Much belated post about ACNA / Ronal LVMS event...
 

Short version?

Ming2.7T is FRICKING FAAAASSSST!

Longer version?

Caravan through San Bernardino Mntns into the desert was sweet. Great alternative. Here's a shot. This is when we stopped and Riccardo's wife learned his "brake pad upgrade" was actually a $2K+ Brembo BBK upgrade.

Anger.

Lesson: lying to wife about the car is not smart, mkay?!

<img src="http://audifahrer.com/AW/track/06lvms/lvms001.jpg" border="2">

Descending into the desert through the pass was gorgeous. Once on the flat, 5-mile plus straights and fresh pavement made for some real nice straight line speeds. It's good to be alone in the desert.

Arrived in Vegas. Was greeted by Ming in straw hat and shades, holding a nice red cup full of single barrel JD on ice. So sweet. Enter corruption of youth, stage left. By the end of the night (after dinner with DWP, his wife, and resident Audiworld celeb NielM) the bottle was empty and I had to keep my composure to avoid licking it dry - smoothest 94 proof I've had in a while (can't wait to polish another off next time!).

Next day hit the track after a goose chase for 100 octane. Turns. Turns. Turns. Turns. Lots of turns. It was a blast getting familiar with the track as F16s, 15s, and even a few B1's took off from and landed at Nellis AFB right next door (the smell of my tax dollars exiting the rear of jet turbines was really exciting). The best part of the trip, though, by far, was getting a chance to drive with the grumpy old man himself. Definitely nothing like being on the track with friends. Remember, any time he tells you he's slow, HE LIES! HE LIES LIKE A DOG!!

It was a blast trying to keep up with his old ass through the turns. Best part was following him into tight turn 5 onto the back straight. Dude was carrying so much speed through there that both inside wheels lifted, spinning like hell, kicking up two HUGE rooster-tails of thick smoke. IT was so rock-and-roll that out of nowhere came the Scorpions yelling "Here I am, Rocked you like a hurricane!" In my car we were so stoked all the two of us could do was scream "YEEEEEEEAAEEEEEEEEE!!!" as we entered the cloud, only to emerge on the other side to see that bastard half way down the straight. It was so bad ass, I loved it.

I spent the rest of my time looking (like a scared little girl!) in my rearviews, and when I saw that animal a few turns back, all I could do was mumble "oh god, here he comes, oh god, no OH GOD!" I just hope he doesn't show the video of me running from him like a scared chicken way off line.

Anyhow, the whole experience reaffirmed my belief that the best performance mod one can make is to improve the driver. Here's this old sleeper dude rocking stock suspension in an A6 turning in better lap times than 500HP S4's pimped to the maximum. It really doesn't matter how many or how few doodads you got on your sled. When you got it, hell, you got it. It really isn't the car, but how you drive it, and for me at least, there's still tons to learn...

Anyhow, I had fun! Hats off to Gary from Ronal for putting together a great event. He's certainly a top-notch guy and the event was a blast...

<img src="http://audifahrer.com/AW/track/06lvms/lvms002.jpg" border="2">

nice...looks like you had a great time...and you're right the best mod/upgrade you can make is the..
 

driver.....I've seen my progress on the track and how it equates to the street.....hope you do some more events soon....once you start it's very hard to stop...8^)

DH - had a question about your magnetized numbers...
 

Is that something the Chi-Land chapter does for all event participants?

We were thinking of going that route instead of vinyl stickers, but the costs were kinda high - how did you guys pull it off?

Also, some have said that at speed, the magnetized numbers can come off, and that it's best to mask the leading edge down with tape. Any thoughts?

Great story. Sorry I missed it but I'll be there, someday.

Streets? June 22-23...
 

Hey, also, you haven't registered yet for the Julian drive. Whatup with that? Register, fool! You think I build these forms for fun?

<a href="http://sccaudi.com/forms/events/06_julianDrive/registration.htm">If you're really as hip hop as you say you are, click here to register</a>.

;)

Is there something wrong with your camera?
 

j/k

I never get enough of hearing about great track experiences :-)

Julian and Willow no go for me. House is hitting the market in a week or two.
 

Man, I've already spent the last three weekends cooped up staging the house. This will be the last weekend!

Let me know if you want me to play a hand or two for you at Harrah's...
 

You can paypal me like $100 or so, and I'll let you know if I won after the drive.

:|

Good luck with the house...

No, just too many Batman re-runs on daytime television. It's affecting my internal gyroscope.

The craps table last year was memorable.
 

hman_a4 and I walked away very happy so did the dude that owned the RS6. Have a few extra servings of that bread pudding for me.