Learning car control near and at the limits of tires, suspension, engine and brakes can be done safely on a closed circuit. Most open track events have instructors available for a ride along to help participants recognize the racing line and learn how to use weight transfer to make the car do what you want it to do. The skills learned at open track can help you to avoid accidents by handling the car better when maximum braking or a high speed swerve is necessary to avoid an accident.
Open track time on track is 100 times greater than a typical autocross and at least double the "seat time" a driver gets at a typical race event. At the recent LASAAC event at the Streets of Willow people were turned away after the 60 car limit. Look ahead on the events page and enter early.
What about going fast and faster and all that? These are not competitions and there are no classes, lap times, or trophies. Best to leave the ego at home. A novice in a $60K Corvette may be (probably will be) slower than an experienced racer in a 15 year old RX7. That's because corner speed is more important than acceleration on road courses. Away from the track, money spent can improve handling and grip and zero to 60 for your Tiger. Only practice can make you a better driver.
Saturday was beautiful with none of the wind and nastiness that the high desert is famous for. Things started out more or less on time and stayed on schedule through the day. No mishaps or oil on the track to make for delays. Four groups were scheduled with 15 minute sessions of 15 cars. This was the first open track for Tiger Blue under current ownership and your author's first go in a rear drive car with lots of power. first laps in the morning were humbling but gradually through the day I got a bit faster and a whole lot more comfortable with the car. I was really looking forward to Sunday.
Dawn came early, cold and windy. The sky darkened and soon after the first group was out on track rain fell. A little at first increasing to a shower which soon emptied the track and soon after resulted in the rest of the second day being scratched. By that time I was unloaded and ready to run. Nothing to do but load the car and drive home. On average we had normal Willow weather. Better than average Saturday and worse than average on Sunday. Thankful for the great time on the track and wanting more soon.
Rick Mueller
Dan Walters at the Streets of Willow, April 10, 1999. Good weather! This is the CAT Presidents's other race car currently powered by Tom Sakai's old motor.
