Trying to get group together for this event which is being held by Speed Ventures. Typically it's $170 for 4 25 minute sessions and another $20 for timing and transponder rental but last year I put a group together and got a group discount. Let me know.

I may be interested. Please keep me updated. Though I am not totally enthusiastic about Speed Ventures just from my previous experience on Big Willow (lots of yahoo's passing you in dedicated no-passing zones such as cutting though my line at the top of the Omega) I think I would be willing to give it another chance.

Hmmm.......what group were you running in? Dave is really good about moving people up or down a level if you are not comfortable in the group you signed up for.

I had originally signed up for beginner, but having a couple previous track days at big willow, I was being held up way too much and asked to be moved up to intermediate.

I was on pace with most of the intermediate group, and faster than some.. But that didn't stop some of them from passing me through the omega, literally passing me on the inside, cutting my line off through turn 4.. If I didn't happen to see him through my peripheral in my mirror while I was looking through the apex, I would have turned in like normal to clip the apex and we would have had contact.

Im fine with driving like that in a race of some sort, but not an HPDE day. Dedicated passing zones were established in the morning meeting for the different groups, and nothing happened to the ones that didn't pay attention to them.. No black flags, no warnings, nothing, and there was an 'instructor' with me when it happened... I wasn't very happy about that.

I dunno.. Maybe call me over sensitive, but I just wasn't very fond of the rules being established and then disregarded by everyone, including the ones that established them.

I thought intermediate was point by only? Did you mention anything at the downloads?

Yes it is point by only and only in designated areas. Back straight and front straight and possibly between turn 2 and 3 with good cause.

What downloads? There were none with Speed Ventures.. Nobody seemed to care or even want to do or say anything to change the behavior of some of the guys out there that were a clear danger to themselves and more importantly others.

Don't get me wrong, the majority were guys out there that were respectful and obeyed the "safety first" rule with passing, but like with anything else, the select few yahoos that want to be idiots leave a bad taste in your mouth.

So far I have run with 3 different outfits.. Speedtrial USA, NASA and Speed Ventures.. Speedtrial USA and NASA are on par as far as safety and helping people learn.. Speed Ventures just seemed like they just wanted your money.. Not that its wrong, they are a business trying to make a living and I understand and respect that. But in comparison.. well.. you know.

Maybe im just being a bit anal and over sensitive... you tell me.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uDFWBrR14g

I typically run time trials with NASA so anytime I've ever run with Speed Ventures it was in the advanced group. I never realized there were monkey's dicking around in the other groups. I'll give dave a call and let him know.