curly

iTrader: (25)

Made the drive out to our amazing "local" track this weekend. 90 miles to the Dalles where we stopped for dinner at Cousins:



Good food, and good 22oz beers. Another 50 miles to Grass Valley, where we stayed at my girlfriend's friend's grandpa's house, 3 miles from the track Stopped at a creepy rest stop, girlfriend said it was a rapist's dream:



Averaged about 22mpg going 75-80 the whole way. Dropped the exhaust, bolted in the race seat, and unbolted the center console (needed my cupholders yo).
Next day I woke up at a wonderful 6:30, ate a home made giant cinnamon roll, and drove 5 minutes with my seat belt off to the track.

Here's an image off my the gf's friend's phone and a few videos, sorry they're so jumpy. I used the same mount as a I did a few years ago, hose clamped to the roll bar, and it didn't bounce that time. I have a video from my first session showing me sliding towards the pit wall, but it's a huge video, too big for photobucket I think




Next session a mini S was not as fortunate, and ran head on into the concrete wall. They waved the yellow for a moment, then went to the black, so when three of us went around the corner, we damn near hit him straight on. Didn't capture that though, oh well.

Edit: Damn video is too big, I'll figure out a way to crop it and try posting again, the slide was pretty cool.

Way home was uneventful, gorgeous scenery driving down the gorge:








My friend had his SLR out the whole time, took 150 photos. Once I get those from him I'll post them.

Faeflora

iTrader: (2)

nice pics old feller

stormin'norman

iTrader: (2)

Looks fun man! Couple places where you should be slipping down into 2nd (T2, 3, 13). Also use the entire width of the track! Valkyrie hill run wayyy out wide until you can taste the tumble weeds and dropping into the North bowl is foot to the floor 4th gear, brake & grab third when the suspension compresses Yes even for +200 hp cars.

curly

iTrader: (25)

That was the beginning of my 2nd session, still a little freaked from my slide, I picked up a lot more speed in the 3rd and 4th session. I was still a pansy and lifted for the top of Valkyrie hill, despite every time thinking I could go flat-out on the next lap.

Most of the turns when I knew I could use 2nd were followed by a bit of down hill, when my car would wring out 2nd in no time, not worth the extra shift and extra stress. All but T3, but like I said I picked up more speed later. Didn't do much timing, but the few my friend did tie were in the 2:07-2:10 range. [/excuses]

mr_hyde

iTrader: (4)

ORP is awesome! Here is video from my trip there in June. Anyone within a 12 hour drive of this track needs to go there. I ran off some 2:06.xx laps but this was the first visit. That wall has already eaten many cars. They need to work to clear the large rocks out of the runoff areas so people will be more willing to be smart when they go off. I can't wait until they build up some more pit area, some RV pads and get a motel in town.

Some cell service would be nice too. I had no service in the paddock but kept having text messages come through at the top of T6 at >100mph that were screwing up my laptimer!
-h

stormin'norman

iTrader: (2)

There is a motel in the town. Roadhouse 97. Actually a nice place. I've stayed there twice. With my stock power and 195 Star Specs my times are 2:11/12 range. Eddie got my friend Rich's Monoflex/205 Re11 1.8 down to 2:10 last weekend.

Next season we need to coordinate a massive Miata gathering out there for a PCA weekend!

mr_hyde

iTrader: (4)

I was at an event Thursday at Pacific. A Porsche driver marched over between sessions and said, "What did you guys do to these cars? Every time I checked my mirror, there was another ******' miata there!' I only passed him once that session - I blame Bob who passed him twice in 20 minutes. I love passing Porsches - almost as much fun as Corvettes. I'll be at a miata PCA event for sure - just say when!
-h

hustler

iTrader: (6)

I drove the the bible belt this weekend, but also had a damn good time.

stormin'norman

iTrader: (2)

We will plan for next season! Their last weekend was 9/10&11. They put on a great program. Traditional group HPDE Saturday, awesome bbq Saturday night and open lapping Sunday for Int-Instructor level. Worth driving both days but at the very least Sunday open lapping is a must.

hfasianinvasion

ORP is a truly awesome track. The Miata's not track worthy yet, but I did a Hooked On Driving event in the M3 earlier this year and it's by far my favorite place. Was a very small event, about 15 cars per run group so I think we had a total of 7 30-min sessions a piece. My group of friends all bowed out after 5 or so, it was a punishing day.

There's a motel the next town over (Moro) called the Tall Winds I believe. Well priced, close-by and clean. Definitely recommend staying there, just book early! The place was full of racers when I went.

curly

iTrader: (25)

Finally got my USB drive back with pictures. For a non-professional photographer with no track day experience, he did pretty good.
pretty landscape:

pits:


couple track pics:




mini death:

tire death:

Mobius

iTrader: (2)

This

chokeasphyxia

iTrader: (8)

Track looks super clean, I'm used to seeing sebring, all dirty and busted up, nice pictures.

curly

iTrader: (25)

It is practically brand new. We're pretty lucky around here, ORP is brand new, PIR was recently repaved, about the same time.

Last time I was there ~1.5 years ago they didn't even have curbing.