Matt: You're not the only one that had a wonderful time... I can think of at least two more fellas (My son and I) who will never forget this experience.

David: Too bad you had some trouble with your exhaust... next time you'll be able to run around with out that on your mind and really rip up the track!

Will & ReBecca: So nice to see a couple together and having fun doing the same things. Will, you have so much excitement and keen interest... you'll have this and many more tracks broken before long. Becca... THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for the pics!!! I'll share them as soon as they're developed!

Gary: Thanks Teach. I learned a lot from you this time, and the track seemed to fall under my spell. My lap times dropped dramatically and I felt tons more in control... maybe the seatbelt locks (CG-Lock) helped in this regard, but I believe it was more of your teachings.

Can't wait for the next one and hopefully we'll get more 'fair-weather' drivers to make the drive down south. It's done this to me twice: I look outside here (Denver) and it looks crappy... then, when we get to La Junta the sun comes out and it's just incredible.

 

So glad to hear that everybody had a great time. Yesterday was another cloudy, gloomy day here on the Front Range. It cleared up a bit in the afternoon, but I checked the weather report and saw that there were some pretty serious storms to the NE. Sounds like none of that touched you and I hope the drive home was easy as well.

Like everyone else, I'll be looking forward to the next track day!

 

The next one can't come soon enough. Anyone else checking this thread that didn't, show - WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!?!?! As everyone will attest to, this was a blast. There is no better way to enjoy your car than being able to open it up as hard and as fast as you want. There is no pressure or expectaion to do anything beyond your comfort level, but only the underlying knowledge with all involved that everyone will become better, faster, and more skilled as the day goes on. It is beyond the excitement of just driving fast. More importantly, it is the culmination of driving both yourself and your car into a new understanding of performance and a new level of assuredness. What you take with you at the end of the day wil have far surpassed what you brought at the beginning.
Gary, thanks again for the lessons and riding with me, that was a huge help.
Don, Matt, and David, thanks guys for showing up and having a great time with me. You guys are a really good group and I can't wait to see you out there again.
Everyone else, can't wait to see you out there either, especially some of you FI or heavily modded guys

 

Yet another great track day for our Colorado 350Z/B-Speed group! Big thanks to dkmura for setting up the track day, especially considering that he set it up for us even though he knew at the time that he wouldn't be able to attend. What a guy! dkmura - hope you're able to get back on the track soon to start making up for all this lost time.

As others have already mentioned, the feared wet weather never materialized. About 2 hours after we arrived at the track, the sun came out and stayed out all day. You really can't beat a sunny (though not too hot) day out at your own private race track!

Don - Thanks again for your help throughout the day. I think it helps having more folks with experience out there to help ease the learning process. And you were really flying on the track! Isn't it great to come back to a facility that you've been to before, having the chance to improve even further on a track that you're familiar with?

Also, it was great to meet your son. His enthusiasm added a lot to the exprience, and I know he'll have lots of new stories to tell after La Junta.

David and Will - Great job to both of you. It was easy to see you both getting noticeably better with every lap, and it only gets better from here. Work on that heel/toe on the street, and everything will feel that much smoother next time out. And once dkmura makes it back out and you can take a ride with him, you'll know what 'on the limit' really means!

Rebecca - Thanks for doing such a great job as 'track monkey.' Feel free to come back anytime! I'm not sure though how we'll resolve you and Will fighting over the car keys if you decide you want more track time. Maybe a second Z in the family?

Matt - Great work in the Sentra. It's always fun to see what a smooth driver can do in an effectively-modded car. Very impressive! I think everyone agrees that you upheld the B-Speed name with honor.

Again, great job everyone. I think we all had a great day and improved our skills substantially. And all while further extending our clean record of no sheetmetal damage or speeding tickets received on the drive out and back.

Hope to see everybody at the next one!

Gary

 

The track day was great!! I couldn't stop talking about it to my friends that night. I was also good to see everyone again and to meet the new people. The weather was awesome.

Gary, thanks for the lessons. And thanks Dave for setting it up.

Sorry to the cone that I killed, bu it was asking for it.

I can't wait for the next track day.
David

 

dkmura: Thank you for the use of your helmet. My son's head wasn't quite as big as your concussion sized mellon, but it did do the trick... Besides, now we know who's turning 50 this year... and more importantly... when!!!

Cheers!

 

Will-have you got the change to inspect your rotors after the Track day? Mine look like they were worn down about a 1/32 of of inch. I can tell because the Redstuff pads didn't go to the edge and there's a little lip.

Matt thanks for the tip on the hose clamps for my exhaust hangers. I put them on yesterday, and it works great. The exhaust was bouncing around so much that it grinded down a small chunk on the aluminum frame on the suspension, nothing too serious. The rubber hangers are streched which makes the exhaust pretty tight. Atleast I know it's not going anywhere.

By the way, how's everyone's sunburn since the weather was so nice that day at the track and so crappy in Denver?
David

 

David: Yeah, I'm a little burnt... must have sucked to have stayed BEHIND in Denver and NOT come to the track, eh?!?!

Mudd: Where the heck were you pal? Really wanted to see that Le Mans cut around this track. Next time, eh?

 

David-
My rotors are worn even across the face, no ridge where the pads didn't connect like you described. I imagine I lost a lot of material though for two reasons: even after light sanding the surface to prep for bedding my stock pads the rotors are really marred, and there was enough heat and friction to rip the Redstuff pad's shims off the backing plate on mine. Where they originally sat is now a massive burnt orange and brown muck stain leading to the shims' new location up on the front of the pad. They moved almost a full inch right up to the edge of the pad, where I imagine the caliper physically prevented them from being pulled all the way off.
As for sunburn, Becckie got way worse than I. Mine is pretty much a tan except on my nose. A canopy was a great a idea, Gary, I might invest some money into one for next time.
Glad to hear your exhaust is taken care of David, can't wait to hear it rumble down the strait again soon.
Will

 

Just a word of appreciation for GaryM05. This was the first 350Z/BSpeed track day that I wasn't able to attend and Gary did a fabulous job in handling the on-track program. I have to point out that Gary is one of the first Colorado 350Zers to attend our first HPDE in 2003 and the only one to have done all of the track days to date! He spent time, both before and during the event itself, to make certain that it came off just right.

It's great to see people develop their driving skills as Gary has done and then be willing to pass that knowledge along. Sounds like Don (with just one event under his belt) was able to help too (well done, Don and I don't know WHO you're talkin' about). In racing and other high-performance endeavors, there's a saying: "NOTHING BEATS SEAT TIME". Not video games. Not just high-po parts. It's the experience of being able to consistently and progressively take your Z a bit closer to the edge of it's design parameters.

Now that we've had between 15-25 Z and BSpeed pilots who've experienced this high, it remains mind boggling why we haven't had more! And while I've raced at tracks throughout the country, I've never seen ANYWHERE that has kind of deal that we offer at either LaJunta or PMI (or SCR for that matter). Still, as Saturday's participants point out, it's just more gravy (read track time) for all those who took part.

I believe that since these Colorado HPDEs were started we have turned more laps, spent less $$$ and developed more talent than ANYWHERE in North America. I'm proud to say that GaryM05 is a product of this serendipitous chain of events and look forward to having more fun and improving the program(s) in the future.

 

Sorry I was unable to come. I really wish I was able to. My new brake pads still have yet to arrive, and due to the amount of pad left on them, there was no way I was going to be able to track them. I hope the new ones are here this week for the Durango drive if I am able to still make that. I know I will need them.

Mudd

 

Brian: Figured it was them pads that kept you away... and you know I was only ribbin' you anyway.

David: I had two track days under the belt before going to La Junta this last time (did 2nd Creek on the 5th). Thanks again for the recommendation on the CG-Lock seatbelt mod... I am so glad that I got them, and I think the others who tried them will order one too. Makes a HUGE difference.... Hope to see you at the next one... fully recovered and in high spirits... 'ol Man!!!! ROFLMFAO!!!!!

Don....

 

David, I'm glad the hose clamps worked for you, definitely a cheap, easy fix that works even though it's not an ideal solution.

Yeah, my face and neck got burnt. Mostly just the left side though which shows how much time was spent driving getting sun on the left and none on the right.

I just ordered some new tires, Falken Azenis Sports, hopefully those plus the control arm brace and strut tower brace I have in the garage will give me the "cojones" (picture Don and his cojones walk) to not brake for turn 1. My tires may be small, but at least they're cheap, $240 mounted and balanced, that's all 4.

I agree, kudos to Gary, he gave up a lot of his own driving time to instruct and help us out.