On a hot August night at TMS ...

[Mike CLK Black]

There's a "solo only*" event August 8th under the lights at TMS, on the Roval:
http://www.thedriversedge.net/images/TMS.gif

Drivers Edge runs a pretty good event and although power will be down because of the August heat, the chance to run the 24 degree banking and then dive into a road course should be all the fun that an adolescent maniac could want.

Registration isn't live quite yet but do keep an eye on it.
Watch this space (http://www.thedriversedge.net/02_tracks.htm)
Hope to see all you guys in those featherweight P-cars running off the bloated AMG's.

*Solo-Approved: This means you’ve been approved by one of The Drivers Edge instructor team to drive with out an instructor.
Any solo-approved drivers in Blue, Yellow, and Red run groups are able to enter this event.

Drivers Edge has an event at ECR in July in case you you haven't been out with them.

[Blake]

Wow wish I was solo approved, I would be all over this. I've never done a Driver's Edge though. :(

[Qship5]

Yeah, I got my solo sign off and bump up to Yellow at TWS from Driver's Edge so I'm definitely in for this one.:D

[Blake]

Yeah, I got my solo sign off and bump up to Yellow at TWS from Driver's Edge so I'm definitely in for this one.:D

do they just give those things out there?

[Qship5]

do they just give those things out there?

Not really, but they are especially tough on anyone driving an E92 M3!:hahaha:

[Silentrun]

I have only attended one Drivers Edge event...no solo.

[Mike CLK Black]

I have only attended one Drivers Edge event...no solo.

Do the Eagles Canyon event in July with the stipulation that you're trying to qualify for TMS. It should work.

[Qship5]

I have only attended one Drivers Edge event...no solo.

Given that Apex is running you in advanced group, I would think you could get signed off solo at your next DE event. Eagle Canyon like MikeCLKBlack mentioned is the only one before the night event.

Running under the lights will be kind of neat!:D

[Silentrun]

Working on the wife for the July Eagle Canyon DE....

[RaceMX-M3]

Can we get some more pics of the Hooters chicks? :)

[Qship5]

Working on the wife for the July Eagle Canyon DE....

Ha, You mean I'm not the only one who's wife complains about too much track time???

[Silentrun]

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d65/silentrun/RUF%20APEX%206-6-09/IMG_0437.jpg

[Silentrun]

Ha, You mean I'm not the only one who's wife complains about too much track time???

Oh ya' I got to hear it this time...but it's ok. I need to invest in seats and harness before anything. Working damn hard just to stay in the seat. Boardwalk has GT3 leather seats, 6-p harness, and half cage ready to go when I am ready.

[Qship5]

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d65/silentrun/RUF%20APEX%206-6-09/IMG_0437.jpg

All I can say is "I think I'm seeing double!"

[Mike CLK Black]

Can we get some more pics of the Hooters chicks? :)

Hey, never mind the girls .... I wanna' see your M3 on the 24 degree banking at TMS. I bet you could approach 150 on the back straight and hold 120 on the turns (not in the infield though).

I know 150 doesn't sound fast but it's only a 2.7 mile track (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYFTkfPFUC8).

[GTCole]

Working on the wife for the July Eagle Canyon DE....

When is this deal and who is doing it? Driver's Edge? Surely if we are Solo at Apex and Solo at PCA that we could do this???

[Qship5]

When is this deal and who is doing it? Driver's Edge? Surely if we are Solo at Apex and Solo at PCA that we could do this???

It is a Driver's Edge event and unless they make an exception, their policy is that you are signed off as solo by one of their instructors. Given that a lot of the instructors at the DE events are also at other events such as PCA, BMWCCA, etc there may be a chance that an instructor will vouch for you and Rick at DE will accept that. Not sure, but it might be worth inquiring about.

As far as when and who, it is August 8th from 6 PM - midnight and I know that MikeCLKBlack and I will be going.

[jragan]

Given that a lot of the instructors at the DE events are also at other events such as PCA, BMWCCA, etc there may be a chance that an instructor will vouch for you and Rick at DE will accept that. Not sure, but it might be worth inquiring about.
It is exceedingly doubtful that any instructors from PCA or APEX or BMWCCA would be at a Driver's Edge event. In the local professional circles, Driver's Edge is not thought of very highly at all (quite the opposite in fact).

[Qship5]

I find that interesting as the instructor I had at the DE event at MSR in May was also an instructor at BMWCCA events. That being said, I'm sure there are opinions floating around out there for all the various driving organizations.

[Mike CLK Black]

It is exceedingly doubtful that any instructors from PCA or APEX or BMWCCA would be at a Driver's Edge event. In the local professional circles, Driver's Edge is not thought of very highly at all (quite the opposite in fact).

That's funny, I had a guy who instructs PCA, Drivers Edge and professionally.
Correct me if I'm wrong but the guy who started Apex was an original Drivers Edge partner.

Maybe you can expand on why they're looked down upon?
My only complaint is that an occasional event can be crowded.

[Silentrun]

I have had DE's with both Apex and Driver's Edge...IMHO they are truly the same. Apex uses radio while Drivers has stayed with corner workers. Appparently there have been some accidents in Driver's Edge that has not to this date happened with Apex. Dumb luck?

[GTCole]

I have had DE's with both Apex and Driver's Edge...IMHO they are truly the same. Apex uses radio while Drivers has stayed with corner workers. Appparently there have been some accidents in Driver's Edge that has not to this date happened with Apex. Dumb luck?

Well, I know of a guy in a pretty fancy red turbo that had an incident at an Apex deal. I also saw a Ruf yellow car that got plenty close to a problem and a silver vette that was looking for a problem. I would say that LUCK plays a major part in this deal. If you compare them to our PCA deal, I would think that a wreck at that deal is very unlikely to happen. Maybe one just has better luck than another.

[Silentrun]

It was just a little off...

[Mike CLK Black]

It was just a little off...

You know what they say (at least the instructors that I've had), if you don't go off once in a while, you're not driving hard enough.

I use that to rationalize my off track adventures. :D

[DallasM5]

Not really, but they are especially tough on anyone driving an E92 M3!:hahaha:

must be true because im solo as well.

[Mike CLK Black]

I've heard there are about a dozen spots left open for this event.
They're opening it to people form other clubs who are solo approved.

If you'd like to experience the TMS 24 degree bank at full throttle, this is a good chance.

See the original post for details.

[Qship5]

I've heard there are about a dozen spots left open for this event.
They're opening it to people form other clubs who are solo approved.

If you'd like to experience the TMS 24 degree bank at full throttle, this is a good chance.

See the original post for details.
I am seriouisly bummed I'll be missing this event, but other priorities call...

[Mike CLK Black]

I am seriouisly bummed I'll be missing this event, but other priorities call...

If you're typing that from a palm frond covered porch overlooking a gentle surf in the DR .... I don't want to hear it!

[GTCole]

I've heard there are about a dozen spots left open for this event.
They're opening it to people form other clubs who are solo approved.

If you'd like to experience the TMS 24 degree bank at full throttle, this is a good chance.

See the original post for details.

I would go, but how do you prove the solo part? I've done a few events, and they let me drive solo very soon in the deal, but how to prove that? Are they requiring something?

[Mike CLK Black]

I would go, but how do you prove the solo part? I've done a few events, and they let me drive solo very soon in the deal, but how to prove that? Are they requiring something?
It's a small world among the local clubs, I'm sure they'd just ask the management at the club you normally run with.

[GTCole]

It's a small world among the local clubs, I'm sure they'd just ask the management at the club you normally run with.

We shall see. I've put a call into someone to help.

[Qship5]

If you're typing that from a palm frond covered porch overlooking a gentle surf in the DR .... I don't want to hear it!

LOL...Not yet, but the posts from the palm frond covered patio overlooking the surf will start tomorrow!:D

[Mike CLK Black]

LOL...Not yet, but the posts from the palm frond covered patio overlooking the surf will start tomorrow!:D

Enjoy and be sure to post a few pics. Just to make us all envious.b

[Qship5]

To all those going to TMS tonight, drive fast, safe and tear that track up!!!:thumbsup2:

No pics available as my PC doesn't have an SD slot, but this is being written from the beach in the DR watching topless babes.:D

[Silentrun]

NICE, take pictures!!!!!

[RaceMX-M3]

Mike how was the TMS event? pics?

[Mike CLK Black]

It was great Scott. Top speeds depending on the car of 125 to 160. I was pleased with 135, although after reviewing the Vbox data, I see where I could have picked up another 5 + mph.

Turns 3 to 4 was (were?) an exciting area as the sun was going down, it was peaking between the stands and right in your eyes as you were accelerating on the 24 degree banked turn from 115mph into whatever speed you could get on the front straight.

There were 100 cars divided by 3 run groups, it was well run and everyone went home safely. A few cars broke, but none due to impact.

My video mount failed on the parade lap, rendering my HD cam useless for the entire evening, but a friend posted this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qn0ThHjbXQ) video.

[RaceMX-M3]

It was great Scott. Top speeds depending on the car of 125 to 160. I was pleased with 135, although after reviewing the Vbox data, I see where I could have picked up another 5 + mph.

Turns 3 to 4 was (were?) an exciting area as the sun was going down, it was peaking between the stands and right in your eyes as you were accelerating on the 24 degree banked turn from 115mph into whatever speed you could get on the front straight.

There were 100 cars divided by 3 run groups, it was well run and everyone went home safely. A few cars broke, but none due to impact.

My video mount failed on the parade lap, rendering my HD cam useless for the entire evening, but a friend posted this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qn0ThHjbXQ) video.

Mike,

The video is awesome, looks like so much fun. Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup2:

[Fubar]

cool vid.

[MCM97]

There were 100 cars divided by 3 run groups, it was well run and everyone went home safely. A few cars broke, but none due to impact.



Mike - not true. A Viper hit in the infield just as the sun was going down. My guess is that it was early in the run and the track was losing temp and the car just didn't hold.

Taking Steve Hills Ferrari (man that guy is fast) out of the equation it looked like your AMG, the GT2 and the yellow Lambo were the quickest.

Here are some pics and a vid I got of the event:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/mcm97/IMG_2116.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/mcm97/IMG_2118.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/mcm97/IMG_2145.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/mcm97/IMG_2162.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/mcm97/th_MVI_2128.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v223/mcm97/?action=view&current=MVI_2128.flv)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/mcm97/th_MVI_2131.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v223/mcm97/?action=view&current=MVI_2131.flv)

[Mike CLK Black]

Mike - not true. A Viper hit in the infield just as the sun was going down. My guess is that it was early in the run and the track was losing temp and the car just didn't hold.

Taking Steve Hills Ferrari (man that guy is fast) out of the equation it looked like your AMG, the GT2 and the yellow Lambo were the quickest.
...

At the end of the night I saw a Viper with a big dent in the right rear bumper. It looked like it could be popped out from the inside. I asked another guy if the car arrived like that and he wasn't sure.

Thanks for the kind words, but in addition to others, there was also a maroon C6 Vette that pulled after 100mph. I could catch him in the infield corners but he'd pick up a car or 2 on those big banks. My best duels of the night were with the Lambo though. Glad to hear that car was a GT2, I was kinda' ticked on track because I thought it was a 911TT that had blown by me in the infield. A 911TT may get me on the straights but shouldn't in the infield.

There were some really fast cars (150+) in the Red group in addition to Steve Hill. You can catch Steve in the Ferrari Challenge on Speed TV, he's in 4th place I think.

[himself]

It is exceedingly doubtful that any instructors from PCA or APEX or BMWCCA would be at a Driver's Edge event.
This is unequivocally incorrect. If you attend these events [PCA/APEX/BMW] you will see many instructors from all groups. FWIW, Steve is an instructor for both PCA and TDE - and I see at least a 1/2 dozen other dual/triple instructors at every event I attend/instruct at.

As for TMS - I was there too and easily pulled 135+ on my second run - which included short shifting 3rd gear with 3000 RPM to go. I could have hit 145+ if I had bigger cajones ;). It's just really intimidating to mash the go pedal all the way around. Then my car decided not to play anymore, and I never got the chance. C'est la vie.

-td

[Mike CLK Black]

... I could have hit 145+ if I had bigger cajones ;). It's just really intimidating to mash the go pedal all the way around. ...

Same here, I found myself wishing that I had lowered or had the bigger spoiler.
The vbox showed me dropping to 80 or 85% throttle midway on the bank.
Next time, it will be different.

Sorry to hear about your car, what happened?

[MCM97]

Sorry to hear about your car, what happened?

Himself and I have the amazing talent of turning a perfectly well engineered German car into an Italian POS :D

[himself]

Himself and I have the amazing talent of turning a perfectly well engineered German car into an Italian POS :D
True. By my tally, I'm shooting 2 out of 4, and you are 2 for 3. We're both pretty good it seems! Unless you count the lemons car, then you are 3/4. ;)

Af for my car, I blew a coolant line to the heat exchanger and I lost all the coolant. Could have been worse, as nothing landed on the rear wheels while on the banking.

-td

[RaceMX-M3]

a E55 in the mix.. :thumbsup2: