Willowsprings Raceway vs Aaa speedway

[Jbonly21]

Which of the two is the good for first track day?

[edkwok99]

I tried both... big willow is for speed... street willow is for turn. It depends what do you want to experience at your first track day. I think it is more important to hire an instructor than choosing the track. Study the line, watch youtube before going to the track and you will have lots of fun and smile.

[edkwok99]

Sorry, I haven't tried speedway. I tried both tracks at willow

[Jbonly21]

Originally Posted by edkwok99

I tried both... big willow is for speed... street willow is for turn. It depends what do you want to experience at your first track day. I think it is more important to hire an instructor than choosing the track. Study the line, watch youtube before going to the track and you will have lots of fun and smile.

Thanks for the input.

[jpy1980]

It really depends. If you are doing just the infield at AAA, then its a great beginner track. Add in the roval and it can get quite intimidating, but still fun. Just take it easy...

Big will is fun and your speed will be consistently fast, but there some scary turns towards the end if youre running clockwise that you will need be cognizant of. Still fun... Just take it easy...

Its not a race and don't drive till youre scared. Don't make sudden crazy jerking movements and just drive smooth. A bit higher than freeway speeds. Also have an instructor and have them drive your car. It will amaze you on how capable your car is out of the box.

Point is, just take it easy and have fun!

[Jbonly21]

Thanks guys, my buddy really wants to do willow, so I guess willows it is.

[M4gtr]

Originally Posted by Jbonly21

Which of the two is the good for first track day?

Honestly, neither.

Chuckwalla or Streets of Willow are more forgiving and lower speed. If you off at Big Willow or AAA things can go very south. I don't ever do those two tracks because stuff does happen and you want the odds to favor minimal consequences.

[Shayan55]

TBH Id say AAA isnt bad as a first track day, yes it can get a bit intimidating but just take it slow and learn the track first then start to push it.

[jmg]

Big Willow is a fast track, if you don't know your limits turns 8 and 9 can get you into trouble. It's the fastest turn "west of the Mississippi". That being said It's only the fastest turn if you are going fast. There is no shame is going in the beginner group and staying within your comfort zone.

Streets Of Willow has more turns and not as fast. Turn 9 CW is blind but they often place cones so you have a reference. Again, just go slower and you can handle anything.

AAA or Auto Club Speedway infield is a great beginner track. Not much to get you into trouble and plenty of room for mistakes.

ACS Roval I haven't done yet.

[jpy1980]

For those of you that want to go to AAA, I'm thinking about going on Oct 3-4th with Speedventures: https://www.speedventures.com/Events/Detail.aspx?id=794

Probably going to do Saturday, but maybe Sunday. Not sure. I also do both AutoX and the big track.

It'll be fun!

We can all hang, socially distant though...=)

[Jbonly21]

Originally Posted by jpy1980

For those of you that want to go to AAA, I'm thinking about going on Oct 3-4th with Speedventures: https://www.speedventures.com/Events/Detail.aspx?id=794

Probably going to do Saturday, but maybe Sunday. Not sure. I also do both AutoX and the big track.

It'll be fun!

We can all hang, socially distant though...=)

I did the autocross 2 weeks ago, and it was fun.

I was planning to do the October 3 AAA, but my buddy wants to do Horse Thief Miles. That's why I am trying to decide which one is going to be more fun.

[jpy1980]

Originally Posted by Jbonly21

I did the autocross 2 weeks ago, and it was fun.

I was planning to do the October 3 AAA, but my buddy wants to do Horse Thief Miles. That's why I am trying to decide which one is going to be more fun.

My vote would be AAA. Super fun! Here’s me, in my F80, passing my buddy whose in an e90 m3. Fastest I got in that straight was $
148 I believe. Scary but fun! :

[Jbonly21]

Originally Posted by jpy1980

My vote would be AAA. Super fun! Here's me, in my F80, passing my buddy whose in an e90 m3. Fastest I got in that straight was $
148 I believe. Scary but fun! :

[IMG]

[/IMG]

Jerk in the F80 : , looks like fun, but I am going to do Willow first, then AAA probably in December, I have to do them not so close together to keep my wife happy. She's not too happy with my new habit 😄.

[edkwok99]

Buttonwillow is another option. It is a medium pace track (faster than street willow, slower than big willow).

[jpy1980]

Originally Posted by Jbonly21

Jerk in the F80 : , looks like fun, but I am going to do Willow first, then AAA probably in December, I have to do them not so close together to keep my wife happy. She's not too happy with my new habit 😄.

Brotha, you and me both. I’m telling my wife that I’m only doing “autoX” that day but really I’m going to do the big track haha. Luckily she won’t know anything about caliphotography! Haha

[jpy1980]

Originally Posted by edkwok99

Buttonwillow is another option. It is a medium pace track (faster than street willow, slower than big willow).

I would think Chuckwalla would be easier than BW. Yet my first HPDE was BW. I love California and all its tracks!

[jmg]

Here's a video of Big Willow from last month. My alignment was off so my lap times were down but you get the point:

Here's my fastest lap at Streets Of Willow from earlier this year:

Here's AAA Infield:

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Jbonly21

I did the autocross 2 weeks ago, and it was fun.

I was planning to do the October 3 AAA, but my buddy wants to do Horse Thief Miles. That's why I am trying to decide which one is going to be more fun.

Nice video, I was there that day!
What was your time? I managed a 38.something. Such a hot day!

[Jbonly21]

Nice runs. Yeah I saw you, and man, it was hot that day. My best time was 40.3 something.

[Jbonly21]

Originally Posted by jpy1980

For those of you that want to go to AAA, I'm thinking about going on Oct 3-4th with Speedventures: https://www.speedventures.com/Events/Detail.aspx?id=794

Probably going to do Saturday, but maybe Sunday. Not sure. I also do both AutoX and the big track.

It'll be fun!

We can all hang, socially distant though...=)

My buddy car is not going to be ready by next month, so I guess I am going to be at AAA on the 3rd, let me know if you do go on the 3rd maybe we could share a garage.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Jbonly21

My buddy car is not going to be ready by next month, so I guess I am going to be at AAA on the 3rd, let me know if you do go on the 3rd maybe we could share a garage.

I've only been at AAA with SCCA, never with SV on the circuit. With SCCA it's first come first serve for the garages and it's free. Does SV do garage reservations?

FYI Willow Springs (Big Willow) takes garage reservations regardless of who's running it. On a hot day it's a godsend.

[Jbonly21]

It's first come, first serve as well. But it's not free.