I'm about ready to head to Mid Ohio for HPDE with NASA.

Wish me luck.

 

Good luck man. I'll be heading there later this year. Let us know how it goes.

 

Sweet, man! It was awesome at the beginning of this month!

If you wanna see video of the new track in my car, there here:

www.scottbarton.net/anthony/Mid-Ohio/Videos

Just make sure you Right-Click and Save-As to your desktop.



HAVE FUN!!!

 

Just returned from the track. It was an awesome time.

I'm too tired now but will post more tomorrow.

Wow, 1:47.94 is a fast time for an RX-8. In the video, it mentions the mid pipe, and r comps. Any suspension mods? Are you on the stock alignment? I'd love to trade some set-up tips as an aggressive track alignment is probably my next car modification.

My best lap was a 1:54.84 while my friend ran a 1:52.27 (I think) in my car after the engine on his S2000 blew up. Car is stock except for rims and aftermarket performance street tires, brake pads and fluid.

 

I just got back from Spring Mountain HPDE with Speed Ventures. This was my first time on a track with my stock RX-8. It was a blast and the car was great! Have fun.

 

So more on Mid Ohio. It's an awesome track and the whole thing has been recently repaved. One thing that surprised me was how much elevation change there is. Even when you watch the in-car video and races on TV, you don't realize how steep the drop is coming out of Madness.

NASA runs a great event. This was my first time running with them so I signed up for HPDE2. They group HPDE1 and HPDE2 together so I ended up being on the track with some people that have never been there before so after my 2nd session when I felt comfortable with the line of the track, I had an instructor ride with me and sign me off (in my NASA passport) to proceed to HPDE3. Unfortunately, HPDE3 was full so I'll have to wait until my next event to check that out. However, in the end HPDE 1 and 2 wasn't so bad as everyone was faster the next day so I didn't get caught up in any trains on the 2nd day. I was also able to take advantage of their excellent classroom instruction which featured field trips out to various corners to critique cars in other sessions.

NASA was very refreshing and also customer focussed, not any of the politics that you sometimes find with car clubs.

Another interesting thing was that Penske showed up Sunday morning and started unloading their Porsche ALMS LMP2 cars for some testing. Kinda amazing to see the professional teams up close.

 

I have no suspension mods in that video (just did sways, but it was after that DE). I've maximized my stock front camber to a measley -.9 degrees and went -1.4 degrees in the rear with 0 toe.
255/35/18 Dunlop SP SS Race tires. An R-compound, but not like a slick. A Toyo RA-1 is better performing.
Catless midpipe, Hawk HP+ pads, slotted Brembo rotors, and Ate Super Blue fluid sum it up.

What helps me go fast on the track is my extensive autocross background and the car control that resulted from really learning how to drive fast on a tail-happy, not-too-fast, Z3, in a controlled environment. The car control really helps me to go faster more comfortably. I don't have much fear at the limit when I know I can control it. See the DRIFTS!!! video on my site for examples

Speaking of race teams, TC Kline was there (with his 2, million dollar, trailers) and a few cars. He has BMW racing teams (this was a BMWCCA DE). He was testing a new Civic Si with a suspension that they made for it. It was awesome to drive with him. I was a bit faster overall (my car, not me), but I followed him for a few laps. He's awesome. I got to talk with TC a bit, too.
I called TC Kline racing today to investigate sway bar bushings for my Z3 and the guy I talked to remembered me from the DE! I felt special

 

TC is a nice guy.

 

here's a picture: