STLPC at Gateway today...

[Keith]

OIY... it was a LONG day today.

For James, Laura and I, it began at 5:30am this morning when we got up. James met us at our place at 6:30am and we down to the track 20-25 mins from us. We were half way done with swapping our tires before we had to attend the driver's meeting at 7:40am.

We (the intermediate group) began our first session at 8:20am. I've only been on a race track once at Shannonville but it was pouring rain all day so I never got to run that hard. Well today was forcasted for rain and thundershowers but we never saw one drop all day (thank god). I ran on a set of used 15" Toyo RA1 race compounds on my ITR wheels. The track was pretty cool, not too technical with the 50% of it being a half oval. It took me a couple of sessions before I was comfortable running at full throttle. By mid day, James and I were red lining in 4th gear doing 120 mph (about 190 for you Canucks) on the front straight away before we had to brake hard for turn 1. James and I followed each other all afternoon. James being the more experience auto-x and some track driver, was quicker in the infield. I found I would catch up to him during the oval. We figured it was a combination of my JDM 4th tranny, lighten flywheel, ACT clutch, and 15" wheels and race compound tires.

All and all, the day was pretty fun with some highlights of people not letting faster traffic by and a car that flipped over in turn 4.

Thanks for Chris and Laura for coming out to watch, help and suport us. :) We have some on board video of a couple of our runs... we'll have to figure out a way to make them into a video.

Keith

Some pics...

Paddock...
http://www.chillybanana.com/Prelude/gateway/bigimages/147-4772_IMG.jpg

Driver's meeting...
http://www.chillybanana.com/Prelude/gateway/bigimages/147-4778_IMG.jpg

James and myself on the straight...
http://www.chillybanana.com/Prelude/gateway/bigimages/147-4793_IMG.jpg

James and Chris stuffing their face during lunch...
http://www.chillybanana.com/Prelude/gateway/bigimages/148-4814_IMG.jpg

EVO...
http://www.chillybanana.com/Prelude/gateway/bigimages/148-4822_IMG.jpg

STI...
http://www.chillybanana.com/Prelude/gateway/bigimages/148-4823_IMG.jpg

Lotus Espirt...
http://www.chillybanana.com/Prelude/gateway/bigimages/148-4829_IMG.jpg

James and Rich
http://www.chillybanana.com/Prelude/gateway/bigimages/148-4833_IMG.jpg

[Keith]

The SAAB that had a bad exit and flipped...
http://www.chillybanana.com/Prelude/gateway/bigimages/148-4853_IMG.jpg

Aftermath...
http://www.chillybanana.com/Prelude/gateway/bigimages/148-4872_IMG.jpg

http://www.chillybanana.com/Prelude/gateway/bigimages/148-4874_IMG.jpg

http://www.chillybanana.com/Prelude/gateway/bigimages/148-4875_IMG.jpg

http://www.chillybanana.com/Prelude/gateway/bigimages/148-4876_IMG.jpg

Rest of the pics here...

http://www.chillybanana.com/Prelude/gateway

Some vids are here...
http://www.chillybanana.com/Prelude/gateway/videos

[lude_jr]

That sounds like a blast! How often do you guys go do this?

[Keith]

Well, James (and some other members) auto-x on a regular basis. Not too many people track their cars since the risk are a lot higher (look at that SAAB!) and it cost a lot more. That being said, it was our first time. James and I had a blast though and we plan to go again whenever they have another event. We expected more STLPC members to come but I think interest fizzled out when time came to sign up.

[Keith]

BTW, thanks to Bill for letting us his camcorder mount and camcorder for the great on-board shots. :) :thumbup:

[Cory]

Looks like fun.

[TJ]

looks like fun guys, I would of come out if it didnt look like it was gonna rain all day

[Jacques]

Originally posted by Keith
James being the more experience auto-x and some track driver, was quicker in the infield. I found I would catch up to him during the oval. We figured it was a combination of my JDM 4th tranny, lighten flywheel, ACT clutch, and 15" wheels and race compound tires.


You forgot you were drafting on me too, bish!;) The last run where Chris rode along was great...no traffic!:thumbup: Chris, hope I didn't scare the bejessus out of you, especially turns 1 and 7.:D

["D"]

all i have to say is that is awosome! :thumbup:

[Laura]

It was awesome, I got to go out in 3 cars. First being a Saab... not the one that flipped, A VIPER!!!! WHOAAAAAAAA! and last but certainly not least... the Civic that is driven by Rich... Rich who was in the expert group... Don't let that civic fool you, he was taken down the VETS!...

Very nice driving Rich!