Misnomer

I've gone to BSR's Friday at the Track (FATT) at Summit Point twice, once last summer and once the summer before that, in my old '02 Nissan Sentra. (Stop laughing! I had shitloads of fun, even in a car with absolutely no power. ) I've been registered for this year's 7/25 session for a while already: I knew I was planning to buy a new car sometime this year, but figured I wouldn't have it by then. Well, a week ago I bought an '08 40th Anniversary Edition RX-8, and I can't wait to take it to FATT!! I'd already been considering going to the 9/12 session, as well (I typically just go once or twice per summer), and now I'm leaning heavily towards registering already.

Anyone else going to any of the sessions this year, particulary on 7/25?

wankelbolt

iTrader: (21)

Congratulations on the 40th A.E.! Beautiful car.

As for the Sentra, believe me when I tell you it's much smarter to learn how to go fast in a slow car. Anybody can drive a fast car slow, it's take skill to drive a slow car fast!

I'll be there. I've already been to two this year. Took the RX-8 and had a complete blast.

It rained on the first day and it was my first time with the car on the track, and with street tires and stock brakes I was a bit timid. Didn't want to be that guy who wrecks his new car the first time he brings it to the track! Had a friend riding with me and it really was fun. Car is very predictable, has plenty of power, and stops like crazy. My only mod is a B&B stainless exhaust and it sounded glorious, complete with a gratifying POP-POP! every time I let off the gas. That day showed the stock tires don't like the cold or the wet.

Second day was also on stock tires, but with Hawk HP Plus pads up front and in completely clear and dry weather. Spent 50 minutes flogging the 8 liked I owned it (wait, I do ) in the first session. That showed I clearly need better shocks and springs, though the tires were much happier. The car feels taught when driving mildly on the street, but the limits show up quickly when I start to flog it. Took a friend who also owns an 8 out in the second session and made him a grinning idiot. Had a little trouble with 4th getting stiff when the trans heated up, but with less than 20,000 on the clock, I'm not too worried. I'll pump some Red Line MT-90 into it and get it replaced under warranty if it blows up.

My friend and I will also be at the June 20 FATT. Don't know if he'll go to the July 25 one. Look for me in either a VR 8 or a white first-gen RX-7 race car.

darnellm

iTrader: (1)

I prefer the BSR seat time events.

Misnomer

Thank you!

Thanks again.

Something that cracked me up last time was that the other chick on the track that day had a BMW (not a Z; some kind of coupe or sedan), yet was going much slower than me; she was much less confident, especially in the turns. Meanwhile my instructor was complimenting me for making my tires squeal in a good way. A BMW smoked by a Sentra on the track! HA!

I'm mildly concered about it raining on 7/25 -- my first time taking the car on the track, with the stock tires. I've had the car for a month and am still kinda cautious on surface streets when it rains! As a friend (who is also a FATT instructor) pointed out, even it it rains that day at least I have some familiarity with the track already.

I definitely will! As for me, if you don't spot the '8 I'll probably stand out a little in the morning drivers' meeting.

IIRC you have to make it to Group 2 in order to be allowed to do Seat Time; I'm still in Group 1. For now.

wankelbolt

iTrader: (21)

Seat Time days are useful if you are an experienced driver and have nothing left to learn.

For those of us who haven't gotten our F1 ride yet, an instructor can be useful.

I have used Seat Time to get, um, seat time when I haven't been out in a while or am trying to get used to a new car or a modification.

wankelbolt

iTrader: (21)

Don't sweat the rain too much. There's plenty of runoff room at Summit, and the stock tires are pretty good in the wet when it's warm out. Everybody will be going slower if it rains, and the fantastic and totally-predictable handling of the 8 will give you plenty of warning and control when near the edge.

I'll be on track while you are in there. I'm an instructor. You should be able to hear me going around, though.

- Bill

Misnomer

Another instructor, cool! This makes 2 of you who I know from message boards (the other one -- older guy named James, with a copper 350Z -- agreed to be one of my instructors last time), and 1 who I know from real life (tall skinny guy named Geoff; I believe he usually takes his Porsche, sometimes his Elise).

Misnomer

Just 2 more days! I can't wait! I'll be keeping an eye out for wankelbolt ... anyone else?

I was at the dealership this morning for my car's first oil change (and I'll get another one post-track), and the service guy was so happy that I would be tracking the car.

I plan to arrive right at 8am to give myself plenty of time to register, get inspected, check my tire pressure and adjust if necessary, talk to my friends and check out the other cars, and show off my car a little before the first drivers' meeting at 9am. I'll have washed it the evening before, so my 2.5-month-old '8 should be lookin' good!