Thunder Hill, Laguna Seca, Buttonwillow, Reno-Fernley...2005-Feb 17th 2006
We've still been going to the track. I was just a slacker and didn't write any stories about it.
What has been going on?
Pretty much the same old stuff. We've been hitting the track and working on cars. The three of us have all left eBay and gotten new cool jobs. Two of us went to facebook and one went to quigo. If our companies ever go public buy lots of stock for us. Race gas isn't getting any cheaper.
My wife is about 3 months pregnant and Erik's wife is almost 4. I haven't seen much of Erik/Carolyn since the Job switch. We've both been busy at our new jobs. Other than that it's just been life as usual.
Which track events?
Well, to be honest, we have still been uploading pictures so you could surf the gallery and figure it out. Here is a quick list though: Thunderhill (as always), ButtonWillow, Laguna Seca, Reno-Fernley and I think probably a few I'm forgetting about. Shane just got back from two Laguna event in January. It was pouring down rain at one and he was passing corvettes and keeping up with STI's in his Miata
Race Schools
Shane and I (Justin), both went to the Laguna Seca Skip Barber 3 day school. It was awesome. You are fully covered at the 3 day school so if you trash a car on accident, you don't have to fork out extra cash. It is a good school for beginner to intermediate drivers. If you already have some racing experience then the 2 day advanced school is probably more for you. Make no mistake, the instructors here are top notch. You will learn a lot from them...unless you suck.
If you do end up going. I found that a lot of people in the class liked cars and even owned fast ones, but didn't know how to drive very well. Since Shane and I could drive a little better, we were given more directions more suited to our skill level.
I also went to the NCRC racing school in Reno-Fernley. It was run by Alan Blaine. It had very good instruction and lots of track and class time.
Reno is a blast, it was a long drive but a good track.
Did Anything Exciting Happen?
Almost certainly. Both Natalie and Carolyn decided to give driving at the track a shot.
Nat tearing up track.
Carolyn slinging the wagon around to the front straight.
I almost balled up the Viper the first time I took it out to Thunderhill. Here I am locking them up on the back straight
Look here for an animated gif of me with the last second save.
LoRes (600k)
HiRes (6600k)
Cage Time
I was sitting there thinking how could I possibly lose more money on this car? Set it on fire? Roll it into ocean? Then it hit me, that would only cost me the car. If I turn it into a racecar I can actually pay someone to make the car worth less money. On top of that it'll use more gas and need more expensive tires. Oh well, what can you do. Once you've smoked the Go-Fast Crack pipe you've got to get that next hit.
Yup, It is almost ready. Blaine Fabrication should be wrapping the car up anyday.