The Streets of Willow Springs!!

The next Miata Challenge Time Attack/Open Trackday event is this coming next Friday, September 11th. This track is a fun track for all levels of drivers, especially for Miata drivers as the course is quite a technical one and not HP-reliant, so overall driver skill and cornering abilities matter most here.

Registration and info: Register!

Here's some footage from me driving the MSM back during Round 1 and 2 (Nov. 2008 and Jan. 2009).

Round 1:


Speedventures - 949Racing - Slick Auto
The Speedventures schedule is for Sat & Sun. Come see the fastest track Miatas in Socal and get a ride in and see some fast Unlimited class cars as the OGK and Savington's car.

 

I think we are going to see some lap records fall.

 

that chicane is horrific.

 

That's a highlight of the course and separates the men from the boys.

 

Yeah

I'm now doing the left kink at the exit of the chicane in 4th in the OGK. It is kinda spooky coming over the brow flat at about 105, then braking.

 

I bet some cars have been wadded up in passing there. I'd have a hard time taking my street car to that track...but I love corners where its like the last 1000' of runway for a 747 pilot, and the tires are still on the runway.

 

My MSM is a street car and have faithfully performed well in all MC rounds. Do it!

 

No incidents from pass attempts. Several incidents from drivers taking the wrong line over the crest with most event promoters, including SV. SV now cones off the entry to force drivers onto the right line. Since then we have had no issues caused by bad lines. The coned off line doesn't interfere with the correct line so no problem if you're already doing it correctly.

The one now infamous yard sale on Setup in the SOW CW chicane was from a pass attempt before the chicane, wheel to wheel racing.

Seriously though, the chicane while noteworthy, is far from the most hazardous element on the tracks we drive. On the right line but over cook it a little, you'll bend a wheel. I've done that maybe 3x myself.

My ratings on pucker factor, and penalty for overcooking entry a little

1. T9, WSIR
2. T6, Laguna Seca
3. T10, Infineon
4. T3, WSIR
5. T6, Infineon
6. Riverside, BW either way
7. Phil Hill, BW-CW
8. Bowl, SOW-CCW (Only when you're on the right line. Wrong line is easy)
9. T7 Chicane, ACS Roval
10. Chicane, SOW-CW

 

I hope to be there some day!

 

Vaga,

Get loose much?!?

The drop offs at the edge of the pavement into the dirt looks pretty horrendous in places. Yowch. (or is it wowzers?)

 

Gahh bad timing, if my car was done I'd be there! Speedventures always puts on a good event, sows is so much fun.

 

Entering the chicane at 105+ can be interesting, but it's not all that bad. You just line up correctly, hit your braking point, and shoot out of it.

T8 and T9 at Thunderhill can be nasty. T8 for pretty much any car, and T9 assuming you carry the proper amount of speed in. Riverside never bugged me much, but then again neither does going flat through T1/T2.

 

I get loose, but I'm fine with it.

 

Savington : 1:22.921

 

Thanks. Even I was stunned at that time - those two laps felt good, but not a second faster than I had gone in the morning. I think I picked up most of my time going into the hill, and entering the chicane after the bowl - the two places I really worked on when I drove Emilio's rental NB in the 5th session. I need to get some more seat-time in slower cars to help me go faster.

 

someones faster than a ZR-1

 

I must admit, it's a bit more interesting when you're entering somewhere north of 115mph. It's even more interesting when you stay flat all the way over the top of the hill to just before the first left berm.