Speedventures event @ Buttonwillow Config 13 CW 09/28/2007
*I didnt get to take pics. Pics are taken from the internet. Pics of my car are from Caliphotography.com guys.


Lots of S2000 guys. I think it was like a meet for them. That is a great idea. I think 350z guys should have a meet like this as well and not the usual meet at the parking lot.

Anyway, I had a REALLY great day at Buttonwillow track. This was my first time here at this track but OH MY GOD!!!! I had such a blast.

Track map


The car


I got a ride from my buddy's Lotus Elise in the black group (advanced intermediate). Wow. Those cars are fun and I dont think my car will ever come out of a corner like that! Crazy. Watched his line for 2 laps because the flaggers were yelling at us. Apparently my arm was OUTSIDE the car since I was bracing myself through the turns by holding on to the roof . It is soooo hard to get in that damn car though, and I thought my car was hard to get into now that I have my new seats installed. Anyway, his best time was 2:03 on RA1s

Anyway on to my first session (blue group, intermediate), I was passing some of the guys there in some parts after the turns such as the off ramp and cotton corners. The exit turn acceleration of my Z is amazing, but not as incredible as my buddy's Elise. I felt awkward on the Riverside turn and on the sweeper. Actually got off on the gas sometimes.. But I didnt mind since it was just the first session. Scary part was the lost hill Quite the unsettling part was the fact that you go in blind. The key there was to go in the right way and the car just launches fast! Had fun on the esses part as well! It felt great to reel in an E36 M3 with a good driver in here.. My line was pretty good here. Sunset turn is VERY tricky to say the least.. but I believe this is a very important turn since it leads to the front straight.

The Riverside turn @ 80mph, slight lifting (a lil scared )


My friend Nasif with a white four door civic in the white group (novice) got into an accident on his first session, 2nd LAP! He got hit by a miata being driven by a NASA chick. Accident happened at the downhill part of the lost hill Noone hurt.

Civic Si 06 with JDM conversion blue TE37, Tein Type Flex, A048s

The damage:


Second session was faster. Received point by's to many of the blue group guys. Most of em I pass after the cotton corners. I learned the right line on that area to be really fast going into the grapevine and club corner. It was great! I have a feeling I doing a lil three wheelie at the bus stop turn... I lose some grip there. Still felt awkward on the highspeed turns. Will work on it. I got to have the guts to not "coast" to these turns because this is where cars behind me catch up. A miata with a good driver showed me the lines there while I was trailing him Learned a lot as well. Driving behind him made me realize my weaknesses in the track. Drove behind him for maybe.. 4 laps then he gave me the point by. He talked to me after our session and asked if HE was slowing ME down. I said no I learned a lot from him. Complimented me on my driving the fact that it was my first time here. An older gentleman with lots of experience here at BW. Woohooo. Im getting better at it.
S2000 vs 350z


I missed the blue group's 3rd session since the guys decided to change the schedule without telling us, so I just noticed that the blue group guys were on the track while I was eating lunch! I was pissed. So I talked to the organizers (Aaron) and he said that he didnt know that the flagmen changed the schedule.. he gave me the green to run the white group for just one session. So I did.

my car in the back invading the white group


Too much traffic and I think I may have scared the white group guys here. After passing all of them.. I got 4-5 clean laps. 70% driving but still cant get over the fear of going into Riverside and the Sweeper. When I passed my buddy with the white 06 Si after the riverside turn, I was 70% on the sweeper, my line was messed up did not hit the apex, back started sliding due to understeer correction to oversteer the car so 1 wheel went off track. Recovered but I had to slow down. That got my attention. No damage on the car so that was ok.


Old tires, time to get new NT01s. My fourth session was really fast. I was however sliding on some of the parts. Did only 3 laps since all four wheels went on the dust and I was black flagged. No damage on the car.. but since it was still a long drive home, I called it a day. best time 2:09. first day here.. Hopefully I can drop it down to 2:05 or even catch up to my buddy's Lotus. Riverside and the sweeper is intimidating for me. I still have to work on turning in to the sunset turn so I will have some more mph going out and into the straightaway.

Evasive EVO was here 1:55



More pics on this link
http://www.g-tastic.com/events/butto...9-07/index.htm

Next track day
California Speedway Infield 10/27 and 10/28.
After the Cali Speedway track I will change my brake pads from Porterfield R4 to some Raybestos.

track days this year, next year I will join time attacks. Notice the word "join" and not "win"

hope you guys enjoy my novel

 

hi paulie. thanks for sharing.

i love running with speedventures. they run a very smooth event. it's been a while since i did an event through speedventures. i've done 3 events at the big willow and the streets. i would love to try buttonwillow. you're right, everytime i goto a track day... i am the only z! haha. nice pics!

maybe see you on the next event? if you see an 03 silver with nismo graphics and va tag... park next to me! hopefully my car will actually have a bumper by that time.

 

I almost drove out there for sunday to meet up with the other Vegas guys.

 

Unlike the EVO STi S2K guys, 350z guys have a poor showing at track meets. I try to avoid streets of willow now since my car is just a debris magnet there.

My car is not hard to find it actually sticks out like a sore thumb since its yellow. I usually talk to 350z guys at the track days so yah maybe on the next event.

My next track days are:
California Speedway Infield 10/28 and 10/29
Buttonwillow 11/04 Config 13 CW
Laguna Seca 11/09
California Speedway ROVAL 12/1 and 12/2
Buttonwillow 12/16

 

Dam , my next ones are Pahrump in Nov and Streets with SpeedVentures.

 

nice pics If u dont mind me asking what front bumper is this??

 

I'll be moving to Monterey, CA next year, courtesy of the USMC, and I'm definitely looking forward to all the tracks near there. Laguna Seca, Infineon, Thunderhill, Willow Springs, and Buttonwillow So, hopefully I'll be seeing you out there.

 

Its the CWest N1 with CWest cf canards (sold separately)

cool. see you there. Hopefully I get to try out the tracks up north too they look like a lotta fun

 

Hey Paulie good to see you out on the track using the z for what its meant for Also saw your car on the back cover of Modified for Nitto

Congrats.

Chris

 

Way to go bro, looks like a hell of a time was had by all!

 

Awesome Paulie. Glad you got out to Buttonwillow. I would have loved to get out there and test some new stuff that we came up with, but I was too busy winning the Redline Time Attack at VIR in Virginia . Looks like you had fun, as always. Keep it up.

 

Congrats on the win, Scott! That is great news. And in your new brain bucket with the fancy paint job, I understand!

Paulie, you have come a long way in a short time. Glad to see you having so much fun out there, and driving safely.

See you at Laguna Seca in November, and Cal Speedway on December 2nd.

Cheers,
Ed

 

nice write up! Elise's really are amazing when driven hard.

 

Thanks, Here is the link to the results..........

http://redlinetimeattack.com/index.html

Back on topic..... Great write up and description Paulie. I like your front end and hood combination

 

2:09 or 2:14 Scott - I'm confused? And the Evo doing a 1:57 - holy crap that's fast as hell (Rolex GT3 RSR fast). Congrats on the win regardless!

NA T2 Z's do 2:12-2:13 there - around where I was...

Haven't spoken to you in awhile - call me...

 

For those that run that config at Buttonwillow, approximately how many seconds is the CW#13 faster than the CCW#13?

I actually think they're pretty slow as they hit a wall around 90mph... :shrug:

 

Thanks guys!
Congrats Scott on your win at Time Attack. Good luck to you and Mike @ Laguna.

Ed, I have learned a lot since my first track day. Still learning, still practicing. Looking to get faster after each track day I spend. I want to fully utilize the power of this car before I go for more power.. not sure if FI or built NA. The suspension right now of the car is dialed in perfectly. I would not make any changes yet until it is necessary. I plan to join time attacks/superlap though next year and at least compete

Elises sure handle great I cant believe it. Its small as hell but damn! Those sure are a lot of fun. Now I cant even imagine how good a tuned Exige will go with a good driver at the track! That is nice!

My goal for my next track day @ California Speedway infield is to hit 1:16 or faster wish me luck guys!

 

about 1 to 2 seconds is about the difference between CC and CW on config #13 at BW John, How have you been?

 

Paulie, You seem to be a great guy with alot of realistic track enthusiasm, can't wait to see you at more of the competitive events

 

Haven't been around much since I've been without a car... I'll get back on track someday, and see you all at some point...