Pacific Raceways road course Test-n-Tune events
 

Pacific Raceways had a 'winter series' of road course TNT's late last year, and they're now holding their 'spring series'. I suppose its' a way for them to see the track used when clubs normally aren't using the track.

I went last Saturday.. they only had enough cars for two groups (even then.. it was only about 5 - 8 cars on track most of the time), so we ran every 30 minutes, with a short break for lunch. I ended up with around 3.5 hours of track time for $125.. and I skipped out on the last two sessions. Most Pacific Raceways lapping days cost $250 or more, and give you maybe 1:20 - 2 hours of track time. This is by far the best deal you'll find.

It's a fairly open setup.. they didn't tech cars or ask about experience. I did provide my experience when I registered via email, so that might have done it for them. They did have an instructor available for people who aren't very familiar with Pacific Raceways.

They basically expect you to be solo qualified somewhere.. and you need your own helmet and gloves. You can't have anything loose in the car either, of course.


full schedule and information is here: http://www.pacificraceways.com/Schedule.aspx

coming up:
Feb 4th (Sat)
Feb 11th (Sat)
Feb 19th (Sat)
Feb 26th (Sun)
March 3rd (Sat)
March 17th (Sat)
March 24th (Sat)


more information:
http://www.pacificraceways.com/sched...ourse_TNT.aspx


to register, I emailed Kerstyn. She responded with a form that I filled out and sent in (called in my billing info.. sorry, sending credit card information via email is stupid) along with my experience and club memberships. Then I just showed up, emptied my car out, listened the quick driver meeting, and got on track.

I suggest getting into the Novice group unless you have a super fast car and are experienced. The Novice group this last weekend was more like an intermediate group in some of the other lapping days I've attended.. and intermediate was more the advanced group.



some good photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/phattyd...ed/2012/01/30/

there were no Subaru's there this last Saturday.. feel free to change that :D


I'll go out there again if other people here are going..

photos of my car from this weekend:
http://www.fakelag.net/users/d/36024...89bdfb5c_b.jpg

http://www.fakelag.net/users/d/36028...d59d4a1c_b.jpg

http://www.fakelag.net/users/d/36032...624a2fd7_b.jpg

I'm in for Feb 4th. Going to email her tomorrow.

I've thought about going again this Saturday... the weather is looking good. If I do, that'll have to be it, until I drive PIR on the 26th.

My other option is to go on the 11th

I have questions about this Test n Tune:

1. How is this different from lapping days at PR?
2. Do they setup cones for stopping zones, turn in cones, apex cones, exit cones? Are the setup any different from the NWARC lapping days. I found that the NWARC line is slightly different from the Proformance Racing school line.
3. Do you have to pay the instructor to go out with you? If so, how much?
4. Do they have workers manning the turn stations with flags, etc?

They had flaggers at every station except for 3B.. they did a good job there.

The instructor was free.. last week he was a long time PCA & BMWCCA instructor that I'd seen around before.. nice guy

They had cones out very similar to NWARC's, showing apex, turn-in, and exit mostly.. along with some defining track location. From what little I've seen of proformance, their cones sometimes control your line a bit more... there's none of that here.

This is a lapping day at PR, but at about 1/4 the price per session. The intention is to allow people an opportunity to test out cars, settings, etc. I was playing with my rebound settings, brake cooling, and weight in the rear of the car. But in the end, people are just lapping.

Also.. passing: it's point-by anywhere. If you're comfortable pointing someone by in the middle of a turn, and with them doing it safely, then go ahead. They only asked us to not pass around 5a/5b. Most people just let others pass on the straight, from 2 to 3a, 3b to 5, and 6 to 8.

Just a question...how did you change the weight in the rear of your car? Did you bring a sawzall to the track?

haha...

I've been taking my spare and tools out of the back at most recent track days. I decided to try leaving those in this time and see how it changed things.

:eek: I'm actually surprised they'll let you out on track with that stuff back there! Is removing that not part of tech?

it's pretty well secured in the car and below two false floors in the back. There's been talk of VW actually taking advantage of the spare tire being there to help add to the crash structure as well.

Geez Spoonwacker, you ought to know once things are securely tied down back there, nothing is gonna move. Remember how the jack stayed in place in your car even after when went airborne for 3 feet! Yeah! Good Times! :lol:

thinking about maybe going back on Feb 11th... anyone else want to? :D

:lol: Yeah! I'll bet it would've been just fine in a rollover, too!

Seriously, though, I got yelled at when I went through NASA NorCal tech at T-hill because I hadn't buckled the rear seat belts. I don't even go on PGP's kart track with so much as a spare pen floating around anywhere in my car. False floors be damned, if it's in the car, it can find a way to come out in an accident and become a projectile.

Track Nazis I tell ya!

Do they seriously require gloves?

don't know, to be honest. I've been with some clubs that absolutely require it and are quite picky about what is used, and I've been with clubs that don't care at all.

When I first pulled up to the entrance one of the first things that they said was "ok, you have your gloves".. but it was kind of said in passing and not very loudly. I'm sure you can email Kerstyn and ask.

I bought some Alpinestar gloves a couple of months ago and like them quite a bit..