Matt RX8

Has anyone taken their RX8 to Gingerman yet? If so, how did the car do?
I'm heading there at the end of the month for a 2 day school. This will be my second DE (first was Road America).

MI_FamilyMan

Never been there, but it's somewhat close to me and I think it would be nice to get out there someday. Let us know how it goes...

Matt RX8

You may be aware of this already but they have a deal during the week, Tuesday-Thursday where you can pay $60 and drive from 5:30 until dark. Sometimes, only a handful of cars show up so there is only one run group and you get 3+ hours of track time for $60. That's a great bargain.

XDEEDUBBX

nice track...must be fun to run up there

pointme2thetrack

I used to go there all the time with my buddy's Civic Si when we were at school in Michigan. We could beat up on Corvettes and other heavy cars b/c it is a very twisty course where horsepower won't make up for handling deficiencies. I wish I could take the RX-8 up there now because I think it would be a hoot. Great track, very safe. I'd tell you more but I'm not sure what type of info you are looking for.

Matt RX8

You pretty much answered what I was asking. I was asking if it will be fun for the RX8 :D .

I'll be there with the Windy City BMW club so I'll see how I stack up with the E36 and E46 ///M3s. The E46 ///M3s could easily walk away from me on the long straight aways at Road America.

I'm guessing that I'll do most of the course in 3rd gear but upshift to 4th for one of both of the straightaways.

I'm working on my heel and toe downshifts. Hopefully, I'll be good enough to try it at Gingerman.

pointme2thetrack

Yes, you will definitely have a chance to exact revenge on the E46's at Gingerman! Give 'em a good spankin for all of us!!

Adamrotor

I took my rx8 out there and loved every minute of of it.

Matt RX8

nice pics Adamrotor!!

BlueRenesis82

Yeah, showing those s2k's and intregra's your taillight!

rudy8

yes been there on open track nights 3 or 4 times last year...great track for the 8.
my first times were 1.56 or so...after chip and flywheel and exhaust i did about 1.45 i think...

i am interested in finding different track "events" such as schools and autocrosses...
which event are you enrolled in later this month...i would be interested in getting involved.

anybody else know of good regional events?

rudy8

great picts!
howd you do agaist the 2000?

Adamrotor

Thanks guys, I got more pics if oyou want ill post them. I have one comment the Rx8 vs. S2000 I got only on thing to say....I am happy I got the Rx8 ovewr the S2000. Why? Well it was my first time and I chose to have an instructor the whole time with me so that I can learn as much as I can, basically in other words the s2000 is speed wise the same on stretch aways which was 2 1/4 mile length we stayed the same length apart he didnt go faster I dodnt go slower and mine still looks better doing it, aspecially on turns I was on his tail. As go's for more trackdays there was one in may BlackHawk Farm Raceway which I missed and the second one just this past week in Joliet Autobahn which I couldn't make it either due to school finals other wise I would of ditched. Well not to worry theres still more track days ahead of us goodluck and keep up to date with track days and post them here so all of us can go.
Thanks Adamrotor

Matt RX8

Later this month, I'm going with the Windy City BMW club. Their events are well organized and have some of the best instuctors.

I know the guy who put together the event last week at Autobahn. There is another one coming up on July 8th, also at Autobahn.

More info here:
http://www.performancedrivingexperience.com/

BlueRenesis82

I am going to see if I can get off of the 8th for the thing at the Autobahn. Anyone else thinking of coming?

neit_jnf

Gingerman in Michigan? How much for the 2-day school?? Please pm or email info to neit_jnf@yahoo.com I'd love to take the FD!!!!!!

Matt RX8

I think the 2 day school was about $300. But you have to be a Windy City BMW club member and the school is already full with a waiting list.

Matt RX8

Gingerman was a blast. A very technical and challenging track. Much harder than Road America which is the only other track I've been to.

I wasn't passing too many BMWs though because I was only on my 2nd school but had been bumped to an intermediate run group (from novice) based on feedback from the first school. The majority of the intermediate group were more experienced drivers and some had better prepped cars.

Day 1: I was a little lost and kept my speed lower to focus on the line. That night I camped at the track and took the opportunity to walk the track with some friends who were more experienced.

Day 2: I was quite fast and had a nice line right from the start. By the end of the day I was making lots of progress and felt great about the track and now I can't wait to go back.

For the people that have driven Gingerman in an RX8, how did you take turn 2? I found I was able to take it best by downshifting to 2nd, taking the first apex and then getting on the throttle early. None of the BMWs had to downshift because they have more torque but I found that by downshifting I could get right up on them from 2-3 and forced some of them to point me by.

I found the RX8 to be slower than the E46 M3 and (prepared) E36 M3s and abput even with the E30 M3s, 330s. One of the E30 M3s had an excellent driver and was quicker. There was also an Sti and Evo in my group that were slightly quicker. They were faster on the straights and I seemed to catch them in the curvy bits between 7-10 just in time for them to walk me on the straights as they could get on the throttle quick in 10 with their AWD.

here are some pics:

BlueRenesis82

Nice pics!

rudy8

HEY machan
nice picts and descriptions.
did you record any lap times?
what mods do you have.
i have gotten my besttime at 1.45 at gingerman.
i am going on thur (tommorrow) . are you going agaon soon?

ahhh turn 2...very difficult
i run wide at first in 2nd and start riding the inside of the turn aabout 1/2 way through wihich is where i make the awkward shift into third...i get as much speed as i can as i drift out to the cone on the left as you enter the straight.
never a perfect solution, just shades of grey.
what i found helps too is coming out of turn one very fast and going all the way out to the right and staying close to the inside of the turn 2 in second and then doing the shift as i described above.
dont kknow if it helps but its a challenging track all around!

Stop&TurnFreak

I am not sure about the shifting mid-corner, seems to me that would upset the balance some. Is there no way to carry third threw, maybe, brake sooner, get on the gas sooner, and just use third threw?

Matt RX8

I went to a driving school which doesn't allow lap timing for insurance purposes so I don't know my lap times.

The only mod I have is DOT4 brake fluid. Everything else is stock.

Regarding turn 2, I'd take turn one in 3rd, track out and then downshift to 2nd before turn 2. I'd set up in the middle of the track (middle of 3 lanes) and turn it about where you see a yellow dashed line across the track. I'd apex at the first of the two rumble strips and get on the gas hard and track out. I was exiting the curve at over 65 so I would hit redline in 2nd gear. However, by the time I was at redline, I was almost completed tracking out and the steering wheel was straight so it was OK to upshift because the car was going in a straight line.

I could also carry the turn in 3 but my exit speed would be 7-10 mph slower. The more I think about it, perhaps I should have taken turn 3 in 2nd gear as well because I seemed to be exiting a bit slower than I wanted to.

I might go back as soon as July 11th. There is a charity event there in the evening to generate money to purchase fire suits for the rescue crews.

I need to take a look at my brakes and order some new pads (might go with track only pads next time) and probably rotate my left front tire. That track is tough on left fronts.

rudy8

yeah, i like to come out in 2nd since there is no torque in 3rd..the hardest part is finding the right shift point. i saw a race prepared viper there a few days ago...turns 1-11 in any gear...no difference in lap times!! unbeleivable power.

Matt RX8

Sorry, which turns were you taking in 2nd gear? Turn 2, Turn 3 or both?

What was your latest lap time? Is your car stock? How much experience do you have? Just trying to know what I should shoot for in case I go back for some open lapping sessions where I can time the laps.

A friend with an BMW E36 325is was running about 1:47 but his engine was leaking compression from a couple of cylinders. He just replaced the head last week after he returned home from the track. His car is far from stock though and he's probably done 8-10 DEs. I know a guy with an E46 ///M3 that ran 1:31 or so and another guy in a 944 racecar that runs 1:31 but those guys ran those times with optimal conditions regarding temperature, tires, etc...

rudy8

turn 2
my best lap time last year was 1:46
thats with rotary extreme intake, sr flywheel and pulleys, borla exhaust and a stage 1/1 CZ chip, tanabe sway bars.
i have since had a turbo and removed it...put in a different chip, and ms suspension...
not so good at 1:54. i think i am having trouble with my new cz chip and definitely had trouble with new brake pads with this time. i am hoping to hit in the low 1:40s this summer when i get everything sorted out.
i have drove gingerman at least 15 or 20 times since i live less than an hour away.

i have had my rx8 there about 7 or 8 times.
do you ever plan on doing an open track nights this summer?