I ventured up the 5 yesterday to run in the 8th S2k Challenge event of the season at Buttonwillow.
Speedventures decided to change things up for this event so were running Race 1 Configuration CCW!
I've only been to Buttonwillow a couple times one of those was Race 13 CCW, which is similar to Race 1
but it's been almost a year and a half since then!

Since I hadn't been to Buttonwillow in quite a while I went out with Mike Kang in Red 1 for a refresher
course. My first ride along a couple years ago was with Mike so I always feel comfortable with him.
I'm always amazed at how hard he attacks the turns and induces oversteer. After only a couple laps
the session was black flagged so I hopped out to go get ready for my first session which was up next.

I normally run in the Black run group which is a High Intermediate point by passing group, but that group
was overbooked so I was moved up to the Green run group which is an advanced open passing group.
Since it worked well for me at the end of the last event so I went out at the back of the group. On the out
lap I took it easy to get the tires/brakes up to temperature. On my first flying lap there were a couple cars
that went off which black flagged the session. After a few minutes of clean up we were back on track again.
Since the earlier black flag the field was grouped up and was then red flagged when 2 cars collided on track.
I only got 1 timed lap this session and it was in the low 2:50's, they said we'd get a few extra minutes the
following session...

The second session was almost identical to the first. I only ended up with 1 timed lap a 2:30.2, I was
definitely not having fun at this point...

The third session went much smoother than the first 2 sessions, we actually went the whole session
without it being black or red flagged. Most of my laps were fairly clean except for having to pass a couple
cars each lap which didn't hold me up much, even though I didn't get any clean all out laps I had a lot of
fun this session dicing it up with other cars, most all the laps but 1 were in the 2:26 - 2:27 range with a
best of a 2:26.1 on the last lap. Now that was a FUN session and what I hoped the first 2 would be!!!

After the third session, I was pumped up for the final session. I wasn't looking too good in the challenge.
After 3 sessions I was sitting in 4th place. My outlap felt good and I had a fairly clear track ahead of me.
The first lap felt really good and I ended up with a 2:22.8, after a few turns into lap 2 I was a little over a
second up on the first lap but I hit magic mountain a little too hot and almost went off track, I slowed down
a little to regroup for the next lap but still ran a 2:25, the third lap was going really well, I was up 1.9 seconds
when I caught a slower car, getting around him cost me a half a second or so, but I was still able to run a
2:21.2, I had clean track in front of me for the next lap and I was up another second going into the 2nd to last
corner, but I over cooked it and went off. There was only a few minutes left in the session so I decided to call
it a day and bring the car home in one piece. After the dust cleared (literally) I was able to secure 2nd place
in the stock class of the S2k Challenge! Another awesome day at the Track!!!

Fastest lap of the day.

GoPro
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcfKIyHuNhg[/media]

Helmet cam
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Himb6ukWTg[/media]

 

Dunno why it will only let you post 2 links in a thread

Session 4 laps

Session 4

GoPro
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMNwUANTKVw[/media]

Helmet cam
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYCjmrHVpYA[/media]

 

Saturday was a very strange day. People were running unusually slow with many yellow and black flags being thrown out literally every session.

 

10 seconds slower for me. 2:12.9xx is my best at 13cw versus 2:22.9xx (and more consistently, 2:24s and 2:25s)

 

Seemed like 10sec difference to me also. Maybe it's aero cars are 6-7 sec and non aero ~10sec?

The second lap here is a 2:17.08. It's not perfect but I don't think it would equate to a 2:11 13cw.

This is a 0.87 point street class car.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2cKz...e_gdata_player

 

Insurance covering this?

 

Damien (blk civic coupe) managed a 2:07.339, his CW13 PB is 2 flat. He's not running any aero.

 

Hmm, I didn't consider it. But it would be a $500 deductible though. Are you still using that front bumper I sold you?

 

I sold all of my AP2 bumpers. I still have my original AP1 thats in good shape...buy me lunch and it yours
I just need to pick it up from Omaha sometime next month lol.

 

Yeah, I guess it has nothing to do with aero. But, Jeff and Mike were about 12sec off their s2kc 13cw times. Who knows, to many variables. Fun times though!