Took Yssman (Brad) for a ride!! Grattan Raceway road track event July 28th 2007.

  • Thread starter Thread starter CAMAROBOY69
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We will be driving the track exactly as its shown above. Yes driving east. Turn 1 will also be turn 1 for us. At turn 1 there really isnt anything forgiving there if I remember correctly. If you fly off there you smash into a wall or trees.
There are a couple cars at our event that will probably hit 140mph-150mph. I believe a couple of the brand new modified ZO6 race corvettes have well over 600hp. Its always fun watching them.
 
Tomorrow is the big day!!!! I worked on a few little things on the Camaro last night and it seems ready. While I did that heather was polishing my aluminum wheels to help make the car look pretty. I still have a few more things to do tonight like install the stereo from my daily driver and take care of a rattle from my rear spoiler. I will also need to get my camcorder, camera, and tripod all set up in my car for the event.

I just cant wait!!! In the voice from 300...."THIS IS GRATTAN!!!"
 
Good luck tomorrow, if I was in the states I would be there.
 
I'm planning on showing up around lunch time (Noon-ish), but that largely depends on what time I roll out of bed. I'll probably bring my brother while I'm at it, we'll see if any of my other friends come. I can't stay too long though (suxorz), as I have to be to work at 3 PM.
 
CAMAROBOY69
Tomorrow is the big day!!!! I worked on a few little things on the Camaro last night and it seems ready. While I did that heather was polishing my aluminum wheels to help make the car look pretty. I still have a few more things to do tonight like install the stereo from my daily driver and take care of a rattle from my rear spoiler. I will also need to get my camcorder, camera, and tripod all set up in my car for the event.

I just cant wait!!! In the voice from 300...."THIS IS GRATTAN!!!"
Click to expand...
Are you taking Heather's Mustang too, or just your Camaro?
 
Well, I spent about two or so hours at Grattan, and I have to say that it was a blast. First and foremost I have to thank Adam for letting me go for a ride in the Camaro, as it was so much f'ing fun.

Deets?

Riding shotgun, we were probably fifth or six in line to get out on the track in group C during that run, following behind many hot Corvettes and one particularly hot Mustang. Quite honestly, the performance of the Camaro was extremely surprising, but then again, why would I ever be in doubt? Over 400 BHP, a six-speed manual, and a talented driver behind the wheel... What could ever go wrong? We were scratching at 130 MPH down the front straight before we had to slam on the brakes and dive into turn one, which was quite good, despite the fact he couldn't grab 5th gear most of the time.

We got to play with the aforementioned Mustang for a bit, but he was having problems. He left the track early and ended up coming back only to catch-up and pass, and then after either dealing with a broken car, or just trying to show off, nearly went off the track near the bottom of the hill that lead to the front straight. He was locking his right rear in quite a few corners, so there may have been a problem...

Otherwise, we had a late-model GTO (read Monaro for you foreigners) on our backs most of the time, and while turning some really fast laps, we were held up by some douchebag in a S2000 who was going far too slow for what his car was capable of, and furthermore, would block on the front straight.

A few photos?

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Ridin' shotgun, we're heading into a fairly tight hairpin just before we get dumped off out on the back before heading to the hill. The corner after that is a bit tricky, snapping to the right, but also a small hill that will upset the chassis.

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Heading off the hill onto the front straight, it was a blast. We were flying up that hill (I never checked the speedo), and it was a good place for cars to pass. The trailers... There was a big MotoX event going on across the track, so there had been folks there all weekend.

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A few of the other cars. Thats the Mustang with 500+ BHP, and I believe the Cobra was in class C as well.

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Both of the Elise models were running in class B, I think. There was an Exige there too, which was just awesome to see (and hear) going around the track.

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This Z06 was tearing it up in a class. It actually seemed as though he was sand-bagging it most of the time...

Who wants some videos (not of the Camaro, I didn't bring the camera in the car, for good reason...)







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Just a damn good day. I wish I could have stayed longer, but I had to go to work. Hopefully one of these times I can take the Jetta out for a run...
 
Yssman (Brad) that is a very good write up. I can honestly say I had the time of my life out there saturday and really pushed the Camaro hard when you were riding with me. Definetly one of the best racing events I have ever attended. I am still glowing from that event. If that S2000 wasnt blocking me we would have been passing the brand new 2007 C6 Corvettes for sure. I can honestly say I was even surprised how well my 69 Camaro did at Grattan. I just cant believe how well it stuck to the road. Some of the G forces were just unbelieveable.
The guy in the 65 Mustang with over 500 hp said he was pushing his car as hard as humanly possible to try and keep up with me. Thats why he eventually went off the track. It was an incredible battle especially since he has at least 100 more Hp than I do and he has a lighter car.
I was soo glad I could take you for a ride. Its one thing to say you will show up to an event but you truly did and as you saw it was well worth it.
I have plenty of pics and videos I just need to take the time to get them posted. I am at work so I cant view the videos above.
Thanks again Yssman(Brad) for showing up and for having the balls to go for a ride with me. You are a man of your word. 👍
PS This is another event I drove the Camaro to, beat the heck out of it, and drove home. The car did real well to say the least. Heather was still a little sick from her ride on the track but she also had a great time and she did real well considering she usually gets car sick in events like that.
 
I wouldn't have missed it for anything (well, work maybe...), and I'm so happy that I came. My Dad probably would have come as well, but he had to deal with my Step Mom and her kids, but he being an owner of a vintage Camaro, he would have loved to see it.

I do need to come down to Gingermann though, so maybe next time. Otherwise, I need to work on a plan to get something to run at Grattan. Its too much fun for me to miss-out on now...
 
Your welcome to ride with me any time you want or your dad or your brother. I always love bringing passengers because the only way to truly understand how it is on the track is to go for a ride. Words or videos just dont even come close.
I set up a page with 60 pictures from the event. I used a couple of the pics above and put them on there too. There are 2 pages, Each has 30 pics. http://www.adfabdesign.com/RaceEvents/Grattan_7-28-07/Grattan_7-28-07.html
I will get some videos up within the next week.
 
Guys - looks like you had a great time and a good ride - CAMAROBOY - you have a great car. You're very lucky you have open events like this and I'm glad you took full advantage. Thanks for the writeup and the photos, Brad!
 
Man... color me envious, YSSMAN... sounds like you had a blast.

Nice car, CAMAROBOY, again, nice car... glad to see you put it to good use... :D
 
It sounds like you really had fun. Now I'm kind of regretting I didn't take the GTI out to run around SIR when they had "Volkswagen Days" at the track. Oh well. Maybe I'll get another chance for that...
 
Well, when are you getting to Holland? You aren't that far away from Grattan, much less Gingermann, so there is plenty of racing to be seen. Although, you obviously won't have the GTI.

BTW: Will you be in Michigan in time for the big cruise-in on Saturday August 25th here in Grand Rapids? Afterwards, there is the big Detroit Grand Prix on September 1st and 2nd...
 
It goes up and down 28th Street, west from Rodgers Plaza down to the Prevos on the East-Side in Cascade. There will be shows at every major dealer down the strip (I'll be at the Berger Chevrolet show), everything from Audis to Volkswagens, Cadillacs to Scions, etc.

Usually we go to the Chevrolet show and spend most of the afternoon there, then we will usually sit on the corner of the East Beltline and 28th Street. There is a big show that usually happens at the Woodland Mall parking lot as well, which usually has a bit of everything.

...I'm very excited, a very nice way to cap-off my first week back at Aquinas...
 
One of those Elises belongs to a fellow at Forzamotorsport.net actually. I believe it's the yellow one. He said he was out there really pushing it against the other Elise.
 
He mentioned a few of the cars that were there, so thats pretty cool. I'm downloading the video right now, so I'm interested to see what made it on there. Furthermore, which one of the guys he was. Most of the Elise drivers seemed to be pretty young...

EDIT:

Watched the video he posted, and no sign of the Camaro. However, the douchebag in the S2000 was there (he would go far too slow through the track, wouldn't let you pass on the straight), as well as the GTO that was biting at our ass for all the laps that we were out.

...Keeps you wondering if Turn 10 is doing RECON at Grattan for some DLC, or maybe Forza 3...
 
Thanks for all of the compliments everyone on my Camaro.
*McLaren*
One of those Elises belongs to a fellow at Forzamotorsport.net actually. I believe it's the yellow one. He said he was out there really pushing it against the other Elise.
Click to expand...
Really can you please get me a link to the thread on that site. I would love to post some pics and share my experience from the event over on that site. :dopey: Nevermind I found it here. http://forums.forzamotorsport.net/forums/ShowThread.aspx?PostID=689113#689113
 

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