinking of, but this is a "close enough" example of the speed that can be carried into T8. For ref, the video was shot from a friend's 330hp Audi TT running '35s. Yes, I'm pretty sure someone mentioned it was a late pass afterwards, don't try this at home. )
Personally . . . I'd go to SOWS for starters, figure out how the car handles, and go from there. OTOH, if you just want to go ***** to the wall and join the sand & gravel club, WSIR's a great track.
but taking turns at 80+mph makes me a bit sqeamish, Im not super familiar with how this car would act
Yes. It's comfort factor, and I'm sure we've all been thru T8 at more than 100 once we're comfortable. The last thing you want to do however, is be a rolling roadblock thru T8 when you're focusing on car control. Otherwise . . . some pr!ck will use you to bank shot into T8 at 140. (not like I know anyone that's done that, but I've got the video somewhere) ( *edit* didn't find the one I was thinking of, but this is a "close enough" example of the speed that can be carried into T8. For ref, the video was shot from a friend's 330hp Audi TT running '35s. Yes, I'm pretty sure someone mentioned it was a late pass afterwards, don't try this at home. )
Personally . . . I'd go to SOWS for starters, figure out how the car handles, and go from there. OTOH, if you just want to go ***** to the wall and join the sand & gravel club, WSIR's a great track.
Last edited by emf; Feb 15, 2007 at 09:42 PM. Reason: found the video
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,138
Likes: 37
From: Burbank. CA.
Check out http://speedventures.com for all the upcoming events. Enter as a "Beginner" and we will take care of you. We basically hold everyone's hands for the first couple of sessions. Then we give you more freedom in the group as the day goes on.
Steve
Steve
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,345
Likes: 232
From: SoCal
Couple comments, guys. Based on:
I'd really recommend a lower-speed track like SOWS, SpringMountain, or one of the shorter ButtonWillow courses.
Yes. It's comfort factor, and I'm sure we've all been thru T8 at more than 100 once we're comfortable. The last thing you want to do however, is be a rolling roadblock thru T8 when you're focusing on car control. Otherwise . . . some pr!ck will use you to bank shot into T8 at 140. (not like I know anyone that's done that, but I've got the video somewhere) ( *edit* didn't find the one I was thinking of, but this is a "close enough" example of the speed that can be carried into T8. For ref, the video was shot from a friend's 330hp Audi TT running '35s. Yes, I'm pretty sure someone mentioned it was a late pass afterwards, don't try this at home. )
Personally . . . I'd go to SOWS for starters, figure out how the car handles, and go from there. OTOH, if you just want to go ***** to the wall and join the sand & gravel club, WSIR's a great track.
I'd really recommend a lower-speed track like SOWS, SpringMountain, or one of the shorter ButtonWillow courses.
Yes. It's comfort factor, and I'm sure we've all been thru T8 at more than 100 once we're comfortable. The last thing you want to do however, is be a rolling roadblock thru T8 when you're focusing on car control. Otherwise . . . some pr!ck will use you to bank shot into T8 at 140. (not like I know anyone that's done that, but I've got the video somewhere) ( *edit* didn't find the one I was thinking of, but this is a "close enough" example of the speed that can be carried into T8. For ref, the video was shot from a friend's 330hp Audi TT running '35s. Yes, I'm pretty sure someone mentioned it was a late pass afterwards, don't try this at home. )
Personally . . . I'd go to SOWS for starters, figure out how the car handles, and go from there. OTOH, if you just want to go ***** to the wall and join the sand & gravel club, WSIR's a great track.
DH
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,749
Likes: 2
From: SOUTHERN CALI - Most of the time California
Check out http://speedventures.com for all the upcoming events. Enter as a "Beginner" and we will take care of you. We basically hold everyone's hands for the first couple of sessions. Then we give you more freedom in the group as the day goes on.
Steve
Steve
I got two questions
1) Helmet, I got my motorcycle helmet about 7 months ago, would it work?
Dainese Helmet -DOT Rated-
http://www.dainese.com/eng/articolo....ticolo=1835479
2) I know there is going to be an event this Friday - so getting an instructor for the first time would not be a problem, right?
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,345
Likes: 232
From: SoCal
Anybody wanna go to the big track at Willow Springs with me?
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1635970
DH
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1635970
DH