Author Topic: 2011 Team Shelby Mini-Nationals at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA (Read 2319 times)

Boss Man · « **on:** August 07, 2011, 08:18 PM »

2011 Team Shelby Mini-Nationals at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA

This is the way it goes when your car freak, gear head or Mustang lover:

For months now I have know about my brother-in-law's wedding reception on Saturday in San Francisco. In fact we scheduled a 6 day road trip around it, with enough time to get there, hang out with family and take our time to smell the roses on the way home.

On Wednesday, the little speed demon in my head began to whisper... "Hey, you're going to be right next to Sonoma and Infineon." "Doesn't Bruce Griggs live in Sonoma?" "You should call Bruce and see about sneaking in some seat time on Saturday morning."

Turns out there was a Team Shelby event going on there this weekend. (Little speed demon with Mustang event radar FTW) Bruce was super busy and not planning on going, but when he heard we were coming down, decided to spend the day Saturday hanging out with us there.

Apparently, the turnout for this event was down from previous years - As it was my first time attending this event, I was very impressed by the amount of amazing Shelbys and other race ready Mustangs ...and by the quality of said Shelbys and other Mustangs. There were a TON of track prepped GT350's, several FR500's and some very cool vintage Trans-Am cars - Oh yeah, and probably a half dozen awesome Griggs GR40 cars of various years and stages !!!

I was also impressed by the Shelby and Mustangs of Northern California owners' willingness to flog their sweet Stangs around the track, not holding anything back. These guys and gals know how to drive !!!

Today was filled with Mustang awesomeness as well. My personal highlight of the day was being thrown around Infineon Raceway in a track pounding 525HP GT350, by Shelby's Gary Patterson. Saying Gary knows how to drive, would be a huge understatement !!! It's hard to say how much of this is due to Gary's piloting skills, but that track run made me completely rethink my opinion of the Shelby GT350. The car is fast. Really fast. But that's not the most impressive part - It does it effortlessly. (OK, almost) The GT350 delivers it's gobs of power manageably. No matter how fast we went, the car maintained traction and complete control. It feels even faster and more powerful, because it does such an efficient job putting that power to the ground. And the exhaust... In a word - Awesome !!! Just the sound of the exhaust alone, will make you push the GT350 harder. If you do push it, you will be rewarded with a guttural growl akin to a NASCAR, and the ride of your life

Could it get any better than that? Yes, yes it can. An hour or so later, Gary tossed me the keys to a brand new Super Snake. I got to take RPM Member "Team Wicked" Rob Combs out the the track with me for this test drive. What a treat !!! This big, bad Shelby surprisingly has all the poise of your older sister on prom night. We were held up in traffic on the track, and in 3rd gear the Super Snake feels like a luxury sports sedan - Even quiet I would say. But put your foot into it, even just a little, and prepare for horns to protrude from the the roof and a barbed tail from the trunk - Cuz, things just got wicked !!! Holy smoke, the Shelby Super Snake is FAST !!! It goes from "Sunday service" polite to "KISS concert" loud and crazy, in no time flat. I love this car !!! It has officially been added to my "Need to have" list.

What a great weekend !!! Definitely worth all the apologies I probably owe my very understanding wife and kids.

EVEN MORE photos and videos to come soon...

Boss Man · « **Reply #1 on:** August 07, 2011, 08:28 PM »

5ohPony · « **Reply #2 on:** August 07, 2011, 08:59 PM »

Too cool... great pics! I'm disappointed my schedule prevented me from making it to my home event! I'll be sure to be there next year!!!

jeff.m · « **Reply #3 on:** August 07, 2011, 09:27 PM »

This is awesome! I need to make my way out to the west coast sometime...

Wicked Motorsports · « **Reply #4 on:** August 07, 2011, 11:36 PM »

This was an amazing event, I URGE anyone in the Nor Cal Hell even within a generous driving distance to Sonoma or Thunder Hill (in October this year) to make the trip meet some really great people (wear Pants not shorts) and if you are lucky you might get a chance to go for a ride in one of the cars. Plus there is simply some amazingly built cars within this group from the Daytona to the FR500S Reproduction cars. it is a great place to network if you are a car guy or girl and get some great ideas for stuff to do t0 your own rides and keep the Mustang Nation rolling strong. I want you all to know how well "WE" Repped this site making it so you the Members can reap the benefits in the end, so don't just sit in your lazy boy find these events and get out there and make this sport and Event Schedules Grow!

Midnight Pony · « **Reply #5 on:** August 08, 2011, 05:21 AM »

VERY COOL

SVO · « **Reply #6 on:** August 08, 2011, 07:16 AM »

I see you finally got to break away and have some fun

Nice story, thanks for sharing!!

TylerT · « **Reply #7 on:** August 08, 2011, 03:14 PM »

So awesome! I wish I could have made it out there, I will definitely be hitting this next year!

Wicked Motorsports · « **Reply #8 on:** August 09, 2011, 01:20 AM »

Tyler hit up the Thunder Hill one in October same amount of distance for you and they are expecting a bigger turn out.. if you want you can roll up with me Friday prior...

germeezy1 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 09, 2011, 05:31 PM »

This is great that we were able to have an RPM prescence out there, thank you Rob for graciously hosting our own Bossman!

Wicked Motorsports · « **Reply #10 on:** August 09, 2011, 06:28 PM »

anytime but he does owe me a few beers

Boss Man · « **Reply #11 on:** August 09, 2011, 06:32 PM »

Quote from: germeezy1 on August 09, 2011, 05:31 PM

This is great that we were able to have an RPM prescence out there, thank you Rob for graciously hosting our own Bossman!

We need an RPM presence at every major Mustang show or event. I'll make it to quite a few, but we need to grow our Team RPM Event Reps nationwide. RPM will support your efforts and help you team up with other RPMers in your area - so let us know what events your headed to, so we can have a great RPM showing everywhere !!!

Our RPM Members are awesome, and folks like "Team Wicked" Rob Combs who generously give of their time and energy are what make this community great. Helping each other out with rides or rooms, so more of us can rep RPM at more events on a reasonable budget is what it's all about.

I cannot tell you all how much RPM and myself have appreciated your help and support. When I did the Fireball Run, "Midnight Pony" Robert Barker made the trip from Colorado to New Mexico to hang out with me and rep RPM for the day.

Other Team RPM Members like Matt Blasi, Chet Kittle, Jeff McCormick, Tom Sherman, Jeffrey Harris and others have repped RPM at their local shows and events, handing out RPM business cards and swag & taking photos to post up here for those of us that couldn't make it.

I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible and participating with your local events. And if you find yourself in the Pacific NW, don't hesitate to send me, Jim or Germeezy a PM and we'll make sure you've got a ride and roof over your head

ford20 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 09, 2011, 08:20 PM »

DAMN!!! That is awesome!!! I wonder if by chance you happened to catch an FR500S on video. I want to copy its exhaust but I want to hear how it sounds

Wicked Motorsports · « **Reply #13 on:** August 10, 2011, 01:09 AM »

The exhaust sounds great but its very different and hard to catch an exact tone because the exhaust tips are angled away for the fan stands. It is very easy to catch if you go and search for the Mustang Challenge series they have tons of videos and sound bites

LexAngelPinkFlame · « **Reply #14 on:** February 26, 2012, 04:56 PM »

I wish I went to this one! I see our friend Mark's mustang in a few photos. Awesome!

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Author Topic: 2011 Team Shelby Mini-Nationals at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA (Read 2319 times)