Streets of Willow, April 17 & 18

[Roll a 7]

Let's ALL turn out for the Los Angeles Shelby American Automobile Club (www.lasaac.org) event. Streets is a great track for 7s and these guys run very safe events with run groups for all levels of driver. Last time out Michael, Gert, Tim, Jon and I had a great weekend with loads of track time. Any one who has a car, or wants to rent one or ride in one "on track" should take the time to join us. This is where a 7 can be most appreciated. The performance you bought shows up when you dust the Shelby Mustangs and most of the other cars in attendance so effortlessly. The price is very reasonable for a track weekend, hotels aren't expensive, Jon brings great wine, and there's an excellent restaurant near the track. There just ain't no reason to stay home if you own a 7 or want one. Five or ten 7s would really be blast!!! Who's in??? 8)

[moosetestbestanden]

I'm gonna try. I need to get some stuff first though.

Please be so kind as to post more particulars as you know them.

Thanks.

[Roll a 7]

The Streets of Willow track can be viewed @ www.willowspringsraceway.com Click on the "tracks" button and maps will appear. There are several configurations---rely upon the Shelby Club to choose a good one. Cobra owners lose to kit car owners on this short FUN track. The cost is $165 for the weekend if you book by 4-5-04. Entry is limited to 60 cars in three run groups. That means lotsa time and not too many cars on track with you. Passing is allowed only on the front straight and safety rules are strictly enforced. There are passenger sessions at reduced speeds. The Inn at Lancaster is about 24 miles distant and charges about $58 per nite with free breakfast and a parking area for trailers. There is a pool and barbecue area. Last September we had an excellent dinner near the track with Michael, Gert, Tim, Jon and myself. Dinner and drinks with a bunch of irreverent 7 types was almost as much fun as the track day. A runway is just outside the restaurant to service ththe set who prefer to fly rather than drive to dinner. Tech is from 7-8 AM on saturday with a mandatory drivers meeting @ 8 AM. The fun should start around 9 AM and you are able to run 5-6 times during the day. Be sure to arrive with a full tank of gas! We were allowed to store our cars overnite in a large garage at the track. The helpful spirit of all the other 7 enthusiasts raises the camaraderie to level rarely experienced in the endeavors of men :!: CU there 8)

[michael bedard]

I wouldn't miss this event!! I've been attending this for eight years and this is unquestionably the best, safest and most fun track for sevens in the country.

[magnusfeuer]

Okay Brad, I'm in.

The only thing that may stop me is another business trip to Sweden which is rumored to come up around then...


/Magnus F.

[Clark]

I'm with Michael, absolutely nothing matches a Seven on the Streets! Except a whole pack of Sevens, of course, which is what we're planning to assemble, right?

[slomove]

I sent in my sign-up forms yesterday :-)

I don't know if there is a risk of selling out but I would not wait too long. AFAIK the event is limited to 60 cars.

Gert

[Roll a 7]

My friend David Laird will also be towing his very fast 7 to Willow for some fun. I would anticipate a little nose to tail action betwixt he and Mr. Bedard :!: The Shelby Club weekend is looking better all the time :!: 8) If ya ain't signed up, there are still some spaces left.

[magnusfeuer]

Ok.

I've dropped of the check to LASAAC today. I shall see if I can steal a trailer somewhere so that I can tow my car up there.

It's 134 miles from Costa Mesa...

/Magnus F.

[magnusfeuer]

For those who are confused about how to find the form:

1. Surf to www.lasaac.org
2. Click on content.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
4. Click on "Open Track application for The Streets of Willow 2004"
5. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
6. Click on "Go on to Page 2 of the Application"
7. There is a link to a printable version of the application at the bottom of the page.

This application seems to be a combined enrollment and tech inspection form. I simply filled out the top part and sent it in with my check.

/Magnus F.

[Roll a 7]

My check is "in the mail". Will those going please let us know so that we can make our devious plans for Willow Springs. Thank you :!: 8)

[slomove]

I am going, I am going!

[Roll a 7]

To date it looks like Gert, Magnus, Michael B, Clark, Doug, possibly Mooseman, Dave L, myself and :?: :?: :?: Today I barraged more than a dozen more possible car owners and a former Caterham factory engineer and racer----it was part of his job to RACE caterhams :!: :!: I am also working on getting a few guys to rent 7s for the weekend---if any of you have friends that might like to do this let's try to hook 'em up :idea: . The more cars that participate the more fun we are all going to have.

[Roll a 7]

Michael Murphy tells me that his app is "in the mail". Jon S. thinks that his super hot ride will also be ready to go. Looks like we are approaching 10 cars. A SoCal record? 8)

[Michael Murphy]

That's right, my application is "in the mail". I'll be driving my little yellow widget to the track early Saturday morning, departing Manhattan Beach around 5 am. If anyone wants to form a convoy, let me know.

[slomove]

Super! Almost a mini Sevens-Festival. If we go on like that we have more Sevens than Cobras at the Shelby Club 8)

Don't tell them...


Gert

[Roll a 7]

Based upon those who have committed to this weekend @ the Streets we should have at least seven 7s and maybe more. A few owners whose cars are not yet ready for the track are also planning to join the festivities. If you are thinking about getting a 7 come along and bring a helmet so that we can demonstrate just how much fun we are having. This should be the most 7s assembled in southern CA in quite a while. If anyone knows when more got together please tell us about it. Bring your sunscreen and a cooler :!: 8)

[Clark]

From my home in Riverside, it's a comfortable 1-1/2 hour drive to Willow Springs, including a gas stop at the offramp in Rosamond. The Shelby club will have tech open from 7:00 to 8:00 AM Saturday, so I'm planning to arrive at the track between 7 and 7:30. This should provide plenty of time to get unpacked and make it through registration activities. If anyone driving from the West of Riverside would like to rendezvous and drive along, I'm planning to be on the road between 5:30 and 6:00 AM. Please let me know and we can make some arrangements. I'd love to have the company!

Cheers: This is going to be a great weekend. Anyone taking picutures??

[slomove]

I will bring my new bullet cam along to take some track video. If that works out I can cut DVD for everybody who is interested.

I signed up for group #2, i.e. with some but limited experience. I hope I am not the only Seven in this group.

Gert

[magnusfeuer]

I think I signed up for this group also, but I am not sure.

I'll bring my laptop in order to do some diagnostics on those with T2 or T6 units out there. I'll check if I can hunt down a standalone oxygen sensor as well.

/Magnus F.

[Clark]

I talked with Mario Veltri and he stated they would try to put all Sevens in the same run group. Should be fun!

[slomove]

Clark, that was a good idea!

Magnus, I have an Innovate wideband lambda sensor and will bring it. Unfortunately it is pretty permanently installed. If you can't find something else maybe we can move the probe to other cars without messing up my wiring. To get a good reading it is anyway much better in a bung behind the headers. I tried it with a tailpipe adapter and it did not work well.

Gert

[magnusfeuer]

Gert,

My bosch wideband unit (mounted just after the header) could be moved with an extension cord, and I could read the value of my T6 using the ECU only for this purpose. However, this means that somebody else will have to bring their laptop, since mine will be hooked up to my car.
I have all the software and cables that are needed for the second laptop.

Anyone?

Off to Sparco today to get a helmet and a basic racing outfit.

/Magnus F.

[Clark]

There's a local business that specializes in all sorts of racing stuff.
Greg Nelson in the Alfa Club just told me about a local source for helmets, suits, harnesses, etc. It's Parker Pumper Helmets (air injection/breathing systems) and they are located in Mira Loma. This might beat mail ordering from across the country at Racer Wholesale or running all over trying to find stuff.

http://www.parker-pumper.com/

Best wishes,

[slomove]

I was planning to bring my laptop, anyway. Batteries should still be good for an hour or so.

Gert

[slomove]

Was just looking up the weather. Forecast for Saturday ist partly cloudy, occasional showers and thunderstorms :shock: :roll:

But better for Sunday!

Well, the weather frogs don't know anyway, what they are talking about :) And the good news is it won't be really hot.

Gert


P.S.: I will be staying at the Inn of Lancaster. Anybody else?

[magnusfeuer]

But.... But....

If it rains, how can I dominate Brad with my supercharged acceleration? Oh dear God, why have you ruined my moment of triumph?

I'll bring my top and an 12-110volt converter for our local computer club.

/Magnus F.

[Clark]

I think it was about three years ago I participatged in an Alfa club school at the Streets with our Seven. My drive to the track was wet and driving through Lancaster was wet, but all weekend long, the Willow Springs facility was dry. We could see rain showers all around, but the track remained dry. Locals said that's what usually happens. Let's hope the pattern remains the same! That goes for us, the folks in Long Beach, and the Handcrafted auto meet at Knotts (man, this is a busy weekend).

Cheers,

[Roll a 7]

Magnus:

This "dominate" thing you mention sounds very interesting. Drop by my room @ the Desert Inn tomorrow night after midnight. Be sure to remember the VCR.

If you are referring to domination on the Streets of Willow: FORGET IT :!: 8)

And as I hit the keys to post this message I notice that in order to complete the task I must click on the word "submit". Coincidence?? I think not!!

Brad

[magnusfeuer]

Brad,

I have already devised the perfect excuse in the unlikely event of a defeat:
I did not have time to install and map my new 65 mm throttle body, resulting in a sever lack of airflow into the engine and the loss of at least 20 hp.

It would also provide a nice explanation to bad cornering...

/Magnus F.