Industry Track Day 6 – Buttonwillow Raceway
By Joey Leh, Photography by the author
When it comes time for the auto industry to relax, it hits the track. There is no greater fun for an enthusiast than to hop curbs and shave tenths, shooting for the fastest lap using just the blood and sweat poured in a longtime project car.
For those in the biz, it’s no different. Those that manufacture, prototype, market, and report on car parts are diehard car fans themselves and a track outing is always on everybody’s list.
The invite-only Industry Track Day is a casual open track event organized and volunteer staffed by members of the industry. It’s headed up by Mackin Industries (distributors of Volk Racing and Project Mu) and includes representatives from GReddy and TEIN.
Joining together members of the auto industry in a laid back and casual environment, which is one part networking and two parts driving, the day was a sold out success.
The range of companies present ran the entire gamut of the industry, with employees present from corporate giant Honda down to small racing shops.
Having already made the rounds through the racetracks of Southern California, past Industry Track Day events have taken place at Willow Springs, California Speedway, and Streets of Willow Springs. The venue this time around would be Buttonwillow Raceway, set up in the popular #13CW (clockwise) “time attack” configuration used by the Super Lap Battle.
With the chance to benchmark themselves against some of the fastest aftermarket modified cars around, drivers pushed the limit, setting fast times. The Honda S2000 is always a common sight at track days and this one proved to be no different. Buoyed by the S2000 contingent of Evasive Motorsports, who themselves are responsible for the fastest street tire-shod S2000, the field was filled with large winged, lightened, and very quick roadsters.
The fastest car of the day would also prove to be a S2000, specifically, the N1 Concepts Honda S2000. The N1 Concepts team made the trip down from Nothern California to test repairs following the S2000’s crash at the Redline Time Attack Auto Club Speedway event. Despite regularly running in the low 1:50-range, driver Andrie Hartanto felt that more time could be shaved with some front-end alignment adjustments.
Other popular cars at the event included the ubiquitous all-wheel duo – the Subaru WRX STI and the Lancer Evolution. With their turbocharged engines and computerized all-wheel drive systems, the wonder twins present were quick, although they had to deal with some fast front-drive Hondas and BMWs.
Unfortunately, our own Project Evo 9 is still dead in the water with a KIA engine and was unable to make an appearance at Industry Track Day 6. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for 7.
The wings on the S2000s and Miatas just seem to be getting bigger and bigger.
Great coverage Joey!