Reno-Fernley, Full Track (4 Miles), Aug. 26-27
 

Since you all are the local club to Reno-Fernley, I figured I'd give you 'first crack' at this event. :) T.E.A.M. Racing (www.team-racing.org) is putting on a weekend event at Reno-Fernley's new four-mile course on Saturday and Sunday, August 26-27. Cost for one day is $190, cost for both days is $350. The event includes a supply of Gatorade and bottled water, snacks, catered lunches, instruction, and at least two hours of track time. Full details are at the website, or go directly to the .pdf registration form at www.onemain.com/~bonster/augustrfr.pdf to sign up. This event will fill quickly once word gets out, so sign up soon! I promise you'll have a blast! :)

BW

Sounds like fun! I'm in pending a running car & funds.

Great, sperry! I know we tried this last year, but the big track wasn't open yet, which is probably why we didn't get very many Subie folks from the area. But THIS YEAR . . . oh yeah! We have a four mile track to play on!!! So cool!!!

BW

So I just registered for this event... I totally forgot that it was posted up here, as I re-found it listed on the RFR schedule while looking for some track time for GST Mike to come up and check out my car during.

Anyway, looks like a cool event, with a long course configuration, and not very crowded. If anyone else is looking for some seat time at RFR, you guys should sign on up! It looks like it'll be a "subaru heavy" group A. :)

Yes, Scott, you'll have a couple of Subies to play with in A group. Both are fairly experienced drivers, both have instructed for us a couple of times. You'll have fun playing with the wagons. One of the guys has a bumper sticker that says "You just got passed by a wagon." Nice folks, those two. Hopefully we'll get some more folks out there to play with you. :)

bw

I mentioned the event at last night's SCCA meeting, and I think you'll pick up a few more drivers. At least 3 people were interested... two of which are on this board (MikeK and MattR). Hopefully they'll figure out how to make the event work in their race budgets.

Also, I think we should talk Motoring and her Mini club pals into coming out... Carrie? ;)

Thanks Scott! Word of mouth is always best in motorsports activities, I've always thought. We still have tons of room, especially considering the size of the track. I thought Thunderhill was the longest config. I'd ever see, until this. I've only done a couple of parade laps on the new 4.1 course, so it will be fun learning something new for a change. :)

BW

Reno SCCA ran the F and H configurations at our last time trial. Those are the ones up the hill, but then you turn left and either drop back down to the old track, or follow the ridgeline over to the horseshoe. The configurations (but H especially) are really fun, much better than the old courses. Blasting up that hill is awesome!

No worries, Scott, we'll still get to go up the "Hoot 'n Holler Hillclimb." :) We were thinking maybe next year we'd run several of the configuartions at once if we can afford it. It'd be like an amusement park where you could pick your ride. I don't know if that's possible yet, but it would be fun I bet.

BW

I want to go also. I just need to get the boss to say OK. I should know early next week. I am probably only good for one day this time.

Great to hear it, WRX! Hopefully you'll get to play both days . . . may the Subie 'gods' be with you. ;)

BW

Well HEY you guys (and gals)! Where is everybody?!? We have a lot of Subies going to this thing, check out the driver list at www.onemain.com/~bonster/driverlist.html There is still plenty of room, but time is running out. I can take check payments up until Wednesday, 23rd (need time for them to clear), or you can bring cash to the track, or you can use PayPal. However you manage it, you just gotta see this new track! It's AWESOME. :D

BW

I'd love to, but my car won't be anywhere near track-ready condition for a while yet. :(

That's a bummer Ban! You're still more than welcome to at least stop by and hang out if you want, though. :)

BW

Someone make MattR, doublurx, and qksubi sign up, and really make group A the Subaru group! :lol:

OK I just got the permission slip.

Now how do I get out of the late fee, and Scott are you sure you want me in the A group. I'm not as fast as you guys, but I am not a complete dumbass as far as passing etc. goes.

Also, I will be only doing Saturday - I assume all you guys are running that day for sure?

I mat come out to watch, but I have run out of track money for the time being.

***Lol. Yeah, it's going to look like a moving Subie dealership. Maybe one of you guys should stop by the dealer and snag a banner and we'll call it the Subaru track day. ;) I have a funny feeling that I'll be dreaming about Subie tail Saturday night -- maybe I'll hang out in novice group. :lol:

BW

***Maybe Sperry and doubleurx will loan you some cash? ;) Seriously, you're more than welcome to hang out. I can tell you from experience, though, it's HARD to just watch. Bring plenty of Kleenex. :lol:

BW

You should definately be in the A group, you have done RFR enough times.

I am in for Saturday.

The mail should be here in an hour or so . . . I'll let you guys know if more Subies are signed up. Right now it looks like the battle of the Miatas and Subarus (and a Honda S2000). There will be a yellow Elise popping out there, too (instructor). I think you guys will be pleased with the turn-out. You're going to have so much FUN! :D

BW

Actually, it's looking like the novice group is the place to be if you want a lot of open track. :lol:

Yeah, I'm fired up!

What will the passing rules be for the A group?

Sorry folks, no more Subies in the mail today. We got a Miata, an MR2, and a 240Z ~ all in novice group.

I agree about novice group being the place to run at this point. I'll probably get my time out in that group just to avoid getting my doors blown off by a bunch of bullying Subarus. ;)

A group will be open passing, Scott. The track is sending me a suggested set of passing zones for intermediate and novice group, so I won't know for a few days yet. At this point, with so few cars signed up on such a large track, it's going to look like a ghost town out there. I'll feed all you Subarus on at once so you can play. ;) We might, as I said earlier, even go to just two run groups (more track time!). We'll see . . .

BW

I'm in for Saturday.

With Nick's recent sign-up about a half hour ago, the Subarus are 50% of the Saturday A group! Okay, so there's only ten drivers so far, but that's pretty good. I'm sure there will be more. :)

BW

Does open passing just mean anywhere on the track, or does it also mean that no pointby is required?

Very good question, Mike. :) Open passing means that you can pass in turns and on straights. Point-bys are strongly recommended, but obviously this cannot always safely be done in the middle of a turn, so it is not required. The rule of thumb, at least at the advanced level, is to have cars pass you on the side that your next turn will be. So if your next turn is to the right, you should stay on your line, but let the passer take his or her pass on the right. If your next turn is to the left, the passer should pass on your left. This is because you have a better view of where the driver is than he might, and you can help keep both of you safe during the transaction. Occasionally, being as the Subarus and say, Miatas, are of similar horsepower, you may have to lift a little to let the transaction take place safely. If that does not make sense, PLEASE post such. I have a lot of track time and racing experience, so I've learned how passing should be done -- I just don't always word it perfectly. ;) Questions like this one are awesome -- I want to make sure you all are safe at all times!

BW

I have no problem with being able to pass anywhere on track, but I am a little concerned with having people passing me when I am not expecting it. Hopefully with the small run groups and the 4 mile track passing won't even be an issue out there.

How long are the run groups going to be? What are the expected lap times on the long course configuration?

Turn 5/6, Mike goes to pass me and I decide to double apex. That could be cool or really bad depending on how many marbles I toss out the window.

I with Mattr I have to save cash and rubber for Time trails in sept also I have go to GruppeS for another map thats going to take care of art majors :devil:

Well, the art of open passing is to know when it can safely be done. Advanced drivers should know better. If somebody is at your door as you go into turn 5, my advice would be to lift and fall back onto the line asap. Open passing involves some sacrafice at times, and it requires the most alert of drivers. We've yet to have a problem with it, to be honest. However, if you guys don't like the idea of open passing, drop down to B group. Still a fast bunch, and some of those guys are A groupers that just don't like open passing.

We always feed cars on, so the chances of passing to occur will decrease anyway. The sessions are 20 minutes long. I have not a clue as to the expected lap times, I'll have to ask around on that one. I never timed myself on even the 1.6 or 2.3 mile tracks, so I dunno. I run between a 2:10-2:12 at Thunderhill, and it's a 3 mile track . . . so maybe a 3:30 or less would be decent? I guess we'll just have to find out. :D

BW

New turbo? 100 octane? Blow off valve, neon lights and spinners? Spill the beans!

Maybe you missed the part where Mike Warfield is going to be at this event?

What is the policy on passengers, do they just need to sign a waiver?

Will there be loaner/rental helmets for passenegers?

Will 100 octane be available at the track? (They were sold out the last time I was there)

Hey Mike . . . passengers are allowed in the cars all but the first session of the day unless that passenger is an instructor or a student is riding along with the instructor. Novice group drivers must be signed off by an instructor to go solo before they are allowed a passenger in the car. Advanced and intermediate groups are allowed ONE passenger in their cars in all but the very first session unless, as stated previously, that passenger is an instructor or vice-versa. If a driver spins or takes four wheels off the track with a passenger, their passenger priveleges will be supsended for the remainder of the day in all but very few occasions. We've never even had to enforce that, but it's been a great way to keep folks from driving over their heads and risking the safety of their passengers. :) And YES, passengers must sign the track's waiver as well as our own waiver.

I don't think the track itself rents helmets, but a good friend of mine runs a school up there and I bet I can get her to leave us a few helmets for a very small fee, if any fee at all. She has tons of them at her house for her school.

The lady in the office of the track seemed to lack the knowledge I needed in regards to fuel. All I got out of her was something like, "Whatever fuel we have is out there." I left a message for both the friend of mine who runs a school there as well as the track manager, Jeremy Cable. If 100 octane is NOT available, I will be sure and post up on it. Otherwise, assume that it will be available. Last I was there, you had to pay cash for the gasoline because they still don't have any kind of credit card or ATM system in place.

I hope that helps! I'll be sure and post up if helmets will not be available.

BW

Bonni, the last time I was out at RFR, they had a ton of 100 octane. They can also take your credit card IIRC and setup a tab (though the last time I bought gas there it was via pesonal check).

I would expect the track to have 100 octane since you can't buy it in town anymore... if you try they're all sold out because RFR buys it all. :mad:

I just got off the phone with the track manager. Yes, you can set up a tab for gasoline if you leave a check and your drivers license, but they still don't have any kind of credit card or ATM system. The manager says they plan to have that online for next year.

Helmets will be availabe for rental at $25 per day. The trailer in the paddock area will be where you can rent them. Oh -- Jeremy (manager) just told me there's a TON of gas available. So that answers those questions. Next? ;)

BW

Are long sleeves/pants required?

In a race-prepped car (i.e., no carpeting, no insulation) long pants are required because there is a chance of burning your ankles, calves, etc. on the hot metallic surfaces of the uncovered areas. In a street car (whether track prepared or not), where there is still carpeting and such, we highly recommend long pants, but do not require it, especially in the summer time. We recommend long sleeves, but we do not require it. So in a nutshell, it's your skin, and your decision. ;) In all honesty, I have never seen a car fire, even while racing. It's not real likely in today's cars, especially not street cars.

BW

What is it with you and your pants?

They're chafing me!

ROFL!!! I'm not EVEN gonna go there. :D

BW

Well Played, Mike! Well Played! :lol:

Hey Mpreziv . . . never seen a rally avatar before -- very cool. Okay, you guys can go back to talking about Mike's pants now if you want. But I've only got a dollar, lol. :rolleyes:

BW

Say, Bonster,
there's a 'Helen' signed up in an RX8, do you know her? (I know a Helen/RX8 driver from the bay area, just wondering if it's the same person.)

(There's a running joke about Mike's job being so cushy all they do at work all day is sit around w/o pants, playing video games. You know, what Mike does when he's at home by himself.)

***Are you David B? If so, that's why you know Helen. She's David M's mother. But don't let that fool you. If you know Helen, you'll know that she's come a long way over the past year or so in her RX-8. I keep waiting for her to bump up into advanced group and clean the tarmac with you guys. :D

BW

***Doh! My eyes! Darn the visual! :lol:

BW

:lol: No.

Mike, Scott: if you see her, tell her Debbie from Reno says Hi!