Oct '07 R.A. weekend recap.

[underradar92]

Here it is boys! I'll start the week previous, as it applies too. I stopped at a friends shop on wed. to cross weigh the car, we set 'er on the scales & learned that it was off by 200#. Got it closer, within 1% before I said "good enough". I was suprised to see that, not only was it lighter than I'd expected, (3160-ish, with 1/4 tank, 3x54# sandbags in the drivers seat) but not as nose heavy (only 60f/40r) either!

Then it's time to find an extra set of front pads, got a set of Hawk blacks, took them back the next day, as I'd found some Polymatrix B's, and on the way home, got pulled over for my window tint. The cop was nice and all, so all I got was a ticket for having those darn Subaru plates on a Talon. Groundhogs Day? Grrrrr.

So, I loaded up my Ranger with all the supplies, swapped pads and such, and went to bed.

Saturday morning dawned bright & sunny, I hit the road. Got to the track, registered, teched in, found a spot and made the rounds.

So, I get on the track, do a casual lap, pick up the pace on the second, and the car is all kinds of sideways on the brakes! WTF Took a second to remember that, maybe the brake bias may need further adjustment, and proceded to do so. Quickly.

The rest of Saturday was uneventful, aside from destroying my cheap lug socket adapter. I was able to take a couple (nervous) riders on the track, that's always enjoyable.

There were so many off track incidents that day, and lots of traffic, that no one was (to the best of my knowledge) able to get any reliable lap times for me. I'd been hoping to see a 2.49 or better, someone got a 2.54, but I was lapping in traffic on that one. On one drive into turn 5, I was chasing a 944 cup car, and he went in so late, he locked up a tire, & I was able to pace him, he'd go away on the high G stuff, & I'd reel him in on the straights. That was a lot of fun. I talked to him later, super cool guy, I had to ask what sort of lap times he usually saw, he said on a good day he was in the high 2.40's. Cool.

I'd decided I'd tri to not get too wrecked that night, and stuck to that plan somewhat, but circumstances prevented a real good nights sleep. Oh well. At the resturant I talked with an instructor, and decided to take him for a ride in the AM.

At the track again! It's overcast, but the track is dry, I find Mitch (the instructor) and we go out on the track. The session is still a bit of a sensory overload, but Mitch was patient, calmly pointing out reference points and turn points, etc. and all I can say is, was I ever doing it all wrong! Not only that, almost everyone I'd ever chased was way off too! I must have improved, Mitch high 5'd me after I'd chased down a Lotus Esprit V8 on R compounds, passed him, made it stick, and ran away! Wheeee!

I was so amped, then drained after that I decided to skip the next session. Then the rains came. No more fun.

Poop was there with the rest of the Iowa peeps (Stealth TT, Lethal VR4, Brent, et al), Scott (Archer Talon), all chatted and hung out some, a good time was had by all, I'm sure. Road racers are a great bunch.

Can't wait till spring! Hopefully, restraint will prevail, & everything will be done in time for that.

I think that's about everything, as usual I took no (well, these 2) pic's, so if anyone wants to post theirs (hint, hint) that'd be cool.

 

[Slow old poop]

My old car never looked better! Good to see you again.

 

[twicks69]

Jim,

It looks like you had a great time other than the rain!

Unfortunately, my race event was rained out -- AFTER I had already driven to the track on my SLICKS. I had to drive 50 miles back home in the rain on the Hoosier QTP's -- WHITE KNUCKLE DRIVING!

My race was rescheduled for next sunday at GLD.

 

[underradar92]

My old car never looked better! Good to see you again.

I wanted to give you a (slow, comparatively) spin around the track, and ride along with you at some point, I got preoccupied & it never came together.

Jim,

It looks like you had a great time other than the rain!

Unfortunately, my race event was rained out -- AFTER I had already driven to the track on my SLICKS. I had to drive 50 miles back home in the rain on the Hoosier QTP's -- WHITE KNUCKLE DRIVING!

My race was rescheduled for next sunday at GLD.

I may take a spin down to The Grove, for the first time in like 5 years, if I don't get sidetracked somehow.

 

[Elvenhome21]

Jim, how did that tranny turn out. were the syncros good. I was so caught up in the shop I couldnt get out there until sunday after seemingly everyone left.

 

[underradar92]

I had Tim (twicks69) look at it briefly, and he said it looked kind of fresh, just run it, so I did. It sounds good, and shifted well, except for third. It shifted at R.A. but it was crunchy in all gears, so I'll pull it out this off-season, and have it redone.

It did make it thru the weekend so I was hoping to see you, so as to buy you a beer.

 

[Elvenhome21]

well i will be back at RA next saturday with the mid american series. You might be able to participate with your car but dont hold me to it. I can give you an email of the promoter for the Mid americans. Its an open show so ANYbody with a true race car is invited for the open practice. Theres a phone number to call if your car is eligable

 

[underradar92]

I'll be chopping down trees in Cudahy saturday.

 

[Elvenhome21]

well this saturday there is a auto-x at miller park

 

[123abc]

Sounds like you had a great time. I'll see next year if I can bring my laser out for a track day.

Love the shots of your car man. Looks sick as hell.

 

[Elvenhome21]

what happened to this vette http://lh4.google.com/v.miller.ii/RxOYXxad-BI/AAAAAAAADkg/Da3krhfAnMw/DSC02763.JPG?imgmax=800 and http://lh5.google.com/v.miller.ii/RxOYbBad-DI/AAAAAAAADkw/_MPQpIF-JXQ/DSC02765.JPG?imgmax=800

I would assume Sunday mishaps, but where on the track.

 

[underradar92]

I may do an auto-X sometime, not till next season though. Baby needs her beauty sleep.

I believe they both happened saturday. A GT3 got binned also. There was Vette carnage galore on saturday, the organizers were unamused. One I think, hit the wall after #7. Weird spot, I know.

Carnage and local yellows were a contributing factor in not getting any reliable lap times.

123abc: Thank you, see you in spring!

 

[Slow old poop]

what happened to this vette http://lh4.google.com/v.miller.ii/RxOYXxad-BI/AAAAAAAADkg/Da3krhfAnMw/DSC02763.JPG?imgmax=800 and http://lh5.google.com/v.miller.ii/RxOYbBad-DI/AAAAAAAADkw/_MPQpIF-JXQ/DSC02765.JPG?imgmax=800
I would assume Sunday mishaps, but where on the track.

Naw, I think that happened on Saturday, in the Kink. Dude broke his ankle, and was carted off to the hospital. It seems that a lot of ROWGs are buying new Z06es these days, and they can't drive them. This means I have to change my story about "the three most dangerous things in the world." Now, they are:

A Jewish commando with an Uzi
A mugger with a straight razor
A ROWG in an new Z06

 

[asian312]

Um....what's a ROWG

 

[Slow old poop]

Um....what's a ROWG

Rich Old White Guy

 

[schemauer]

I've been doing these events since the early 90's and this event had some of the worst driving I've seen. I think there needs to be more of a process to sign people off into the non-Novice groups.

 

[Slow old poop]

I've been doing these events since the early 90's and this event had some of the worst driving I've seen. I think there needs to be more of a process to sign people off into the non-Novice groups.

I ran in the A group (Agressive) , and -- although there were some incidents -- most of the folks were downright patient, passed well, got passed well, and it was like running with a bunch of pros. Philip Glazatov (Supercar Engineering) explains that people in the B group want to prove to everybody that they belong in the A group, so they drive like maniacs. Some of the cars in B are actually A cars being driven by a second driver, so you have a difference in ability right there.

As for D, they try to match people up with instructors, but there is no requirement to do so. That means that rank novices in a new Z06 can get out there with absolutely no experience, and encounter the Kink at 100+. Like the old Jan & Dean song, " the Kink is no place to play, you best keep away, you won't come back from Dead Man's Curve."

I agree with you that nobody ought to be allowed onto Road America without an instructor or proof of HPDE experience, and they need to justify being put into A and B.

 

[Elvenhome21]

I dont see why so many people DONT care to have an instructor with them. Heck guys in B group have instructors along with them just to have a second set of eyes point out if there not doing it perfect. Even when my dad was riding with me he pointed out that i was hitting 7 wrong, along with just watching the speedo through the carrousel to see what groove was faster. Every chance im on any road course I would always ask for a left over instructor just for there opinnion and to keep reminding me to late apex (circle track habit is to early apex).

 

[Slow old poop]

Every chance im on any road course I would always ask for a left over instructor just for there opinnion and to keep reminding me to late apex (circle track habit is to early apex).

I had an instructor point out that you can use the concrete exit road after 12 as part of the track, and dang if I didn't pick up a second or so on my lap time! I still take instructors along when I can.

 

[schemauer]

Rich-

Yes - that exit road is something I use as well!! Actually coming through 12 I aim the car for a telephone pole that is out on the other side of turn 14. Since 12 is uphill it's always hard to know exactly where that patch is. The pole gives you a reference that lets you track-out right onto that patch of access road.

 

[Elvenhome21]

I just looked at 4 different incar videos and still dont see or notice the access road, I do see how you can cheat with turn 5 by going past the rumble strips and turning in, but im not sure how much that would upset the car by turning over the rumble strips with the brakes on. On 5's exit they also have thqat little extra runoff which helps a lot to.

 

[Slow old poop]

I just looked at 4 different incar videos and still dont see or notice the access road, I do see how you can cheat with turn 5 by going past the rumble strips and turning in, but im not sure how much that would upset the car by turning over the rumble strips with the brakes on. On 5's exit they also have thqat little extra runoff which helps a lot to.

If you do that on a NASA event, it's considered off-course and they disallow the entire session. I know, because I did the exact same thing at Iowa Speedway, and they spoke to me about it. I dfidn't cross the rumble strips, I went around them, essentially making a tight left turn into a big sweeper. Because it was unclear exactly what the rumble strips in the middle of the turn were for, they didn't penalize me, but warned everybody in the drivers meeting later about doing that, and said they would penalize us if we tried it again.

I'm not sure you want to do that in 5 anyway, Check this video:
http://supercar-engineering.com/Road_America03/RA_follow_Rich+fatigue+breakn_rim.wmv

That's me, in the black 3000GT, passing the camera car about 15 seconds into the video in the Carousel. If you'll note, he does cross the rumble strips--three times-- because he turns in way too early--and the last time broke his right front wheel. At the very end of the video, he comes in on the hook. Here's a pic of what running the rumble strips can do:
http://supercar-engineering.com/Road_America03/P1010071.JPG

 

[schemauer]

I think we may be talking about different corners..... Rich mentioned corner 12. I think we actually mean 13. I'm refering to the left hander just after Canada Corner that used to go under the bridge. Is this 13? The access road is at track out on the right side of the track after this corner. Trust me it's there!!!!

As you hit the apex of the corner aim for the telephone pole you'll see straight in front of your car. The pole is actually past the track on the outside turn 14, it's a ways off, but you'll see it. At this point you still can't see the track out - as you're coming uphill. If you use the pole for a reference you can let the car slide out to the right onto the access road a bit. This gives you an extra 4-5 feet at track out. Just be careful as you'll come into 14 a lot faster!! This is actually kind of fun if you're behind another car.....you'll come through this corner a lot faster and will really fly up on their back bumper. I had a Vette run off the track in front of me at RA last week when he saw me coming. You'll gain lots of speed though to set you up for a pass under braking coming into 14.

BTW - I'll be running in the Am Cancer Society event this Sat at RA - I'll look for you there.

 

[Elvenhome21]

I think we may be talking about different corners..... Rich mentioned corner 12. I think we actually mean 13. I'm refering to the left hander just after Canada Corner that used to go under the bridge. Is this 13? The access road is at track out on the right side of the track after this corner. Trust me it's there!!!!

As you hit the apex of the corner aim for the telephone pole you'll see straight in front of your car. The pole is actually past the track on the outside turn 14, it's a ways off, but you'll see it. At this point you still can't see the track out - as you're coming uphill. If you use the pole for a reference you can let the car slide out to the right onto the access road a bit. This gives you an extra 4-5 feet at track out. Just be careful as you'll come into 14 a lot faster!! This is actually kind of fun if you're behind another car.....you'll come through this corner a lot faster and will really fly up on their back bumper. I had a Vette run off the track in front of me at RA last week when he saw me coming. You'll gain lots of speed though to set you up for a pass under braking coming into 14.

BTW - I'll be running in the Am Cancer Society event this Sat at RA - I'll look for you there.

Bring your car to race also

Yes 13 is the only corner with an access road, but now that the bridge is gone its no longer considered a tricky corner, I always go flat out through there so I never needed any more room.

6 on the other hand I always shoot over the rumble strips.

In the carousel I almost always put the inside tire in the grass and use the lip of the asphalt to really stick the car. (I did it for 3 laps in a row in the talon with stickys on and other than very slightly chewing up the sidewall I could go through there 3-4 mph fast than if I went 2-3 feet further out. I havent had any real experience running in the "middle" grove unless there is a car in front of me slowing me down, then I will screw around with odd ball lines.

 

[stealthTT]

Yes it's after turn 13. I love learning the nuances of tracks and 'finding' time like this.

Here's a map of RA:
http://roadamerica.com/images/maps/ra_map_2006.pdf

And a satellite image of the track:
http://maps.yahoo.com/broadband#mvt=s&q1=elkhart.+wi&trf=0&lon=-87.99036&lat=43.801611&mag=3