I went to Willow Springs Horse Thief Mile this weekend.

I've never been on a track as a driver. My first time as a passenger was ont the big track and it scared the crap out of me. (even at 35yrs old)

Anyway, I went there and drove in my first instructional run, 30 minutes following an instructor who is a professional. The 7-8 cars (us) tried to follow him and keep up on the track and all fell behind in seconds....

After the first run we talked about the problems and what he wanted us to do.

I walked up to him and asked him if he'd drive my car and let me know if it's setup correctly as I was falling behind and wan't too confident.

He drove my car around with me in the passenger seat and I watched his line, shift point (only shifted twice, 2-3 and 3-2) the entire track. He told me the car was good and that I just needed to have confidence that the car would do more than I thought it would do.

Started off the first three sessions at a minute and 25 seconds (1.25) and managed in a session or two to get it down to 1.15 and one time a 1.11

The instructor and I talked about my times and he said it was good... Some of the other guys who ran the event said anything in the 1.10 range or lower is pretty good.

I then got out on my second to last run with only 4-5 cars on the track and managed to pull off a 1.09.xxx lap.... with most of my times being below the 1.11 time. I also lapped one guy that I was hanging out with who drove an Audi TT and one other car... that was pretty shocking but made me happy.

My last run of the day was a 30 minute session on the track BY MYSELF!!!!!!! Everyone went home and it was just me on the track by myself being able to go ***** out without anyone to get in the way or push me and get me flustered.

The guys at the timing thing were cheering me on my second to last run and I was not out to dissapoint and I gave my last run my all.

I got in 23 laps, ALL at 1.10 or lower lap times.... and got in two 1.08 minute runs with one falling to 1.08.960

My stock Perelli's are full of tread but they are pretty much useless except for to work and back. They slide and squeek on every turn. My brake pads are glazed over and need to be pulled this weekend and sanded. I might be able to revive them for daily driving. (ordered Hawk HP+ pads for track use). My front right strut cap needs replaced as it's clunking away...

I can honestly say that this IS the most fun I've had with a car in a looong time!!!

I'm destined to conquer the track that scared me as a passenger, therefore I'm getting my car ready for the Willow Springs the big track in January. If I can squeeze in a Streets of Willow day in somewhere I'll do that as well.

FYI/BTW: Best time on the track was 1 minute flat in the Instructors Z06 wiht slicks. Everyone said <1.10 is a good time for the track since it's pretty technical/hard... and to do a 1.08 on stock tires and being a first timer is pretty amazing.

WHO SAYS MUSTANGS CAN'T HANDLE?

 

Great write up I did a few autocross's as a young man but nothing like you did. Keep us informed on your future runs.

The Boss Hog

 

Thanks for the write-up! I autocrossed and did a few HPDE's in my last car (WRX) and can't wait to hit Summit Point in the Mustang. It's just that work and family keep getting in the way.

 

thanks for the comments.... I was starting to think noone tracked the Mustang except for 1/4 mile. I used to be a 1/4 mile kinda guy but this is so much more fun.

I know it's more expensive but compare 3.5 hours of actual track time compared to maybe 4-5 1//4 mile runs.

My wife is going to kill me... I have planned a 4pt roll cage, racing seats, upgraded to 5 point simpson harnesses, stainless lines, big brake kit, wheels and racing tires etc.....

 

Great write up and I can't wait to try something like this. Enjoy the next time.

 

Just stumbled across this thread. Great job instilling the thrill into the folks that haven't had a chance to try "open track" events yet. Keep it shiney side up! From one open-track addict to another.

 

I'm going to try and make it to the Speedventures Streets of willow day in january.. A buddy at work is going to that one and i figured it would be more fun to go with him than to go alone.. so i'll skip big willow and do it next time it comes up.

but yea.. thats the most fun i've ever had in a car.

 

that would be awesome to have a 30 minute session to your self. I really want to do that someday.

 

 

Yeah, it's great to go with friends. Five or six of the guys from our local Mustang Club go up to Portland Int. Raceway a couple times a year. It's a hoot chasing each other around the 2.1 mile road course (and watching a few spin out LOL!). We're planning to go as a group down to Thunderhill in April.

 

The Streets are hell on brakes. You should at least have your Hawk pads by then if not bigger front rotors.

 

my hawk pads are on the car now... hahahh and they do squeek like hell....

but the car stops on a dime.

and yes the 30 minutes by myself was awesome... noone to spin in front of me, noone for me to run into or crash into.... just had me to worrry about.. keeping it on the track and going as fast as I could go.

 

Several Mustang clubs in the Maryland area got together for a cruise not too long ago, and I ran into an old friend in a Cobra club who does Summit Point with his buds. I'm heading out to Summit Point this spring with them, as well as some interested Mustang Club of Maryland members. I've done the 1/4 mile stuff and am edging closer to 12s, but it doesn't have the same thrill it did when I was 17 (I'm 49)--I just do it to spend quality time with my 20 year old (he has an 87 GT). So road racing is the next step. I'm buying that stage two brake kit from Brenspeed for the '05 but that's the only new mod for now until I get a handle on the car (pun intended). It's funny I built a '69 Boss tribute but took me two years to put it on the road courses like the original Boss's.

John

 

What kind of brakes do people run who do this a lot? It is possible to buy something such as Brembo breaks for the front and put the front rotors on the back at all? I've always been interested in bigger breaks.

 

I guess it's how serious you want to get. The SVT Cobra club I'll be running with next spring has suggested that I start simple on my '05 with Hawk HP pads to replace the stock junk and brake fluid with a higher boiling point for my intro to road racing at Summit Point--I'm going with same-as-stock size slotted rotors plus stainless steel brake lines as well (http://www.brenspeed.com/mustang_2005/brakes.html). Over time, subframe connectors and suspension components, with brake caliper upgrades are likely, depending how much I want to get into it. My car's mainly a street machine with occasional runs at the 1/4 mile track, but I've been tempted by road racing since my teens. You only live once...

John

 

I have never been, but I would like to try at Willow Springs. How much did it cost? and where can I find when there are open days, and who was your instructor?

PM me if you dont want to post it.

I really want to get started in the road race scene but dont really know where to start.

 

Go to www.speedventures.com.

 

Awesome! very addicting it is! Snap any pics?

I ran a 3.5 mile 21 turn course last summer, defintly doing it again!
This pic was slammin on the brakes at about 110 coming up to a tight horseshoe turn

 

I have lots of pics... just have to find a place to host. There are on facebook but i dont know of many people on it at the moment.

 

Try Photo Bucket for hosting pics. My experience on the race track was the Richard Petty school several years ago.The first day was spent in the class room.Second day we took a few laps around the track to get a feel for the cars.The third day was awesome and running a 1 mile oval was actually very stressful. I think every bone and muscle in my body was sore for a week.The cars were nice,sticky tires,race brakes,and I'm not sure about the HP but maybe around 500-600HP on the butt dyno.I really wasn't out to break any speed records but learning to do drive a car fast made me a better driver on the street.