Max_7k

Hi everyone!
Is there a group of people renting the box and so on for this weekend Street of Willow trackdays?
I'd like to join, if it's possible. My first time going to a track there, not much knowing how the things working there.

GP37

streets does not have any Garages if that is what you are refering to. Also hopefully they are better, but exteme speed from what i hear is a zoo and not well run.

Max_7k

Damn. Really want to finally go to a track, but that's not reassuring...

GP37

speed ventures is pretty good, i do most of my events through them. they will be at Big Willow on 12/9 and buttonwillow the following weekend.

https://www.speedventures.com/Events/

Also this site lists all track days at all tracks in the US.
https://hpdejunkie.com/

Max_7k

Thank you! Considering all this I'll probably sit this one out. Didn't like SoW as a track at a first place, looks more like a carts track
Buttowillow has trackday at 24th with SpeedSF, prob would go there.

Jfryjfry

If this is your first time at a track, sow is probably a much better (ie less intimidating) choice. Hardly a kart track. Ccw is the kindest, Cw is great but does have two spots that you need to be respectful of.

button willow is another great choice and not much further (drive time, not simply past WS - it’s in a slightly different direction)

Max_7k

First time in USA track, not overall. Half of the SoW is exactly a cart track/autoX. Considering I did mostly GP-style tracks before, driving on parking lot style turns is not exactly fun)
Buttonwillow seems nice, yep.

wtb-z

It sounds like you might not be going, but SoW is generally OK. My only advice would be to not follow other cars, they put down a lot of stones at the track margin with the last repave and those can get kicked up.

Buttonwillow is definitely a nicer track and also a higher grade track. Speed SF has been a good organization in my limited experience (they're more of a Northern California group, they run a lot at Laguna Seca/Sonoma/Thunderhill)

NORTY

Take a look at Chuckwalla. Mickey has always been good to work with.

Olitho

I second the recommendation for Speed Ventures. They are well run with a more mature driver set.

You may have raced GP, but I would not call SoWS a kart/AX track. It is one of the slower and tightest tracks around, but it is fun. I average over 70 MPH there in my car and hit over 130 MPH CCW in my faster car. Even in a stockish C5 Z06 I am averaging 70 MPH. Decent elevation changes on this track. Decent elevation changes on this short track with an interesting variety of turns.

The big track at Willow Springs, in a C5 Z06 on street tires you will average over 100 MPH. Fast and fun with some tricky turns. I surmise it has the biggest elevation changes in California, and just about anywhere I have raced in the USA, without any blind corners like Laguna, Thunderhill and Sonoma.

Buttonwillow is good track, I estimate about 90 MPH average. In most configs in a C5 Z06 you will hit 130 MPH once or twice. It is one of the longer tracks at approximately 3.5 miles. It is relatively flat, with small elevation changes at Cotton Corners, Buttonhook and Phil Hill. The new track is also about 3.5 miles, it will be much wider and better for W2W racing, some mild elevation changes and what looks to be some interesting corners. It is not yet, asphalted.

Max_7k

Went with Speed District on Buttonwillow. Liked the organisation. Still don't know what's with this "open windows, point by's" stuff I'm seeing on any USA track-days video. Way more dangerous from all points, why not just use, you know, blinkers? But that's not specific to this organiser I guess.
Track is great as well, really fast and flow, like it a lot.
Corvette is wicked fast for a road car, enjoyed it in all 1.5 session I get before something happened with transmission, which is very weird for 14k mile never tracked before car (I'm second owner). No misshifts or anything, it just started making whining (sequential like) and metal scraping noises. Barely made it home, most likely will need to change the trans...

Jfryjfry

Keep the thread updated with what happened. Could be many things - torque tube bearings, giubos, lsd, axles, etc

apparently in Europe it’s standard to keep windows up and use indicators for passing vs here the groups all have windows down and point by.