Learning Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca - Mazda 6 Forums : Mazda 6 / Mazda Atenza Forum

Hayate · 05-11-2009, 11:12 PM

Earlier this year I was challenged by my nephew, call sign Factor, to attend the Skip Barber 3 day racing school at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The challenge was to pit the young studly F-18 fighter pilot ( two tours to the Afghan/Iraq theater and flight instructor) against the fat old retired cop. Since going to a real race car driving school has been a goal of mine since age 12, and now I'm old enough to seriously have a bucket list, I picked up the gauntlet!

We had an absolute blast. We drove the formula open wheel race cars. He fits just fine, they had to make special adjustments to get me in. I pretty much felt like I was being squeezed into a sardine can. They actually had to remove pieces of the car's bodywork so I could fit.

I had an in car video made on open lapping day, but I can't figure out how to upload it. It looks pretty much the same as any othe Skip Barber vid on YouTube. However I did record our laps in a Mazda 3 with our instructor, Tommy Fogarty, on my Flip camera. The video starts with Factor driving and Tommy commenting. Then Tommy takes the wheel to show how it's done. Notice that even with three of us in the Mazda 3, Tommy catchs up to a student in a formula race car.
It was great fun!

Oh and the best part...open lap racing day.....when I passed him and he looked over and realized his old, but still dangerous uncle, was taking him to school!

He has since challenged me to a round two.

Learning the course: Laguna Seca with Skip Barber Instructor Tommy Fogarty

MrTea · 05-12-2009, 12:10 AM

definately a fun track, glad you finally got a chance to get one of your things knocked off your list. i'll be back there for sure, want to have a few clean runs with a good car setup finally, see what i can really do.

ATL · 05-16-2009, 10:15 AM

This is def on my list to do before I die.

05-11-2009, 11:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
Hayate Track Racer Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bend OR Posts: 232 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: 0 reviews	Earlier this year I was challenged by my nephew, call sign Factor, to attend the Skip Barber 3 day racing school at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The challenge was to pit the young studly F-18 fighter pilot ( two tours to the Afghan/Iraq theater and flight instructor) against the fat old retired cop. Since going to a real race car driving school has been a goal of mine since age 12, and now I'm old enough to seriously have a bucket list, I picked up the gauntlet! We had an absolute blast. We drove the formula open wheel race cars. He fits just fine, they had to make special adjustments to get me in. I pretty much felt like I was being squeezed into a sardine can. They actually had to remove pieces of the car's bodywork so I could fit. I had an in car video made on open lapping day, but I can't figure out how to upload it. It looks pretty much the same as any othe Skip Barber vid on YouTube. However I did record our laps in a Mazda 3 with our instructor, Tommy Fogarty, on my Flip camera. The video starts with Factor driving and Tommy commenting. Then Tommy takes the wheel to show how it's done. Notice that even with three of us in the Mazda 3, Tommy catchs up to a student in a formula race car. It was great fun! Oh and the best part...open lap racing day.....when I passed him and he looked over and realized his old, but still dangerous uncle, was taking him to school! He has since challenged me to a round two. Learning the course: Laguna Seca with Skip Barber Instructor Tommy Fogarty __________________ 2007 MS6, Mazdaspeed CAI, Speedie TIP, RPM Sport Springs, Bilsteins, SPC Adj. Ball Joints, Whiteline Rear Sway Bar, AWR Endlinks, Corksport Frt Tower Brace, GT Spec Trailing Braces, CPE prototype MM, TT Frt Diff Mount, CPE Rear Diff Mount, Cobb AP, Dashhawk, Battery Relocate to trunk bracing. Wheels: Summer: OEM. Winter: Konig Feathers 17x7.5 +45 (17.1 lbs) w/ Yoko Ice Guard IG20 tires, Racing: BBS STI 17 x 8 +53 hub bored to 67.1 (18 lbs) w/ Yokohama Advan A048 235/45ZR17 R tires.

05-12-2009, 12:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
MrTea Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 8,306 Thanks: 1 Thanked 25 Times in 20 Posts Groans: 1 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: 0 reviews	definately a fun track, glad you finally got a chance to get one of your things knocked off your list. i'll be back there for sure, want to have a few clean runs with a good car setup finally, see what i can really do. __________________ '03 Lapis(mostly) 6i...Tranny swap by Gillis Motorsports : MTX-75 5speed tranny, 4.06 gears, Torsen LSD & chromoly axles, Engine build by Gillis Motorsports: 9:1 Supertech Pistons, Crower rods, Supertech valves, springs & retainers, ARP head & main studs, F2 Stage2 Turbo, Custom F2 engine/tranny mounts, 3" Turboback exhaust, Tein Basic Coilovers, Brembo Big Brake Kit and Rotora Rear Rotors, RacingBeat Front & Rear Sways, Seibon OEM hood, VF Engineering rear engine mount, Powdercoated Valvecover, TEIN hood dampers, Some sort of Body Kit from some company usually last dyno 8/23, 10psi...260HP/267TQ Still need: Seat, cage, Gillis suspension...then i'm DONE!!

05-16-2009, 10:15 AM	#3 (permalink)
ATL Mazda Guru Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Atlanta,GA Posts: 6,284 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: 0 reviews	This is def on my list to do before I die. __________________ Black CP-E CAI/Black HKS BOV/TurboXS RP/RX-8 Wheels/MS6 Coming soon... LOL

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