Newbie from SoCal

Welcome, BK!

I think that you'll be hard-pressed to find a team that isn't quirky or doesn't have a great story to tell about the way they found and built their car and team.  There are several teams in the LA area and I'm pretty sure that most of them will be at the Buttonwillow event.  You're planning on going, right?

I'd be interested to see a documentary make it to production!  There have been several proposed, but they never seem to make it all the way through, that I've seen anyway.

You're more than welcome to swing by our pits at Buttonwillow.  We'll answer any of your questions to the best of our ability.

In general, what makes us tick is a lack of pride, reasoning power and self preservation.

@bacon (can I call you "bacon"?),
Thanks so much for the prompt and warm reply!
I will most certainly attend the December event in Buttonwillow - wouldn't miss it. And thanks for the invitation to the pits, I'll make sure to bring some refreshments.

@BoB: LOL, I was afraid someone would point that out to me...

Thanks all,
BK

Come see it from the inside! There's a seat in the sChitroen still open... I'm in Escondido if you want to come take it for a spin around the block before deciding.

Cheater Miata!!!!   Is that better?

It's likely far better to join someone's team than attempt your first event on your own.. The sole exception is if you are a recent escapee from someplace that dresses people in really long sleeved shirts that buckle the arms around back..
  Vague disconnected stares and a tendency to drule around old junk cars also qualifies you to start your own team..

for racing joining another team is easier, but for the movie the sense of possible failure adds to the overall drama.  Then again I really enjoyed Plane Crazy so I might not be the best to listen to.

On a side note some teams make their first race some don't so its not impossible to do it, its just finding the right car with the skills of the people you have to work on it and how long you have to build it.

Choice 1: Bring your own RV or trailer.   It is going to be cold: overnight lows in the 30's.

Choice 2: Motel in "Buttonwillow".   Not in the town itself, but at the highway 58 exit (Exit 257) on I-5, about ten miles south of the track.   There are four or five choices, along with food and fuel.   For more details, go to http://www.buttonwillowraceway.com/ and click on "Food/Hotels".

Choice 3: Motel or Hotel in Bakersfield -- follow the same link.   Further away, but fancier digs.

According to Google Maps, there are also some motels at the highway 46 exit (Exit 278), about ten miles north of the track, but I've never been there.

Personally, I'm staying at the Motel 6 at the highway 58 exit.   Many of the SCCA racers stay at the "upscale" Super 8 motel down the street, but I'm cheap.

There are actually two Motel 6s at the Hwy 58 exit now. The one at the north end of the street (cheapest), and one further south which I think used to be a Travelodge.

My team is cheap, so that's where we're staying (except for the few guys who are bringing their travel trailer - unfortunately that's not big enough for the 15+ people on our team).

Last year at Arse Sweat, on Friday night we set up camp on the Motel 6 lawn with lawn chairs and coolers full of beer, heh. I don't foresee us doing that this time around, though.

Camping outside? You're nuts, but then again there are plenty of mentally questionable people at this race.

Choice 6: Under the car on the creeper, wrench in hand, pretending to vie for the heroic fix trophy. Sleep is for sissies.

It's warm under the car for at least an hour after it blows up. Hell, it could stay warm all night if you don't put the fire out.