MFBA track days at Road America.

[underradar92]

Well, my second track-day weekend was an absolute success. My car performed well, and got me home, albiet with a bit more drivetrain noise.
Two of my goals were met, sub-3 minute lap times and fireballs on upshifts.
Many old and new friends made it to the track and were helpful and entertaining, I don't know what else to say. I'll be happy to answer any questions, I'm just drained from all the fun we had. Pictures may be forthcoming.

:edit: What was I thinking, posting on a monday. I promise to post at least 2 days after an event, so as to let the dozen or so remaining brain cells to start firing, ummm, normally?


Please read the new recap after the photos.

 

[lethal_vr4]

An RA regular:

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At least Sunday had nice weather!

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Is that corner worker waving the caution flag AT the Tiburon? "Caution! You are in the P-Gravel!" Hehe...

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A very fast NSX

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good to see you again Jim!

 

[underradar92]

Thanks, Lethal.
Now that I've had another day to recover, I'll try to write a better recap.

It all started innocently enough, wake up, throw the last few things in the car, get on the road, etc. I'd already changed brake pads a few days previously and drove to work a couple times to bed them in, so that was all the car prep I should need.

I'd recently gotten larger injectors and a keydiver stage 3 and that hadn't been completely sorted out, she tickles the knock guage at 6000 rpm, so thats where I'll shift. I'd asked Jon if I could borrow a logger for a few laps, and he brought one and installed it at the track, gave me a crash course on how it works, and away I went. I never did figure out what the cause of the knock is, seems I was busy driving and having fun.

So, as I'm learning the limits of my awesome brakes and not so awesome, but forgiving tires, I encounter some chump in a C5 who had way too much pride to wave me by... For most of my session. In a way I thought that ok to be having that problem, instead of being that guy.

Next session, I'm having all kinds of fun making up time on the brakes again, and come up on a SS Camaro, who's car I'd heard in the paddock, and it sounded like it may have had a centrifugal supercharger. At any rate, It made a ton of hp, as he would put 10-15 lengths on me on the 3 long straights. Then I'd reel him in in the next corner or two. For the rest of the session. I was starting to think it a conspiracy, even the corner workers were in on it, as they wouldn't even blue flag him.

When I mentioned it to my friends, they suggested I move up a class or two, or pull off for a few seconds till I get some clear track, or even flash the headlights. I didn't want to change classes, as most of the others had a lot of cars on race-spec tires, and I'd rather not try to run with those guys on my m+s rated skins. So on my next stint, when I got held up AGAIN, I pulled off for a bit.

During the course of the day a few of our friends had a number of issues, 1 decomposing 3000TT engine, an unsatisfying 911 turbo, and a binned 3000TT, so after dinner everyone was letting off some steam, as it were, we got to the hotel late and sleep even later.

Fast forward to the track again, my 3rd session (yeah ) went well, only had to flash my headlights once. At local gas station, to add the usual 1/2 tank top off, an officer of the law pulls up, asks why my plates are from a Subaru? Oops, Gotta register this thing soon. 1 pink piece if paper later, I'm off to my last session.

Last session goes off without a hitch, finally a little respect. My friend John rode along this time and of course had a fun/scary time, he's addicted, says his Ram-Air T/A is getting brake pads, etc. SOON. In all I got to give rides to 3 people, and I really like doing that for them and it balances the car in right handers too!

I gotta thank all my friends again, including everyone from Iowa, who loaned me an oil cap, when I lost mine, and gave me a ride to the local parts store for a new one. You people all rock.

Wow, that was a wordy one.

P/S the NSX in the pic had the second fastest lap time that we had checked. That thing tore arse!

 

[Greg Collier]

It sounds like a fun day... even with the wankers on the track. The Subaru license plates and pink piece of paper was funny as hell . If you were in California the car would have been impounded and you'd be in jail until your bail was posted!

 

[lethal_vr4]

Good write up Jim,

I try and get some pics posted of the DSM's that were in attendance next week. I've been pretty layed up since my introduction to the wall on Saturday.


BTW Is the other DSM guy from this msg board? I talked to him for a while and it seem as if he has a few DSM he runs.

 

[stealthTT]

You must've exorcised the demons from that car. SlowOldPoop, the previous owner of that car, would've bumpdrafted or put his front bumper in the next apex if the corner workers continually wouldn't flag them. I think it's a Speedseekers event problem, because I rarely see it elsewhere.

Great write-up and story about the cop. So is a pink slip a warning or ticket?

I was itching to be out there racing. It's sooo much more fun than watching. I've had a taste and I want more.

 

[Elvenhome21]

I was in the green and black talon 21 in c class.
BTW underradar92 did you get another oil cap?

 

[underradar92]

Elvenhome21: I got a new cap @ the NAPA in town. What did you end up doing about your axle?
StealthTT:You & I both know where the demons really were/are
Greg:I'll take the wankers over broken stuff any day, it costs less. Been lucky so far, I guess.

 

[my_precious]

sounds like a good time. too bad track days are pretty much over this time of year. they should run the track all year long just when the track is clear of snow hehe.

we gotta put together a big meet at gingerman or something next spring. i think that would be fun.

 

[underradar92]

There was snow this morning at R.A. for the NASA races.

 

[my_precious]

haha, rally baby! But seriously though, i've watched those shows on speed..."dream car garage" and there is snow on the grass areas and the track is super wet and they are test driving all these exotic cars. If that fat guy can go drive a lambo or w/e in the winter we should be able to drive our DSMs...they're both AWD right?

 

[mavisky]

I love that track Jim, sounds like you had a good time out there.

 

[my_precious]

do u have any more pics of that nsx? what kind of mods?

 

[schemauer]

Hey Jim. Just watching Speedvision news and catching up on DSMTuners.

The Archer car ran well all day Sunday. I did skip the last session as my brakes were almost shot. Didn't have any problems with point-by's; although I was giving them more than getting them! The "assertive" group had a good number of big horsepower cars and some great drivers as well. I could pass them in the twisty sections but they would pull me on the straights. I was running pretty conservative EGT's and only about 12-13 psi of boost.

The red NSX above was a guy from California. It was a custom supercharger and built engine. Big brakes, Hoosiers, etc... He was a friend of the owner of the black NSX that I was pitted next to. His times were the second fastest I've ever seen in a track day event at RA.

Regarding mention above of getting a DSM track day together next year; it may be a good idea to team up with an existing organizaiton. CGI puts on some great track days at Gingerman. Cost is reasonable, lots of track time and pretty laid back. The only possible drawback is that they run them on Mondays. We could just designate one of their scheduled days and all try to make it that day.

I also talked to Elvenhome21 - hopefully the axle issue was worked out. It's alwasy a bi*** to deal with that type of stuff at the track.

Scott

 

[schemauer]

Hey Jim. Just watching Speedvision news and catching up on DSMTuners.

The Archer car ran well all day Sunday. I did skip the last session as my brakes were almost shot. Didn't have any problems with point-by's; although I was giving them more than getting them! The "assertive" group had a good number of big horsepower cars and some great drivers as well. I could pass them in the twisty sections but they would pull me on the straights. I was running pretty conservative EGT's and only about 12-13 psi of boost.

The red NSX above was a guy from California. It was a custom supercharger and built engine. Big brakes, Hoosiers, etc... He was a friend of the owner of the black NSX that I was pitted next to. His times were the second fastest I've ever seen in a track day event at RA.

Regarding mention above of getting a DSM track day together next year; it may be a good idea to team up with an existing organizaiton. CGI puts on some great track days at Gingerman. Cost is reasonable, lots of track time and pretty laid back. The only possible drawback is that they run them on Mondays. We could just designate one of their scheduled days and all try to make it that day.

I also talked to Elvenhome21 - hopefully the axle issue was worked out. It's alwasy a bi*** to deal with that type of stuff at the track.

Scott

 

[my_precious]

yeah i went to a 3si.org track day. it was the 05 NG and i didnt even know till i got back haha. It was a blast but the only reason I said gingerman is because it's more close to all the states around michigan than Grattan or Waterford (which imo are better) and I'm not sure how much the other two tracks would cost to run on. If grattan wasnt too much for you guys to drive I would highly recomend it. It's amazing.

 

[underradar92]

Precious, the NSX, as Scott said, was super well done. Brembo gold calipers f/r, enough power to shred built ZO6's on uphill straights Something I've never heard of, let alone seen. I'm going to try to do a few more midwest tracks/days next summer, I've only been to R.A. and Blackhawk, & the hawk was 10+ years ago... On my bike.
It would be cool to do a sort of unofficial midwest DSM gathering, keep me posted.

Scott, any reason not to go with non-authentic brakes? I suspect fewer rookies helps the track etiquette deal some, I will just flash headlights 'till I get tires & move up. I saw Elvenhome21 as I was leaving sunday, so he is up & running.

I went to the NASA gig without blackcar (it makes bad noises now) to hang with Poop and crew in the rain, snow and cold, 'cause racing is good at any tempurature. Poop's car bloody RIPS!

 

[my_precious]

I think next season I shall post a thread seeing how many people want to meet up somewhere. We'd all have to agree on the track and the day but what I'm thinking now is how I want to take a road trip to Road America and ride shotgun in that JGTC style nsx hehe

 

[underradar92]

The red NSX above was a guy from California.

Cat ain't from 'round here. I've never seen it before, may have been a 1 shot deal.
Scott, are you going to post any of your lap times?
Also, I forgot what time we had on the NSX, do you remember?

 

[lethal_vr4]

2:36 or 2:32 I can't remember the exact time... it definitly was haul'n.

 

[my_precious]

so how much faster was that compaired to your sub 3 min lap time? It all depends on your definition of "sub". 2 sec? 5 sec? 15 sec under 3min? i mean if you ran a 2.57 that'd be sub 3 min and he'd have an almost 30 sec lead on you which is insane.

 

[underradar92]

so how much faster was that compaired to your sub 3 min lap time? It all depends on your definition of "sub". 2 sec? 5 sec? 15 sec under 3min? i mean if you ran a 2.57 that'd be sub 3 min and he'd have an almost 30 sec lead on you which is insane.

Not as insane as it may sound, as R.A. is a 4.1 mile track, with 3 fairly long straights, and the turns after are fairly slow, so there are a lot of ways to make time. And I have M+S rated tires. My (unofficial) time was 2.56, While Poop did an official 2.42 BTW. If it sounds like I'm making excuses for my crappy lap times, you'd be correct.

 

[schemauer]

The NSX was kind of a one shot deal. A friend of mine, Tom Bell, is an NSX owner and active in the NSX owner's group. He talked the owner into coming to the RA wekend. The car was in Florida, I believe, for some type of NSX event the weekend before the RA event. He had the car trailered from there to RA and flew in with his mechanic for the RA weekend.

The Archer car runs consistently 2:43 to 2:45 lap times at RA. It's a front wheel drive car, stock brakes, mild tuning at 12-13 psi. Shaved Toyo Proxes RA1 tires. With big brakes and another 5-8 psi it might run sub 2:40's???

What I meant by "the brakes were shot" is that I was just down to the backing plates. I had an extra set of rotors and pads along, but being the last session of the last track event of the season I just decided to pack it up. The brakes work well on the car, althought they need to be managed a bit on hot days at certain tracks. I think some ducting would cure most of this. I'm going to come up with something this winter for next year. There is no brake booster so it takes a few laps to get used to the higher pedal effort needed. I do have adjustable bias, but since the car is so light - and front heavy - I can't run too much rear bias as the rear tires lock up coming into the tighter corners. In fact the car will lift the inner rear tire in tighter corners. Probably the biggest reason for not going to larger brakes yet is that I'd probably have to buy a set of larger wheels. The car runs 16x8 BBS wheels right now.

Jim - a set of R compound tires would really wake up your car!!!

 

[underradar92]

Jim - a set of R compound tires would really wake up your car!!!

I'm confident in that, so a solution is in the works. More grip will mean better seats, as I'm currently moving around a lot on my cloth stockers. I'm thinking 255 40x17 Toyo Proxes RA1's on my new wheels.

I really do like sliding around though.

 

[Slow old poop]

The Archer car runs consistently 2:43 to 2:45 lap times at RA. It's a front wheel drive car, stock brakes, mild tuning at 12-13 psi. Shaved Toyo Proxes RA1 tires. With big brakes and another 5-8 psi it might run sub 2:40's???

Yes, it probably would. I was hopng for a sub-2:40 myself on Sunday, but we blew an oil line just as I got the tires hot enough for a fast lap.

Are you planning to run NASA TT next year? Since you are a FWD, you'll probably be in TTC, depending on the number of points. James, with his mods, is probably in TTD.
It would be very nice if we could all team up to take TTD, TTC and TTB class wins in the Midwest region and then the nationals. Boy, THAT would shake up the establishment! Might even get a bunch of DSMers out of the woodwork and on the track with us. If we all pit together, we can share parts, resources and expertise.

But don't even THINK about putting that car into TTB with me. I don't know how my car would stand up to a REAL race car.

Rich