I went up to Sears Point on Friday to watch the third day of a Russel Racing School (now ESPN Russel Racing School) and take pics. I'll comment on the individual pics as I post them. Yes, they're small to save email bandwidth and storage, and because I'm too lazy to make intermediate-sized ones just for posting up here. Full-size are available on request, as usual.

On the way north, I got passed by a Miata just north of the Golden Gate bridge. Why did I take a picture? Check his license plate...

The Formula Mitsu cars that you get in the basic "techniques" class.

Dry-sumped, single-carb'ed, making about 100-120 HP. Inboard rear disk brakes, even...

Supertrapps or equivalent. (Some had the real thing, some had the equivalent.)

Four-into-one header.

Introducing my attorney, Lisa.

Buttoned up and ready to go!!

On the front straight, between Turn 11 and Start-Finish.

Setting up for Turn 11.

i don't get it, what does it mean?

Andy

In the Carousel. By the end of the morning sessions, she had finally figured the Carousel out.

More between 10 and 11.

Time for another session!

Suited up and ready to go!

Need an attorney often, eh Dave??

Turn four. Instructor comment--"There ya go! She's finally got to the apex on this one."

What happens when you hit the apex and get on the throttle--you use all of the track!

Leading a pack into the Carousel. Temporarily...

Into Turn 7, as viewed from the instructor's truck.

Well, yes... They do get by her between 11 and 1...

A 1973 Six conversion. Owned by some guy named Memo Gidley.

...Yeah, the ex CHAMP car driver. He's now an instructor at Russel. Didn't get a chance to talk 914s with him, sad to say. The chief instructor asked if I knew it was "a fake"--and when I replied that I did, he asked how I knew... Heh heh heh... He probably didn't know who he was talking to.

Got a 1974 rear bumper, even though it's a 73. Yeah, and a pre-73 front bumper, and pre-73 engine lid letters.

Now, if you take the three-day "Techniques" course and are good little boys and girls, they give you one run session in the "Advanced" cars.

Mazda rotary powered, full slicks and wings and everything. Much much faster!!

And a Bug gearbox! Somewhat beefed up, of course...

At least I'm not the only one that doesn't get it!

Ready to head out!

Yeah, they move a lot faster on the straights. They also backfire like gunshots on decel. And sometimes they spit fireballs while doing so! (Sadly, I didn't get any pics of that.)

Done so soon... Pit lane, ready to park it.

The Miata? I was mostly amused that he was really trying hard to pass my 914 (weaving in and out of traffic like a madman!), when he couldn't outrun the "914" on his license plate. Made me snicker.

As to needing an attorney? Uhh, just this one, thanks!

The rest of the weekend was great. Driving around from winery to winery in Sonoma...

--DD

Sounds like you had a fun weekend with the law firm.

I am thinking it meant 4=for, rep=replacement, 914=914 Just my thoughts.

actually, i wouldn't be suprised if that license plate is just luck of the draw. the format is standard california format. ie: number, three letters, three numbers.

Bet she had a good time. The Mitsubishi's are a blast to drive. I took the 3 day course earlier this year. Spent the first day driving in the rain and learning how to be smooth. The last session in the rotory was the best - much, much faster than the formula Mitsu's. They rev limited us to about 6,000 rpm in the rotaries but they were still very fast - I was doing well over 100 MPH by start/finish and on the rev limiter just as I approached the end of the straight. Rotories allowed me to brake much deeper too. I'm saving my pennies to go to the advance session later this year. Russell does a good job with this school. I just wish it was more affordable.