This may be the most ambitious road trip/track day thread yet, but I'd like to propose a trip for this upcoming December. The Japanese GT Series (including factory 350Z teams) will be visiting the California Speedway the weekend of December 18-19th. Tickets are already on sale (pretty reasonable at $35 for both days) and gives U.S. fans a chance to see these cars up close and doing exhibition races on the 2.1 mile ROVAL (Road course oval). Depending on the success of this event, the JGTC may or may not ever return to these shores.

Better yet, SpeedVentures LLC is promoting a track day at California Speedway on Friday, December 17th. This would give Colorado Z rares the opportunity to sample the same road circuit that the JGTC will run on the following days! The Penske-built track is a serious raceway in a world-class facility. Without any chicanes on the straights and with the high-banked turns, expect to see top speeds in excess of 130 MPH! I've run one other SpeedVentures event in 2003 when I took my Redline track model to Buttonwillow Raceways in 2003. They had organized run groups and even offer limited instruction (for an additional charge). SpeedVentures also offers timed lap sessions using AMB transponders and has different classes so you can have some fun competition (the 350Z is classed in their T6 class to start with).

Cost is for this track day is high; there's no getting around it. Count on around $300 for the day with an extra $20 thrown in for renting a transponder and slightly more if you want instruction. I've e-mailed the SpeedVenture organizers and they assure me that their contract with California Speedway is solid for that date. They signed before the JGTC event was a done deal.
The one upside of the price is that the entries are limited and may not sell out. This means more track time for all of us, although I suspect that we'll all be pretty maxed out by the time the JGTC spectating begins.

In any case, time is also a factor. The plan is to drive from the Denver area to LA in about three days and to ENJOY the trip out. I plan on heading south on I-25 to Albuquerque and then west on I-40 before dropping down to I-10 for the final leg in. I'd like to be rested and relaxed in a hotel room the night before we head to the track. The trip back is open to different routes, depending on weather and interest.

Please post here if you have any interest or questions on this trip. Further info is available at Speedventures.net and JGTCUSA.net.

 

I would have to say that right now I am interested in this.
If I still have my car, I would like to do this due to it being such a rare opportunity. However I will have to see what the Mrs. has planned for the holidays as well as me just deciding for sure that I'd like to do it.

I will keep you posted as to my plans.

Brian

 

I'd love to, always up for a road trip and 35 bucks to watch JGTC is a deal. I'll have to check my wife's plans but I think we'll be able to do this. I have family and she has friends in San Diego and LA. so this would be a good trip all around for both of us.

 

Glad to hear that Mudd and Resolute are interested. Brian- I hope that somehow, some way, you manage to keep the Z and make this trip. Resolute- maybe you can tell us all the good places to go, stay, eat, etc. while we're on the left coast. I've made this trip before, but I'm hoping to learn even more!

 

It's time to throw some more wood on this fire! In October there will be two time trial events in the Northeast. On Sunday October 24th, the Eastern Motor Racing Association (EMRA) will be going to Watkins Glen in upstate NY. "The Glen" is well-known as the past site of the U.S. GP and currently hosts rounds of the ALMS and Nextel Cup among other "big time" racing events. The following Friday, October 29th, will find the EMRA group at the picturesque Lime Rock circuit in Connecticut. There are two of the most-storied road racing tracks in the U.S. scheduled within five days of each other! Entry fees to the EMRA events run about $150.00, so they are quite a bit less than the December California Speedway event (which I still plan to go to).

A long time ago, in a universe far, far away...wups, wrong intro, LOL! What I meant to say was that I started my road racing career with EMRA back in the mid-eighties. According to their time trial chairperson, they still run their time trial events much the same way. For those who have tried the SCCA Time Trial events at SCR, the format is pretty similar, except that EMRA allows more cars out on track. The first sessions are usually "follow-the-leader" with no passing allowed, while subsequent runs allow limited and structured passing. For the timed laps, you get a warm-up lap, two (or three?) timed laps and a cool-down lap. I was also told that for those without certifiable competition experience, you'll be assigned an instructor for the first few sessions. Remember too, that this a east-coast, primarily NY crowd (who make up EMRA) so expect a few changes from what we're been used to...

In any case. if there's any interest in these events check out their website: www.emraracing.org. Dont discount the long drive out, but please post here if you're serious about being part of a serious road trip. I'd estimate leaving on, or around October 20th to allow for plenty of time to get out there.

And if we have enough interest, we will definitely have to schedule another track day at PMI to warmup for the October event. Both the Glen and Lime Rock have some good elevation changes that only PMI can replicate (in a small way). BTW- I've never driven at Watkins Glen, so I'll be just like everybody else in learning this track! My recovery is proceeding slowly, but surely and I'm more than a bit eager to see everyone at the track this fall. Maybe I can make some bucks as a tour guide!

 

I'm choosing to post with this thread since it may impact the proposed East Coast trip in October. I decided to sell my current Nissan GT5 tubeframe car to a buyer in NY. Just returned from a 3,450 (approx) mile trip to deliver it and I can truthfully say it was a TOUGH drive. Granted, I was driving a C3500 Crecab Dually with a 24' enclosed tagalong trailer and not my Z, but it still took me about three long days each way.

The highway patrol sweeps are in full force and really restrict how quickly you can cover ground. The V1 was along for the ride, but rarely gave much warning. I saw plenty of cops from Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania using instant-on radar mode to catch most of their prey! They waited at the top of each hill or from seculded spots in the median to pick-and-choose their targets. You might be able to open in up in stretches, but the hilly nature of the terrain as you head east makes the best of radar/laser detectors somewhat defenseless. I elected to come back via I-70 and I swear that the Kansas state troopers were escorting me back to Colorado! They were out in force on Monday (9/6) and could be seen every few miles along the road. My aching back and poor gas milage also had me stopping on a regular basis.

Didn't see too many Z's on my trip- in fact, a grand total of two! One Brickyeard Performance coming out of Scranton, PA and a LeMans Sunset Roadster near some outlet stores in Missouri. So, a group of Z's will be standing out as we head down the turnpike and we'll have to allocate plenty of time to get out to NY (at least I've scoped out the route). If we ultimately decide to go to the Glen and Lime Rock this fall, it's going to be a full two weeks to do everything. That may be too much time to commit, but it could be one of those 'dream vacation/roadtrips' that we will never forget. I'd be curious to hear from any other Z pilots on whether YOU feel this east coast swing is still feasible, given these facts.

Rest assured, the December trip from Colorado to the California Speedway is still on! I've noticed that SpeedVentures is now taking entries for their Friday event, so get your registration in soon!

 

David: I just saw this thread and realized that it's not new. Fact is, I'm totally into doing the EMRA circuit at Watkins Glen and Lime Rock. I hope we haven't wiped this chance off our calendars just yet. I'm curious to how much interest we can generate at the upcoming SCR track day this Saturday. Be forewarned: I'm going to be talking to everyone who shows up there about this trip. It's been a dream of mine (and others I'm sure) to whip around at Watkins Glen. Sure, it's going to be a drive, but what a pay off!!! Chances like these don't come around often, and I've learned if I don't jump at them when they present themselves I'll never get another chance.

I'm packing my bags and cameras for this one!!!

 

Don - Like you, driving at 'The Glen' is a long-standing goal of mine, and this would be the perfect opportunity to hit 2 of the best tracks in New England. Unfortunately, I have an unavoidable conflict on the weekend of the Lime Rock track day that would require me to return to Colorado after the Watkings Glen event, and I'm not willing to make the tough drive all the way out there for just one track day. One thing's for sure, though: I'll be scouring the open-track schedules next year to see what the multi-track-day road trip opportunities look like.

I don't want to discourage you from going this year, though. David and I have talked at great length about this event, and it kills me to not be able to do it.

(Great pic, by the way.)

 

That really sucks Gary. I'm sure you tried everything you could to make it... and you will definately be in my thoughts... as I'm flying down the back straight at Lime Rock, and doing "The Ninety" at Watkins Glen.

Hey, you wouldn't happen to have a small digital camera I could borrow, would you? hmmm???

Sorry you can't go buddy... next year!

CU Saturday at SCR.

 

So, my wife and I are going to the JGTC race, who else? I will be at Infineon (Sears Point) on the 17th for Jim Russell's school and head down that night to start Sat. off at California Speedway. The event looks spectacular, they will even have time to walk the pits on Sunday to meet drivers and take photos with the cars. In addition, there is an autocross event, test drives, GT drives, car shows and two JGTC races to watch. This should be a fantastic event for everyone who goes, I'm just curious who all can be there? I look forward to seeing some friendly faces and some nice Colorado 350Z's representing.
Will

 

I had hoped to be able to head out for the JGTC race, as I'll be in the area on the 15th, but a last-minute work conflict looks like it will prevent me from staying down there for the race weekend. I hope everyone who goes has a good time.

Will - can't wait to hear how the Russell school goes. Have fun!

 

I know for sure I will not be able to go. I can't get that much time off from work right now due to it being the holidays. It took an act of god just to get a few days off for Christmas.

I hope all that go have a good time though.

 

Time to reactivate this thread as the JGTC event is fast approaching. Sorry that Gary and Brian won't be able to make it, but it sounds like Will and Don are the only ones who will be attending.

I plan to leave in just over two weeks, on December 13th, depending on the weather. I've got reservations at the Amerihost Inn (13500 Baseline Drive, Fontana, CA) for 12/16-18 and am signed up for the SpeedVentures time trial event on Friday (12/17). If anyone needs further details, please post here or PM me. I'll try to post more, either before or after the event itself.

 

Guess I was in error about Peterputter attending this event. Looks like I'll be the only Colorado 350Z attending and I hope that the weather just lets up enough to get me out of the state! As I said above, I'll be heading out on Monday (12/13) or Tuesday for LA, with stops in Albuerqueque and Phoenix most likely.

Will- if you catch this message, give me a call (303-752-9777) or PM me to set up meeting at the track! Good luck with your course at Sears Point!