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Thread: SVTOA Sebring weekend

  1. #1

    SVTOA Sebring weekend

    First things first, I have to thank the SVTOA for putting this event on. It is one of the best organized, professional car related events I've had the pleasure to attend and participate in.

    Those of you who missed it, don't read any further, dont view the videos when I post them in the next day or so....you'll be hating yourselves. I mean really, what could be that important, and old friend come in from out of town? Your tux not come back from the cleaners? No money for cab fare?

    Heres a quick breakdown

    Friday,

    met at the track for tech inspection, then to hotel Kenilworth where I was informed they dropped my reservation and they were booked solid. The $50 cancellation fee to not sleep there (they listed me as no show and gave away my room) was the best money I ever spent. the B&B across the street which I ahd to myself was sooo nice. Anyway Met with Hotrauder and wife, Rich Long and wife and we headed to Bradenton for some 1320 action, returning late that evening.

    Saturday

    Late to bed early to rise...8am at the track for the drivers meeting, we meet up with JimLam and his son Paul, groups 1 and 2 (beginners) go for some class room time, while 3 and 4 go to the track for some run time. Before we know it were leaving the paddock for the pit row (starting grid). The stomach was dancing the samba, my instructors hops into the car. A big man, Dell was most appreciative of the Marauder creature comforts. Off we went, running the course under yellow the whole time to learn the course and get a feel for what we could do, and what the car could do. We ran about 6 laps or so, all went well.

    My brain gets fuzzy here as to the order, but we ran another session with the pace gettign stiffer, and passing brought into the mix. And yes I got to use the passing, more times the passer than the passed. I was fealing my oats or somethign because we were carrying way more speed now, and yours truly clocked an honest 120mph+ on the back straight, hard brakes, turn into 17 at about 70mph all 4 wheels begging for mercy, back on the hammer, 105mph down the front straight. Spectators told me ( Saleen rep) "it sounded like an jet screaming down the straight"...makes my heart warm just thinking about it

    After that session, maybe before?? We had parade laps at noon, supposedly tame, single file, no passing, no helmet required, just cruise the track... well I rode shotgun with Jimlam, kind of 'showing' him the 'line', man its easier to talk about it in the psgr seat than to drive it!

    Afternoon another session, as hot if not hotter than number 2, I decided to back her down a few notches, I brought extra brake pads but was hoping not to need them, and I wound up not needing them.

    Saturday Night Banquet

    Held at the Chateau Elan, great time talkign to everyone, some cool raffle prizes, Rich won a $100 Steeda gift certificate!

    I was in bed at 9:58pm, I did not see the clock hit 9:59, seemingly three seconds later the alarm was going off

    Sunday

    8am fog now lifting, drivers meeting again, then group 1 and 2 class, good stuff, really crucial stuff to learn. And out to the track, doesn't take long for the tempo to get turned up a few notches past hot, I'm passing 05 gt, an Acura Legend, a few others I dont even remember, I get passed by a fox body convertible that sounded as if it was really mad about something, and then a Z06... I let him slide by...I could have kept up... ..if he had a flat tire maybe.

    Juno and I finished run number 2 today and then called it quits I was getting tired and thought it prudent.

    Point here is this. If there is an SVTOA event near you or not so near, go. You will be welcomed, you will learn, you will enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. This is infinitely cheaper than any driving school and the track time is worth way more than what these events cost.

    I'll post in car video tomorrow, me go sleep now.


    ps sorry for the long post

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    Sounds like a great time!

    If and when one of these events pops up again, I'll definately try to attend. I didn't want to have too many "firsts" in one weekend, or else I would have attended this one

    Very good post, Dr. Evil....
    Best,
    Rick


    2004 Silver Birch w/Light Flint Interior
    10.44 @ 131.66 MPH | 604 RWHP & 562 RWTQ


    - Trilogy Supercharger #79 Twinscrew w/ 14PSI, Alternative Auto Forged 5.3 Stroker, Stage III Cams, JLT CAI, 405lph Return Fuel System, XL Heat Exchanger, 4.10's, Built Transmission, SCT 90MM MAF, Custom Tuned by Lidio.

    - Kooks Headers. Magnaflow Cats & 18" Mufflers with 2.5" X-Pipe & Tailpipes. Megs' Res-Delete Tips

    - Widened 9.5" Rear Rims w/Nitto NT555G2 Front Tires and NT555Rii Drag Radials.
       245/45/ZR18 & 305/45/ZR18. TCE Performance Brakes and SS lines.


    - Spoiler, MMX Driveshaft, Metco Loop and Control Arms, ADTR Front and Addco Rear Sway Bars, Art Carr Transmission Pan, Eaton Posi, Stud & Girdle kit, Moser 31 Spline Axles, Marauder Door Sills, SS Inserts, Dynamat, Pioneer AVIC-8201NEX with 6x8" 260w Speakers and 12" 1400w Sub-woofer

  3. #3
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    Shakes,
    I always say, "You only regret the things you don't do!". This is certainly one of them! I'll be regretting this for a while to come. I'm glad y'all had a great time. Maybe next time I won't be such a pansy.

    Nice to see you Friday,

    J
    Alex, you'll always be with us!
    '04 Crown Victoria LX Sport 230A
    Bone Stock (Really, would I lie?)
    I couldn't see destroying a Marauder as my daily driver!
    '03 Marauder 300B as in blue
    DOB 5/12/03 - adopted12/01/06
    1 of 328
    SS Inserts

  4. #4
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    I'm glad that you have a great time. Looking forward to seeing the videos. Thanx for the informative post.
    (#6178 in black per FPIC)
    Call 1-800-FORD-788 and press "1". Have the last 6 of your VIN handy. You will get the numbers for FREE. You'll pay $$$ for the certificate.

    MM traded in 8/9/13 @ 128909 miles. It was fun for almost 8 years. I met airmercpun on 1/17/14. He was the new owner of my former ride. -Now gone.

    Update: back in the game with a late build 03 GMGS with some MM add ons like Escape audiophile radio w/Sirius sat radio, rear sway bar, catback exhaust, and header panel.

    Rest In Peace:
    Alex "Marauderboi" Vachon 3/2/92-8/13/10
    Paula Babineau 1/9/67-8/2/11
    Rex Weinbender
    Peter


    See my garage file for part numbers and whatnot.

    IMHO, this site- the members that I chat with- and the ones that I now Hang with- are like my 2nd family. There is such an ongoing welcome feeling here that even members who don't or no longer own the MM can feel.

  5. #5
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    It was great Meeting Dennis, Jim, and Rich.
    Definitely a great event, but hard on the cars and the drivers.
    2003 300A Black MM
    3.73's, 3500 PI, T64e at 9.5 PSI
    Belts are for washing machines.
    Theme song (s) : Back in Black & Thunderstruck!!

    Ride it like a Ford.!!

    What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    I'm not a gynecologist....but I'll take a look at it.

  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by juno
    It was great Meeting Dennis, Jim, and Rich.
    Definitely a great event, but hard on the cars and the drivers.
    Juno, I shall call ye, Mr. Understatement.

    This was THE SINGLE MOST ABUSIVE thing I have ever done to a motor vehicle. And it was no picnic for the drivers either!

    One things certain, my car was hating me yesterday. Now its sitting in the garage seething right now...the look I'm gonna get when I come home....

    I'll feed it new motor oil, tranny fluid, brake fluid and pads, later this week. Thats should make it happy again, along with hosing off the dirt!

  7. #7
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    Yep, I beat mine like a redheaded stepchild. I had somewhere between 110-130 hard track miles on her.
    It is impressive to throw a 4400 lb car into a corner, stand on the brakes, swing her fat ass around the corner and hard acceleration a dozen times in 3-4 minutes.
    You survive the course and come out of turn 17 hot, WOT down the front straight with a big grin and hey, there's turn 1! wait.. wait.. wait...brake! TurnIn!! hold...hold...let her come out... accelerate!!! (the car and the grin), Wheww, only 16 more to go. Exhilirating....

    And the instructors are top notch. Those guys gotta have some thrill seeking psyche to strap themselves into my passenger seat and let me drive them hard into a corner. Mitchell didn't even blink an eye when I gave him the E ticket ride through turn friigin 7. When I finally got her staight and in the right direction (after three 3/4 swings) he just said " The next time that happens try to..."

    The baby will get some well earned pampering this week. I might have to buy the MM flowers before I can take her back to an event like this again though.






    Quote Originally Posted by shakes_26
    Juno, I shall call ye, Mr. Understatement.

    This was THE SINGLE MOST ABUSIVE thing I have ever done to a motor vehicle. And it was no picnic for the drivers either!

    One things certain, my car was hating me yesterday. Now its sitting in the garage seething right now...the look I'm gonna get when I come home....

    I'll feed it new motor oil, tranny fluid, brake fluid and pads, later this week. Thats should make it happy again, along with hosing off the dirt!
    Last edited by juno; 04-24-2006 at 06:54 AM.
    2003 300A Black MM
    3.73's, 3500 PI, T64e at 9.5 PSI
    Belts are for washing machines.
    Theme song (s) : Back in Black & Thunderstruck!!

    Ride it like a Ford.!!

    What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    I'm not a gynecologist....but I'll take a look at it.

  8. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by juno

    The baby will get some well earned pampering this week. I might have to buy the MM flowers before I can take her back to an event like this again though.
    Better get her a box of candy too.....

  9. #9
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    We all love our cars and we respect how capable they are for their size and how much more they are than people think, but until you get on a road course with the only limiting factors your ability and nut size you have no idea what these babies can really do. I am an old fraidy cat but by my last session my instructor had me running corners at 75 to 80 that I did not think my car could get around at 40 when we started. I know that God lives at Sebring and his house is the double corner at Sunset. Screw that baby up and you can meet him face to face. Penny and I had a great time. Marc is exactly right on the quality of the event, the people involved and the total experience. I am not ashamed to say that the weekend kicked my ass and I (not my car thank you) hit the wall about 2 pm Sunday and we left before my last run. I hated to but I think it was a good decision. If you can, no matter how far you have to go; attend a SVTOA track school event. I don't think you can have more fun than this, even with your clothes off. Dennis NOTE to ZACK-Sparkly grill was a big hit, everyone liked it in their rearview mirror (after they passed me) Dennis NOTE to Self-Penny would like a SVT Focus......so would I. Those little bastages just fly in the corners. I learned a lot about the fast line from a couple of them over the weekend. They don't have the HP so maintaining momentum is critical thru the turns. The guys driving them know the fast way around.

    There were mechanical issues with several cars on the track and at least one Cobra hit the wall. All the Marauders came home with what looked to me like smiles on the grills. But we sure know what hot brake fluid smells like and what spongy brake lines feel like (DR are you listening)
    GOD bless my friends, Paula, Cheese(Rex) and Alex and all those still with us.
    Semper Fi
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  10. #10
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    That sounds awsome! I wish I was there. I'm happy all went well and everyone had fun.

    11.98 @ 115 mph
    "Comfort, Class and Hair on Fire Performance."

  11. #11
    Charlie,

    we definitely missed having you there! Maybe they'll come by to your neck of the woods later this year. Maybe VIR, heard thats a real nice course as well, not many walls and lots of run off room

    Quote Originally Posted by DEFYANT
    That sounds awsome! I wish I was there. I'm happy all went well and everyone had fun.

  12. #12
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    Here is a shot of my car off the driven photography website. Mine and Dennis's were in the first two groups of pictures.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    2003 300A Black MM
    3.73's, 3500 PI, T64e at 9.5 PSI
    Belts are for washing machines.
    Theme song (s) : Back in Black & Thunderstruck!!

    Ride it like a Ford.!!

    What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    I'm not a gynecologist....but I'll take a look at it.

  13. #13
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by juno
    Here is a shot of my car off the driven photography website. Mine and Dennis's were in the first two groups of pictures.
    How'd you get the pics so fast?? Their mailing mine
    What Shakes Juno, and Hotrauder said is the truth.
    I learned more this weekend than my brain can process
    I'm treating my car to new pads as we speak.
    Shakes, I think you car is more like a thoroughbred race horse, the more you throw at it the more it likes it.
    I was looking for apexes all the way up US27...
    ~Jim

    2004 Mercury Marauder SB

  14. #14
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    http://www.drivenphotography.com/

    It was in the e-mail from Ed. I think your car is in 40-60 or 60-80 group. Shakes is in 81-100.
    It makes a nice wall paper but the CD will be better quality.


    Quote Originally Posted by jimlam56
    How'd you get the pics so fast?? Their mailing mine
    What Shakes Juno, and Hotrauder said is the truth.
    I learned more this weekend than my brain can process
    I'm treating my car to new pads as we speak.
    Shakes, I think you car is more like a thoroughbred race horse, the more you throw at it the more it likes it.
    I was looking for apexes all the way up US27...
    2003 300A Black MM
    3.73's, 3500 PI, T64e at 9.5 PSI
    Belts are for washing machines.
    Theme song (s) : Back in Black & Thunderstruck!!

    Ride it like a Ford.!!

    What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    I'm not a gynecologist....but I'll take a look at it.

  15. #15
    here I am breathing down some mustang's neck, theres also a nice shot somewhere of Dennis leading through on turns 14-15

    ]

    here it is


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