So I ran my 2004 G35 Coupe 6spd again at the Speed Trial event at Willow Springs Raceway this past sunday. This was my second time at Willow Springs. I discussed my prior experience there in a previous post.

Things were a little different this time. A much larger percentage of the cars were heavily modified this time around. Made it tough for my bone stock G35 to keep up. For example, I was able to get past stock S2000's, lightly modified WRX's, a few stock Evo's, a few 350Z's, an E36 M3, then out of the blue I get blown away by a heavily modified Civic and Scion TC! Felt quite embarassing until I looked at the cars later on and saw that they were completely stripped, roll caged, Hoosier tired race cars.

There were a few professionals there. One team showed up with a huge truck containing an F360 Challenge race car. He turned out to be pretty slow. There was another pro, Dino Crescentini, driver of the Mazda 3 Speed World Challenge car. He brought his lightly modified Porsche 996 Twin Turbo with gumball Hoosiers on. Oh my god. The fastest cars I've seen at these events are usually the Corvette C5 Z06's or the gutted race prepped Evo's. Not on this day. Dino was sooooo fast on this track. Not only was his car pulling on the Z06 on the straights but he was a master in the infield. I rode in one of the Vette's as we got chased down by the 911 Turbo, who finally passed us. Scary fast.

Then there was this other guy. He had a modified Lotus Elise at the last event, very fast. Funny thing is this time he brought his modified Mini Cooper S which was extremely fast. According to him, the Mini is 3 seconds a lap faster than the Elise!!! Go figure.

The one car that drove me crazy was a bone stock 350Z with a great driver. For the life of me I could not catch him. Having had a 350Z in the past I knew I wasn't going to get past him (assuming our driving skills were similar). Man was that aggravating though.

There were a lot of Evo's there. Some fast, and some really fast. I've come to the conclusion that I need a track car. I think a tricked out Evo would do the trick.

My car was definitely the most luxury oriented car at the track (well, if you exclude the two 911 Turbos, one Carrera S, one Cayman, and two F360's), and the least track prepared.

All in all, a really fun day. I drove about 100miles on the track and got 8mpg!!! Going home I got about 24mpg.

Till next time.

 

sounds fun.

 

Wow sounds like fun... I can't wait myself.

I'm heading to California soon. Pomona that is. The raceway is about an hour away. How much do you pay to participate? How often do they hold these events? How do you find out about em?

 

Grat report greggr35. You must be an excellent driver to run as well as you have against those others.


Cheers

 

We all reach that stage.

Before you know it, you'll be looking at tow vehicles.

Then thinking about selling the G.

 

Nooooooo.........! How r u Shane?