Here's the highlights from this track day:
*Weather was cool & sunny all day.
*About 70+ drivers, members & many spectators showed.
*After a slow start, classes & orientation, a largely novice, small intermediate & average advanced group hit the track w/instructors 'til 12 noon.
*Ravenous (no am dounuts or kolaches) drivers finished off Milt's BBQ, best around, to the last bite. Family, friends & spectators brought shade canopies & picnic supplies.
*Lunch giveaways are a unique feature of TexasRxs promoted track days. Here's what was drawn by drivers @ lunch:
AUTOMOTIVE SPECIALIST/John Long-3 alignments @$79.99ea.
DENTWORKS/Trey Pool-credit towards the best paintless body repair @$100.
DISCOUNT TIRE/Johnny Rodriguez-4 new tire balance & mounts @$80.
MANGIA PIZZA/Jay Sayer-2 meal gift coupons @$20.ea.
THE Z CLINIC/Kevin LeBlanc-3 oil, lube, etc. @$67.ea.
AMSOIL/Don Scanlon-3 gear, lube, fluid packs @$40.ea.
Total sponsor/vendor giveaways +tx. =$845. of pretty good stuff !!
*The DE continued 'til 4pm+; members & instructors 'til 6pm+.
*Last but not least, it was a full "open-to-all" DE track day for an amazing $100. per driver when done without an outside organizer or fundraising club. What a great idea !!
LD.

*It looked like rain clouds coming all around us, but we got lucky with clearing skies & cool temperatures going west. A Miata, G37, RX7vert, Cobra, Sky, Solstice & 2 Solstice Coupes, .....8 in all showed.
*Bruce McDougall from Central Texas Solstice Sky Club previously brought us to "Foolish Pleasures", a true lost Texas honky tonk bar, & got a marriage proposal from the bar lady. This time was more mainstream but the pace was up. Go Bruce !!
*All the roadside & fields of wild flowers & bluebonnets were early blooming due to the months of good rain fall & added to the back road scenery for the whole trip.
Wimberley, Devil's Backbone, Spring Branch, Fischer, Kendalia, Sisterdale, Luchenbach, Albert, Blanco, Henly & Fitzhugh all had color.
*Beefy's On The Green" in Spring Branch was sort of a rural Fudruckers lunch without the medium rare choice, but pretty good still with lots of do-it-yourself bar add ons.
*Leaving for Sisterdale, there was a gap when we turned on 473. The Miata leading the 2nd group must have had his radio off as all cars following him heard the direction call & caught up. We really hate to lose anybody, but he was last seen heading north to Blanco or ......Dallas. That's why we have radios, but it helps to have them on.
*Albert Hall, home of the gigantic 300 year old oak tree, was our road house stop off before heading home after a few cool ones. A BIG chili cook off with live music there in a few months will be worth a return visit TBA. No propoals for Bruce, but a pleasant detour anyway.
*Nice weather, good stops, scenic roads,......thanks again to Bruce for planning/leading & those who came !!
LD.

THE APRIL*Winding Roads* DRIVING EVENT WILL BE AT THE TRACK.
Mazda's David Johnson & Harris Hill Raceway in San Marcos have planned a special day. Enter or visit with us & other groups.

HARRIS HILL RACEWAY DRIVERS EDUCATION TRACK DAY Powered by Mazda Sat.Apr.21:
*Open to all make cars & drivers.
*HHR MEMBERS ATTEND @NO CHARGE; BREAKFAST+LUNCH PROVIDED FOR 4/21 PAID/REGISTERED DRIVERS.
*A $100/DRIVER ENTRY FEE for a FULL DAY & all the trimmings for non-HHR members.
*60 slots will fill fast, ACT NOW.
*OPEN REGISTRATION: Feb.25-March 30 & closed.
************SIGN UP @(www.ClubRegistration.net) ************

Sat.Apr.21-Harris Hill Raceway (www.HarrisHillRoad.com):
*2840 Harris Hill Rd, San Marcos Tx. 78666.
*Top INSTRUCTORS for beginner to advanced skill levels.
*7:30am-Open, registration, BREAKFAST for reg'd drivers, Dos Gatos Kolaches/Starbuck's Coffee.
*8:00pm- Track/paddock ORIENTATION class, ID tags.
*9:00am-Track open 'til 12noon & closed for lunch.
*12noon-1:15pm LUNCH for reg'd drivers by Milt's BBQ.
*NON-REGISTERED VISITORS bring their own lunch; welcome @clubhouse/deck.
**GIVEAWAYS, product DRAWINGS; other club's sponsor/vendor items welcome.**
*1:15pm-4:00pm Track open.
*4:00pm Drivers Education ends.
*4:00pm-6pm INSTRUCTOR & HHR MEMBER TRACK ACCESS.
*6pm Track closed.
********************RAIN DAY-May 5, 2012********************

HHR REQUIRED: Current Texas driver's license, proof of insurance, license tag, inspection sticker, car in good condition, helmet (limited number loaned on site), long cotton pants, roll bar on soft-top convertibles.

VOLUNTEERS for minor duties rotation are needed; notify us if available.

For INFORMATION & QUESTIONS:
*Harris Hill Raceway (www.HarrisHillRoad.com) (Info@HarrisHillRoad.com).
*David Johnson-Roger Beasley Mazda(MazdaStuff@Gmail.com) (512-779-7725c.).
*Philipp Hubner-Harris Hill Raceway (Philipp@HarrisHillRoad.com) (512-892-7190 Austin) (210-807-4570 San Antonio).
*Larry Davidson-*Winding Roads* & TexasRxs Car Club Of Austin.
(LarryDavidson@PeoplePc.com) (836-1478 Austin).

See you there.

Larry Davidson
TexasRxs Car Club Of Austin
*Winding Roads Driving Events*....topdown, backroads in the Hill Country....
@(www.TexasRxs.org).

*We can always rely on Charlie Cluck of the Z club, this month's event planner, to find the most hidden roads & best new restaurants. He did it again for *Winding Roads #11. We always post "All cars & drivers welcome....." & some 20+ people came in a very mixed group. RX, Z240-300, G37, Miatas, Nissan, SC300 brands totaled 12 cars.
*Weather was beautiful, cool & warming; all the roadsters went top down. Charlie's back roads took us just east of Smithville to the very small & isolated rural town of Winchester. There, in a large old renovated brick & stone 1913 general store, was Murphy's Steak House (www.EatAtMurphys.com). Complete with tin ceiling, mirrored saloon bar & turn-of-the-century decor, it was a real piece of preserved small town Texas history.
*Our large reserved table awaited as the other spaces were already filing up. Calling ahead was a good move for this obviously popular place out in the middle of farm & ranch country. Both the menu & waitresses were friendly & pleasant to look at. Steaks were more than reasonably priced by the ounces & all were oversized when served.
Although very unusual for any restaurant, all steaks were cooked *exactly* to order. The sides & salad bar were also excellent. All reasons why this place is so popular. If you know where it is, better make reservations to avoid a long wait on weekends, especially evenings.
*After a leisurely lunch, the hard core drivers followed Charlie to "Cindy's Gone Hog Wild" road house on Hwy 71 just east of Austin for a cool one,....or two before going home.
*This was Charlie's "Retirement Drive" since he gave up event planning for the Z club. However, we took a poll that voted he should continue doing his *Winding Roads* turn every 3-4 months. I guess I should notify Charlie of this vote of confidence & great recognition ??
*Thanks to all who came & especially Charlie Cluck, my hero. We had a great time. Pics to our web if you have any, please.
*Next Event: Sat.-Sun.Feb.25-26 *Winding Roads* #12-7th ANNUAL GRANDE HILL COUNTRY TOUR to Leakey Tx.
SEE DETAILS @"Upcoming Events" column to the right>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
LD.

Open to all cars & drivers; all the best scenic roads in Texas in one easy overnight drive to Leakey Tx.

Camp Live Oak Cabins from $65.per night & Vinny's Italian Restaurant for dinner.

SEE DETAILS @"Upcoming Club Events" >>>>>>>>>.
LD.