It’s 3:30am in the morning, the start of our Buttonwillow  track day. Walking into the shop like a zombie after some coffee from the wife. Shop lights on, pull the truck to the back. Start loading the track essentials; tools, fluids, extra tires, and racing fuel. On the road by 4:25.

Buttonwillow Raceway Park, located 28 miles northwest of Bakersfield at 251 feet above sea level.  We were running track configuration #13 clockwise that Saturday. This consists of 21 different individual turns, incorporating all different types making it a very technical track. Off camber turns, elevation changes, high speed and low speed turns, this track has everything.

We were out to practice for Global Time Attack coming up on April 21st-22nd. Our Group was assembled of the normal bunch, Kevin Courtney and his Matco S2000, Kiet Le and his Grocery Getter Honda Accord, and myself, Bryan Friday in the PI S2000. We also had some friends join us for the day so they could put Buttonwillow under their belts.  We had an AE86, RSX, and a brand new 5.0 Mustang. We all did our normal maintenance; oil changes, differential and transmission fluids, track alignments(minus the PI S2000, not enough time in the day!!!!!), bleeding brakes, torque wheels, and torque suspension.

The normal bunch all replaced their clutch’s.  The Grocery Getter picked up Spec Clutch for a sponsor and was given a Spec stage 3 upgrade and converted from the dual mass flywheel to a solid lightened flywheel . This was a major upgrade over the OEM Honda unit that was originally in use. Couldn’t have came at a better time considering the original was slipping.

The PI S2000 picked up Competition Clutch as a sponsor and was given Stage 3.5 street/strip 2600 clutch kit with their STU flywheel.  We were able to help out Kevin’s Matco S2000 and replaced his clutch with the same new Competition Clutch unit. We both loved the clutch, because it is segmented ceramic engagement is a little aggressive but needs minimal break in which is great for any track car.

The PI S2000 also received a sticker bombed wink mirror courtesy of PI Nick. Great for track use just like in Nascar you can see nearly the whole track behind you. Another great thing about it is you can lock it into position.  We also made an aerodynamic improvement over the top down look we had attained in Las Vegas a few months ago when our Spoon hard top came apart at 150mph. I fabricated a very simple alumilite top with roof fences to straighten the air over the roof and hit the spoiler more directly. Hope to write a blog on it soon.

Over all the day was great, we got some more seat time in on a track that some of us have never been to. In the PI S2000 we were able to tune the Eibach Multi-Pro-R2 suspension considering that this track is not as smooth as Las Vegas motor speedway. Increase on the rebound and decrease on the compression. As well as able to more fine tune the our brake bias helping with trail braking.

This event through Speed Ventures turned out a lot of different folks. From a stripped Volvo wagon to R35′s to track prepared Porsche’s. Truly these events are really for everyone, they provide beginner classes  as well advanced groups for people comfortable with open passing.  Anyone interested in coming out with us to the next track day we attend can email us and we will put you on our mailing list.

Special thanks to our sponsors Eibach Springs, Church Automotive Testing, A’PEXi, Sparco, Spec Clutch and Competition Clutch.