Couple openings left at Barber for May 26/27 (Memorial Day) weekend

[pdisme]

I just received an email from BMW CCA (Alabama) that their Barber Motorsports HPDE event for May 26/27 has about ten spots left. If you have a BMW, you're definitely invited, but their chief instructor is letting me in with my Radical after he rode with me at a PBOC event so they may be willing to do so for other Radicals or makes as well if they still have open spots and want to fill them. You cannot beat the price, $350 total for both days, including for novices that require instructors. If anyone with a non-BMW wants to go and wants me to see what I can find out about getting you in, let me know, Barber is really one of the premier tracks in the country and at this price, a real steal.

Sign up:

http://www.motorsportreg.com/calendar/event.cfm?uidEvent=1E7F74CE-A860-4F0A-AC7428856E370BDC

[pdisme]

Just FYI, I think they'd really like to fill their last few spots, which number in the five to six range from what I understand; they've given clearance for jrfootin to join me in his Radical and I think if anyone else wants to go with a non-convertible (BMW CCA rules) street car they'd get an approval from the driving event coordinator (but check first!!).

[zzzzdoc]

Anyone have a Z8 that I can borrow? Although, I guess it will need rollbars. How about a 7 series? Gotta handle better than my LS430.

[pdisme]

Nope, even that isn't allowed, no open street cars for some reason, roll bar or not. Evidently they can get away with making an exception for race cars.

[zzzzdoc]

Wonder if that NASCAR is still available?

[pdisme]

Barber is AWESOME this weekend, weather is dry and hot but bearable, my instructor is good and really fast in his car, he lapped some of the other instructors when we went out in his Porsche, my car is running strong and my driving has been smooth and consistent.

Unfortunately the day was not so good for this guy's late model M3:

[pdisme]

What a weekend, I have lots of great pics and my video from my last, and fastest, session came out fantastic. The Radical was running flawlessly, I got bumped up to the "B" group (third of four, A being advanced) for the last session today because even in the intermediate C group I lapped the entire grid after starting in front and ultimately passing the person who started second right behind me. :) The B group was great, people were very careful to point you by well in advance so you didn't have to get off the throttle and I got to play cat and mouse for about 12 laps with a very fast M3, we'd trade the lead every few laps and try to keep up with each other. I'm going to get some sleep now though, leaving Alabama to head back to Florida in about five hours so I can make it back by late morning. I'll post lots of goodies tomorrow.

Oh, forgot to mention the funny parts of the day:


Red Bull came out to give everyone free drinks and at lunch time they did two laps in the Red Bull Mini, including the big can on the back of the car. :lol2: I'll post pics.
Some guy who's regular car failed him went to Enterprise last night and RENTED a Mercury Grand Marquis, threw his Toyo RA1's on it and ran it on the track all day!! :lol2: :lol2: Evidently he chose that car because it had the right bolt pattern to run his track tires/wheels. It was hilarious, I thought someone was being chased by a cop car since it looks just like a Caprice.
Someone else brought their Cadillac CTS-V to the track; it actually performed admirably since it had suspension tweaks and RA1's on it, but it was still funny coming around a corner and seeing a Cadillac sedan.

[zzzzdoc]

Sounds like it was fun. Post pictures when you can. I probably would have reflexively pulled over and reached for my license if I saw the Grand Marquis in my mirrors.

[pdisme]

I'm working on the video now. :) It was really a fantastic weekend, I made great progress with the car where I seem to understand it better now while before I was just along for the ride; I was reacting to inputs I hadn't perceived before, even though I was much harder on the brakes and gas it was still much smoother than before, I could take it beyond the limits and back safely as I tested the boundaries in certain corners, etc.