Obscure Buttonwillow Lap Time Question

[moneymanager]

Does anyone happen to know how much time you'd save on a Buttonwillow lap using the sweeper instead of Star Mazda? (Both of these lead to or just follow the Esses.) I'm guessing 4/5 seconds but really don't know. Thanks, Jim

[phigreg]

Originally Posted by moneymanager

Does anyone happen to know how much time you'd save on a Buttonwillow lap using the sweeper instead of Star Mazda? (Both of these lead to or just follow the Esses.) I'm guessing 4/5 seconds but really don't know. Thanks, Jim

Not completely sure, but you can look at our lap records for Buttonwillow with and w/o Star Mazda at this site:
PCA SDR Time Trial Event Database

The lap records are on the bottom left before the graphs. The only problem is the last time we used it w/o Star Mazda was 2003. You can try looking for similar classes or even the same drivers to compare, but it is not a back to back test.

Greg

[moneymanager]

Thanks Greg, I haven't yet found a way to mine the data effectively but will keep looking at it.

[ted]

Hi James,
Without times for the same car/driver same day both configurations hard to say for sure.
Here is one example... although I would of thought the sweeper shorter course would of been quicker??
Is the sweeper really slower?
I know you can get through the hairpin twice as fast as the long sweeper.
The hairpin also makes the esses much faster/quicker.
I prefer the sweeper much more fun than the hairpin, also the slower speeds through the esses is not so bad.
Have a great summer, hope to see ya at the track again soon.
James you need to visit Chuckwalla just once.

Jae's car did not change a lot between these two records.
With the sweeper...
2003-02-09 AR 820 Lee, Jae 1973 911 T 2:00.50

with the Mazda hairpin.
2004-02-15 AR 820 Lee, Jae 1973 911 T 1:58.90

[moneymanager]

Hi Ted, thanks for the data. Tell me again what track this is on? The fastest guy in my POC run group the last time I did BW for a timed run did 2:13; we have to be talking about a different configuration. Jae is fast but....But your info on the 2 second difference may be as good as I'll get.
Jim

[ted]

Hi James,
Jae's car is a widebody 911 400hp, slicks 11 x 13 wide.
Here are the maps, ran clockwise both times.
With the sweeper... like our R Gruppe track days.
2003-02-09 AR 820 Lee, Jae 1973 911 T 2:00.50


with the Mazda hairpin.
2004-02-15 AR 820 Lee, Jae 1973 911 T 1:58.90


Not sure what config you ran your time.
The new turn 2, basically the extended "Off Ramp" can add 2 or 3 seconds too.
Both of Jae's times were done before the new extended Off Ramp was created.
It is a bit confusing I'd like to hear other opinions about that section as well.
Have great summer!

[moneymanager]

Ted,
These are exactly the configurations we run, and 400 hp with 13" slicks would certainly get you under 2 minutes! I think you've probably come to answering the question: Star Mazda is faster. I would have thought the reverse!
You've done Chuckawalla? The hotel arrangements seem a bit weak!
Jim

[ted]

Originally Posted by moneymanager

Ted,
You've done Chuckawalla? The hotel arrangements seem a bit weak!
Jim

Jim, Buttonwillow and Chuckwalla my two favorite tracks!!!

True the closest hotel to Chuckwalla is 45 minutes west on the outskirts of Indio.

You can camp at the track and avoid the 45 minute drive to Indio...
Chuckwalla rents new 22ft camping trailers that they place in your pit area.
Kitchen, shower, AC, sleeps 4 maybe 5.
Cost $125 per day/night.
Yeah they will park the travel trailer at your pit area so you can have use of it during your track day and for your sleep over.

Link to camping info...
9273e68a03bec9c0beb953aae5e4cddd - Home
or
760-227-3100 track front office.

New 18,000 gallon card reader pumps ready soon.
91 unleaded, 100 unleaded and diesel available.
110 leaded available if requested in advance.

Car Lap record 1:53 clockwise by the Truspeed Porsche cup car.
Mickey track owner in his 2010 Vette had held it with a 1:54.
Bike record 1:46, pro rider and bike.



Amy at the track office said many teams think Chuckwalla is the best place to test and tune.
After a summer of curing with light use to prevent moving around, this fall the new smooth asphalt surface will be in optimal condition.
Today the track CW is rubbered in, CCW not quite.
fwiw stunt bike rider Jason Pridmore and Mickey track owner offer an end of Sept. weekend DE for all makes.
$150 per day, 30 expected, go out anytime, no run sessions.
STAR Car Sports - Track Events for cars at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway.

Just thrilled to have a new track surface that suits me perfectly.
We have a combined BMW/PCA event scheduled for Halloween weekend.
We will be running the track CW one day and CCW the second day.
No timed runs just max track time.
Link to event info...
PCA SDR • View topic - Oct 30 Sat DE @ Chuckwalla - Registration open for earlybird

My first trip to Chuckwalla video, I plan to test there 2 or 3 more times before the end of the year.
Many 3/4 gear 1000 foot long blind sweepers.
cheers, Mike aka ted

[moneymanager]

Mike, thanks for clearing up my confusion! I don't know you as Ted, but we had a ted at our BW day so I assumed it was him! The trailer rental makes this a possible, though I think I'll wait till November or so thank you. Lot of runoff room. What happens when you go off? Jim

[ted]

Originally Posted by moneymanager

Mike, What happens when you go off? Jim

Jim we don't go off.
But the run off areas are nicely packed and groomed to motorcycle standards.
I guess that means you could slide on leathers across the dirt runoffs with out smashing into rocks or dirt walls.
Sorry for the name confusion, hope to join you at Chuckwalla someday.

[ted]

Originally Posted by moneymanager

What happens when you go off? Jim

taking the bait twice,
Chuckwalla has fewer offs, the safer wider track permits multiple corrections.
Joe in his street 993.
cheers,
way off topic here ya go.

[moneymanager]

Mike,
This gives new meaning to "multiple corrections."
Runoff looks very good. I assume that's dirt out there, at the edge, not just nice Palm Springs sand?
Jim

[ted]

Originally Posted by moneymanager

Mike,
not just nice Palm Springs sand?
Jim

I asked the same and was told it was compressed/prepared not natural.
Could be a little fluffy, I'd try to get the car straight if I had to go off.

[moneymanager]

Mike, we await your report! Jim