Mazdaspeed 3 @ Buttonwillow Configuration 13 and Willow Springs

[AlpineFD]

Nestled amongst fields of in Kern County California is Buttonwillow Raceway. Many moons ago, Yokut Indians used this area as a meeting place identified by a lone button bush that resembled a willow tree. Now-a-days Buttonwillow Raceway has become the Mecca of Californian go-fast enthusiast. The track can be run in many configuration, configuration 13 has become especially popular with which several time attack records have been set. It is therefore easy to evaluate a cars performance level using this configuration. Just for reference purpose, the HKS time attack monster EVO set a Super Lap Battle record of 1 min 43.523 seconds in 2007. The NASA Time Trial D class, which Im competing in this year, has a class record of 2min 5.96 seconds. Having used Toyo RA1 r-compound tire for 2 previous track days, I was anxious to see how my Mazdaspeed3 will stack up to the rest.

go here for the rest of the story:
http://www.gofastadventure.com/?p=14

and now for the video (camera angle now pointing straight ahead)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co38wWKcX0s

 

[Design]

Neat story... lol @ your brakes.

Willow is a great track for us So Cal locals. Were you the MS3 at Auto Club raceway in November? I didn't get footage of the car but here's the vid in case you were wondering:
http://user.streetfire.net/video/Toys-4-Tots-Charity-Event_203181.htm

 

[Circle9]

The Civic looked like a Type R, but I suppose it was just an Si.

 

[FMOS Racing]

I ran Buttonwillow many times when I lived in CA. Really fun track, great run-off (except for that damned pond in the off-camber turn on the back side).

This was at an MR2 track day. I was whippin' up on 'em in my old tow rig:

 

[JudderMS3]

Great Video!!

What Tires are you using at the track??

 

[AlpineFD]

Neat story... lol @ your brakes.

Willow is a great track for us So Cal locals. Were you the MS3 at Auto Club raceway in November? I didn't get footage of the car but here's the vid in case you were wondering:
http://user.streetfire.net/video/Toys-4-Tots-Charity-Event_203181.htm

Nah that wasn't me.

FMOS, that's so awesome, hahaha, what kinda car did u run back then?

JudderMS3, I'm currently using Toyo RA1 235/40/17 due to class restrction. I you are looking for R-compound tire, I would say go with Toyo R888 or Nitto NT01R, they are relatively affordable and heat cycles well.

 

[tiagotiago]

Nice vid and writeup!

The pic on the blog (the car riding the kerbs with two wheels up in the air) is pretty cool!

Good luck and keep posting more of your adventures!

 

[FMOS Racing]

FMOS, that's so awesome, hahaha, what kinda car did u run back then?

A Mustang LX with a MM suspension setup, an IS300, a Probe GT or my trucks.

I thing the thing I miss second most about living in CA is the road courses. And the HPDEs were just so inexpensive compared to doing them here in Indiana. Plus, the road course at IRP scares the crap out of me after the wide-open CA tracks. Culverts, ditches, trees, walls, fences all within a couple dozen feet of the track.

So, I'm jealous.