2002 National SE-R Convention

Now, on to the SE-R related stuff. I started off on Thursday evening driving up to Ray Kawski’s house. I met up with Ray and Joe DiMinno and we went out drinking. We were out later than I had hoped (we had a very early flight) but managed a few hours of sleep. We left Ray’s house somewhere around 4:30AM for the airport in Philadelphia. The three of us got to the airport early and got through check-in and security relatively fast. Our flight took off a bit late but we hoped to make time in the air (the busses left for the test facility from Brown & Brown Nissan – a 5 minute drive from the airport – at noon and our flight was scheduled to land at 11:45) Our flight wound up landing at 12:15 so we started out at a disadvantage. Ray and Joe ran for the luggage while I ran for the car rental counter. Kia Sephia? No! Hyundai Sonata? No!!! I asked what else they had and they went to the larger class. Taurus, Sable, Camry, Maxima…. whoa! Maxima?!?! We did wind up with a 2002 Maxima SE. The race was on to catch the busses at the Test Facility.

We wound up way behind the busses. They had been inside a while by the time we arrived. Kyle Davis arranged for the engineers at the Test Facility to give those of us that were late a private tour afterward. Man, did it pay to be late! I don’t want to make everyone jealous so I’ll cut it short. The two coolest things we drove on were the water emersion test and the frame twist test. We really did get a customized tour that I really wish the rest of the guys got to see as well.

The few of us that were left behind caught up with the rest of the group at Brown & Brown Nissan. Inside, we met up with old friends and made new ones as well. The Arizona guys handled registration for the bulk of us at B&B. We hung out, ate, talked, and they gave some quick talks about the next day’s track event. Ray, Joe, and I left to go back to the airport to scope out rentals (for the track) for Joe and Ray. We wound up heading back to the hotel with another Maxima SE and a Camaro Z28. After JUST catching the tail end of the free drinks at the Embassy Suites. Joe, David Evans, and I headed out to pick up some more beer at the local supermarket. A small group of us wound up drinking out by the pool out on the patio for a while that night.

After finishing off about a case of beer, a group of us headed over to the Denny’s across the street. I don’t really remember but I do recall Ray Kawski, Joe DiMinno, Matt Ostlund, Brad Woodworth, Dave Smith (?), and maybe a few others. Toward the end of dinner, another rather large group of SE-R guys came in. They sat in another room and we somehow started an ice cube fight. We kind of terrorized the rest of the patrons in the place. But then, somehow Matt Ostlund was challenged to drink an entire bottle of Tabasco sauce. We all started putting money up on the table. It amounted to somewhere around $15. Matt took the cap off and turned the bottle upside-down. He finished it all in one quick shot. That really cleared the table! As we were crossing the street, I saw a street sign on a pedestal for no right turn out of the Denny’s parking lot. I couldn’t let an opportunity to have some fun get away so I egged Matt on to steal the sign. Matt very non-chalantly threw the sign over his shoulder and strolled across the street toward the hotel. Matt walked right through the parking lot and plopped the sign down in the hotel lobby. He then came back out into the parking lot where we were kicking a rock around. I kicked the rock to Matt and he just leaned over and started to puke. He puked this nuclear orange stuff out. It was aweful!

Saturday was the track day. Ray, Joe, and I got there relatively early and brought our cars immediately to tech (hey, they were rentals and ready to go!) After the driver’s meeting and much anticipation, we were ready to go. I mooched a ride off of Joe in the Z28 mostly so I could see the track before actually getting on it. Joe learned fast after having been the first car let on the track with a race-prepped Porsche 911 (with what we found out later was a 923? motor) behind him. Later in the session Joe learned the car a bit more and started learning trail braking and throttle steering that boat around the track. We went into the carousel at one point and he had the car fishtailing the entire way through it. I couldn’t believe he saved it!

I got out there for my first session of the day in Group 3 (next up from beginner) and pretty much terrorized the field) The whole group seemed to be a bit slow and I didn’t feel comfortable at times. It seemed like I was breathing down people’s necks way too much and making people nervous. It was a good opportunity to learn the car though. Before going out, Kyle had asked me to help instruct. While not quite being qualified to instruct, I told Kyle that if he was in a bind, I’d do it.

After my session, I came over to see if anyone needed instructors and wound up hopping in the car with a guy named Dan from Washington. For the first few laps, I asked to drive. I wanted to show Dan the line a bit better but also wanted to drive an SE-R!!! Dan had a really nice classic. There were two cars in front of me and, after the first lap, I was able to get by them and get some clean track to show Dan the line with a clean track. I took a lap and was about to pull in to swap drivers when I saw a train way over in the carousel. I decided to do another lap so that we didn’t get caught up behind the train. I must say that I liked his Carbotech Panther brakepads. I didn’t really push them much but they gripped like crazy! Dave came out of his seat as I applied them and I wound up braking WAY too early. We swapped and, for the most part, Dan picked right up. I didn’t really have to tell him much aside from keeping his hands from getting crossed up in the turns, braking in a straight line, keeping from fixating on the car in front of you while going through a turn, and shifting smoothly while turning in. None of the problems were a really big problem with Dan. He seemed to be aware of all of the problems and when he made mistakes I was very comfortable riding with him and thought he was great. He passed just about everyone else out there without a problem.

My second session out I decided to bump myself up to Group 2 (next down from instructor) and wound up much more comfortable and much more evenly matched with the cars around me. I went out with Larry Weeks following to show him the line since he hadn’t taken the first session. Larry was behind me for a lap before Shell Black came out of the pits right ahead of me. I got by Shell on the straight but Larry did not. I lost Larry after that. After that, the session was eventless. I did not gain ground on anyone nor did anyone else gain any ground on me. I had tons of room around me and the same car was going into the turn at the end of the straight as I entered the straight each and every lap.

The second beginner session, I figured Dan would be ok on his own but decided to go for the ride just to be sure. Dan did great and I really didn’t have to correct him much. Just as I started to open my mouth, Dan knew what the problem was and corrected it. He still seemed to be cautious at places but it was his very first time on the track! He was braking early for some turns (especially with the brakepads he had) but that was ok.

My third session out I took Matt Ostlund for a ride. Again, the whole session was eventless and everyone was very evenly spaced. It really seemed like I was the only one on the track. I think Matt enjoyed himself as I pushed the car more and more with each lap. I really learned a few places where the car was great at trail braking into turns and I was able to get the car to drift without losing much speed. I’m sure I wound up losing some speed… but hey, it looked cool

My fourth session out was right after lunch. Toward the middle of the session, I saw a black classic and a white (ivory) G20 gaining on me very slowly. I was feeling very full and fatigued from lunch so I decided to relax for a lap and let them catch me so that they could pass me. I let them by (it was Greg Vogel and Gil Espinosa) and decided to try to keep up. Well, after about 2 or 3 laps both my tires and my brain went. I started taking turns too fast, braking late, and being just plain stupid. Not to mention the fact that my tires were getting real greasy. After a few laps trying to keep up, I decided to really take it easy and dropped back for some cool-down laps. The rest of the session went well as I was basically on my own.

My fifth session I took Joe DiMinno for a ride. Somehow we wound up catching up to a black classic and a whitish G20. Guess what? Same two guys again. As we got closer, Joe mentioned that it looked like Carlos Gutierrez was driving Greg’s car. I realized it was and said something like “let’s go harass the shit out of Carlos!” I got up and right on Carlos’ ass. Carlos started watching his mirrors too much and started to get squirrely in turns and braking late. He was getting nervous. I think at one point, we went down the straight and into the braking zone with me about 5 feet off Carlos’ bumper as we braked for the turn around the 200 foot mark. After about 3 or 4 laps of this, they gave Carlos the blue flag and he let me by. As we went by, Joe and I gave Carlos the finger as he and (I think) Dave Allen gave us the finger back. During the second lap with Carlos glued to my ass, I went way too deep at the end of the straight (guess I was too occupied with my mirrors). I slowed down so much that the car downshifted to first gear. Well, the tires spun like crazy and I left Carlos in a cloud of smoke! I looked in my rearview to see a cloud with Carlos emerging out of it. I think the next lap by I let Carlos go. My tires were really starting to get greasy again anyway. Joe and I both commented on how much fun we had. Off the track, Carlos had comments that were very similar. That was really the most fun I’ve ever had on the track. It was awesome!

Joe, Ray, and I left for the airport to drop their cars off. After dropping off the cars, we headed back to the hotel. We went down to meet up with the others at the patio for free drinks. The group just kept growing and growing as time went by. The three of us took turns taking showers as the others sat outside and drank. Leslie (Jorge’s wife) gave me the mission of getting Mike Kojima drunk for the night. Well, Erin (Frank Orozco’s girlfriend) and Sarah (a friend of all the San Diego guys) were there egging Mike on. Sarah even challenged Mike that she was going to drink him under the table) Well, Sarah got a very early start on Mike and she wound up retiring early. At one point, Erin went to hand Mike a shot but Mike’s hands were full with a drink in each hand. I grabbed the shot and poured it down Mike’s throat. I think this only happened twice despite Mike saying that I kept doing it and that I was prying his jaw open! Psst, I wasn’t drunk yet Mike.

Well, without going into great detail (you had to be there for all the fun! ie I’m not going to tell the *FULL* story to protect some people from humiliation) we wound up having a really good time. Mike and Boonie were probably two of the more memorable drunks that night. We did wind up back in two rooms upstairs with the party overflowing out onto the balcony. Mike kept commenting on how drunk he was as well as how he had outdrank Sarah. “She’s sleeping and I’m still drinking. She sucks” We were in one room and I think I pushed Mike on one of the beds and yelled for a pile-on. I managed to keep my Guinness upright three or four times. The fourth or fifth time, Dave Allen jumped into my arm and spilled my Guinness all over myself and Greg Vogel (sorry again Greg). The party spilled onto the balcony and a beer bottle was broken. We were being extremely loud and roudy so I’m surprised we weren’t approached by the management. After the second beer bottle was broken, I decided it was over. I went to bed at that point. Early, but I had been drinking for several hours and was done!

Sunday morning was full of stories from the night before. After most overcame their hangovers, we headed to the picnic. By the way, I did not have a hangover. I had a sore throat from all the shouting but that was it. Joe and I went over the picnic and started to wander the picnic area and car show. There was plenty of time to relax, hang out, and enjoy the company of the others around us. Later in the afternoon, they had the car show awards and the raffle. Toward the end of the raffle (or so it seemed… at least to me) I decided to head back to the hotel because I needed to use the bathroom and the toilets in the park did not have doors on the stalls (if you know what I mean). Upon returning, most people had cleared out of the park. We still had some time and Joe had mentioned trying to get to do some sightseeing in the afternoon. We got back to the hotel but wound up hanging out talking in the parking lot.

There were very few people left for dinner on Sunday night. We had a group of about 20 (when did you think you’d hear that? A small group of 20?) went to a local Mexican restaurant for dinner. After dinner, we hung out in the parking lot bullshitting for a while. Ray and Joe had convinced me during the afternoon that we should take an extra day and go to the Grand Canyon. Ray had called and checked on flight availability and there was a flight going out Monday evening at 11:55PM as opposed to our original flight at 8AM. I think I finally left the group in the parking lot still talking around 1AM. Ray came in later around 2 or 2:30.

When we got up in the morning, someone had tried to break into the trunk of our rental Maxima! The only things back there were my video camera, regular camera, and helmet. Cocksuckers! So we called the police to get a report for the rental company (even though I took out the extra insurance). We wound up with a late start to the day but only about an hour late. As we drove north toward the Grand Canyon we monitored the fuel in each car. Joe was driving our Maxima with Ray, Larry Weeks, and myself and Matt Ostlund with his wife were following. Matt’s car was showing 30 miles till the tank was empty. Joe missed the exit we were going to take but we figured we’d be ok since it was only another 10 miles or so. Well, Matt’s car ran out of gas! We went ahead and got him some gas. We only wound up losing about 20 minutes or so in our trip.

We finally got to the Grand Canyon about 12:15 in the afternoon. We went to the tourist center and found information on flights and helicopter rides over the Grand Canyon. We booked a flight for $60. The flight was *AWESOME* I’ve flown over the Grand Canyon on flights to California but this was amazing! After getting off the plane, we drove to get a closer look. We stopped in a few parking lots, got some pictures, and got some souvenir rocks.

We drove through the afternoon to get back to Phoenix. We were going to try to meet up with Kyle Davis and Ben Rockwell for dinner. As we were approaching Phoenix, Ben called me to see where we were. He had woken me up and I asked Ray where we were. There was a miscommunication and Ben gave us somewhat bad directions. They were ok but not for where we were coming from. Anyhow we met up with them for dinner. After dinner, we had to head back to the airport