[2e9x's]

I attended a Driver's "school" hosted by Buttonwillow Speedway yesterday.
The "tech" inspection at the track was a bit...um...cursory. After this event I came to really appreciate the excellent instruction offered by BMW CCA and other high end schools. Not only do I learn from those events but they are safer since the novices get real teaching and are kept separate from the faster attendees.

The students were divided up into two groups - first timers and returning students. Since I had been to the track before (many times), I was placed with the latter group. We spent the morning running the east loop. Following is a clip of the morning session. The WRX I passed was running NT-01's. Note the amazing amount of body roll... The Z4 Coupe (this was one of two in attendance, this one not being an M Coupe) was driven by a guy who apparently had no idea what a line is nor how to drive one. He spun many times and kept going off the track at the worst possible places.



For the afternoon the track was opened up and both groups ran the whole track, including the bus stop and lost hill. IMHO this configuration is by FAR the most enjoyable track in So Cal. There are elevation changes and a variety of corner types. No walls to hit, well groomed runoff areas and a variety of high speed and low speed sections.

The instruction (this was called a "school" after all) consisted of the instructor driving my car 2 laps, then riding 2 with me. I can safely say that virtually every person there needed more teaching, myself included. Oddly the instructors did not appear to be on track with us, so I suspect they had no clue what was going-on. In all honesty this was one of the most frightening track days to which I have ever been. The mix of inexperienced drivers on track with MUCH faster, more experienced drivers was downright dangerous. There were no delineated passing rules and no clear guidance that point-bys were required. I saw more people flubbing lines and doing colossally dangerous things than I have ever seen before. Egos were far more prominent than driving skill...

For example, see this video...



Here I am following a kid in a 335i convertible (likely modified based on the exhaust). He was in the wrong place everywhere on the track and demonstrated a complete lack of understanding of car control. Knowing he was going off, and not wanting to be around when he did, I pointed the Phoenix Yellow M3 past. That particular car was brought to the track on a trailer and was stripped, with a full cage and on slicks. My hunch was that pressure from the M3 would cause the 335i to spin. Since he would not point me by, and was clearly over his head, his going off was the only way I was going to get past him. This car had a "D" sticker and some other sticker on the back, chrome 189's and was from San Diego. If anybody knows the owner of this car, I hope he made it back home safely. Apparently something was amiss and he was searching for a place to buy a new tire.

In the following video I am behind my friend Ken in his 335i Coupe. His car was stock except for Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Specs. Ken is a REALLY good driver and we spent the day playing lead/follow. This was lots of fun!



The next clip is of a guy in a 997 Carrera S (the "S" was in red for extra speed) who REALLY did not want to let my GTI pass him. My friend Ken says that after pointing me by the guy got really aggressive and would not point anybody past. Note the ///M Roadster...top down and all. This "school" allows convertibles apparently.



Here is a clip of my last session with some open track time. The blue Lexus IS-F I passed was driven by a 19 year old who NEEDED an instructor all day, but had none. He was very dangerous.



My GTi ran flawlessly all day and was remarkably quick. I did not find the understeer TOO bad. The stock suspension felt good, although I would prefer if the car felt more settled. In the high speed sweeper (called either Talladega or Riverside, depending on who you ask) the car felt nervous at about 80. In my 335i on Z1 Star Specs this same corner was comfortable at 90-95.

On one corner, called the button hole, which is an uphill, off camber, tight 2nd gear corner, I absolutely could NOT get power down. The tires just spun meaninglessly. In fact, when chasing the Carrera down I could see plumes of smoke coming off the front tires through this corner. My buddy was behind me and said it was hilarious to watch!

The Hawk HP+ pads never faded. They were a great choice. However for a warmer day I might tend to favor a more track oriented pad. I also think I need to re-bleed my brakes...again...The car was making good power and I had little trouble keeping up with faster cars on the straight portions. Part of that was due to the great exit speeds I could achieve.

As for the RE-01R's their grip was great and I found them to be very predictable. After my second session I checked my pressures and they were at 45 all around. I had started at 36 cold. Since 45 was too high I lowered them to 38 HOT. The tires experienced little wear and never got greasy on me.

DSG is a real double-edged sword on the track. This was my first track day with only 2 pedals and it does take some adjustment. Occasionally I would upshift when the transmission would be just about to do one. So for example the car was about to shift from 2nd to 3rd, but I would click the paddle and unintentionally end-up in 4th. BUT it was really, really nice not to have to take my hands off the wheel. Especially when running with the stock seats, which need more lateral bolstering, it was nice to be able to keep that left leg planted on the dead pedal.

I saw some interesting cars that day. There was an 09 Corvette ZR-1 driven by an older gentleman. Somebody brought a newer Supercharged Saleen Mustang which sounded like a Mini Cooper S with a bad cough. One guy was even on track in a Dodge Ram Super Duty Pick-up Truck. Perhaps he was out there to test the runoff areas...

In all I enjoyed my day and look forward to more track adventures with my GTi. Thank you all for taking the time to read this very long, rambling post.

[mike-y]

wow, they should really have more instructors if they are advertising it as a driving school. I watched the vid with the 335i vert, and he was pretty bad, and should have had an instructor.

[satakal]

I've had very similar experiences. Sadly the only defense you have against the noobs is to use those tools we learn with the bmwcca. Vision, awareness, composure, courtesy, and speed.

Thanks for the post. I'll be there (button) on saturday and think by the following monday I'll have a similar post to make.

Regarding the ButoonHook, that's an interesting corner. There's a few different ways through there and I'm guessing none of them felt good to you.

[leftcoastman]

Wowzas. I probably would have left!

What organization was running it?

[2e9x's]

Originally Posted by satakal

Regarding the ButoonHook, that's an interesting corner. There's a few different ways through there and I'm guessing none of them felt good to you.

There was no nice way through. In a fwd car with no LSD that corner will just always be wrong. The only thing I could do is get the wheel unwound as soon as possible so at least I was spinning the fronts in a straight line.

Have fun this weekend! I look forward to seeing you at the LA Chapter auto-x. Try to get friends signed-up!!

[2e9x's]

Originally Posted by leftcoastman

Wowzas. I probably would have left!

What organization was running it?

This was the clinic run by the track. I have attended their school before (a few times) and found it to be similar to the BMW CCA and Driving Concepts schools. Lots of instruction and good controls over track safety. My suspicion is that because there were only ~30 students, they played a bit loose with the rules.

[S4to335]

The 335iC was in the experienced group? LOL.

[f30er]

Was there a ZR-1 and a Shelby Super Snake there by any chance?

EDIT: Just read the rest of the post and saw there was! LOL!! My cousin was there with a buddy of his. My cousin was in a black/beige Carrera 4S. LOL, i'm still trying to see the video of the Carrera you're talking about....Gonna laugh my ass off if it's my cousin!!!

[S4to335]

2e9x...so he wasnt doing the same line as I was doing? Maybe his line was faster.

[The HACK]

Interesting. I've never driven any of the shorter configurations at Buttonwillow (it always included the full front straight, one way or another. I have driven the track sans bus-stop where you get crazy fast...). Watching the first video of the shorter track was refreshing. First lap through I was thinking, "where exactly are you going?" until I realized that it's using only a small portion of the track.

[2e9x's]

Originally Posted by e92er

Was there a ZR-1 and a Shelby Super Snake there by any chance?

EDIT: Just read the rest of the post and saw there was! LOL!! My cousin was there with a buddy of his. My cousin was in a black/beige Carrera 4S. LOL, i'm still trying to see the video of the Carrera you're talking about....Gonna laugh my ass off if it's my cousin!!!

I didn't see the color of the interior (going past too fast). But the wheels were black and the license place was, in part, RAC4...

[2e9x's]

Originally Posted by S4to335

2e9x...so he wasnt doing the same line as I was doing? Maybe his line was faster.

He was NOT using your line Steve... He was not using ANY line. Wait a second, isn't the fast way around the track achieved by using the dirt "bypass"?

[2e9x's]

Originally Posted by e92er

Gonna laugh my ass off if it's my cousin!!!

Was it your cousin?

[Kbueno]

Wow, that is a bit too much diversity on the track. In the case where the 3 wouldn't let you pass, you could always pit and get back on. I have the grid starter give me a huge space when I go back on. Some of my best track times are done this way.

Did they have any after-session talks to go over any problems? Odd.

[Dascamel]

Originally Posted by 335lvr

Wow, that is a bit too much diversity on the track. In the case where the 3 wouldn't let you pass, you could always pit and get back on. I have the grid starter give me a huge space when I go back on. Some of my best track times are done this way.

Did they have any after-session talks to go over any problems? Odd.

+1000


Also do this all the time!!! Funny how some people just sit there and cruise with 5 cars piled up in row. By the time all the point bys would occur its time to go home. Pitting and looking for open track is genius.

[S4to335]

Originally Posted by 2e9x's

He was NOT using your line Steve... He was not using ANY line. Wait a second, isn't the fast way around the track achieved by using the dirt "bypass"?

Yeah..the quickest way thru the bus stop is the short cut thru the dirt.

[2e9x's]

Originally Posted by 335lvr

Wow, that is a bit too much diversity on the track. In the case where the 3 wouldn't let you pass, you could always pit and get back on. I have the grid starter give me a huge space when I go back on. Some of my best track times are done this way.

Did they have any after-session talks to go over any problems? Odd.

No after-session talks. NO teaching whatsoever. I have gone in for space in the past but elected not to do that on this occasion. The person controlling the hot pit was not really looking before sending us out, and on more than one occasion I was put on track in the middle of a pack of cars. Plus the (sad) reality is that I was lapping folks so even if I went in that would have just put me right back behind them in a lap or two.

[VMRWheels]

Did you run timing?

-Charles@VMRWheels
www.vmrwheels.com

[2e9x's]

Originally Posted by VMRWheels

Did you run timing?

-Charles@VMRWheels
www.vmrwheels.com

No timing. I am using the counter on the video as my timing.

[Kbueno]

Originally Posted by 2e9x's

No after-session talks. NO teaching whatsoever. I have gone in for space in the past but elected not to do that on this occasion. The person controlling the hot pit was not really looking before sending us out, and on more than one occasion I was put on track in the middle of a pack of cars. Plus the (sad) reality is that I was lapping folks so even if I went in that would have just put me right back behind them in a lap or two.

Yuck, don't go back.

[VMRWheels]

Originally Posted by 2e9x's

No timing. I am using the counter on the video as my timing.

Did you end up running Config 13CW? What was your time?

-Charles@VMRWheels
www.vmrwheels.com

[2e9x's]

I ran about 2:17 when I had that little bit of open track. We were running the bus stop and lost hill...it looks like configuration 13.