I don't mind paying you for the Amsoil diff fluid. Is it Amsoil SVG? I need to change mine out.

Will

 

Sorry to hear that some of you guys may not make this event. Hope to see you all soon though.

Dave P. and others, thanks for helping with the Time Trials Classification. Looking back to your notes helped me redo the forms and even though I don't have the sways installed I'm going to claim them anyway. I have 13 points total and still well within the TTC classification (with or without them).

 

Encouraging news for Friday morning. The tests yesterday indicated I've had a allergic reaction in my left eye and not an abrasion or infection. The doc gave me some medication and said my eyesight isn't compromised.

While I won't compromise my health and safety (or anyone else's) in trying to compete, I can at least safely go back to working on the Z. Let's see how things go this weekend and I may yet make it out if I can. Thanks for all the good wishes guys and best of luck to everyone!

P.S. I did talk with Dave B. yesterday and he said NASA is planning for an entry of around 180 cars for Pueblo.

 

Had an awesome time. Dave & Joel, thanks for some great trips around the track. It was interesting to compare the driving lines and response between the two cars and your styles. I had a blast, and want to thank you both for the fun.

David M, sorry about the rear control arm. I am still upset about it. I just can't help but see a flaw in the engineering of that piece for it to bend under track use like that. If you had really put a wheel wrong or gone farming, I could understand. But as it is, it's a shame that it wouldn't be designed for the stress, and a shame we can't replace it with a stronger aftermarket unit. Oh well. I hope you find the ones that came off your personal car.

Gary. Enjoy the Kool-Aid. You have a good group of cars to race with, and I'm really happy for you to be racing. You're a great driver, and I know when the car is better prepped you'll be making heads turn with your lap times.

Thanks again to all you guys, I had a blast. It was great to see you guys again. Dave, have fun out in CA with all the "real" race tracks out there!

Will

 

Even with all the drama this weekend, I had a good time. Believe it or not, my eye problem was caused by a soft contact that was stuck under my eye for almost two days! I found it Friday night (despite two trips to the optometrist) and rushed to finish my prep and loading for Saturday morning.

Rolled in just in time to get tech'd and put the Nissan Sport 350Z T2 racer into the race. I was surprised to pass several American Iron (Camaros and Mustangs) and take it to the finish. As Resolute mentioned, I bent a LR control arm in the main race and was out of the running. But the fault is clearly mine. First, I was the one to decide to make a aggressive pass going into and up through T5 (the uphill right hander). I compounded this by not slowing enough going into T6A and sliding wide. The grip on the new R888s were not enough to keep me from running over the alligator teeth at the exit. Driver error, pure and simple.

Also, I climbed into the rafters today and found the two (used) rear lower control rods stored up there. Too bad they weren't on the trailer for Sunday's race! Still, the enjoyment of hanging out with Will, Joel, Gary and Dave (and a great BBQ dinner Sat night) was more than worth it all...

 

I had a great time! I thought I blew up my engine, but it turned out to be a boost hose clamp. No other mechanical difficulties.

I stared a mustang SVT driver down as he spun right in front of me on turn 1.

I got to see some good friends this weekend, whom I'll miss, and I even discussed orbital dynamics with Will and Joel. Who woulda thunk it???

I finally passed my HPDE 4 check ride, so I can terrorize the TTB guys in NorCal eventually

I inhaled a lot of Pueblo dust with all the wind, and I also vowed that I will never stay at a Motel 6 again, if I can avoid it.

I'm glad Dave found some replacement parts too bad it happened in the first place, though.

I'll see Gary and Joanne in Miller, and hopefully see Joel there as well
.

Good luck to all of you, and goodbye to the Colorado Z crowdm at least for 2 years. Have fun, drive (relatively) safe, and take care!

Dave

 

Also wanted to offer kudos for two longtime 350Z pilots for this past weekend: GaryM05 and Jgray. Gary debuted his Spec-944 racer and did quite well, particularly because it still has the stock (20+ year old) suspension on it! We're just sorry we couldn't keep him in the Nissan stable.

Jgray went through what sounded like a demanding instructor's course and received his pass. Now he'll be competing in NASA Time Trials and I'm hoping he'll succeed GaryM05 as TTC contender. Let's keep that title in the 350Z stable!

 

That's an understatement Dave!

Fist off, the forum should know that I was hot on your tail entering into Turn 1. I entered the braking zone at about 117MPH and started to brake. This area of the track requires extra attention to get the speed and entrance just right and as I scanned forward I saw Dave's G bobble at the entrance of the turn. A fraction of a second later I saw the reason for his reaction - dust and smoke were going up like a signal flair with a Mustang at the source - it was facing backwards in the middle of the turn! The Mustang reacted appropriately by letting the momentum of the car back it off the track as Dave and I took a much slower and cautious pace around the corner.

Dave's superb reaction to this situation is result to his participation in Dkmura's classes and NASA HPDE events. You have my respect Dave, I'd be glad to drive with you any time!


Knowing what you guys were taking about is different than understanding what you were saying.

Congratulations again! Give those Cali guys hell! I'll be checking your times on mylaps You will be missed, although I hope to meet up with you at Miller. I'll keep you posted.

 

Opps! I am remiss in not mentioning Dave90TT's pass through HPDE 4. He's another past participant in the original Nissan Sport safety class and has really developed his skill set driving. It sounds like there was plenty of on-track action and Dave used those skills before it got TOO exciting! Certainly, he'll be missed here in Colorado, but he will have plenty of fun out in Northern Cali for a few years. Just remember- we're claiming you as one of our own no matter WHERE you live!

Also- be sure to look up Ed Reeser (who also drives a well-developed Infiniti G35CTT) if you do any SpeedVentures events in Cali. Ed serves as Nissan Sport's Senior Editor and is a great guy. He'll be glad to meet you and I can heartily endorse SpeedVentures (along with NASA and SCCA) as a good sanctioning body to run with. Let me know if you have any questions and stay in touch!

 

Ed is Eagle1 on the forums, I believe. His G35 is way beyond mine, I remember reading aboutit a couple of times. Very nice G, and sounds like a good driver and good guy, as well.

I'll have to look into SpeedVentures when I get there! Thanks for the tip-off.

Oh, and don't worry, Colorado will always have a place in my heart as the place where I really got into road racing.

 

Yep, it was a really fun weekend, and the first for me in the new racecar (which made it quite a bit busier than what I'm used to when driving the rock-solid reliable Z).

It was great to see everyone, as usual - I just wish that I would have had more time to catch up with everyone, but the first weekend with a new racecar is always busy and all-consuming. So, I'm sorry that I didn't have much time to hang out with the Z/G group while sorting through the 944. Don't take it as an offense or anything...just one of those weekends where the time has to be spent dealing with car and race group 'stuff'.

Dave - we'll really miss your enthusiasm for the hobby and you're never-ending willingness to help others. I'm sure you'll fit right in with the NorCal community, though, and have a great time out there. I'm looking forward to seeing you in Utah in June, and again (I'm sure) at future track events around the country. Here's to a safe trip out to your new home.

Oh, and congrats to Dave for moving up to HPDE4...that's awesome! You'll have a lot of fun in that group, and you'll learn even more about how to drive at speed, with awareness of what else is going on around you.