G_Hodgkins
04-28-2013, 11:11 PM
I would like to thank everyone who showed up and to everyone involved with setting the track day up! In particular Dave Smith and Crew! It was nice getting to meet everyone and enjoy So-Cal weather. It was lots of fun and couldn't have asked for a better day. I quickly chose these 31 photos (out of 1000+). I tried including everyone but I probably missed a couple.: )
**Hey Grant, I talked to your Pops and he was okay with letting me use your thread here. I told him your pics were so good, I wanted to keep this the main thread on the subject so here goes**
Thanks so much for all the committed drivers, riders, spectators and volunteers that came out to the track. This was my first time putting on such an event and so I worked hard and tried to stay organized throughout the planning process. With all that I could not prepare for the amount of help and assistance I received all day yesterday and I am so thankful. Special thanks to TC McNett (and to Karen Salvaggio for getting him involved). TC showed up early and turned my little track day into a very professional event with his big rig loaded with a golf cart, Helmets, PA system, etc. Thank you so much TC. Also, thanks to Bob for bringing the truck out (sorry about the dust) Dave Hodgkins, Karen, Tony, Stack, Rachael, Rupert, Adam, Grant, etc.
Before I give you the winners, let me explain the judging because I know I had some questions. The intention of the day was fun, not competition. It was a chance to get these amazing, hand-built cars out on the track which was local enough for those to drive to, race and drive back. (The proximity also allowed us to get to the awesome museum tour). I knew we'd have a challenge car or two that could throw down great times, but in the effort of fun, I decided to incorporate some voting into the overall for the win. This assured me that Dave Smith could not bring his track car and take the top time and go home with the cup. So, I put some power to the fans and had them vote on coolest car as well as best driving style and added to the best lap times for the Overall. We got about 25 votes from various spectators, at least half being outsiders and after the tally, I put them together with the fastest times, and I'll be damned if Dave Smith didn't win it all in his Coyote powered street legal roadster. So I tried and I failed in my original intent but as I drove home, I could only think about how much Dave has done for us all and how much sense it made. Sure we are all customers who has bought a product from him but it's a lot more to us and we know it. And on Sunday, he came to the track as a regular guy, leaving the CEO title behind, earned the Cup fair and square, and foiled my diabolical plan.
So in the end, Mr Smith, you'll have the cup for a year but don't worry, I'm working on another, even more diabolical-er plan to get it back here in California for next year.
Winners:
Overall- Dave Smith 45.2sec
2nd Overall- TC McNett 44.6
3rd Overall- Marty Prario 46.3?
Honorable Mention - e 47.01 with lots of cool car votes! :)
The Fun stuff- in this category I wanted to aware the boys that might need some upgrades to drop their lap times.
The Spring Chicken Award- (1st timer, best time) Glenn 50% off Eibach Springs
Gimme a brake Ward- (off the track most gracefully) John Tongish $750 off Wilwood brakes
Call a Medic- (engine problems) - Michael Biss- GT40 -$100 off engine work at OC Cars
Many thanks to our sponsors and again to TC McNett who gets the MVP.
P.S.- Did anyone get pics of the trophies or the presentation? Can't believe I forgot!
** Thanks Grant -Erik
I am having problems with Flickr because of the 300mb limit. But I am switching to Picasa.
Here is a link for the rest of the Auto cross photos. It will be a while before all the photos are going to be available. So please check back often for it to finish uploading
UPDATE - Officially done uploading, have FUN!
https://plus.google.com/photos/103336060672597502427/albums/5872109339035767937?authkey=CLvo5OXO4o6fYw
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=17116&d=1367206664
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=17115&d=1367206656
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=17114&d=1367206650
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=17113&d=1367206643
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=17112&d=1367206636
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=17111&d=1367206630
**Hey Grant, I talked to your Pops and he was okay with letting me use your thread here. I told him your pics were so good, I wanted to keep this the main thread on the subject so here goes**
Thanks so much for all the committed drivers, riders, spectators and volunteers that came out to the track. This was my first time putting on such an event and so I worked hard and tried to stay organized throughout the planning process. With all that I could not prepare for the amount of help and assistance I received all day yesterday and I am so thankful. Special thanks to TC McNett (and to Karen Salvaggio for getting him involved). TC showed up early and turned my little track day into a very professional event with his big rig loaded with a golf cart, Helmets, PA system, etc. Thank you so much TC. Also, thanks to Bob for bringing the truck out (sorry about the dust) Dave Hodgkins, Karen, Tony, Stack, Rachael, Rupert, Adam, Grant, etc.
Before I give you the winners, let me explain the judging because I know I had some questions. The intention of the day was fun, not competition. It was a chance to get these amazing, hand-built cars out on the track which was local enough for those to drive to, race and drive back. (The proximity also allowed us to get to the awesome museum tour). I knew we'd have a challenge car or two that could throw down great times, but in the effort of fun, I decided to incorporate some voting into the overall for the win. This assured me that Dave Smith could not bring his track car and take the top time and go home with the cup. So, I put some power to the fans and had them vote on coolest car as well as best driving style and added to the best lap times for the Overall. We got about 25 votes from various spectators, at least half being outsiders and after the tally, I put them together with the fastest times, and I'll be damned if Dave Smith didn't win it all in his Coyote powered street legal roadster. So I tried and I failed in my original intent but as I drove home, I could only think about how much Dave has done for us all and how much sense it made. Sure we are all customers who has bought a product from him but it's a lot more to us and we know it. And on Sunday, he came to the track as a regular guy, leaving the CEO title behind, earned the Cup fair and square, and foiled my diabolical plan.
So in the end, Mr Smith, you'll have the cup for a year but don't worry, I'm working on another, even more diabolical-er plan to get it back here in California for next year.
Winners:
Overall- Dave Smith 45.2sec
2nd Overall- TC McNett 44.6
3rd Overall- Marty Prario 46.3?
Honorable Mention - e 47.01 with lots of cool car votes! :)
The Fun stuff- in this category I wanted to aware the boys that might need some upgrades to drop their lap times.
The Spring Chicken Award- (1st timer, best time) Glenn 50% off Eibach Springs
Gimme a brake Ward- (off the track most gracefully) John Tongish $750 off Wilwood brakes
Call a Medic- (engine problems) - Michael Biss- GT40 -$100 off engine work at OC Cars
Many thanks to our sponsors and again to TC McNett who gets the MVP.
P.S.- Did anyone get pics of the trophies or the presentation? Can't believe I forgot!
** Thanks Grant -Erik
I am having problems with Flickr because of the 300mb limit. But I am switching to Picasa.
Here is a link for the rest of the Auto cross photos. It will be a while before all the photos are going to be available. So please check back often for it to finish uploading
UPDATE - Officially done uploading, have FUN!
https://plus.google.com/photos/103336060672597502427/albums/5872109339035767937?authkey=CLvo5OXO4o6fYw
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=17116&d=1367206664
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=17115&d=1367206656
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=17114&d=1367206650
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=17113&d=1367206643
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=17112&d=1367206636
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=17111&d=1367206630