Track Day / TT - South West

[2008 V6]

FYI – Didn’t know where else to post.
I was looking at Speed Ventures Web sight (One of a few Track day event groups for the South West) and noticed they are offering a Pony Car Challenge on Several tracks. I ran with their group for a cheap track day at the Streets of Willow (CCW) testing my wife’s V6 Mustang last year and liked the group. Has anyone run in any of their competition events - TT or other - and can comment on the organization.
I wouldn’t mind running with other Mustangs /Pony Cars for fun.
(Simple formula for classing for the Time Trial Events)
Our car is now a mostly stock 2008 V6. I thought this might be a cheap and low stress way to familiarize myself with me again, see how far my timing is gone and how much will come back. Spent the last two years concentrating on the New & Improved Wife but unfortunately, she doesn’t want to continue so my turn.
Any info would be appreciated and the more people the better.

 

[ArizonaGT]

Not sure where you are located but check out www.proautosports.com and www.nasaaz.com. Events mainly in AZ but occasionally in Cali.

 

[c_reber]

Damn, now SV is doing a pony car challenge? They are a great group to run with, and everything runs smoothly for the most part. I might try an make a few events with them! Going to check out the rules/classing now...

 

[2008 V6]

Thanks of the info. I’ll give Speed Ventures (SV) a shot. I, unfortunately, don’t think I will be able to run at Auto Club 1/15/14 – Prior obligations. I’m trying to rearrange my schedule. I’ve never driven there – doesn’t seem to be too technical but definitely a high HP friendly track. When I do run there, I’ll wave as others pass our V6 on the straights. Most people I have talked to who have raced there are not too fond of the track.

 

[2008 V6]

Not sure where you are located but check out www.proautosports.com and www.nasaaz.com. Events mainly in AZ but occasionally in Cali.

Thanks - I'll check them out.

 

[c_reber]

Thanks of the info. I’ll give Speed Ventures (SV) a shot. I, unfortunately, don’t think I will be able to run at Auto Club 1/15/14 – Prior obligations. I’m trying to rearrange my schedule. I’ve never driven there – doesn’t seem to be too technical but definitely a high HP friendly track. When I do run there, I’ll wave as others pass our V6 on the straights. Most people I have talked to who have raced there are not too fond of the track.

Well, I think you're quite late for a 1/15 event But I assume you meant the 2/15 event haha. I don't have weekends off, so it's difficult for me to plan track events within a month's notice, so I won't be able to make that one either.

I love Auto club, one of my favorite tracks that I've been to. The feeling of Nascar Turns 1-2 is just a cool/fun feeling. It can be somewhat technical on the infield section and getting onto the front straight. Its also a very nice facility in general with plenty of parking, nice bathrooms, garages (usually pay more, but worth it!). And a couple gas stations and numerous lunchtime spots with close proximity.

Anyway, hope to see you out at at least one of the events this year

 

[2008 V6]

Well, I think you're quite late for a 1/15 event But I assume you meant the 2/15 event haha. I don't have weekends off, so it's difficult for me to plan track events within a month's notice, so I won't be able to make that one either.

I love Auto club, one of my favorite tracks that I've been to. The feeling of Nascar Turns 1-2 is just a cool/fun feeling. It can be somewhat technical on the infield section and getting onto the front straight. Its also a very nice facility in general with plenty of parking, nice bathrooms, garages (usually pay more, but worth it!). And a couple gas stations and numerous lunchtime spots with close proximity.

Anyway, hope to see you out at at least one of the events this year

Hey – You mean to tell me that it isn’t stile January, 2013. I guess I should flip the calendar page.
YUUUPP – 2/15 – 2/16/2014. Hope to see ya at future events. I will be listed Under Bump & Grind Racing – A Euphuism named after my wife.
Dynoed the car Sunday – Now 185 +/- RWHP - 3531 LBs with me in it. I’ll bring my book with me so I’m able to can catch up on my reading - Any straights are going to be long.

 

[2008 V6]

I received this E-mail this morning – For those that are interested –
Monitors – if you think this post is improper Please delete.

I will not be attending Auto Club 2/15/14.
I am attending Willow Springs Streets TT event this weekend Saturday only - Prior obligations for Sunday. According to classifications, I should fall into TT9.


Dear Drivers,
It's raining as I write this, but we wanted you to know that the forecast for STREETS of Willow this weekend is actually 64 degrees and sunny on Saturday and 68 degrees and sunny on Sunday. Can't beat that, so come on out!

We will also be at Auto Club Speedway next weekend, the 15th and 16th. We will give $40 off to anyone who signs up for 1 or more days for STREETS this weekend and Auto Club next weekend.

We are also announcing the launch of the Pony Car Challenge, with the first event to take place next weekend at Auto Club Speedway on Saturday the 15th. See below for more details.

STREETS OF WILLOW - This Weekend
AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY - Feb. 15/16
AUTOCROSS AT AUTO CLUB - Feb. 15/16
PONY CAR CHALLENGE - Feb. 15
BUTTONWILLOW, CHUCKWALLA

STREETS of WILLOW - This Weekend
I've already covered the basics regarding the weather, but you should also know that car counts are very low at this time (Thursday 5:09pm). We are also running the Megan Racing 86 Challenge, the Speed Ventures TT, SuperMiata, and a Wheel-to-Wheel race for all race-prepped cars and licensed drivers on Saturday. On Sunday we feature the Miata Challenge, HFF Challenge, SuperMiata, and a Wheel-to-Wheel race again.

Click here for STREETS of Willow registration:
http://www.speedventures.com/events/eventdetail.aspx?id=456.


AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY - FEB. 15/16
Speed Ventures returns to Auto Club Speedway next weekend. We host the Corvette Challenge and the inaugural Pony Car Challenge on Saturday and the Cadillac Challenge, Bimmer Challenge, and Megan Racing S2K Challenge on Sunday.

Click here for Auto Club Speedway Registration:
http://www.speedventures.com/events/eventdetail.aspx?id=457.


AUTOCROSS AT AUTO CLUB - FEB. 15/16
And of course we will have our World Famous Autocross as always. No work, just some fun in the sun with a bunch of cones. What more could you want?

Click here for Auto Club Speedway Registration:
http://www.speedventures.com/events/eventdetail.aspx?id=481.

2014 PONY CAR CHALLENGE

Speed Ventures Pony Car Challenge
Speed Ventures is pleased to announce the launch of the brand new Pony Car Challenge. The Challenge is a time trial competition designed for all American pony and muscle cars (excluding Cadillacs, Corvettes, and certain "supercars"). The first event of the year will take place at Auto Club Speedway on Feb 15 (Saturday). The entire 2014 schedule can be viewed here:

http://svc.speedventures.com/fly.aspx?layout=events&series=610

In order to participate, please visit:

http://svc.speedventures.com/fly.aspx?layout=homepage&series=610 and click on 'Rules & Classing' to begin classing your car and find your vehicle to determine your "Base Class". If you do not see your vehicle listed, please let us know and we will get your car entered into the Pony Car Challenge Classification.

Once you've selected your base class, go to Section 2 and add up your total points for tires and other modifications. Per the instructions, each 3 points will bump your car out of the Base Class and into the Competition Class. If you have any questions regarding the classing of your car, please contact us.
Speed Ventures is seeking shop, retailer, and manufacturer sponsorship for the series. 100% of all sponsorship benefits go to the drivers. Please contact us if you would like to be a promotional series sponsor.

We look forward to your participation in the 2014 Speed Ventures Pony Car Challenge.
BUTTONWILLOW, CHUCKWALLA
We have opened registration for all events in March, including Buttonwillow and Chuckwalla. Group discounts are still available for these events.
Thanks for reading. See you at the track!
Aaron Bitterman & the Speed Ventures Crew
Speed Ventures, Inc.
323 461 4795

  

 

[c_reber]

I sure wish they would have published the PONY CAR info earlier. (maybe didn't have the details ironed out yet... either way, your post was seriously the first I'd heard about it).

Speedventures is a good group to run with. Everything is ran professionally, and usually on time too.

Dynoed the car Sunday – Now 185 +/- RWHP - 3531 LBs with me in it. I’ll bring my book with me so I’m able to can catch up on my reading - Any straights are going to be long.

HAHA, I honestly LOL'd at this. Just think of the miata's! But yeah, that front straight is LONG, wish I had about 1000 HP there.

Sure wish I had a normal job with weekends off. But alas, stuck at the casino in LV.

 

[2008 V6]

I sure wish they would have published the PONY CAR info earlier. (maybe didn't have the details ironed out yet... either way, your post was seriously the first I'd heard about it).

Speedventures is a good group to run with. Everything is ran professionally, and usually on time too.



HAHA, I honestly LOL'd at this. Just think of the miata's! But yeah, that front straight is LONG, wish I had about 1000 HP there.

Sure wish I had a normal job with weekends off. But alas, stuck at the casino in LV.

SOO TRUE -

Well I had a blast and want to make this as short as possible -
I recommend Speed Ventures. I entered in the TT event - TT9, where my car qualifies and is the base group. The results have not been published yet. I have only run at the Streets of Willow CW for about 8 laps prior to the event so I asked to be was placed into the Blue (Beginner run group). I had an instructor for the first session - Fred (Great guy) - who was driving a 1966 Shelby GT350 with 4 IDA Webbers (Vintage Race & Street car - Nice). Fred saved me a lot of time and well worth the $60.00 instructional fee for 1 session. As the event proceeded, I was bumped up from blue to purple then black. Black is passing anywhere but only with a point by - 2 higher run groups Green point by passing and Red pass anywhere no point by. They were also running the Miata challenge this day with fully prepped cars(Aero, Engine & slicks) I could not find out from race management who else was in the TT Challenge.
My car 2008 V6, 185+/- RWHP, 3535 LBS with me, 8 gallons gas, heim joined rear end, Torsen 2.7, Koni Sport / Yellow with Steeda Comp Springs (Rears to stiff compared to front and ride height too high), sway bars, 2010 Base seats, Wilwood front brakes, 9.5” x 18” rims with 265-40 AD08R street tires. Basic – for wife’s development unfortunately she doesn’t want to continue so the car didn’t either.
I was able to get down to high 1:31s comfortably and another 1 to 1.5 seconds with a bit more familiarity with the track, roll bar, proper seat and harness. I didn’t feel comfortable pushing it + my skills are nowhere near what they use to be. I need a lot of seat time now – Below average driver.
I don’t know if I want to develop the car any more either – 5 to $6000 more cash and only about 200 – 205 RWHP with proper dampening, rims & safety equipment. I put the car together as training tool for the wife (One piece at a time so she could learn from the changes) but she doesn’t want to continue. When you can’t pass a slightly modded Miata down a long straight even with a point by, ya need more HP when driving a low CD heavy boat. I’ll wait to see how many enter the Pony Car challenge 2/15 -16/2014 at Auto Club to see if and what competition there is in the class I fall into with current mods.

 

[claudermilk]

I've run with SV at their autocrosses there last year. I'm going to try and make the 2/15 event now that I feel comfortable in the car. As well as the autox part is run, I'm not surprised to hear the track part runs smoothly. Being a complete noob to the track, I was planning on grabbing an instructor--based on common sense and reading around here in the past. If I make it, hopefully I will run into some folks on here.

 

[2008 V6]

Claudermilk - The more the better

Overall Results - http://www.speedventures.com/results/Default.aspx

Postings - Miata Challange -
http://svc.speedventures.com/fly.aspx?layout=homepage&series=510



TT Challange -
http://svc.speedventures.com/fly.aspx?layout=homepage&series=587

Asked to be bumped to TT8 no one else in TT9

 

[claudermilk]

Just registered for Sunday. I also paid for 2 sessions with an instructor since it will be my first time stepping up from cone-dodging. I'll be the blue '13 GT.

 

[2008 V6]

Just registered for Sunday. I also paid for 2 sessions with an instructor since it will be my first time stepping up from cone-dodging. I'll be the blue '13 GT.

Great - Unfortunatly I will not be there

Click on the standings for results

SV has a very good turn out for there other competion events.
Corvette
http://svc.speedventures.com/fly.aspx?layout=homepage&series=460

Miata
http://svc.speedventures.com/fly.aspx?layout=homepage&series=510

S2K
http://svc.speedventures.com/fly.aspx?layout=homepage&series=541

Bimmer
http://svc.speedventures.com/fly.aspx?layout=homepage&series=567

ECT
I hope the pony car challange turns out as well. Hope to see Camaros, Challengers, ECT to make it much more interesting. Take pics.

 

[claudermilk]

Pony Car Challenge is Saturday, so I'll miss that. :/ But, my focus will be learning & getting comfortable on track anyway. I will have my GoPro with me and a P&S camera. I might even have a friend tag along and throw a camcorder & camera at him.

Looking at the entries Sat, the Pony Car Challenge looks to be all-Mustang.

 

[2008 V6]

Pony Car Challenge is Saturday, so I'll miss that. :/ But, my focus will be learning & getting comfortable on track anyway. I will have my GoPro with me and a P&S camera. I might even have a friend tag along and throw a camcorder & camera at him.

Looking at the entries Sat, the Pony Car Challenge looks to be all-Mustang.

overal results

2/15/14


http://www.speedventures.com/results/Default.aspx

Pony Car Callenge - only Mustangs this time

http://svc.speedventures.com/fly.aspx?layout=series_standings&series=610

 

[claudermilk]

Cool, now I have some context. I didn't rent a transponder, but was running the Trackmaster app on the phone. I'm not sure how accurate it is, but at least it gives some reference. I already see the internal GPS is lacking--yay something else to buy!

If it is accurate, it's showing a best lap of 2:06.980. Which....holy crap!...would have put me right in the pack with the other Mustangs. I'm actually quite surprised. I guess a transponder gets rented next time around.

 

[2008 V6]

Next Pony Car Challenge Event – 3/22 – 23/14
Chuckawalla

http://svc.speedventures.com/fly.aspx?layout=events&series=610

I will not be there either – Booked Schedule

 

[2008 V6]

Button Willow 4/19/14
Very, very late – Here are the results –
Click on - Events
Click on - Standings
Click on - Rules & Classing

http://svc.speedventures.com/fly.aspx?layout=homepage&series=610


If anyone had problems with Speed Ventures please post so others will know

I couldn’t make it to this event either. I have drive line issues that I couldn’t invest any more time into to R&D. (Too far behind with work - No play time or any time left for at least a few more weeks)

I have a very good friend that wanted to R&D the problem so I gave the car to him. He’s got a 2006 with similar issues that he’s trying to make it to the Knott’s Berry Farm Ford Show coming up this Sunday 4/27/14. Between the 2 cars, it should make his life easier swapin out parts.

Seems as though the cars are going to be used for a tech article in one of the car magazines – They needed some filler space. Not too hot about the idea but the problem should get solved (No more time investment on my part even though I love these kind of problems to solve) and I should be getting a driveshaft out of it so - I can’t complain.

Willow Springs Big Track is next - 5/24/14

I will not be there either – I got invited to go fishing in Alaska. – OHHH - Can’t complain about that either

 

[claudermilk]

I feel your buddy's pain. I'm trying to troubleshoot an electrical issue with the project car with a friend for this weekend. He tracked down the bad wire, now we need to figure out if we can run the car without it. Both that car and my Mustang are entered, so I will be at the show this Sunday.

I'm overbooked for the next SV event, too. Won't be able to make it. So far I've been very happy with the SV events--well run and a fun day every time.