ROAD RACED my L! (long)
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Joined: May 2000
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From: Bay Area, CA
ROAD RACED my L! (long)
My track car was in the shop, so I decided to enter my L into this month's local road-race event (not an SVT OnTrack event). This event was not a true race (no times)... more of a practice day for the SCCA/NASA road-racers. 30+ cars on the track per group, 3 groups, and you rotate all day. 50-60% of the cars were on race tires. I put 110 track miles on my L. My truck is bone stock, 2000 miles.
Track:
Thunderhill Raceway - No. Calif - 3 miles - 15 turns - 250 foot elevation change - Track map here: http://www.thunderhill.com/Thunderhill_Map_hr.html
Summary:
Amazing truck. Truly amazing. I went into this a skeptic... the L is after all a 4800 lb. truck... wondering if everyone would be zipping by me; if it would handle at all; if I would feel like I was going to die on the fast, blind, off-camber turns (turn 5). Man was I surprised! Great power, extremely balanced, predictable handling. A great vehicle to put on a track!
Power:
The most fun I had during the day was moving over to the far right on the main straight, implying that cars can pass me... well the other cars would move over to the left, start their pass... I'd just hold my right foot down and most of the car simply could not pass me! (Combo of taking the last turn before the straight really well and the L's HP) I'd hit 120-125mph on the main straight.
Handling:
Amazing! SVT may not have built the ultimate in grip, but they definitely built an extremely balanced, very predictable vehicle! On the fast sweepers (70-80mph), it's very easy to find the limit of grip and hold it there... add more throttle and the rear step out slightly, reduce throttle and it comes back in. Always felt under control. On slow, tight turns, predictable understeer... adding power, the rear comes out... i.e. power-slide. Only issue was down-shifting in the middle of a turn... but surprisingly, on the fast sweeper, the rear came around but was easy to catch! On the off-camber turns, however, it was NOT pretty... almost spun out. I'm sure the after-market suspensions can increase grip, but I dont see how they can improve on the predictability.
Transmission:
Not a bad transmission. Having an auto is a liability in a road race... Early on, I'd add a little too much power and it would down shift in the middle of a turn, but with practice, I figured out exactly how much gas to apply to not down shift. The trans is very predictable once you figure it out... until it gets hot. Once hot (over-heated?) shifts got much harder, letting off the gas suddenly before a shift produced a really hard upshift (almost a bang), and the shift points changed - up shifting earlier and not down shifting as late... obviously lots of ECU control here.
Engine Cooling:
Nice and over-designed. Outside temp was 90 deg all afternoon, but the L temp gauge needle did not budge. I'm sure the needle is heavily "center-weighted" (i.e. middle position is 150-230 deg, and from center to melting the motor is only 10 deg.) But my track car starts to over-heat in 90 deg weather at this track (and I have a competition radiator in it)... the L did not.
Brakes:
Brakes unfortunately sucked. They can be made to fade at will. Slowing from 120 on the main stratigh to 40-50 for turn 1 uses up about 80% their capacity... the next few turns finish them off. They cool fast, so babying them on part of the track, they almost recovered by the time I got to the back straight. But as the session went on, I had to baby them everywhere, so I could not keep my foot down as long on the main straights
Misc:
* The seat belts cinch down well and will hold you in place - i.e. move seat back, pull firmly on seat belt to remove slack, snap seat belt quickly and it'll lock, move seat forward for further tightening...
* The stock tires held together reasonably well, some chunking, I'd say the 100 track miles used up 1000 'street' miles of life.
* The tires become marbles above 42psi... I ran them 39-40 max hot... this equates to 30-31 cold.
* Fuel pick-up system works well, no fuel starvation on the track... all the way until the fuel low light comes on.
* Mileage on track: 5.5 MPG
* Overheated, cooking L brake pads are the nastiest thing you will ever smell - I recognized traces of outhouse, burnt hair, and rotten egg.
* Number of people that asked me if the 'truck' was stock: 14
The following cars could not catch / pass me:
Porsche Boxster (lack of power?)
300ZX TT - (lack of low end torque?)
Acura NSX - (definitely a driver issue here)
Audi S4
Mustang GT
Note that I have a lot of experience road-racing, mostly on this track... so I do have an advantage here.
These cars destroyed me:
RX-7 TT
Corvette C5
Porsche 911
Cars not in my run group:
Viper
00 BMW M5 (that would have been fun!)
SVT anything
Some pics:
On Grid
Heading toward starting line
Down the main straight
Turn 3 (zoom sucks on my camera)
Turn 5 - downhill side
Heading toward Turn 6
My poor rotors - but they look fine now, after 1000 street miles
Some of the other cars
In summary: the most fun you will ever have with your L! If have ever have a chance to enter a track event... I highly recommend it.
My next event with the L: Laguna Seca (Nov.)
-Dreamin
araja@kestrelsolutions.com
[This message has been edited by DreaminAboutL (edited 09-04-2000).]
[This message has been edited by DreaminAboutL (edited 09-04-2000).]
Track:
Thunderhill Raceway - No. Calif - 3 miles - 15 turns - 250 foot elevation change - Track map here: http://www.thunderhill.com/Thunderhill_Map_hr.html
Summary:
Amazing truck. Truly amazing. I went into this a skeptic... the L is after all a 4800 lb. truck... wondering if everyone would be zipping by me; if it would handle at all; if I would feel like I was going to die on the fast, blind, off-camber turns (turn 5). Man was I surprised! Great power, extremely balanced, predictable handling. A great vehicle to put on a track!
Power:
The most fun I had during the day was moving over to the far right on the main straight, implying that cars can pass me... well the other cars would move over to the left, start their pass... I'd just hold my right foot down and most of the car simply could not pass me! (Combo of taking the last turn before the straight really well and the L's HP) I'd hit 120-125mph on the main straight.
Handling:
Amazing! SVT may not have built the ultimate in grip, but they definitely built an extremely balanced, very predictable vehicle! On the fast sweepers (70-80mph), it's very easy to find the limit of grip and hold it there... add more throttle and the rear step out slightly, reduce throttle and it comes back in. Always felt under control. On slow, tight turns, predictable understeer... adding power, the rear comes out... i.e. power-slide. Only issue was down-shifting in the middle of a turn... but surprisingly, on the fast sweeper, the rear came around but was easy to catch! On the off-camber turns, however, it was NOT pretty... almost spun out. I'm sure the after-market suspensions can increase grip, but I dont see how they can improve on the predictability.
Transmission:
Not a bad transmission. Having an auto is a liability in a road race... Early on, I'd add a little too much power and it would down shift in the middle of a turn, but with practice, I figured out exactly how much gas to apply to not down shift. The trans is very predictable once you figure it out... until it gets hot. Once hot (over-heated?) shifts got much harder, letting off the gas suddenly before a shift produced a really hard upshift (almost a bang), and the shift points changed - up shifting earlier and not down shifting as late... obviously lots of ECU control here.
Engine Cooling:
Nice and over-designed. Outside temp was 90 deg all afternoon, but the L temp gauge needle did not budge. I'm sure the needle is heavily "center-weighted" (i.e. middle position is 150-230 deg, and from center to melting the motor is only 10 deg.) But my track car starts to over-heat in 90 deg weather at this track (and I have a competition radiator in it)... the L did not.
Brakes:
Brakes unfortunately sucked. They can be made to fade at will. Slowing from 120 on the main stratigh to 40-50 for turn 1 uses up about 80% their capacity... the next few turns finish them off. They cool fast, so babying them on part of the track, they almost recovered by the time I got to the back straight. But as the session went on, I had to baby them everywhere, so I could not keep my foot down as long on the main straights
Misc:
* The seat belts cinch down well and will hold you in place - i.e. move seat back, pull firmly on seat belt to remove slack, snap seat belt quickly and it'll lock, move seat forward for further tightening...
* The stock tires held together reasonably well, some chunking, I'd say the 100 track miles used up 1000 'street' miles of life.
* The tires become marbles above 42psi... I ran them 39-40 max hot... this equates to 30-31 cold.
* Fuel pick-up system works well, no fuel starvation on the track... all the way until the fuel low light comes on.
* Mileage on track: 5.5 MPG
* Overheated, cooking L brake pads are the nastiest thing you will ever smell - I recognized traces of outhouse, burnt hair, and rotten egg.
* Number of people that asked me if the 'truck' was stock: 14
The following cars could not catch / pass me:
Porsche Boxster (lack of power?)
300ZX TT - (lack of low end torque?)
Acura NSX - (definitely a driver issue here)
Audi S4
Mustang GT
Note that I have a lot of experience road-racing, mostly on this track... so I do have an advantage here.
These cars destroyed me:
RX-7 TT
Corvette C5
Porsche 911
Cars not in my run group:
Viper
00 BMW M5 (that would have been fun!)
SVT anything
Some pics:
On Grid
Heading toward starting line
Down the main straight
Turn 3 (zoom sucks on my camera)
Turn 5 - downhill side
Heading toward Turn 6
My poor rotors - but they look fine now, after 1000 street miles
Some of the other cars
In summary: the most fun you will ever have with your L! If have ever have a chance to enter a track event... I highly recommend it.
My next event with the L: Laguna Seca (Nov.)
-Dreamin
araja@kestrelsolutions.com
[This message has been edited by DreaminAboutL (edited 09-04-2000).]
[This message has been edited by DreaminAboutL (edited 09-04-2000).]
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,947
Likes: 0
From: HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA
Azeem
Sent chills down my spine. Fantastic thread. A must read for L owners!
------------------
Jim
jim@jimshaw.cc
Black 00, 4.10's, SuperChip/R9, super whites, Airaid w/10" Big Mouth, Mobile1 w/FilterMag, chrome wheels, AIM 2" drop, clear corners
2000 E320, 1993 Cobra R, 1959 Corvette,
1949 Plymouth Coupe
Sent chills down my spine. Fantastic thread. A must read for L owners!
------------------
Jim
jim@jimshaw.cc
Black 00, 4.10's, SuperChip/R9, super whites, Airaid w/10" Big Mouth, Mobile1 w/FilterMag, chrome wheels, AIM 2" drop, clear corners
2000 E320, 1993 Cobra R, 1959 Corvette,
1949 Plymouth Coupe
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 4,402
Likes: 0
From: On the side of the Road attempting to explain 135 miles per hour
Dreamin,
AWESOME!, truly awesome.
I really need to get mine on the track. Drag racing is fine and all but road racing RULES...
Henceforth my L's tag: Indy F1.
How long until you upgrade to Baer or Brembos?
------------------
Brake Late, Dive Deep
Speedin Bob
'99 Red Lightning #2504 Built 6/17/99
NLOC # 438
13.98 @ 98 mph (Rookie Session)
Latest Mods:
AIM Drop shackles (on order)
Superchip [CUX1R9]
Keyless Entry
Retrax Bed Cover
2000 L Tiedowns over 99's
Super White Head and Fog lights
Wet Okole Seat Covers
Mobil One and FilterMag
Airaid w/ Autophysics filter retrofit
Clear Corners & Tails
Bugflector
Duraliner
[This message has been edited by Speedin Bob (edited 09-04-2000).]
AWESOME!, truly awesome.
I really need to get mine on the track. Drag racing is fine and all but road racing RULES...
Henceforth my L's tag: Indy F1.
How long until you upgrade to Baer or Brembos?
------------------
Brake Late, Dive Deep
Speedin Bob
'99 Red Lightning #2504 Built 6/17/99
NLOC # 438
13.98 @ 98 mph (Rookie Session)
Latest Mods:
AIM Drop shackles (on order)
Superchip [CUX1R9]
Keyless Entry
Retrax Bed Cover
2000 L Tiedowns over 99's
Super White Head and Fog lights
Wet Okole Seat Covers
Mobil One and FilterMag
Airaid w/ Autophysics filter retrofit
Clear Corners & Tails
Bugflector
Duraliner
[This message has been edited by Speedin Bob (edited 09-04-2000).]
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Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,121
Likes: 0
From: RogersAr
Sounds like you had fun! I've been trying to get other Lightning owners to try that too.I've been doing it for the past yr and have had a blast.Went so far as to install a rooll bar and 5 point harness.Check your pads for cracking along the pad near the backing plate mine fiction material slide off and almost ruined my drilled rotors.
Just installed another 5 point so that I can run the Pony Express and the SilverState[165 class]for my navagator.
Also flush your brake fluid to dot 4 works better.
Would like some info on the events ie.safty regs and classes as well as schedules and tracks if possible.Might decide to take a trip out there,origially form the Bay Area.
Just installed another 5 point so that I can run the Pony Express and the SilverState[165 class]for my navagator.
Also flush your brake fluid to dot 4 works better.
Would like some info on the events ie.safty regs and classes as well as schedules and tracks if possible.Might decide to take a trip out there,origially form the Bay Area.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,947
Likes: 0
From: HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA
If I remember correctly, Azeem does not have the 5 point. He is talking about stock belts.
------------------
Jim
jim@jimshaw.cc
Black 00, 4.10's, SuperChip/R9, super whites, Airaid w/10" Big Mouth, Mobile1 w/FilterMag, chrome wheels, AIM 2" drop, clear corners
2000 E320, 1993 Cobra R, 1959 Corvette,
1949 Plymouth Coupe
------------------
Jim
jim@jimshaw.cc
Black 00, 4.10's, SuperChip/R9, super whites, Airaid w/10" Big Mouth, Mobile1 w/FilterMag, chrome wheels, AIM 2" drop, clear corners
2000 E320, 1993 Cobra R, 1959 Corvette,
1949 Plymouth Coupe
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,121
Likes: 0
From: RogersAr
Will post the pics when I get back from the SilverState.Will aslo post speeds as well.But will not be near a computer for 2 weeks if you would like E-Mail me at Ruslow@Yahoo.com and I will send the pics to you then.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 673
Likes: 0
From: Austin Tx
I wold like to see a video of this event or any other like it. Anybody have one??
------------------
99-White
6-9-99
#2163
Pro-M 80
PSP chip
Full Bassani
F.R.P.P. single blade T.B.
clear corners & rears
Lonestar spray-on bedliner
white Bugflector II
1/4 13.47@102.50
1/8 8.67@81.33
367rwhp
436.8rwt
yesuah@flash.net
------------------
99-White
6-9-99
#2163
Pro-M 80
PSP chip
Full Bassani
F.R.P.P. single blade T.B.
clear corners & rears
Lonestar spray-on bedliner
white Bugflector II
1/4 13.47@102.50
1/8 8.67@81.33
367rwhp
436.8rwt
yesuah@flash.net
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 221
Likes: 0
From: Playa del Rey, Ca, U.S.A.
DreaminAboutL,
thanks for taking the time to enlighten us on some great info. It's great to know the L isn't hiding poor manners at the outer limits of its capabilities. Did they prevent you from dropping your tailgate or removing it? I imagine on the longer straights, you would've done yourself a favor. I would love to see another thread from the track after you installed a chip, an intake and some better brakes.
Thanks again.
thanks for taking the time to enlighten us on some great info. It's great to know the L isn't hiding poor manners at the outer limits of its capabilities. Did they prevent you from dropping your tailgate or removing it? I imagine on the longer straights, you would've done yourself a favor. I would love to see another thread from the track after you installed a chip, an intake and some better brakes.
Thanks again.
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 789
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From: Bay Area, CA
If anyone in Calif (North or South) is interested in putting their L on a track... let me know... there are events all up and down Calif. If there is interest, I'll do some reseach and post more info.
Fast Gator: Yes, the L earned a LOT of respect by the end of the day. A couple cars that didn't let me pass (that I new I was faster than)... I'd just hang on their bumper for the entire next lap... and guess what, 1 lap with an F150 a foot off your rear bumper, gets real unnerving... they moved over at the next passing zone!
Caka: I'll put some movies (in car - on track) on my website later tonight...
rallyone: There have been a couple posts here stating that tail-gate up or down doesn't matter?! But I should get a cover. And my plan is: chip, intake, brakes, tires...
-Dreamin
Fast Gator: Yes, the L earned a LOT of respect by the end of the day. A couple cars that didn't let me pass (that I new I was faster than)... I'd just hang on their bumper for the entire next lap... and guess what, 1 lap with an F150 a foot off your rear bumper, gets real unnerving... they moved over at the next passing zone!
Caka: I'll put some movies (in car - on track) on my website later tonight...
rallyone: There have been a couple posts here stating that tail-gate up or down doesn't matter?! But I should get a cover. And my plan is: chip, intake, brakes, tires...
-Dreamin