Great Track Day at Thunderbolt

[w.a.nelson]

The SVT Cobra Mustang Club put on a great Track Weekend on 7/17 and 7/18 at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

Thanks to Pete S. for identifying this event and creating a thread to advise others. I wouldn't have known about it otherwise, and I really would have been unhappy if I had missed this.

We had 5 GT's there on Friday, and we could have used 10 more!

The SVT Cobra Mustang Club is a really cool group. Very nice people; very helpful and friendly; very well organized; good instructors; some great cars; and really dedicated - there were some guys from Maine, Massachusetts, Canada, New York, etc. They ran a first class event, and they do this at a number of tracks on the East Coast. They said they would be happy to create a running group for GT's only, if we got a big group to come to one of their events. Wouldn't that be cool!

New Jersey Motorsports Park has come a long way in the year they have been open. They have two courses, Thunderbolt and Lightning; we were on Thunderbolt, and SCCA was holding a Regional this weekend on Lightning. The course is well maintained and in excellent shape, and the course workers and support staff did a very professional job.

There were 4 one-half hour sessions each day, which is a good amount of track time. I could only be there Friday, but I had a blast, and really enjoyed the camraderie with the other GT owners.

If there were enough interest by North East GT Owners, perhaps a Ford GT Track Day is something that could be organized in the future???

Otherwise, we should strongly consider collaborating with the SVT Cobra Mustang Club, to encourage significant participation by GT owners in their events. This is a great group that knows what it is doing - they put on a great event, and they have FUN!:thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup

And boy, can you have FUN on a track with the GT! It is really one incredible car, and the track is the only sane way I know of to try and explore the true capabilities of the car.

I think there is an event planned for October at VIR, which is supposed to be a really great facility - ideally suited to the GT - and should be a beautiful venue in the Fall.

Pete S. - Thanks again for letting us know about this weekend's event. Perhaps we could prevail upon you to find out the details of the October VIR event, and post an advisory for all of us.

 

[Pete S.]

Well, I do believe a great time was had by Bill, Mark, Jim & Carl as we all burned quite a bit of fuel turning laps on New Jersey Motorsports Park’s Thunderbolt track. I know it was fun for me. With only about 6 cars in their run group, Bill and Mark followed each other around the track with no distractions. Jim was with the advanced group and held his own but had company when I loaned my car to instructor Rick. I was glad to see my car could perform as well as it did, yet not so glad when I realized I was nowhere near at that level. Carl stopped by for one session on Friday and one on Saturday; with tremendous improvements in confidence and lap times, and we had an SAAC photographer show up and hopefully we’ll get some good photos. As for me, sure the laps got better with seat time, but my left front was worn to the cord by Saturday and could only push so hard. It was really great having this many FGT’s together at a track event, not as spectators. And of course our good friend Howard was there with a Steeda Mustang, maybe next time with his FGT, and he won’t be giving me a point bye. Thanks friends for making it a really enjoyable 2 days.

That's my take on the event, though Bill has described it more completely. Yes, VIR in October. What a track VIR is, run by the same folks as NJMP, but more seasoned and refined; and about 4 miles of track to memorize with some spectacular elevation changes, straights, corners and gators-rumble strips that should not be hit with a FGT. (Curbs for you pedestrians) There is a definate possibility that we could easily have 5 FGT's or more there, with Bill, Jim, Mike, and myself. I cannot remember if Mark was considering it, and Carl has quite a bit on his plate between now and then.

And for my good friend in NC, MAD, Carl also has a Whipple on his and was tracking quite well.

VIR is so big that even with 20 cars or 25 in a run group, it's like being out there all alone. And the SCMC is a great group to run with having extremely good staff.

Pete S.

 

[Howard]

Just to set the record straight, Pete was not talking about THIS Howard. Pete, you'll never get a "point bye" from me!

Howard

 

[CJ428]

I had a very nice time,thanks to Pete S (who is very good in the curbs by the way)for Inviting me to come.

 

[Pete S.]

Just to set the record straight, Pete was not talking about THIS Howard. Pete, you'll never get a "point bye" from me!

Howard

That seemed to be about the only slight negative in the Orange group, there were some folks who seemed to think it was a "race" instead of what it was. Some drivers never gave a point bye to me after leaning on them for 2 laps; I just gave up turning into the pits and creating enough space to not catch them again. Others woiuld just about run me over on the cool down lap after the checker had been waving. Fortunately, several of these odd drivers ended up on the hook or were unable to return for broken parts. My best laps were when Rick was in the car and on my final session running on a worn down to the cord right front when it was just me and the nice Corvette. I pointed him bye as he caught me about 4 laps in, allowed him some space, then was able to slowly overtake and get the point bye, but I decided the tire might give out and called it a day.

I think I might need to speak with Denis (a GT Guy) for the insight into tire wear and what it means.

Carl, who took that photo? I have not looked at the second CD from Captain Dave yet, but I wish we had done this on Saturday when Bill was still there and Jim had a better battery. Thanks for inviting me to your place; you are living my dream my friend. I'd get in too much trouble if I lived that close to the track; and let me know how the work-for-membership trade goes. If you speak to any of the higher ups, please push them into setting an area off to the side where a full time photographer can set up for photo shoots of every event; sell little in car cams, sell vinyl numbers, CD's of the event; etc.

Pete S.

 

[roketman]

I volunteer to fly to any track to instruct Gt drivers!!
Will instruct for food!!
I'm sure some will vouch for me!!

 

[Pete S.]

I volunteer to fly to any track to instruct Gt drivers!!
Will instruct for food!!
I'm sure some will vouch for me!!

Can never know how many FGT's will be at any event from time to time, but there should be several at VIR in October. Again, though I really enjoy the advice of the experts, it's tough to say who else would want it. I think if you signed on with the SCMC as an instructor, as a FGT owner, they would always defer you to any FGT owner in the beginner or intermediate group. Instructors have been in short supply this year.

And there is an airport in Danville.

Pete S.

 

[Mark06GT]

...Yes, VIR in October... I cannot remember if Mark was considering it...

Does it conflict with Rally IV?

 

[PL510*Jeff]

I volunteer to fly to any track to instruct Gt drivers!!
Will instruct for food!!
I'm sure some will vouch for me!!

Be advised: The roketman is a really good eater! :banana

 

[Pete S.]

Does it conflict with Rally IV?

The quick answer for me is no, it conflicts with nothing. I cannot recall the dates of the Rally, but here is some of the info for the VIR event:

SCMC and Super Stang Fest -- Alton, VA -- October 17-18, 2009

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Great news as promised!!!

Super Stang Fest 2009 will be at VIRginia International Raceway
in affiliation with the SVT Cobra Club.

As you all well know, VIR has the following accomodations:

* 3.27 Mile Road course
* Karting Events
* Onsite lodging

The dates will be October 17 & 18 so mark your calendars and our website is being updated soon and registration will be open July 1st and we will have many more announcements in the days to come!

VIR Full Course Saturday and Sunday

Join the SCMC for some on track fun at Virginia International Raceway. The event consists of two days of open track with in car instruction available. if you like running full course VIR then you are going to love to be able to run it for two full days and still have your weekend left.

The open track portion of this event is a school with in car instruction where you can safely drive your car the way it was built to be driven. This portion of the event is limited to the first 105 students/drivers. Here is a link to a track video of the Full Course and a track video of the South Course. www.virclub.com

Please be sure to download both the registration form and the events packet. The registration form is in adobe and MS Word in case you do not have the updated version of Adobe Acrobat.

A professional photographer will be available for you to purchase photos of your car on track and in action.

You can pay on line in the store at www.scmcstore.com or mail your entry form to the following address:

SCMC and Super Stang Fest
C/O Tony Sorrentino
P.O. Box 37376
Rock Hill, SC 29732


Lodging at VIR
A discount has been worked out with VIR for onsite lodging for participants. A discount code is required to get the reduced rates and will be provided to paid registrants upon request.

Sleep Inn & Suites 434-793-6090
This is the hotel we stayed at last year and it also has ample parking for trucks and trailers. The rates (total including taxes) will be $86.39 for a room with two double beds and $82.06 for room with a single king bed.

There will be camping at the facility but you will have to pay a camping fee of $25.00 per night and it must be paid to the track.

There will be a spectator fee of $20.00 if you do not enter the show or on track portion.

This events packet is mandatory to download prior to the event:


Event Organizers/Registration:

Tony Sorrentino - Track Registration - 1994 Rio Red SVT Cobra Coupe
Rick McNutt - Track Logistics - 2004 Machine Silver Corvette Z06

 

[Pete S.]

Jeff,

this is my car going down the straight slowly catching the other FGT in the advanced/instructors session; of course since I am holding the camera, I am not behind the wheel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwyC7xric0c . Eventually, I will go through the in car camera, slower laps with me driving and see if any look any good.

Pete S.

 

[PL510*Jeff]

Pete - nice sounds out of your GT. :cheers

Let us see some in-car when you get a chance.

Jeff

 

[Pete S.]

Okay Jeff, 3 small clips from NJMP. In the first I follow a friends Mustang that seems to have a smooth line. The second I am giving a ride to an SAAC Photographer, and Pilot. The third on my final session we noticed the front left tire showing wear to the cord, still, I was able to get a few comfortable laps down prior to heading home.


(Best to mute the sound as it gets worse each time I use this camera)

Pete S.

 

[Pete S.]

I finally got around to organizing the 1,003 or so photos taken at the event by Captain Dave, and they can be selected here: http://home.comcast.net/~petraathome/CAPNDAVLNKS.htm .

Pete S.

 

[GTNJ]

I finally got around to organizing the 1,003 or so photos Pete S.

:eek :eek :eek :eek







--