I ran my last school last weekend at Watkins Glen. I had never run with them before. There was also 3 BMW club races over the weekend. Well, I saw a nice looking red SS there when I showed up on Friday. I thought it looked familiar! It was Gary's SS. I had never met him before and couldn't find him until late on Saturday night.

I had my 1st real trouble this weekend after about 35-40 track days! I broke a wheel stud while torqueing my lug nuts before my 1st session on Saturday. This resulted in me missing my 1st session while I picked up 2 studs at Carquest. They were POS's, but that's all I had because I couldn't find Gary.--Thanks Gary!!! It held and then when I swapped to the Hoosiers on Saturday night, I snapped another one (same wheel). I found Gary, and he had a bag of spare factory ones. They are much higher quality than the Carquest one, so I changed both. (Did I mention, I got 20 ARP ones from Summit last week to put on over the winter? ) I ran 2 sessions on Sunday and then cracked my 1st ever brake rotor. It's not bad, but that was my worst track weekend from a mechanical standpoint! I can't wait to get Kevin's brackets on and go to the cheap and easy to replace C5 rotors.

I even got to run a few laps with Gary which was fun. Being that I run with BMW clubs most of the time, I rarely see F-bods, let alone in my group and all! Gary is a great driver, and his car sounds awesome. I have to find out what kind of headers he has! He had so much more confidence than me in the esses and I lost a lot of distance on him there. Since he is an instructor I also got to take a ride in his car which was cool.

I also corded one of my Victoracers after 13+ track days! On last year's suspension I only got 4 days!

Lap times (that I timed so far, only a few) were in the 2:22-2:23 range. I'll have to see if I was faster on any of the others.

Seeing Gary and another F-body really makes me wish we could have a big gathering of F-bods at a roadcourse some day like we had mentioned a while back. Learning, talking, checking out each other's cars, driving with, etc. is so much fun!

Some pics:

Well it still sounds like you had fun Dennis, and you drove it on the trailer

Nice pic's!

I'm still up for it (though I doubt we can afford WGI). I can probably do something like Gingerman, maybe Summit Point (maybe, I'd have to check) and I'm open to others that are affordable. If we can get a comittment, I'll make some phone calls (though I might need the deposits for the reservation).

Do we start the "where would you go for a track day" poll again????? Since nobody (who wasn't already going) made it to Memphis last year.....

I'd love to! It's like we need an West Coast, East Coast, and Mid-America one! If enough people committed to going, I'd drive to Summit Point, BeaveRun, Mid-Ohio, or Virginia International Raceway. :drive:

Summit point is the most affordable, unless I can pull off something with AV8SS (I can make phone calls to the right people), then we'd have more options.

I still say it coincide with a NASA event. VIR will happen in Feb with NASA-MA, Mid-Ohio probably twice next season with NASA-OH, Watkins Glen with NASA-NE in Sept, plus plenty more once the schedules are finalized.

To get an idea of the tracks visited, check out the NASA Regions and see the individual areas and their '04 schedules.

I like the way those pics "put a visual to the feel" body roll-wise. Anybody else notice what I'm talking about?

DENNIS...........Pleasure was all mine. Like you I rarely find another f-bod @ the Track. Did'nt even know you were there until I saw you on the track.

On the idea of a track day......that would be awsume, however a HUGE amount of work. I do agree that trying to run with another group would probably be doable.

I am up for anything that does not interfer with my schedule with the local BMW people ( they are like my parents )

Gary

by the way .....Awsume pics!!!

Dennis,

Which wheel broke the studs, driver rear?

Steve

Dennis - regarding the pictures, isn't that the 'Outer Loop' ?

Jon A - I definitely know what ya mean. WGI is my favorite place to be on track.

I thought that was uphill in the toe, but I can't tell from the pics.

HAHA! Are you joking! Both broke driver's side left front!