Ferrari Challenge Sonoma

Great day at Sonoma -- word of advice: if you plan to track Saturday, don't miss the drivers' meeting in the morning, as they will not allow you on the track

 

What time is the drivers meeting tomorrow am?

 

9am sharp.

Anyone know where/who can scrub down my tires? That last session today just killed my tires...there is so much junk on them.

 

Folks,

I just got home from the drive back to Sac, and I couldn't wait to post here. I wanted to say a great big THANK YOU to Ferrari of SF, Hooked on Driving, everyone involved in creating this day. Thank you for making it one of the best days of my Ferrari ownership, and for helping to remind me why I adore that little car of mine.

It was so good to finally put faces and real names to all the handles I've seen over the years I've been here, to reunite with old buddies (I'm looking at you, Dan, Albert, Joe, and all the rest of the FOG guys whom I don't get to spend nearly enough driving and lunch time with), hang out with the guys from here in Sac (Daves B&P, Mark, Dave and Janet, Nate), the Reno guys (shout-outs to Mike and Gil, who woke up super-early and drove a long time to make it to Sonoma). To new friends, MChanMD and his lovely lady, who was kind enough to join me for the first touring session.

Thanks to the Fiat 500 Abarth guys, who gave the guys just two more reasons to make fun of me - a full 1.000 second reaction time (yuck!) and a a really slow track time, that I didn't have time to improve upon with a second attempt. Thanks to all the staff, caterers (lunch was yummy, as it is every year!), track volunteers...

I had a wonderful day, enjoyed talking everyone's ears off, getting a little sunburnt, and just enjoying life... in California... on a gorgeous day... with a Ferrari. Who could ask for more?

See you all soon - I promise I'll do my best to see you before this time next year!

Orrie

 

+1. Orrie, sorry I didn't get a chance to say hello, but thanks for taking Capt WillieB's buddy Vince around the track. I took his other buddy, Jake. Great fun! Sharing our cars is a great thing to do to help dispel people's misperceptions. Saw JWolfe put a little tyke in his car and help taking a photo with the kid's dad. Nice one, J!

 

Was there a Ducati tent like last year? I've always only gone on Saturdays, what is the turn out like on Sunday?

 

What a fantastic day. The weather was simply perfect, the cars were perfect, the atmosphere was perfect. Dave, Nate, Orrie, and Michael it was great seeing all of you again. Orrie, the Fiat mini-autocross was too fun; wish we could have done it again. David, Pierre, Albert, and Nick; it was great to meet you all today and a special thank you to Nick for letting me tag along for one of the touring sessions in his gorgeous 360. Mike, as always, great spending time with you and THANK YOU for inviting me along for the ride to/from the track and for the VIP pass. It was a fantastic trip. To be honest, I didn't get many photos this year; I was too busy having fun. I did, however, manage to get a couple photos which I am going through right now. I will also be posting my video from the Abarth autocross.

Very, very fun day.

-Gil

 

+1 - great to see you Orrie -- one of the better Challenge weekends I recall - BIG thanks to Kevin and the entire HOD staff!

 

Gil no need to thank among friends it was great meeting you also. Great event!
Special gratitude to Dave B. and Orrie for setting up the drive to the event.

 

It was great seeing everyone. A big thanks to Kevin, HOD and FoSF for making such a great day possible. Life is good!

 

+1 and then some.....

 

Not able to make it this weekend, but very happy to have seen some cool cars on Friday!
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Video of track time this weekend. Leaving the pits starts at about 4:00

Ferrari F355 Capristo Stage 3 at Ferrari Challenge Sears Point Raceway - YouTube

 

gorgeous shot, DB!

 

Nice way to start my morning. Very nice line, SK! And great recovery on #2 early on. Interesting moment when you come up on 3a and there is the cloud of dust from the car in front -- given it's blind and you see the dust first before the track and what's on it -- marveled at the point by you are given mid second apex at #7. Great to see the edge of #5 get used -- lots of grip there that often gets missed. At times it seemed like you were the only one out there - was this the last sport session on Saturday? Where did all the other cars go?

 

I think that was the second session. Made me tired just watching. You went all out the whole time. Well done.

 

Me too!

Gotta hand it to you DAK and SK -- you 3-pedalers have a lot of work to do out there

 

They're not the only ones with 3 pedals. John in his TR was lapping as quickly as some of the "faster" cars!

 

Great vid. This 355 sounds awesome!

 

John is blazing fast!!!

I grinned when I saw this; the 355 having a little too much fun :
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS5GenOVKKM]Ferrari Spin at Sonoma Raceway (HD 1080p) - YouTube[/ame]

 

Beautiful! More please

 

I think that Andrew used to be a fan of James Garner in the Rockford Files.

 

Hahaha! I liked how he just passed that baby blue Cali on the outside after turn 8 (17:00), that guy does not know how to point whatsoever!

Me and 2 other guys were stuck behind him while watching him weave left and right like a mad man, so I don't blame the 458 ahead of me for not wanting to pass him. We pitted and headed back out and all was good again.

 

I quick video from the 2nd sport session on Saturday. I'll post a better video when I have time to edit. Check out the borrowed new F12 go off the track. Lucky for him there was a runoff!

2013 Sonoma Raceway, Ferrari Challenge Races - Sport Session - YouTube

Great event! Thank you to Ferrari Challenge and Ferrari of San Francisco.

 

My first time at a Ferrari Challenge weekend and I had a great time. As others have posted the event is very well run and the weather was beautiful. Sorry I didn't spend more time visiting with you guys but I was keeping my Italian friend Giancarlo busy. His company is a sponsor of a Ferrari team in Italy (AF corse ::: AFcorse :::) and they have a professional connection to Ferrari Fort Lauderdale. Their manager Ronnie Voegel was very gracious, showed us through their operation, and arranged for Giancarlo to do two hot laps in the challenge car at lunch. The highlight of his day I am sure. We had fun goofing around in the touring sessions. I wouldn't miss this event if they hold it again next year. Hope to see you all soon for a drive and a chance to compare notes on the weekend.

MW