Hey guys,

Every spring I come to L.A. for a business conference, last year I decided to rent a BMW Z4 and run an event on the Streets of Willow with the Alfa Romeo Club. I had a pretty good time, although the Streets course is far less impressive than the main Willow Springs track, which I got to run during the parade laps session of the time trialers that had the track that weekend.

This year I'm planning on running a one-day event with Checkered Flag Racing (www.cfra.net) at Buttonwillow, which is a little farther north of L.A. It's Friday, April 27.

I'm still looking into what car I'll use. There's a company there that rents RX-7s and Miatas (www.onlysevens.com), and I'm waiting to hear from them. If not that, then maybe a Z4 again or a Mustang, or something. Unless one of you wants to lend/rent me your 350Z!

But if any of you CA guys can get off on that Friday, the club president said there's usually plenty of room. He said we get 2.5 hours of track time, since there are only three run groups. And the price is only $175. Check out the Web site for registration info.

It would be great to see some of you Cali guys and your cars, even if I can't show off my Z.

 

I will see you there. I am of two 350z in the club. I am a member of the race team. You will really enjoy the time. Everyone is very frendly. I have an 03 Brickyard. Look me up when you arive. I will be glad to introduce you around.
What group will you be in?
Ray

 

My first event was at Buttonwillow. It's great for a non-tier 1 track like Laguna Seca and Cali Speedway.

They have lots of elevation changes, esses, hairpins, sweepers etc. as I'm sure you already know.

 

The Saturday & Sunday after that is the Redline Time Attack if you can stay for that. There should be a number of 350Zs there including...

- My Z.
- James Chen's Axis Wheels 350Z
- Steve Mitchell's M-Workz 350Z
- JIC/Hankook 350Z Time Attack (Supposed to be "unveiled" at this event)
- Yellow VRT 350Z (mraturbo)

 

Excellent! Ed Kornegay says that based on my experience (94 track days to date), I can run in Group A. I'm pleased about that because when I ran with the Alfa group last year, I had to be in the beginner's group, not for lack of experience, but because they require roll bars for convertibles in the advanced groups. And contrary to what I said in the first post, a Z4 is out of the question this year for the same reason. (I had selected the Z4 last year because it's one of the only sports cars that my Visa card specifically covers in its rental car insurance policy.)

So Ray, you'll be running in the race group?

Cool! I had assumed when looking at the Buttonwillow schedule that it was a racing or time trialing group that I might not be able to get into. I will definitely consider this, too.

Would anyone care to contrast and compare CFRA and Time Attack, as far as quantity of track time, safety, driver quality, etc.? I got the impression from Ed that CFRA's run groups will be pretty small. Will Time Attack be more crowded, or have less track time? Any other reasons to choose one over the other, if I have to?

Although it's tempting to make this into a three-day weekend, if I'm paying big bucks for a race-prepped car, two days (or maybe only one day) may be my limit. But no matter what, I'll try to stick around to watch and meet you guys on Saturday, even if I don't run with you.

Do any of you know anything about 7s Only (www.sevensonly.com --I got the link wrong above), or any other opportunities to rent a race-preppped or sports car in the area? I rented the Z4 from a regular rental agency in L.A., and even though they had told me that it would be a manual, when I got there it was a Tiptronic-style auto, which was pretty disappointing. I think that any other sports car (Mustang, etc.) I get from a regular agency is almost certain to be auto. So any suggestions you guys might have would be welcome.

Anyway, one way or another, I'll be seeing you guys in a couple of months. I'm psyched!

 

you could rent a Lotus Elise for like a little over $100/day from Budget.

 

The Redline Time Attack is Sunday only. Saturday is put on by Redline as well, but its just a regular HPDE day and they just opened up registration so there is plenty of available spots. Track time and safety are pretty much just like your average HPDE group. Probably around 2 hours of seat time broken up into 4 or 5 20 or 30 min. sessions.

As far as rentals go, Sevens Only is a good way to go as they are located at Buttonwillow in case anything goes wrong. Any car you rent from a standard rental place will be automatic, and the Mustangs are also the V6 version which makes it even less enjoyable.

 

Sorry, I mixed up the name. HPDE is all I'm looking for, so that's perfect.

Have you dealt with them? Do you know anything about their cars?

I'll look into it, but that sounds way too good to be true. Do you have any more info?

 

I have not dealt with Sevens Only personally and all I know about them is that their RX7s aren't very pretty, but are very loud lol.

The Elise would definately be the way to go. Only certain Budget locations are doing it though. I do know that it is true that they are renting them though.

 

A friend runs his Z32TT in the Time Attack Series. If he makes it for Sunday, I'll probably drive my Z32TT or 350Z at the HPDE on Saturday. Friday would be tough.

 

Ack, the one weekend I'm flying back to DC, you're out here. If you wanted to come down and pick up my car in San Diego, you could use it for the weekend.

 

hmmm this sounds awesome. any prerequisites for this event or does it just depend on the group that you are in?

 

Which event? The Time Attack info can be found here... www.RedlineTimeAttack.com

 

So you're finally out there? I had been hoping to buy you a beer before you left. And now we're trading places for the week. Ironic!

Still, if you're serious about the offer, John, I might just take you up on it. I'd have to figure out the logistics, but it could work. If you haven't changed your mind after thinking about it for a few hours, call or e-mail me. You have the coordinates.

 

I'm actually en route (passing through Phoenix now), but will be there tonight. My contact info isn't changing - so you know how to reach me. Give me a few days to get settled first before we start making any official commitments though...

 

If I weren't already doing 2 weekends in April, including a weekend at Laguna, I'd join you at Buttonwillow and share my Z. If you're here earlier in the month and want to check out the 'real tracks' in NorCal, let me know

 

Thanks for the offer, Dave! I'd love to run Laguna or Sears Point. One of these days....

 

Certain locations of Enterprise Rent A Car have the Elise also. But I am pretty sure it is for more than $100 a day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I've looked around and can't find anyone in the L.A. area who has a Lotus for rent. I've found press releases saying that Lotus USA was releasing about 50 to rental agencies, and I found a place in Chicago and another in Portland, OR, that have them for $179/day (which would be acceptable). There's a place in San Diego that wants $1,350 for three days.

I called the Budget office at LAX, and they don't have any. Budget's central reservations number was no help: they had no idea if they had them or where they might be.

So if anyone has any solid info about where to rent a Lotus in L.A., I'd love to hear about it.

 

Ha! Found it! Budget Beverly Hills (of course!). $199/day. And 150 free miles per day, just enough to avoid paying the 43 cents per mile.

I haven't decided yet. I haven't heard from the 7s Only people yet, or talked to John.

John's car would be familiar and cost less (I hope!). A rented race car would be more expensive (probably), but I wouldn't have to be as worried about damage and insurance. But the Elise sure would be fun!

Decisions, decisions!

But thanks all for suggesting it!