Right in the middle of my Epic Thanksgiving Geoff and I shot down south for the Bob’s Donuts Annual Day After Thanksgiving Trackday at Buttonwillow. I’ve been going to this event since 2005 but it’s been happening way longer than that. It never fails to be one of the funnest trackdays of the year.
The event is semi-invitational and tends to attract more grippers than drifters, and almost everyone knows Don personally. This is part of what makes the day fun.
There’s always a variety of cars, ranging from Miatas to M3’s, and now GT-R’s for the first time. Three examples of Nissan’s new muscle car were present.
This year there were very few drifters in attendance. Matt Madrigali was excited to drive with his new Kouki aero on, but the front bumper only lasted until the second session before it got munched.
Luke Lonberger was the only pro drifter there. He was just having fun and keeping the Corvette from collecting dust during the off-season.
Don loves Bob’s, but he’s not a big fan of having his picture taken. He’ll always say something like “If I knew I was going to get my picture taken I would have combed my hair!” Haha. Don’t worry, Don. You look swell.
Tomasz Olech’s brother Daniel found the dirt jumps behind the kart track. Good thing he had a bike.
This is the rust truck. When you run out of rust, this thing will come help you out.
One of the hazards at Buttonwillow is the mud. This guy will probably keep finding mud under his car for weeks, even if he thinks he cleaned it all out. Even when it’s dry at the track the dust somehow digs in to every part of the car and nothing short of acid dipping the chassis will get it all out.
Joe Chang’s Subaru is always one of my favorite cars.
Since Geoff was running the show, Don got a good amount of seat time. That’s his gunmetal GT-R in front of the white one.
Old Datsun Z’s are some of my favorite cars of all time. Restored ones, ratty ones, it doesn’t matter. They’re all good.
What do you guys think of Kia’s Zero paint scheme? Does it work with the car or is it whack?
If you’re wondering why I have such limited angles for my photos, it’s because photographers are not allowed to shoot trackside. Vanhap Photography bought the exclusive rights to shoot at Buttonwillow, which completely stifles any kind of event coverage. I could understand having the exclusive rights to selling photos at the track, but banning all other photographers is bullshit.
Kia said something shiny fell off his car and then he got a flat tire. It turns out part of his wheel broke off. That would certainly explain the flat tire.
Drifters get bored easily so they have to find creative games to play, like “Throw the Tire.”
Luis cooked carne asada tacos. The carne asada was so big I got full before I even got to the tortilla.
These two Miatas were driving together all day. They’re both going to be in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill this weekend. They sure had some awesome lighting setups.
Marcus Fry got to take a few laps in Luke’s Corvette toward the end of the day. He wasn’t doing too bad!
.:Bohan
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