+1 .... Yes Ed, sory we were so busy when you came by, I was pretty stressed out, but we did get the problem resolved (after missing my two run groups ) , and just in time for Mikey B. to win the street RWD class. I was so proud of him and the car, glad to see all those tweaks Mark and I made to that car pay off.... finally!! I am alot more confident and comfortable in the car now......and so is Mike B. now, obviously. Hahaha.
It was a serious relief for me and definately my highlite of the weekend just to know that!! ...... and it definately made up for missing my run groups (3 out of 4 of them)
Wish we could have gotten to ring it out on those hoosiers, where it felt even more comfortable and better than it ever has.

I am so glad that Mikey came through for us in a pinch and saved the day though, he did great!

Just watch out for us at Buttonwillow !! right Mikey??

 

Wow , i'm glad i headed back to Vegas sat afternoon. Out weather was much better , just a little rain but both my autocross sessions were dry.

 

Here are a couple of shots I took during the furious repair to the turbo piping between sessions, and simultaneously Scott swapping out four wheels and tires. Team work!!








Meanwhile, my car sits outside NissanSport Magazine tent, just after the rain stopped and it was wiped down. Relegated to show queen-for-a-day status. Great fun to watch Mike B and Scott B and Aaron B and Tanner F doing their driving stuff and Mike A coordinating order out of chaos in the garage.........but always better to drive!

 

Thanks Scott. Buttonwillow should be better for sure. Hopefully we get a full cage in the car by then to take care of the chassis flex. My car is much better suited for Buttonwillow so I think it should be a pretty good day for us.

 

Thanks for the pics Ed! Your car looked great as always. What event is next on your calendar?

 

By the way, if anybody comes across some other pictures of my car from this event, please let me know where. I am a picture ***** and so far the only ones I have found are here in this thread. Thanks!

 

there's a lot of pics here:

http://forums.evolutionm.net/showthread.php?p=3962003

EDIT: nevermind. not of your car though sorry

 

^^^hahaha. Thanks though. Some good pictures in there nonetheless.

 

Link to my pics...

https://my350z.com/forum/event-photos/249456-redline-time-attack-cal-speedway-2-10-07-56k-punch-yourself-in-the-face.html

 

Nice meeting some of you guys, sorry I don't think I got a chance to talk to everyone, Sunday was rather hectic!

 

Congrats to Mike B., Mike A. and the whole 350Z contingent from VRT who did so well!

I only wish that I could have contributed to the "trophy haul." But alas, my car lost oil pressure in a "freak" failure of some sensor in the oil system and I was not able to even complete the first practice session on Saturday. I had to be flat-towed into the pits. What a bummer, since I really think that I could have competed well in the Street RWD class. I think we could have swept the class.

But I will be back at BW to join you guys.

 

Buttonwillow should be very fun .

 

Was awesome seeing the VQs powering the field. You guys can drive that is for sure.

Congrats to the winners. MikeB you won at this event last year as well?

 

Thanks Viet! I didn't see you there, what gives? . No I didn't win last years Cal Speedway event. As a matter of fact, last years Cal Speedway event was my first track day with the car after it was twin turboed so I was quite scared of it.

 

pictures are up on modified.com..

http://gallery.modified.com/gallery2...-com/13-410224

 

I feel your pain Steve. So sorry that you were not able to run. Just dropped my car into the hands of Mike A (he came up all the way from San Diego to collect my trailer and car!). Going to do some aero work, some diffuser stuff, maybe push out the stance, and..................a wing. May do some other stuff, including swapping out to 700's and such. Sigh, such a sweet prom queen turned to track ****, with tatoos. What happened? She came from such a nice family.

 

Thanks, Ed. Yeah, I guess it was just not meant to be this past weekend... But Michael A. is being a real stand up guy to make it right for me.

I had the new 700's installed as well. She was a BEAST for as long as she ran. But she will rise again. Now I know why Michael A. used to pass me like I was standing still. I went for a quick ride in his car (the yellow Z) and WOW!!! And I will have the same engine setup...

If you do go with the 700's, I think you will be impressed. Plus the aero will really help you at places like BW. I believe that Mike B.'s aero parts even helped him at Cal Speedway to beat Aaron in the yellow Z.

I don't feel so bad now knowing that last time at BW I had a loose turbo (that was causing my overboost issue and also causing the exhaust leak). So the car definitely wasn't running as well as it should have. Even so, I ran a 2:07 on street tires with "no brakes" vs. Aaron Bitterman's 2:01 on race rubber. When I get the 700's running there next time, look out.

 

Sounds great Steve, cant wait for you to show me. I feel realy bad that you had that problem with your oil pressure, would have loved to see you there in that class with Mike B and Arron B. Honestly being on that track (Cal Spdwy.) as many times as I have, there was no real difference in the car with aero parts on it or off, the turns were too low speed to make any difference. Higher speed sweeping turns will have more of an effect on the awesome Kognition aero parts, we will see in a couple months though. Now that we are on the right track with Mike B's car (350NV) Me and Mark have a few chassis tricks up our sleeve to implement before Buttonwillow, should be fun.

 

Hey Scott,

I am actually surprised that aero made a difference at Cal Speedway for Mike B. as well. I wouldn't have expected it. Maybe it didn't really make a difference - maybe Mike B. was just faster since he is a better driver!

I do think that aero can make a difference at the end of a high speed straight under initial braking though... But I agree that most of the turns at Cal Speedway are too slow for the type of wing and the splitter to make a discernable difference.

I agree that chassis set up is very important at ANY track.

We'll definitely have some fun next time at BW though! I really hope that they run the track CCW though, and include the Star Mazda turn. I have only been to BW twice - the first time was CCW and the 2nd time was at the last time attack there, CW. Due to my "off-course" the first day of the time attack and lost time spent making repairs, I really didn't get enough track time to learn the track as well as I would have liked. So I really would like more "seat time" there. I actually have more seat time going CCW there - and for me, CCW is more fun, especially the esses.

I really think we have a shot to sweep the class there next time as well.

 

Steve:
I followed you a few laps during practice at BW last time. You definitely had a fine line and can drive fast, brother!

The aero at CS will make a difference in two spots, and that is the turn in from a braking interval at the end of the two longest straights. But don't discount the importance of that. By keeping the back end down, and still having plenty of downforce from the weight shift forward for the outside front tire to bite on turn in, you can get on throttle quicker and harder without oversteer, and launch out of the turn....and that is good for serious lap time improvement.
At BW, with the Riverside turn, the increasing radius turn at the end of the front straight, and Bus Stop, even the hairpin before the esses when running clockwise................aero delivers results big time.