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We just got back form TWS, it was raining there too, but we did manage to get some dry track time during Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Was definately a blast running TWS. Hopefully we will see more of the Central Texas group at TWS during the Drivers Edge event.
Of course it doesnt have the high speed adrenaline rush of TWS, but its a lot tighter (only 1.7 miles and 11 turns) and more technical, and can be hard on tires.
Most of the turns are off camber, and its good to know how to heel and toe here. It seems a lot more slick than TWS when it is wet.
All in all, a lot of fun, and a nice change from TWS. Frayed, I think you would like it just fine, but I know you would miss your T1 and T2 at TWS
Great time. MSR was as usual a lot of fun... I think I did ok on lap times Sat. despite some initial tire pressure mistakes.
The Austin S2K group had the most impressive attendance of any group, brand, or club (although we need more members of the Team Jolleyville sub-group to attend). And all the Austin drivers did great (as did all S2K drivers anyway). I heard a group of P and C owners comment to that effect, one C owner even complaining that their drivers "don't know each other and don't do anything together". In contrast, we showed our solidarity by working on each other's cars, helping each other with the lines. Having friends at the event makes the event, IMHO.
It showed in everyone's lap times - in which our more experienced drivers beat many other experienced drivers in seemingly faster cars. And our new drivers will one day dominate too - they are all coming along very well.
I had business calls all day Friday and didn't get to travel up to MSR with the large group from Austin. Somebody from that group should tell the story of the "odd" police officer in the Lincoln with the radar gun they encountered on the way up.
The weather was not cooperating over the weekend... it was dry and overcast all day Saturday, much cooler than this time of year would normally be. Sunday morning it rained like crazy and everybody got rain "practice" (a good thing!). Sunday afternoon dried up completely again and everyone went back to dry lines. However, it started pouring again 10 minutes into the last session of the day.
And for a good part of the way home. About 20 miles from West, TX (home of the famous Czech Stop, it's also where the "true west" actually begins - above there and up thru Dallas being just Yankees these days) the rain hit fast and heavy. Most cars just pulled over to the side of the highway. S2Ks kept on going - thanks to their new found rain experience and superior HID headlights. I led the pack all the way home and was amazed that despite the storm Jose was still right there behind me as I pulled off on 1431.
You may also have noticed Tracy and his daughter Liz driving (red and yellow groups). Tracy is the current owner of my '94 Cobra, bought and modified heavily by me way back then. It was my first TWS car. Tracy and Liz are really nice people, hopefully we'll get them to one of the S2K-initiated "events" someday. That's just another reason why we should keep our group open to all brands. Hard for me to believe that the '94 was 4 track-cars ago for me!
I really screwed up in my pre-event prep. Besides forgetting my tire pressures, and not getting in all of my new in-car intercom system, I totally went thru my rear brake pads (the car was flawless, as always, otherwise). Many thanks to Randy for supplying a set of OEM pads (and for Chris for offering, too) - and for helping to put them on. **In the pouring rain!** Randy and I also bled 4 other cars at the same time (as with ancient medical practice from a couple of hundred years ago, a good bleeding cures many illnesses - or at so they thought).
I'll blame my screwup on my own mismanagement of my personal S2K Shrine. I haven't paid enough attention to it recently; I haven't kept the eternal flame lit, and I haven't sacrificed a live chicken in several weeks (the neighbors are getting suspicious, their pet chickens are disappearing too frequently...). In fact, my recent mismanagement of my Ford shrine has also cost me dearly recently, but that's another forum.
MSR is a small track, fairly slow (I never saw an S2K go beyond 102 MPH over the weekend), very much like many of the smaller SCCA club tracks around the country. But the facility is *exceptional*. I've never seen a track (of the type we get onto) with such great facilities. I've stayed at some of the greatest tracks in the country, but they were either dumps (Nelson Ledges) or impersonal/huge (TMS). This place is fun.
If you go off (as many people did, even when it was dry), it's no big deal. At TWS, it can be a *very* big deal!
BTW, our WRX and M3 buddies would have had a great time. There were two WRXs with many mods (Koni DAs and 4-piston front brakes, and of course wheels and tires and more); and several M3s. We need to make sure we S2K types stick close to the WRX and M3 folks.
I had two students, both of whom did very well. I'm hearing that at least 1 may be able to make TWS in a couple of weeks. I think they're both hooked and are "lifers" in the motorsport hobby.
Besides the regular sessions, Instructors also got to run the track counter-direction. While the track was designed for it originally, the flag stations aren't yet setup properly for it so insurance won't allow an event to be held that way. So,only we got to run it like that in a single session on both days. I liked it "backwards" - it was much faster and still interesting. In a way, it was essentially an all-new track - and having the experience to run an all-new track at speed was worthwhile.
Unfortunately, none of our new 350Z friends were able to attend, even to spectate. We hoped they'd be down, but their cars are all way too new - none older than about 2 weeks. However, we're counting on at least 1 of them to attend TWS, and we know that there will be at least 2 more local deliveries (including a Track model) before then. To a person, they all want to do track events!
All in all a great event, run by the best OT group in the entire state. Well organized, multi-denominational (no single-brand idiots), excellent safety, smart leadership, and an excellent crew to run every aspect of the event. The best Open Track group I've ever run into, anywhere, bar none.
Here are two pictures of the HouStooks at the TWS event:
Rudy, Dale, Camy, Bruce, Jack -- In garage at the track
Rudy, Zoran, Dale, Camy, Bruce, Jack -- At T-Bone Jones' happy hour
We also are a close group. Not only helping each other with repairs but sharing cars and tires! Rudy and Camy drove Bruce's car, Dale and Bruce drove Dale's car. Zoran and Jack drove their own cars.
One other S2000 was there. Pete Dove, one of the advanced instructors, bought Mac Delaup's 2001 Blue and drove it this weekend. Funny story about his experience. Ask one of us and we'll tell you.
Rudy was probably fastest of the S2000's again this weekend. But everyone did well including the newbies, Bruce and Camy. And we all got to experience driving in the rain at 100+ mph. You have to be smooth!
MSR Pics. Was a lot fun....
