I just got an e-mail from NASA regarding keeping all the Crossfires in the same HPDE group. But I need everyone to send me their full name they registered with and the car number ASAP...

Send it privately to my e-mail address: derek@hollywooddigitalimaging.com

 

Haven't gotten the swap done yet... but yes... the front ones weigh a TON!

I'll probably swap those in before I change the pads and fluid so the rotors can bed in properly with OEM pads.

 

I looked at the schedule and 1) for HPDE 1, do we have an instructor riding with us for all sessions, is that mandatory? 2) is the turnout for HPDE like this normally? number of sessions is low in relation to the price of the event. 3) they have a chaplain? it's bad enough i got to pray to the poker gods, now i got to pray to the track gods too? =)

EDIT: What's the best setting for negative camber for Cal Speedway? My rears are set to OEM max setting of -2.6 (that's what alignment shop told me) after I got the car dropped.

 

HPDE 1 requires you to take an instructor out each session. BUT, if you have previous track experience and get an instructor to vouch for you (or Derek) they will probably be able to move you to HPDE 2 within the day and allow you to go out solo.

I had to a few times last November due to a lack of instructors at one point... made me nervous, but Derek told the guy letting us out on the track "He's ready... send him out!"

 

They may let you solo on the last event of the day in HPDE 1 or you can tell them at registration that you have previous track experience (LIST) and would like to change to HPDE 2 at which time instructors are optional (I think)... CMS is the biggest event of the season because it's a cross-over event with the Arizona region, normally they only get about 20-30 HPDE 1-3 participants.

Trust me, I'm not happy about so many HPDE 1-3 drivers eating-up my track time either. Normally (at other tracks) we get 5 events per day. Looks like this is going to be a ZOO !

Your camber setting should be in the range of -2 to -3 both front and rear for any road course. Toe should be out -.25 to -.75 in the front for this track. I'm having my alignment re-adjusted next week, I haven't had it done in a year... MY BAD.

The Chaplain (Sunday Services) are a nice gesture for those inclined to participate. They are non-denominational. The only problem I have with the Chaplain (Aaron Schwartzbart) is that he races in my class in a Porsche 914/6 and kicks my AZZ !!! Jesus must be his co-pilot.

Don't be surprised, NASA is the REAL DEAL... They play the Star Spangled Banner before the race groups commence, this is not some little "Track Day Organization".

 

Awww... he don't like us HPDE guys no more...

 

AHHH I LOVE YA MAN. That's why I spent the extra $200 to run on Friday, NO HPDE and 6-7 runs in TT... Of course, my car will be BBQ'd by Saturday... And Sunday will have to be towed around the track by the pace car... LOL.

PS: this is the response I got from Greg from my last e-mail.

"Ryan will be dividing up the HPDE 1 cars for the two run groups. Why don't you e-mail him if you think they (CROSSFIRES) should be together. ryan@drivenasa.com I don't know if the fuel pumps will be open, but I assume that they would be. Ryan usually includes this type of info in the e-mail he sends out the week of the event. There is no tire shop at the Speedway, but I know that at least one tire vendor is going to be there. So, I'm sure that he will be able to do some tire changes. I'm not sure what he charges."

I bought four new Hankook Z214's to replace my Hoosier R3S05's which only have about 1 day left on them and since I don't have an extra set of 18" wheels,"Ron's Tire & Wheel" is giving me a set of 18x8.5 & 18x9.5 wheels from an SL55 to mount the new tires on. So now I don't have to have the other tires mounted at the track on Saturday.

 

Nice... gotta like a guy that 'gives' you a set of wheels...

I presume those wheels will be heavier than your performance rims?

Hopefully we can keep the Crossfires together... will make my job playing 'Mentor' easier.

 

I recommend ATE Super Blue... IMHO.

 

Actually I ordered 3 bottles of MOTEL RBF 600 from Porterfield to be sent with the pads.

Here's some of the specs...

RBF is rated very high with a:
594 degrees Dry Boiling point
421 degrees Wet Boiling point

High Moisture resistance DOT-4

 

hey derek, where is a good place i can get a helmet from?

 

Mr. Mentor:

I hope you can too... It would make for some "once in a lifetime" photos, especially if I can jump-in on your last event on Saturday... Imagine photos of "toe-to-tail" of our Crossfires doing 135 mph down the front straightaway !!!

The MB rims they gave me are 18x8.5" (front) 19.5 lbs and 18x9.5" (rear) 22 lbs... They are the stock rims from the S55 and not really pretty, but what the hell, they were free and fit the new Hankook Z214 tires...

PS: I'm thinking of just staying at the track in my camper on Saturday night... There's showers adjacent to the garages and will allow me some extra time working on the car after I beat it to death... I'll keep you posted.

 

hey, i know a guy like that.

 

Call me in the next 15 minutes...

 

arghhh i got caught up watching pinks. i'll call you tomorrow.

 

Ok Guys, I Got Approval From The Nasa Officials (ryan Sheridan) To Keep All Of You In The Same Hpde 1 Sub-group. All You Have To Do Is Remind Them During The Meeting, When They Start Dividing Up The Groups.

Also, Good News For The Other Forum Members Who Plan On Attending As Spectators... I Have Approval To Cone-off 10 Parking Spaces Adjacent To Our Pit Garage Specifically For All The Forum Crossfires To Park !!! I Won't Know Which Garage # Until Friday March 16th, But If You Give Me A Call Friday Afternoon 310.291.1372 I'll Be Able To Tell You Exactly.

Also, I'm Trying To Schedule A Photo Op During Lunch Time And Have All The Crossfires Lined-up In The Pit Lane, So Bring Your Cameras And Happy Faces !!!

 

I can loan you a helmet if you still need it... Just no barfing inside it !!!

 

just got this email.

Dear participant,

You are entered for HPDE1 at Cal Speedway for Saturday Only. I am asking for volunteers to move to Sunday due to the number if instructors we have available. Sunday will be the same format but there will be less cars on track and we will have more instructors to assign students. Thus, we are asking for your cooperation so we can provide a better learning experience. To thank you for your cooperation, we will extend a $50.00 credit to a future NASA SoCal event. So, if you are willing to move to Sunday please email rflaherty@drivenasa.com and let us know you are willing to move to Sunday. Please reply by Monday March 12th at 9 AM. If we do not hear from you by then we will assume that you will not change days.

Regards,

Ryan Flaherty
Regional Director

sort of tempting, but i think only derek will be there, i would rather run with all the crossfirer's. any one else going to be there sunday? if not i'll tell them no.

 

got this too. i'm okay with sunday if everyone agrees.

 

I will be there both days like Derek, so it doesn't matter to me.

Remember... switching days will affect our 'guests' too... so unless they are all agreed, we should stick to Saturday.