The GT Guys in FL & 1/15/07 track day - PLEASE RESPOND ASAP!!!

[Piccola]

Not wanting to cheat you guys out of a promised track day & weekend w/Dennis & Rich “The GT Guys”, I’ve been making calls & came up w/2 options. PLEASE GIVE YOUR FEEDBACK ASAP & LET ME KNOW WHICH YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND (if you don't care either way, just say "EITHER"). The place w/the most interest gets it. Keep in mind that the Homestead day won’t be open for long (busy season), so the sooner I can give either of them a “yes” answer & get the contract signed, the better!! There were close to 20 people who were a “yes” for the 1st Sebring event, so I’m hoping all of you guys will be able to make the switch to Homestead if necessary! (To keep it easy, Chin Motorsports offered to manage the event that day & provide the instructors no matter which place we choose.)

Below, I’ve listed both options w/details & the pros/cons of each place to make it easier for those of you new to the track to decide. There are other dates available at both Homestead & Sebring from April 2007 onward (weekdays), but I’d rather not wait that long & I know some of you really want “The GT Guys” here… I'LL KEEP AN UPDATED TALLY OF YOUR RESPONSES ON THIS POST & AS SOON AS WE HAVE ENOUGH FOR ONE OF THE DATES, I'LL LET YOU KNOW - we'll book it & start registration back up ASAP. Once we get the date set, I’ll post hotel info & we’ll be able to work on organizing some activities, dinners, etc for the weekend.


1/15/07 Homestead Miami Speedway
General Info:
2.21 mile road course w/14 turns. The 2 straights are 1,760’ long. 20° banking in turns.
http://www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com/documents/FullRoadCourse3-06-Web.pdf
http://www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com/images/hms_rental_facility_lg.gif

Price:
$800 – $1000/pp
Price will be about the same. It’s around $2000 less to rent the Homestead track, but we will now be paying $100/instructor & Mark to come to Homestead. Chin Motorsports grp is staying at Sebring that weekend; they are just going to use the short track. As before, any money left over in the end will be refunded to you & price will be set based on how many people want to go.

Pros:
1. The GT Guys have agreed to come to S FL for the weekend (located near many GT owners) & will then provide support at the track!!
2. Covered garage (indoor area for “The GT Guys”; large pit area also available)
3. Increased safety (there are more outs & less obstacles than Sebring’s club course; long straights for safe passing; longer track for less traffic)
4. Track is a little bit smoother than at Sebring
5. Located in South FL (where much of the interest was); near Miami, lots to do & see in South FL
6. Easier on the cars & (per FL Chris) more favorable to the high horsepower cars than the short track (longer track w/a few straights means less wear & tear on the car than the short track & faster!)
7. They have a large tented area for lunch & to stay under in case of adverse weather
8. Will still be able to plan a weekend of social/fun activities prior to track day – weather in FL is usually perfect!
9. We’d have the whole track to ourselves
10. We could easily accommodate as many GTs as want to come!!
11. More space for guests to hang out
12. The hotels should have plenty of room

Cons:
1. Hotel is not located directly on the track (a couple of options w/prices will be given after the date is chosen)
2. Not as much historical significance as Sebring for the GT
3. A couple hrs farther south than Sebring (for non-south FL drivers)



1/15/07 club course (short track) at Sebring
General Info:
Rather than taking up the whole track, Skip Barber's school will only be on one side of the track (by the straights, skid pads, & classrooms). That will give us the other side to ourselves, which consists of the 1.8 mile club course. The club course is the most widely rented track at Sebring for car clubs.

Price:
$700-$900/pp
$2500 less than the original track day since we don’t have the entire track. Also, compared to Homestead, we won’t have to pay anything for the instructors (since they will already be at Sebring). This would be about $100-$150 less expensive/pp than the Homestead choice.

Pros:
1. They can accommodate our group size w/o a problem
2. Would still be a private event w/our own instructors, track, lunch area
3. Would still be at Sebring (more centrally located; a racetrack w/historical significance for the GT)
4. Will still be able to plan social/fun activities the weekend before the track day
5. The GT Guys will be here all weekend
6. Chin Motorsports will already be there over the weekend (less driving for them & less money to give them for the event since they don’t have to go anywhere)

Cons:
1. Sharing the track w/another group (even though they are on the other side)
2. We’d no longer have an indoor classroom (though they would still have a place to teach)
3. (per FL Chris) the short track doesn’t favor high hp cars (like the GT) – not as fast
4. No indoor room for lunch or rain – need to rent a tent or have lunch at the hotel (long walk or short drive)
5. The 2 long straights wouldn’t be available – which means lots of extra wear & tear on brakes/tires/transmission from constant braking & accelerating through turns; won’t be able to reach the fast speeds w/o the straights
6. Track is a little rough in some areas
7. 1.8 instead of the original 3.7 miles (cars will be crammed closer together w/less room & no straight to pass on (increased safety hazard, especially for newer track drivers)
8. Would need to rent Porto-potties (Skip Barber school would have all the indoor facilities)
9. The GT Guys would just have an open, uncovered area to work with (no covered garage/paddock & no real pit area)
10. Most of the hotels are booked due to Aviation Expo (people would be spread out over 2-3 hotels)



Track Response

Homestead
1. SuperB/Brian & wife/2nd driver (1st choice)
2. Piccola/MJ (1st choice)
3. Bony/Daniel (1st choice)
4. Tachy/Eliot & son/guest (1st choice)
5. 1418/Manny (1st choice)
*6. Jasper/John/guest (1st choice)
7. Florida Chris (1st choice)
8. Russ Oasis (1st choice)
9. Townshend/Erick (1st choice)
10. Alex A; 2 cars (1st choice)
*11. Jimfro/guest (2nd choice)
12. Tungsten/Don
13. Abolfaz/Mike

Sebring's club course
1. SuperB/Brian & wife/2nd driver (2nd choice)
2. Piccola/MJ (2nd choice)
3. Tachy/Eliot & son/guest (2nd choice)
4. 1418/Manny (2nd choice)
*5. Jasper/John/guest (2nd choice)
6. Townshend/Erick (2nd choice)
*7. Jimfro/guest (1st choice)
8. K-P Garage/Kevin (1st choice)

[SuperB]

I don't think we should help Sebring with half a track after hanging us out to dry, and without a contract there is no point in discussing it.

Homestead sounds great to me, but I'd probably attend either one.

[TACHY]

I'm in for either location, but it sounds like Miami will be best for a novice like me. I haven't been to South Beach in a while anyway!!

[Piccola]

I don't think we should help Sebring with half a track after hanging us out to dry, and without a contract there is no point in discussing it.

Homestead sounds great to me, but I'd probably attend either one.

I agree Brian & would rather do Homestead. :thumbsup The people I've talked to thus far have been great, & (compared to the small track) it appears to be better suited for both us & The GT Guys to work (being in a garage as opposed to just outside). I still wanted to give you owners the choice. Chris & Bony had also e-mailed that due to the benefits of the larger Homestead track, they prefer Homestead over Sebring's short track.

Brian, I'll try my best to make sure that this problem is not repeated. Homestead will get us their contract as soon as we say "yes" to them. If it's leaning that way by tomorrow afternoon I'll ask them to draft one up & send it to me. Either way, there will be ongoing communication w/them. However, I can't sign the contract on faith that there will be enough people. Too much risk for me & too much money to put down. I will start registration this time ONLY AFTER the contract has been signed & it's a done deal.

Now of course Sebring has no problem getting the "small track" contract to us. :bored I had asked their GM to offer us a reasonable discount for all of the inconveniences: primarily for (1) the numerous downfalls w/using the smaller track and (2) for admitting to withholding the contract from us, failing to disclose that our date was in jeopardy while intentionally misleading us, & finally pulling it out from under us. A free "1/2 track" (or even 1/2 price, which would still be 100% profit for Sebring) would go a long way toward restoring the damage done to us (their customers). It is no surprise that I haven't received a return call or e-mail from them on this request. I'm sorry to write negatively about Sebring, because I know that they have a great track & many of you were looking forward to it. Customer service there really stinks though (from my experience). :frown

[B O N Y]

Homestead, dependent on renting a car. Any idea if the GrandAm Mustang or Corvette guy will deliver cars down to Homestead? Any other rentals available?

No interest in renting a racer for the short course at Sebring.

South Beach is great.

[Piccola]

I'm in for either location, but it sounds like Miami will be best for a novice like me. I haven't been to South Beach in a while anyway!!

Sounds good! Will your son be going as well as a 2nd driver or guest? I have NEVER been to south beach & plan to have a blast all weekend! Will be a great time!!

[Piccola]

Homestead, dependent on renting a car. Any idea if the GrandAm Mustang or Corvette guy will deliver cars down to Homestead? Any other rentals available?

No interest in renting a racer for the short course at Sebring.

South Beach is great.

Bony, I'll call the guy tomorrow for you & see what he says. I'll also ask Mark if there are other places in South FL to rent cars. I believe there are & will get that info to you as well tomorrow.

Thanks!

MJ

[Piccola]

Brian, will your wife be coming as a 2nd driver (similar to your Sebring post)?

[1418]

Are you kidding??? Home field advantage!!!!!!!!

Bony-- you ready to cave in and take me up on my rental?

Either is fine for me, but prefer Homestead.

[B O N Y]

Manny, my friend!
:thumbsup I am ready to rent your Prius once you confirm that you have Stage 6th it and can produce video of Joe calling home and the 'busa gang with their tails between their legs. :thumbsup
waiting here in Fresno, your pal,
Bony

[TACHY]

Sounds good! Will your son be going as well as a 2nd driver or guest? I have NEVER been to south beach & plan to have a blast all weekend! Will be a great time!!
Count my son in as a guest. He is hopeful someone with the credentials and skill will take him on the track, but he will be 1 month shy of his 16th birthday and license.

[SuperB]

Yes Picco, my wife too I think.

Bony, you can rent almost anything (other than a Ford GT) in S.FL. Just don't tell them it's going to the track. :biggrin

[Piccola]

Count my son in as a guest. He is hopeful someone with the credentials and skill will take him on the track, but he will be 1 month shy of his 16th birthday and license.

You are correct that he won't be able to track w/o a license. He also won't be able to ride as a passenger (he would need to either be 18 or 16 w/parent's consent). I will be happy to add him on as a guest though!

[Piccola]

This isn't something that I need to know right now (it can even be added after you register), but if you can, please let me know if you are bringing > 1 car, a 2nd driver, a passenger, &/or the # of guests. It will help me w/preparations to have an idea how many total people to expect & their roles.

I will continually update the bottom of the first post as we go along, so everyone can see what we've got going on.

Thanks guys!!
MJ

[jasper]

yes it's yours, sorry no, but you can share? :thumbsdow

[Piccola]

yes it's yours, sorry no, but you can share? :thumbsdow

You kind of lost me buddy! :lol Are you asking if you can be a passenger w/me? :banana

[jasper]

NO worried about corners :willy

just echoing brians sentiments :thumbsup

[Piccola]

NO worried about corners :willy

just echoing brians sentiments :thumbsup

Okay John. I know you're coming, so I'll put you down as my Aussie guest from down under. :cheers Bony can be your translator for all us "normal" folk w/no accent who speak English - not Kangaroo... :skep Might as well keep the two trouble makers together... I guess you aren't bringing your little yellow singing GT then? :rofl Oh & what about those corners? Corners are what I'm most excited about!! :banana How about if I take a driving class w/Stefan before going? Will you ride w/me then??? :biggrin

[B O N Y]

Yes Picco, my wife too I think.

Bony, you can rent almost anything (other than a Ford GT) in S.FL. Just don't tell them it's going to the track. :biggrin

Hey Brian,
Any help you can offer would be appreciated. Looks like all the Shelby Mustangs from Hertz are spoken for. Would like to come out and play something besides pocket pool.
Cheers,
daniel

[B O N Y]

Okay John. I know you're coming, so I'll put you down as my Aussie guest from down under. :cheers Bony can be your translator for all us "normal" folk w/no accent who speak English - not Kangaroo... :skep Might as well keep the two trouble makers together... I guess you aren't bringing your little yellow singing GT then? :rofl Oh & what about those corners? Corners are what I'm most excited about!! :banana How about if I take a driving class w/Stefan before going? Will you ride w/me then??? :biggrin


Hey MJ...
Easy on my pal from Ozland, we Yanks have never had better buddies that the boys from down under. Any clue how many died next to us in Viet Nam?
Percentage wise they took a bigger hit than we did.

Tell you one thing, you NEVER want them on anyside but yours when in comes to a brawl. Take a few of those miners from the outback and not only will they clean out the bar, they will empty the town. Now that being said, John is a perfect gentleman, and not a trouble maker,,, well only sometimes
when he... well I let him stand for himself :lol

[B O N Y]

NO worried about corners :willy

just echoing brians sentiments :thumbsup

hey mate,
you bringing matilda? :lol

[jasper]

daniel;
NO MORE matilda

:cheers :banana :cheers :banana :cheers :banana

[FlorIdaho Chris]

Count me in for Homestead. You've already summarized my thoughts so I won't repeat. It is a great facility. :thumbsup

[B O N Y]

daniel;
NO MORE matilda

:cheers :banana :cheers :banana :cheers :banana

ok, I'll leave mine home, need to get the rain gutters cleaned out, great little project for her. :wink

[Piccola]

Count me in for Homestead. You've already summarized my thoughts so I won't repeat. It is a great facility. :thumbsup

Thanks for the track info Chris! Some of the other guys have said similar things.

You, Russ, Erick, & Alex have just been added. At this rate it will most likely end up being at the Homestead track. Will give them a heads up & see what happens by tomorrow AM!!! :thumbsup

[K-P Garage]

Sebring please

[K-P Garage]

Piccola just came down to my office to harass me about the value of South Florida. The nice thing about Miami is that it is so close to the states!

[Piccola]

Sebring please

Here's an idea! :biggrin You & P can go to the 12 hr races in Sebring (Mar 14-17). Meanwhile, you can take your beautiful GT to the South FL "GT spa" on Sat or Sun & let The GT Guys bump up her power. Pamper her a bit! :wink Yes I know. You'd have to leave boring Sanford and the quiet of Longwood for a couple of days, and (take a deep breath) cross over the "border" to South FL. What did you say it was? 20 minutes by GT? :rofl PLUS... a lot of the really fun people that were at the rally will be there :thumbsup (which you missed the first time around). There's nothing you can't do in South FL. Will be lots of fun! Promise!!! :cheers

If this doesn't work, all I need is 5 minutes w/my favorite little boy & he'll be begging you to go! :banana :banana :banana

[K-P Garage]

But MJ, I like it here in Mayberry. You should see the guys at the barbershop come out and check out the GT we I take P to get a haircut. Even Joe Speed comes here with his twin turbo to race. Besides, what good is track time when you have to carry an extra few hundred pounds in pistolas and ammunition?
I do want to meet the folks from the GT forum but it would be cool to have it at Sebring where the GT40 actually did a whole bunch of fiat killin'. I still think we could run the driving school guys off. All we have to do is move the cones and let you get out there in the Z to take a few laps with them. They'll move!! :thumbsup

[B O N Y]

You kind of lost me buddy! :lol Are you asking if you can be a passenger w/me? :banana

will wimen folk be allowed to drive on track? :thumbsdow
next thing they will want is the right to vote :thumbsdow
got to keep them on their place.... the wet spot :cool :tongue :cool

[Piccola]

will wimen folk be allowed to drive on track? :thumbsdow
next thing they will want is the right to vote :thumbsdow
got to keep them on their place.... the wet spot :cool :tongue :cool

Bony, make sure to watch for my hand signals as I fly by you on the track. There should be plenty of opportunities in case you miss it the first few times. :banana

Can I trust that you will keep this thread civil while I'm in WI this weekend? :wink

[B O N Y]

Bony, make sure to watch for my hand signals as I fly by you on the track. There should be plenty of opportunities in case you miss it the first few times. :banana

Can I trust that you will keep this thread civil while I'm in WI this weekend? :wink

how about some dry cleaner shops and a few pussy inserts? :devil :slap :devil

[jasper]

piccola: can i trust you to be civil while i'm in WI this weekend

daniel;
i can't understand what is trying to be said

[B O N Y]

daniel;
i can't understand what is trying to be said\
\
Hey John,
She went to Wisconsin on a fishing trip... didn't want us to hijack this thread.
ok Mate?

[B O N Y]

Bony, make sure to watch for my hand signals as I fly by you on the track. There should be plenty of opportunities in case you miss it the first few times. :banana

Can I trust that you will keep this thread civil while I'm in WI this weekend? :wink

seriously, nothing personal, here is a picture what happened when females are allowed to drive... note the name on the side of the van :biggrin

[B O N Y]

Bony, make sure to watch for my hand signals as I fly by you on the track. There should be plenty of opportunities in case you miss it the first few times. :banana
:wink

...wow, that's nothing God just flipped me off :bored

[jasper]

yeah i've got ya, she's a menace on the roads :lol

[Piccola]

seriously, nothing personal, here is a picture what happened when females are allowed to drive... note the name on the side of the van :biggrin

So then do you consider yourself really brave or really stupid to have let a female drive your GT on 3 separate occasions? :wink

BTW John, I'm not a menace on the roads! I drive quite normal. I can't help it if everyone else drives really slow! :shrug

[B O N Y]

So then do you consider yourself really brave or really stupid to have let a female drive your GT on 3 separate occasions? :wink

BTW John, I'm not a menace on the roads! I drive quite normal. I can't help it if everyone else drives really slow! :shrug


I think we should take a poll, can you set that up since you started this thread,

Was Bony Stupido to let MJ drive his GT three times?

Was Bony Brave to let MJ drive his GT three times?

[fjpikul]

Bony was brave BECAUSE he continued to sit in the car while being driven by Piccola (True-True, Related - usual type of med school exam questions and answers)

[Piccola]

Tungsten & Abolfaz, thanks for the note! You guys have been added.

[B O N Y]

Bony, make sure to watch for my hand signals as I fly by you on the track. There should be plenty of opportunities in case you miss it the first few times. :banana
:wink

like you would be the first...

[B O N Y]

whats up with the event...

[Piccola]

First of all I want to thank ALL of you guys who have posted or sent e-mails/PMs, especially the guys willing to come from MI, TX, CA, GA, & Australia! I know you have been looking forward to spending a day on the track w/friends & other GT owners. Unfortunately, when Sebring fell through, the number of people coming dropped. Adding to this, since Chin Motorsports is no longer hosting the track weekend before our event (they were also kicked off of their Sebring dates), having them or other skilled instructors such as Panoz come all the way for just one day would bump up the cost an extra $2-3K (totaling $17-19K). At this time, we don't have enough people coming to make it work.

We do have a couple of options:

We have an opportunity to invite lambo &/or viper guys to join us at the track. We would still be able to put a few social events together that weekend for both track & non-track GT owners while the GT Guys worked on the cars. Those interested in taking their car to the track would then be able to go.

We could also bypass the track day & just have a weekend in South FL for the GT Guys to come & work on the cars (similar to what they are doing in Dallas & Oklahoma). We could even have one day for them to come to South FL & possibly one day in Central FL, if people would prefer that.

With over 40 GT owners in FL alone, & since we've never had a large get together on our coast, perhaps we could steer toward something more social. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on either of these ideas, or anything else you might have in mind.

Thanks, MJ

[jasper]

i was only ever going to the trackdays as a guest, so my opinion may be
worth nought.

if we can't enough GT's for a trackday we have a social weekend.

so what i'm saying is it's GT's or nuthing.

[MAD IN NC]

Hey Bony - I did'nt know you were giving your cat away:rofl

[FlorIdaho Chris]

MJ- You have probably already thought of this, but does Chin have another weekend scheduled this winter at Sebring we could schedule next to? The weather is still pretty nice in Sebring relative to the rest of the country until mid April.

[B O N Y]

I know how much work has gone into this event. Thanks Mary Jo! I am curious how many GT owners really want to put their car on the track at speed. I am sure we will determine the true number when we get closer to the National Rally.

[FlorIdaho Chris]

I know how much work has gone into this event. Thanks Mary Jo! I am curious how many GT owners really want to put their car on the track at speed. I am sure we will determine the true number when we get closer to the National Rally.

True, Bony. I am still hoping we can get Willow on the schedule.

[B O N Y]

Hey Bony - I did'nt know you were giving your cat away:rofl

I had her on ebay and got no offers. She was the best pussy I ever had. Now she is free to a good home, are you interested? :lol

[B O N Y]

MJ- You have probably already thought of this, but does Chin have another weekend scheduled this winter at Sebring we could schedule next to? The weather is still pretty nice in Sebring relative to the rest of the country until mid April.

I would love to see a GT social tied in with the 12 Hour Race. Take a box over the pits, I have usually acess to a Provost party bus. Mary Jo said dates to rent the track were very limited and that is why she had to select Jan 15.

[FlorIdaho Chris]

I would love to see a GT social tied in with the 12 Hour Race. Take a box over the pits, I have usually acess to a Provost party bus. Mary Jo said dates to rent the track were very limited and that is why she had to select Jan 15.

Maybe just a social weekend like what is being worked on for the Indy500? Hmmm worth looking into.

[B O N Y]

Hey Bony - I did'nt know you were giving your cat away:rofl

Yup, just remember you often times get what you pray for...

[Piccola]

MJ- You have probably already thought of this, but does Chin have another weekend scheduled this winter at Sebring we could schedule next to? The weather is still pretty nice in Sebring relative to the rest of the country until mid April.

Good idea Chris. I had discussed this a few weeks ago w/them. Weekends are booked through July, but if we were to coordinate a Monday at Sebring following a Chin Motorsports weekend, I forget the dates, but they have about one week/month STARTING in April through September (sorry nothing sooner). Summer w/95 degrees & FL humidity aren't ideal when you are in a hot car w/pants, longsleeves, & a helmet.

[Piccola]

I would love to see a GT social tied in with the 12 Hour Race. Take a box over the pits, I have usually acess to a Provost party bus. Mary Jo said dates to rent the track were very limited and that is why she had to select Jan 15.

We could probably do something like this. 2007 would be the 40th anniversary for the 2 GT40's that took 1st & 2nd there (Mk IV & Mk II). Not to mention the 1-2-3 sweep at Sebring the yr before ('66). I don't have any idea if they have a large block of seats open, especially near the pits. I wonder if a parade lap w/the GTs or special parking would be possible... If enough people are interested, that could be something else to look into. The only concern I'd have is that it's pretty close to the Indy 500 event that Joey is putting together. I'm probably not going to be able to go to the Indy 500, so this would be something I'd love to do.

[Piccola]

Hi guys!

Well, to those of you who were looking forward to the track day in January, I’m letting you know that it has officially been cancelled. We do not have enough people interested to cover the costs at this point.

If, down the road, we do end up putting a social (or other track) event together in FL, a new thread will be started.

Still want a place to track your GT? Both Don Beach & John Canal have mentioned other possible track events coming up that GT owners are invited to. I've asked them to start a new thread w/info on these events so keep your eyes peeled!! I know there are guys who'd like to take their GT to the track w/other GT owners, & this would be a great (& less expensive) way to do that! :thumbsup

Also, there is talk of a possible track day in CA during the 2007 rally (for those East Coasters shipping their GT's cross country).

MJ