My 3rd Time Trial -
WillowSprings Race Way
Walah!... I can't believe that I've done it again this year! My 3rd
Time Trial and 2nd time at WillowSprings. I am growing to like this
track more and more. It has relatively few turns and most can be
taken at speed using street tires! The feeling of full throattle, top
gear, 110+ mph, while flying through turn 8 is amazingly exciting... yet
calm???!!! So what's the story anyway? Read on.
Weather was cool on Saturday morning, me and Ryan, my now ex-coworker,
in his MKII RX-7 were heading north on Hwy 14 toward Rosemond. Hun?
RX-7? What happend to the Milano gang? Relax, Nizam got caught at
work and couldn't leave early enough to arrive at hotel the night
before, but should show up at track on time for the event. Zamani on
the other hand could not make it here as he's having trouble booking a
ticket to fly back to the States. Driving 5+ hours from Silicon Valley
to Lancaster in southern California was boring, but worthwhile. Upon
arrival to the track, we anchored at the same spot as we did last
time, and yes, next to Terry's super fast GTV. Nizam arrived minutes
before us. I had wonderful feeling it was gonna be another great
weekend.
This is how we start the day... removing all loose items from
inside of the car.
Nizam, for his brilliant driving during last event, has been bumped up
to group 1 running with median fast guys mostly on race tires. My
"Novice" status was also being revoked eventhough I only had 2
previous Time Trial experience. Words from the officials were "When
you start to beat others, you are no longer a Novice." Whoa! I must
had my nose sky high! My buddy, Ryan, in RX-7 joins me in run group 3
for his very first Time Trial.
If you followed my story, you would know that the ABS on this car
had been particularly troublesome. (See
my story on my last Time Trial.) So for this event, I have had
a trim piece removed near the bumper to route cold air toward
the ABS pump using a garden rubber hose. Let's see how it works.
Look for the clear rubber hose that goes from under
the headlight, around battery, toward the ABS pump.
There were many off road excursions during the first sessions. Some
one left a long line of oil around turn 8, Ryan had his share of off
road experience near turn 6, a Ferrari 308 GTS near the turn 3, and
there were some chain reactions around turn 2. Lots sand and rocks
were all over the track from cars that came back of their off road
excursions. The track crew did great job cleaning up all the debrits
and oil on the track after the uneventful morning. By now, the cool
morning had turned into burning hot day.
My morning sessions were not particular exciting. I was catching up
with some slower cars, a good number of cars pass me by. I was not
feeling particularly good at the way I was driving either. Nizam timed
me lap times in mid 1:50s, slower than my last result. Time to consult
the master, Terry Manchester, again.
Although I didn't realize it myself, Terry has been my driving model.
I improved my last ARA Auto cross just by watching him driving. His
inspiring ride during the last Time Trial event was the keys to my
major improvements.
My number 8 Grey Milano Verde cornering around turn 4 on the top of the hill.
So I was in Terry's GTV again, and this time I finally learned to use
the latch type 5pt harness. You first take left lap belt, then fit left
shoulder belt into the left lap bell, then the right shoulder belt,
anti-dive belt, and finally the whole thing goes into right lap belt
where the whole mechanism become latched together. As we moved onto
the track, I found myself calm as ever unlike my first experience in
Terry's fast GTV :) I watched Terry for a warm up lap while he gave me
some advises for the corners that I was not comfortable with. Second
time around, he was flying thru those corners and I had to admire
again to the great driving he's performing. I noticed he's taking
different line at certain places and it seem to work well too. I also
came to realize that some of lines I took previously weren't very
good, but most importantly, for the first time I really understood the
meaning of "carrying more speed into a corner" that all the
great drivers had been telling me long ago!
Carry more speed through the corner
Realizing that, I suddenly knew that I could make improvements.
Improvements that I previously didn't think possible of with my
skills. See what I mean by "inspiring"? It's not just simple proper
racing line, but a ride with Terry allowed me to leap forward to see a
new level of driving skill! Terry you made me a better driver last
time, and you've done it again!
*Bow* to Terry Manchester
For the very next run session, I got on the track with confidence and
eager of trying out my new understanding. I was not dissapointed. I
caught up with nearly every car in no time as soon as I spot them from
distance. And for the first time I was getting frustrated that I was
unable to obtain a clean lap.
In between sessions, we keep hood up to let engine cool down.
Nizam was making progress as well. He beat his own record by at least
1-2 seconds. Ryan, in white RX-7, was suffering from beginner's
nostalgia just like me on my last Time Trial. He was exhausted before
end of the day, although making progress, I think he'd learn a lot
more if he could catch a ride with an instructor.
The O' experience exchange tradition continues. We constantly discuss
for better ways of taking on a corner, and we would try out each
other's suggestion at next run session. Some times, a method may work
for one but not the other, but most of the time the physics dictate
the outcome :)
Another shot of me coming out of turn 4
My brake system was developing a new weiredness in addition of loosing
brake power and spongy brake pedal toward the end of day. When under
hard braking in a straight line, the car would swing left and right.
This was very unerving at turn 8 toward turn 9. I knew I could improve
the spongyness of brake by bleeding them again, but wasn't so sure
what to do with the new problem. And while the morning was cool, the
same cannot be said to the rest of the day. It was hot even under the
shade. I drank 2 bottles of water before end of the day. The engine
started to run hotter than last time, enough to set off the warning
light. Soon I found out most people were driving with heater turned to
the max, I tried so, and had no problem with hot engine any longer.
By the end of first day, we were all very much exhausted. We went to
the same Thai restaurant in Lancaster as we did last time, not only
great food was served, but my favorite Thai tea was served in
bottomless fashion. Nonetheless, we all agree to call the end of the
day early to get plenty rest and be ready for another full day blast.
Day Two
From front to back, Terry's number 7 GTV, Nizam's Tan exterior 75,
my Verde, and Ryan's RX-7.
Nizam had an uncharacteristic off road excursion at turn 9. As the
dust slowly drift away, I spotted his Milano slowly appearing from the
dust cloud. His beautiful deep blue Milano was converted to tan
exterior. His runs on the rest of the day were not great, and he was
feeling that track has becoming more slipery. We later found out his
bearing was shot, which most likely had caused bad handling. I
continued with my frustration of getting clean lap. As for Ryan, I
knew I had to get him a ride with an instructor so he can leap to a
new level. I eventually went back to Terry and asked him to give my
buddy a ride during the Intro group. I am sure Ryan wasn't
disapointed. Maybe later after he read this story he would add a few
words here.
Ryan's having fun
Its the final Time Trial session. I was 3rd in my run group according
to the record from the time tower which they have timed me earlier
that day. They had me registered at 1:49! I was filled with joy and
surprise, because my goal was to reach 1:50 for this event. Now I've
not only done it, I did better! Of course the final result will have
to wait till it is being published at AROSC's website...
Time Trial Session
The time trial session wasn't so smooth on me. I think there was some
mistakes because faster car (and there aren't too many in my run
group) was being lined up further back, while a slow car was in front
of me? My guess was they must had swapped the lap time of those 2
GTVs. And it shows. It was no surprise when I caught up with the GTV
at the end of first lap. I had to slow down on 2nd lap to give a gap
between us. However, that wasn't enough, I caught up the car again at
beginning of 3rd lap! The GTV slowed down to let me pass, but the
chance for a clean lap was gone. A few seconds later, the fast GTV
from the back was catching up so I had to slow down and let him pass,
yielding the slowest lap. Lap 4. For the first time I had chance for
a clean lap, and hoped not to make significant mistakes. As amazing as
it gets, caught up another car on my last lap, so I gave up and follow
the car to the finish line. I don't think I had a good session so my
lap times are probably gonna be so so... But that's fine, because I
knew I made enough improvements :) Time Trial
Results was later published on AROSC website
From left to right, Ryan, Me, Nizam, and Terry.
Homeward Bound
At the end of Time Trial session, all 3 of us took off and head back
on a 5+ hours drive home. And our supposely unreliable "Alfas"
went thru 2 days of hard driving under heat of desert land,
then took us home on a long trip, without any mechanical problem.
Not to mention my car has 165k of original miles :) I call it
a successful weekend
Well, I had great time learning and improving. I am sure Ryan had his
share of joy after riding with Terry. Nizam's driving was also very
much promising before the incident.
Beautiful sunset while driving home on I-5.
WillowSprings, we'll be back next year!
Jess Liao
ps. My Falken GR-beta 205/50/15 were all gone. Not super great
tires, not even as good as Yokohama AVS-i, but a nice all around
street tire that doesn't squeel much (therefore not attracting uneeded
attention). I recommand these tires for street driving.
Jess Liao - Sept 11, 1999
Last touch up: Sept 25, 1999