Miata Challenge - what to expect?!?
 

Considering making the drive down to a Miata Challenge. There isn't much info about what the day(s) involves or includes. Is it time trials all day? A 1/2 day of lapping followed by time trials? All open lapping? Several run groups with X minute long sessions? Open passing? Passing by point by?

I don't see specific info at either the speedventures or miatachallenge about the schedule or how the days are run. I'm sure it's out there somewhere but damned if I can find it.

I'd love to go to one but it's a hell of a drive and commitment to go in blind. Emilio, Savington, Vaga, B. William, etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm sure there are plenty of others curious too.

I was under the impression that it was a day for men to honor their bodies and discuss alternative lifestyles.

I understand the pink SF based bang-bus will be in the parking lot filming but didn't think the track time would also involve reaching around. Does Willow Springs have communal showers?

I did notice on speedventures that of the 15-20 cars signed up for sept. 11th Miata Challenge, only 3 were Miatas.

Seriously though. What are these days structured like? How much track time?

Are the So Cal boys trying to keep us out-of-staters from knowing what's up? It really seems odd there isn't more info on either website for these events.

Depends on entries. If there are only 3 or 4 of us, we do best of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th sessions of the day. If there are enough cars to warrant it, we do a time attack session at the end of the day - one outlap, two hotlaps, one cool-down lap, best time wins.

You can run whatever group you want - Black (point-by required anywhere) or Red (open passing everywhere, no exceptions). I run Red, and SV Red group is the only place where I don't feel held up constantly. I did an event with NCRC at T-hill, and while the event itself was top-notch, on-time all day with 5 20+ minute sessions, I needed every car in my group (open) to be at least 5 seconds faster.

Savington,

Thank you!

Here's the link to speedventures on the 11th. http://www.speedventures.com/events/...il.aspx?id=232
They are calling it an Open Track day. Around here that would mean exactly that. No breakdown by sessions or groups, it is simply an open track to enter or leave at your discretion. Track open in the AM, break for lunch, track open in the afternoon. Would that be accurate?

So unless there's a bunch of Miatas it's really run as a general DE track day with the addition of timing. Timing equipment provided or do you need your own transmitter/receiver?

Cueball1, you are correct on the scheduling: open in AM, lunch, open after lunch and until closing at around 5 or so.

Also, open track day simply means the day's open to any drivers and cars of all makes. There's still a set schedule for different groups to go out on track, and the different groups are divided by experience and speed on track.

Timing, you don't your own transmitter/receiver. Speedventures is providing AMB timing. If you have your own AMB transponder, then you are welcome to bring it.

If there is a set schedule, is there any idea of how many groups would be running? driving that distance with a hotel stay to get 3-4 20 minute sessions wouldn't be fun. Thunderhill and Infineon are the closest to us NWterners. What have the days at those tracks been like for seat time?

Around here Open Track days are often called Test & Tune. . There are no run groups or sessions. Eddy at Adrenaline Racing sponsors some of those at Portland. Potentially you could run 4 hours in the morning and another 4-5 in the afternoon. Days with groups and sessions are usually DE, HPDE or car club events. The track day's I've been doing lately at the new track ORP, it's two groups with 7, 1/2 hour sessions for each group.

Maybe I'm getting too spoiled with all that track time. Been a while since I've done a typical club day with 4-5 run groups and 20 minute sessions.