I ran Laguna Seca! (long)
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Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: NorCal
I ran Laguna Seca! (long)
I drove my Lightning at Laguna Seca last Friday and it was a thrill!
A while back, I saw a post by DreamAboutL (Azeem) on the NLOC mesage board regarding "Running Laguna Seca." Only 60 cars were allowed and all the spots filled up quick. But, one of the cars that was entered dropped out last minute, DreamAboutL emailed me, and a few hours later, I was in!
First of all, other than Malibu Grand Prix and SVT Ontrack, I've never been on a race course. So, consider this a review from a rookie's perspective.
Although I set my alarm clock for 4:30, it didn't go off - I set it for 4:30 PM - not 4:30 AM. My wife woke me up at 5:20 AM saying "shouldn't you be racing now?". Without knowing the time, I woke up quickly hearing that. Luckily, I prepared everything the night before and if I drove a little faster than the speed limit, I'd get to the track by 7:30 am for the safety check.
On the drive there, in a 55 mph double fine zone, a MR2 turbo drove by doing 85 to 90. I sped up slightly assuming that if I was behind him, I'd be safe from the CHP. Good thing too he was in front of me! About 20 minutes later, I hit my brakes just as parked CHP caught him on radar doing 84 mph. I know this because 30 minutes after I arrived at Laguna Seca, he pulled up next to me and parked. I asked him what the ticket was for and his response was "you were the truck following me, huh?" He was clocked at 84. Bummer of a way to start the morning.
- Better him than me.
Just past the freeway exit, I pulled up a behind a silver Lightning. He entered two cars: his Lightning and twin turbo RX7. His wife was driving the Lightning.
When we entered, many people stared as two trucks pulled up and parked side by side. I imagine they were thinking "Why aren't you towing your track car? You're not going to drive the truck, are you?
Since I had no idea what to do and didn't know anyone, I was fortunate to meet Azeem. He told me what was going on, introduced me around and orientated me so my first time would be a fun one.
Now for the fun part. This was the format and schedule.
Safety Check
Safety Meeting
Hot laps
Lunch
Hot laps
The hot laps were divided up into three groups: Fastest, fast, rookies/slower cars. Azeem was in Group 1 and I was in Group 3. Although I didn't count, there were approximately 23 cars per group. Spread over 2.3 miles, there was plently of room.
My first ride was as a passenger with Azeem driving so I could see the track and learn (or try to learn) the lines. There were 911's, M series BMWs, a Viper GTS, a truck, Accura NSX's...
The first lap was a warmup lap. Helmets on, seatbelt tight, windows down, we took off with the others. After several laps I noticed several things:
1. Azeem is a great driver
2. The Lightning isn't being passed
3. I'm scared and there's NO WAY I'm driving my track that fast!
4. The brakes fade.
What I didn't realize, even though I was told many times by a friend, is how hard you hit the brakes when driving on a road course. Although I might be wrong, it seems as if the key to driving the course was to carry as much speed as you could into the corner. To do that, you have to hit the brakes so hard that you're in "Anti-Lock" BEFORE every corner. Then you let off the brakes as you turn the wheel. Halfway through the turn, you're on the throttle. How much throttle depends on the turn.
How does the Lightning handle? See 2 and 3 above. I didn't realize that this truck could perform as it did. We all know the acceleration. But imagine the same g-force in all directions! First, you're pressed to the seat, then bent forward, then slammed to one side, then slammed back into the seat while drifting sideways!
Two groups later, it was my turn to drive!:
I drove the first lap easy with Azeem giving me pointers from the passenger seat. I don't know how many are familiar with Laguna seca, but you start out on pit row headed uphill. After it crests, it bends slightly to the left, which is turn 1. Turn 2 was a sharp left, almost two sharp lefts with a small, very small straight in the middle. The correct line this corner in the middle of the track. No matter how hard I tried, I would take the corner too sharp (on the inside of the turn), but the feedback from the truck is remarkable! Since it is far more capable on the course than I was, correction of mistakes is easy. If you loose the rear because you're on the throttle, back off and it's under control. Since I wasn't driving fast in the corners, understeer was corrected by taking pressure off the steering wheel and although I'd swing wide and offline, I'd regain control instead of plowing forward.
Out of this turn and on the throttle, not hard though, to turn 3, which is to the right. It's a gentle turn with speed, but not much. Slow down, easy into turn 4, again to the right. Out of turn four and a NAIL the throttle. You think drag racing is fun? Imagine seeing a car gaining on you prior to a corner, during the corner and then disappearing as soon as you nail the throttle! Then do it every corner you can - that's fun! Turn 5 is to the left and heads uphill. Again, nail the throttle and difference in torque is apparent. Turn 6, to the left had more out of control skid marks than any other corner, so I never pushed it at that corner. I planned on driving home without any mishaps. Out of turn six, and again you nail the throttle up a steep hill. But because the crest of the hill leaves you "blind," and there's a small turn, it's freaky. My reaction every time was to back off the throttle, coast and brake long before I needed to.
This leads to the corkscrew. It's a sharp bend down to the left, blind into the next corner, which is to the right and downhill steeper than the prior corner.
That's me!
I noticed that if I aimed my truck between two oak trees beyond the course, I'd line up the truck for the second part of it. As the day went on, I noticed that I would loose some drivers in my group at this point (I don't know why.) The next corner was hard to judge. You're still driving downhill and the corner turns left. The weird part is that when you think you should start your turn, you have to wait, then turn. If you do it right, you're coasting into this corner from the corkscrew and then on the throttle sliding controlled, setting up for the next corner, still downhill to the right. The final turn is turn 11, which is real sharp to the left. Twice I entered this corner too fast plowing the front end staight ahead. If you've driven Malibu Grand Prix, it's like the final corner. BUT...
This is the best part of the course for the Lightning. As soon as the truck is ready out of turn 11, you nail the throttle and hold on! By the time you are passing by the finish line, where many people are standing amazed at a truck flying by, you're well over 110 mph and still accelerating pulling away from most every car that tries to catch you out of turn 11! But the scaring part was this: no matter how many times I tried I could NOT stay on the throttle past the hill's crest. Approaching the crest at 110+, where the other side is blind with a small turn is a mindf%$, so I'd back off the throttle prior to cresting the hill - EVERY TIME - no matter hard I tried not to. As I'd crest the hill, I coast and brake all the way to turn 2.
Observations:
1. The brakes on the Lightning are great for everything by road racing. But, they forced me, a rookie, to the conclusion of the following "progression of events"
a. Drive hard
b. Brake hard
c. Brake fade
d. No brakes (in my mind)
e. Drive slow
f. Learn to drive
If the Lightning had better front disks, it would be very competive on the course.
2. A chipped/MAF/filtered Lightning draws MUCH attention, especially on the main straight!
3. The MAF/filter is NOT a good setup at Laguna Seca. I received two black flags for noise infractions on my second and third laps (92.9 and 98 db). Three infractions and you're out. Thus, I had to go easy on the throttle at two spots: Past turn 4, a straight away, and past turn 5, a straight away uphill. This sucked. At least the only other car with noise infraction was the Viper GTS, so I kept good company. Yet, his noise infraction was from the exhaust, mine was the intake! It got attention though.
4. As the day progressed, I started to notice body roll. I guess I was concentrating on too many other things early on. Since I drive faster in the morning than the afternoon, and didn't notice body roll in the morning, my conclusion is that the body roll can't be that bad. I was just more aware of it later on.
5. I hope to get different tires (Hoosiers) for the next time.
6. I bet relocating the battery to the rear would make a dramatic improvement to the handling.
All in all, I would suggest joininh us at the next event. IT WAS A THRILL!
------------------
Regards,
George
george@spikeengineering.com http://www.spikeengineering.com
---------
Red 2000 Lightning, #4033
White 1996 Whippet (1/2 mile course, 6 turns: 40 Seconds)
Red Wheaton 1995 Ridgeback (1/2 loaf of bread, 6 bites, 4 seconds)
[This message has been edited by Spike Engineering (edited 11-29-2000).]
A while back, I saw a post by DreamAboutL (Azeem) on the NLOC mesage board regarding "Running Laguna Seca." Only 60 cars were allowed and all the spots filled up quick. But, one of the cars that was entered dropped out last minute, DreamAboutL emailed me, and a few hours later, I was in!
First of all, other than Malibu Grand Prix and SVT Ontrack, I've never been on a race course. So, consider this a review from a rookie's perspective.
Although I set my alarm clock for 4:30, it didn't go off - I set it for 4:30 PM - not 4:30 AM. My wife woke me up at 5:20 AM saying "shouldn't you be racing now?". Without knowing the time, I woke up quickly hearing that. Luckily, I prepared everything the night before and if I drove a little faster than the speed limit, I'd get to the track by 7:30 am for the safety check.
On the drive there, in a 55 mph double fine zone, a MR2 turbo drove by doing 85 to 90. I sped up slightly assuming that if I was behind him, I'd be safe from the CHP. Good thing too he was in front of me! About 20 minutes later, I hit my brakes just as parked CHP caught him on radar doing 84 mph. I know this because 30 minutes after I arrived at Laguna Seca, he pulled up next to me and parked. I asked him what the ticket was for and his response was "you were the truck following me, huh?" He was clocked at 84. Bummer of a way to start the morning.
- Better him than me.
Just past the freeway exit, I pulled up a behind a silver Lightning. He entered two cars: his Lightning and twin turbo RX7. His wife was driving the Lightning.
When we entered, many people stared as two trucks pulled up and parked side by side. I imagine they were thinking "Why aren't you towing your track car? You're not going to drive the truck, are you?
Since I had no idea what to do and didn't know anyone, I was fortunate to meet Azeem. He told me what was going on, introduced me around and orientated me so my first time would be a fun one.
Now for the fun part. This was the format and schedule.
Safety Check
Safety Meeting
Hot laps
Lunch
Hot laps
The hot laps were divided up into three groups: Fastest, fast, rookies/slower cars. Azeem was in Group 1 and I was in Group 3. Although I didn't count, there were approximately 23 cars per group. Spread over 2.3 miles, there was plently of room.
My first ride was as a passenger with Azeem driving so I could see the track and learn (or try to learn) the lines. There were 911's, M series BMWs, a Viper GTS, a truck, Accura NSX's...
The first lap was a warmup lap. Helmets on, seatbelt tight, windows down, we took off with the others. After several laps I noticed several things:
1. Azeem is a great driver
2. The Lightning isn't being passed
3. I'm scared and there's NO WAY I'm driving my track that fast!
4. The brakes fade.
What I didn't realize, even though I was told many times by a friend, is how hard you hit the brakes when driving on a road course. Although I might be wrong, it seems as if the key to driving the course was to carry as much speed as you could into the corner. To do that, you have to hit the brakes so hard that you're in "Anti-Lock" BEFORE every corner. Then you let off the brakes as you turn the wheel. Halfway through the turn, you're on the throttle. How much throttle depends on the turn.
How does the Lightning handle? See 2 and 3 above. I didn't realize that this truck could perform as it did. We all know the acceleration. But imagine the same g-force in all directions! First, you're pressed to the seat, then bent forward, then slammed to one side, then slammed back into the seat while drifting sideways!
Two groups later, it was my turn to drive!:
I drove the first lap easy with Azeem giving me pointers from the passenger seat. I don't know how many are familiar with Laguna seca, but you start out on pit row headed uphill. After it crests, it bends slightly to the left, which is turn 1. Turn 2 was a sharp left, almost two sharp lefts with a small, very small straight in the middle. The correct line this corner in the middle of the track. No matter how hard I tried, I would take the corner too sharp (on the inside of the turn), but the feedback from the truck is remarkable! Since it is far more capable on the course than I was, correction of mistakes is easy. If you loose the rear because you're on the throttle, back off and it's under control. Since I wasn't driving fast in the corners, understeer was corrected by taking pressure off the steering wheel and although I'd swing wide and offline, I'd regain control instead of plowing forward.
Out of this turn and on the throttle, not hard though, to turn 3, which is to the right. It's a gentle turn with speed, but not much. Slow down, easy into turn 4, again to the right. Out of turn four and a NAIL the throttle. You think drag racing is fun? Imagine seeing a car gaining on you prior to a corner, during the corner and then disappearing as soon as you nail the throttle! Then do it every corner you can - that's fun! Turn 5 is to the left and heads uphill. Again, nail the throttle and difference in torque is apparent. Turn 6, to the left had more out of control skid marks than any other corner, so I never pushed it at that corner. I planned on driving home without any mishaps. Out of turn six, and again you nail the throttle up a steep hill. But because the crest of the hill leaves you "blind," and there's a small turn, it's freaky. My reaction every time was to back off the throttle, coast and brake long before I needed to.
This leads to the corkscrew. It's a sharp bend down to the left, blind into the next corner, which is to the right and downhill steeper than the prior corner.
That's me!
I noticed that if I aimed my truck between two oak trees beyond the course, I'd line up the truck for the second part of it. As the day went on, I noticed that I would loose some drivers in my group at this point (I don't know why.) The next corner was hard to judge. You're still driving downhill and the corner turns left. The weird part is that when you think you should start your turn, you have to wait, then turn. If you do it right, you're coasting into this corner from the corkscrew and then on the throttle sliding controlled, setting up for the next corner, still downhill to the right. The final turn is turn 11, which is real sharp to the left. Twice I entered this corner too fast plowing the front end staight ahead. If you've driven Malibu Grand Prix, it's like the final corner. BUT...
This is the best part of the course for the Lightning. As soon as the truck is ready out of turn 11, you nail the throttle and hold on! By the time you are passing by the finish line, where many people are standing amazed at a truck flying by, you're well over 110 mph and still accelerating pulling away from most every car that tries to catch you out of turn 11! But the scaring part was this: no matter how many times I tried I could NOT stay on the throttle past the hill's crest. Approaching the crest at 110+, where the other side is blind with a small turn is a mindf%$, so I'd back off the throttle prior to cresting the hill - EVERY TIME - no matter hard I tried not to. As I'd crest the hill, I coast and brake all the way to turn 2.
Observations:
1. The brakes on the Lightning are great for everything by road racing. But, they forced me, a rookie, to the conclusion of the following "progression of events"
a. Drive hard
b. Brake hard
c. Brake fade
d. No brakes (in my mind)
e. Drive slow
f. Learn to drive
If the Lightning had better front disks, it would be very competive on the course.
2. A chipped/MAF/filtered Lightning draws MUCH attention, especially on the main straight!
3. The MAF/filter is NOT a good setup at Laguna Seca. I received two black flags for noise infractions on my second and third laps (92.9 and 98 db). Three infractions and you're out. Thus, I had to go easy on the throttle at two spots: Past turn 4, a straight away, and past turn 5, a straight away uphill. This sucked. At least the only other car with noise infraction was the Viper GTS, so I kept good company. Yet, his noise infraction was from the exhaust, mine was the intake! It got attention though.
4. As the day progressed, I started to notice body roll. I guess I was concentrating on too many other things early on. Since I drive faster in the morning than the afternoon, and didn't notice body roll in the morning, my conclusion is that the body roll can't be that bad. I was just more aware of it later on.
5. I hope to get different tires (Hoosiers) for the next time.
6. I bet relocating the battery to the rear would make a dramatic improvement to the handling.
All in all, I would suggest joininh us at the next event. IT WAS A THRILL!
------------------
Regards,
George
george@spikeengineering.com http://www.spikeengineering.com
---------
Red 2000 Lightning, #4033
White 1996 Whippet (1/2 mile course, 6 turns: 40 Seconds)
Red Wheaton 1995 Ridgeback (1/2 loaf of bread, 6 bites, 4 seconds)
[This message has been edited by Spike Engineering (edited 11-29-2000).]
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 4,402
Likes: 0
From: On the side of the Road attempting to explain 135 miles per hour
One word.....
E_N_V_Y
Love that pic of a RED L in the corkscrew
never heard of noise infractions at a race track. Must be a Cali thing.
------------------
Brake Late, Dive Deep
Speedin Bob
Owner/Operator/Pilot of the "Red Rocket" (your mileage may vary) Lightning #2504, 6/17/99
NLOC # 438
**detuned for winter**
times irrelevant
removal of chipenfilter and ram air kit, return to stock airbox, 17" Expy rims with Comp T/A tires (they were cheap ok) Winter dualers to follow.
Summer setup
13.56 @ 100.89, 1.97 60' on F-1's (still learning)
JL Ram Air, R9 Chip,Keyless Entry, Retrax Bed Cover, Shackles, Wet Okoles, Mobil 1/FilterMag, Clear Corners
Autophysics filter FOR SALE [9" x 3.5" Red Trim]
E_N_V_Y
Love that pic of a RED L in the corkscrew
never heard of noise infractions at a race track. Must be a Cali thing.
------------------
Brake Late, Dive Deep
Speedin Bob
Owner/Operator/Pilot of the "Red Rocket" (your mileage may vary) Lightning #2504, 6/17/99
NLOC # 438
**detuned for winter**
times irrelevant
removal of chipenfilter and ram air kit, return to stock airbox, 17" Expy rims with Comp T/A tires (they were cheap ok) Winter dualers to follow.
Summer setup
13.56 @ 100.89, 1.97 60' on F-1's (still learning)
JL Ram Air, R9 Chip,Keyless Entry, Retrax Bed Cover, Shackles, Wet Okoles, Mobil 1/FilterMag, Clear Corners
Autophysics filter FOR SALE [9" x 3.5" Red Trim]
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
Thank you for sharing, that is so cool.
Could you post or somehow make available a larger version of the "Red L in the Corkscrew" picture. I want to make a nice big print out of it and hang it in my office. (with your permission of course)
Could you post or somehow make available a larger version of the "Red L in the Corkscrew" picture. I want to make a nice big print out of it and hang it in my office. (with your permission of course)
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,723
Likes: 1
From: NorCal
I put a larger scan (still a JPEG, but no compression) at: www.spikeengineering.com/svtpix/LagunaSecaFullSize.jpg
It's 1.3 mb. Enjoy!
------------------
Regards,
George
george@spikeengineering.com
http://www.spikeengineering.com
---------
Red 2000 Lightning, #4033
White 1996 Whippet (1/2 mile course, 6 turns: 40 Seconds)
Red Wheaton 1995 Ridgeback (1/2 loaf of bread, 6 bites, 4 seconds)
It's 1.3 mb. Enjoy!
------------------
Regards,
George
george@spikeengineering.com
http://www.spikeengineering.com
---------
Red 2000 Lightning, #4033
White 1996 Whippet (1/2 mile course, 6 turns: 40 Seconds)
Red Wheaton 1995 Ridgeback (1/2 loaf of bread, 6 bites, 4 seconds)
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,723
Likes: 1
From: NorCal
I put a larger scan (still a JPEG, but no compression) at: www.spikeengineering.com/svtpix/LagunaSecaFullSize.jpg
It's 1.3 mb. Enjoy!
------------------
Regards,
George
george@spikeengineering.com
http://www.spikeengineering.com
---------
Red 2000 Lightning, #4033
White 1996 Whippet (1/2 mile course, 6 turns: 40 Seconds)
Red Wheaton 1995 Ridgeback (1/2 loaf of bread, 6 bites, 4 seconds)
It's 1.3 mb. Enjoy!
------------------
Regards,
George
george@spikeengineering.com
http://www.spikeengineering.com
---------
Red 2000 Lightning, #4033
White 1996 Whippet (1/2 mile course, 6 turns: 40 Seconds)
Red Wheaton 1995 Ridgeback (1/2 loaf of bread, 6 bites, 4 seconds)
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 677
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From: Canton, MI, USA
Great post, and an excellent adventure.
------------------
Regards,
Gordon
'99 Red Lightning
Johnny Lightning Superchip
Johnny Lighting Ram Air Kit
Century Tonneau
Best 1/4 mi. ET: 13.249 secs
------------------
Regards,
Gordon
'99 Red Lightning
Johnny Lightning Superchip
Johnny Lighting Ram Air Kit
Century Tonneau
Best 1/4 mi. ET: 13.249 secs
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Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 237
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George; awesome! I have one quesiton though. Hoosier makes two different kinds of 18" tire and I was wondering which ones you were going to go with and why? I am doing some Solo II with mine and tires (and shocks and brake pads) are definately in the list for next spring.
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From: NorCal
roger
I'm going to consult Azeem (DreaminAboutL) before I spend the money on the tires. There are two that I saw the other day, A3S03 and R3S03. It's just a guess, but I think A is for asymmetrical and R is for directional.
Since I made the post, I also found that BFG makes a tire, the g-Force T/A R1 (295/35ZR18).
Either way, I'll ask many questions before buying.
------------------
Regards,
George
george@spikeengineering.com
http://www.spikeengineering.com
---------
Red 2000 Lightning, #4033
White 1996 Whippet (1/2 mile course, 6 turns: 40 Seconds)
Red Wheaton 1995 Ridgeback (1/2 loaf of bread, 6 bites, 4 seconds)
I'm going to consult Azeem (DreaminAboutL) before I spend the money on the tires. There are two that I saw the other day, A3S03 and R3S03. It's just a guess, but I think A is for asymmetrical and R is for directional.
Since I made the post, I also found that BFG makes a tire, the g-Force T/A R1 (295/35ZR18).
Either way, I'll ask many questions before buying.
------------------
Regards,
George
george@spikeengineering.com
http://www.spikeengineering.com
---------
Red 2000 Lightning, #4033
White 1996 Whippet (1/2 mile course, 6 turns: 40 Seconds)
Red Wheaton 1995 Ridgeback (1/2 loaf of bread, 6 bites, 4 seconds)
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Texas
Hoosier A compound is an autocross compound. It is stickier than the R compound but wears faster. Its great for slow-speed (under 60mph) turns, but in a road racing situation, its like driving on ice. The compound wears off so fast it ceases to hold and feels like driving on a sandy road. You will actually see fine shavings on the tire that look like rubber eraser.
The R compound is designed for road racing and holds up much better to high speed abuse. I'd use it for courses like laguna seca or other courses over 3/4 mile in length.
As for the BFGs, they have two kinds of R1. The earlier generation had all steel belts and the second generation has both steel and fiberglass. The gen2 R1 is great on light cars with very even weight distribution but will wear very fast and the sidewalls probably wont be stiff enough for our truck. If you can find the all-steel design, it would probably work well. However, for heavier cars and trucks, hoosier is still a better bet. You'll probably see lots of porsche guys on kumho and BFGs, but the heavy cars with large tires (such as many of the viper guys) seem to be sticking with the Hoosiers.
Anyway, thats my 2 cents
[This message has been edited by Nathan (edited 11-30-2000).]
The R compound is designed for road racing and holds up much better to high speed abuse. I'd use it for courses like laguna seca or other courses over 3/4 mile in length.
As for the BFGs, they have two kinds of R1. The earlier generation had all steel belts and the second generation has both steel and fiberglass. The gen2 R1 is great on light cars with very even weight distribution but will wear very fast and the sidewalls probably wont be stiff enough for our truck. If you can find the all-steel design, it would probably work well. However, for heavier cars and trucks, hoosier is still a better bet. You'll probably see lots of porsche guys on kumho and BFGs, but the heavy cars with large tires (such as many of the viper guys) seem to be sticking with the Hoosiers.
Anyway, thats my 2 cents
[This message has been edited by Nathan (edited 11-30-2000).]
Thread Starter
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From: NorCal
Nathan
Good info and thanks. Interesting note, BFG states that their tire is better for heavier cars. Marketing?
BTW, nice pun:
>but the heavy cars with large tires... seem to be >sticking with the Hoosiers.
------------------
Regards,
George
george@spikeengineering.com
http://www.spikeengineering.com
---------
Red 2000 Lightning, #4033
White 1996 Whippet (1/2 mile course, 6 turns: 40 Seconds)
Red Wheaton 1995 Ridgeback (1/2 loaf of bread, 6 bites, 4 seconds)
Good info and thanks. Interesting note, BFG states that their tire is better for heavier cars. Marketing?
BTW, nice pun:
>but the heavy cars with large tires... seem to be >sticking with the Hoosiers.
------------------
Regards,
George
george@spikeengineering.com
http://www.spikeengineering.com
---------
Red 2000 Lightning, #4033
White 1996 Whippet (1/2 mile course, 6 turns: 40 Seconds)
Red Wheaton 1995 Ridgeback (1/2 loaf of bread, 6 bites, 4 seconds)
Senior Member
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 789
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
George... good writeup! Only thing I'd add is how the Lightning never ceases to amaze me... I mean I was keeping up with cars I have absolutely no business keeping up with. Cars such Acura NSX's and Porsche 911s (older model). And these guys were driving hard... but I stayed on their tail, not just on the straights, but for the entire course... The 911 actually went off track... and I wasn't even that close to him... staring at the rear view mirror, not the track I guess. (driver & car were fine).
My setup: R9 / AirRaid / Pirelli P-Zero Asymmetrico / 100% 100-octane race fuel
LOVE my new tires...no feathering at all; very predictable; extremely sticky. Stock brakes suck... nuff said. Definitely getting more power-on oversteer now that I have more power... may be time for some BABolt-widened rears.
Number of times Spikeengineer said "Wow... what a blast": 110
Number of times someone walked up to one of us and said "Damn... those trucks haul *ss": 15+
Also, the funniest thing happened at another road-racing event I was at this Sunday at Thunderhill raceway - didn't have lightning, was racing track car. Two guys independantly came up to me and recognized me as the "guy who brought the Lightning to the last Thunderhill event". They said they want to thank me, as I was responsible for making them spending thousands of dollars to soup-up their cars... They readily admitted that getting beat by a truck was too much for them...
Finally, I am definitely going to organize a road-course event early next year... either get a block of spots with a SCCA / NASA "driving school", or rent a track myself. It'll be either No. or So. Calif... and we'll try to drag RUSLOW and NATHAN over also!! Stay tuned.
Some Pics:
-Dreamin
My setup: R9 / AirRaid / Pirelli P-Zero Asymmetrico / 100% 100-octane race fuel
LOVE my new tires...no feathering at all; very predictable; extremely sticky. Stock brakes suck... nuff said. Definitely getting more power-on oversteer now that I have more power... may be time for some BABolt-widened rears.
Number of times Spikeengineer said "Wow... what a blast": 110
Number of times someone walked up to one of us and said "Damn... those trucks haul *ss": 15+
Also, the funniest thing happened at another road-racing event I was at this Sunday at Thunderhill raceway - didn't have lightning, was racing track car. Two guys independantly came up to me and recognized me as the "guy who brought the Lightning to the last Thunderhill event". They said they want to thank me, as I was responsible for making them spending thousands of dollars to soup-up their cars... They readily admitted that getting beat by a truck was too much for them...
Finally, I am definitely going to organize a road-course event early next year... either get a block of spots with a SCCA / NASA "driving school", or rent a track myself. It'll be either No. or So. Calif... and we'll try to drag RUSLOW and NATHAN over also!! Stay tuned.
Some Pics:
-Dreamin