OK – a little debrief on my track experience today – first a few side notes. I have never been on a track before. I went for orientation last Wed. and did some laps with an instructor. Today I went to a charity Time Trials for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. There were 4 classes of cars: Class 1 – street cars, Class 2 – track modified, Class 3 – open wheel race cars, Class 4 – Mazda formula Rotary Rocket race cars. I wanted to run the Rotary Rockets ($1,000 donation) but at 6’2”, 285lbs I was over the height/weight limits. I had a total of 6 sessions, 20 minutes each – obviously I ran in Group 1. The other vehicles in my group were 2 330 BMW’s, and Eclipse GT turbo, 2 Mini Cooper S’s, an S2000, and a new Maserati Coupe GT. The course is a new 2.23 mile road course with 15 corners. The longest straight is 2,222 ft. You can view the course at www.midamericamotorplex.com. The rules for the day were no passing except in the 3 straights and then only when signaled by the driver in front of you. Drivers must yield (signal) when another vehicle is within approx. 2 car lengths.

Here’s what transpired – on each group run all 8 vehicles leave the grid about 5 seconds apart. On the first run the Eclipse was out first followed by myself and then the S2000. You enter at the beginning of the longest straight. I caught the eclipse about halfway down the straight and slowed because he didn’t signal me. The S2000 came right up next to me so I signaled him past me. By the time he got to the Eclipse the Mitsui was already in the corner and the S2000 should have backed off – he didn’t and ran the Eclipse right off the track! Right in front of me and a track observation station. I noticed that the track official didn’t flag the S2000 driver as was indicated would happen in the orientation session. I finished the run (20 minute session) well behind the S2000 but in front of everyone else. I was really impressed with the S2000 – it had MUCH more power on the straights than I did but seemed even in the corners – Wait til you find out why! The 2 BMW’s were behind me but I kept losing them in the corners.

After the first run I went and talked to the event official about the incident with the S2000 and the Eclipse. The track official said he should have been flagged and not only that – he shouldn’t have been in Group 1. The S2000 was a sponsored track vehicle fully modded with the complete Comptech kit – including the supercharger! This monster had an extra 100 ponies under the hood, fully tuned suspension and a race competitive driver! He was booted to Group 2 for the rest of the afternoon (Viper, Vette, 2 911’s, 2 944 turbos, and a Ferrari 355 cabrio!)

On the next run I was behind the two Mini Cooper S’s. I have heard these are great handling machines and the S version has good power – well on the track the 8 ate them for breakfast. I past both of them on the first lap of the session. They couldn’t come close to me on the straights and were slower in the corners – I could take a much more aggressive path than they could and when we hit the straights I could easily overtake them. As I said the longest straight is 2222 ft. I was hitting between 115 and 120 before I had to brake – since I have never driven on a track before I don’t know if this is good or not?
My last two runs were the most fun. On both I was with the Maserati Coupe GT. On the first of the two runs he was in front. We basically were right with each other the whole time – neither car had an advantage – he couldn’t pull away and I couldn’t pass him – very even match. On the last run I was in front and pulled little away from him until the last two laps – my tires were really starting to get squirrelly – he ended up pulling up to me as we got the checkered flag. The driver was a member of the track and had much more driving experience than I do (even though he is much younger – his dad was driving the Ferrari 355 – nuf said!).

Now I of course have admired the Maserati’s, but until I got home and looked up the specs I didn’t know that they are rated at 390 hp – but weighs about 600 lbs. more than my 8. I think the 8 did great matching that car! I would suspect that the 265 hp estimate with my CZ mods is pretty accurate. We were an even match in the straights and in the corners – I think we should all be pleased with that!

All in all, the track event was a blast! The main weakness of my 8 was tires. The stock tires just don’t keep the grip when they heat up on the track. The performance limit of my 8 was never really touched in the corners – my tires were the limiting factor - the car itself never lost control. The brakes held up really well with just a little fade toward the end of each session. If I decide to do more track events I will definitely get a set of track tires!

The verdict:

1. S2000 – but disqualified since it was out of class with full Comptech mods
2. RX-8 and Maserati Coupe GT – even match up
3. BMW 330’s
4. Eclipse GT turbo
5. Mini Cooper S’s

Not a bad afternoon for a $150 donation to Make-A-Wish (also donated $100 for the raffle). The track photographer took some great pics of the 8 -- he is going to email them to me and then I will post them.

 

Awesome write up, awesome driving, and awesome car!!! What could be better? :D

RX-8 ties Maserati... LOL!!! :D

 

Sounds like you had a blast Husker- good going!

 

I'm still chuckling that a novice driver left everything else behind except the experienced driver in the Maser... and even then, that guy couldn't pass him. LOL! :D

 

What a terrific write up. And what an adrenaline rush!

 

Great job and great write-up, Husker. I'd like to assume that since I did the same mods the same day, my driving prowess and guts have also been upgraded to your level. Unfortunately this won't be the case, but it does give some confidence to put a toe in the water, even at my relatively advanced age. Glad you had such a blast.

 

Even with a Maserati?

:D :D :D :D :D

Sounds like it was a total rush. Thanks for sharing your track adventures.

 

Blazin' down the straight!

 

Not much body roll in this big right hand corner!

 

Dang man, you should sell these pics to Mazda! AWESOME! :D

 

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wow
so nice
love your car

 

Just when I start to believe that I've convinced myself that I don't NEED the MS body kit.... you go and post pics like that! bastard.

Great pics. In a couple of those pics it looks like your rear end is dropped way more than the front (noting the wheel gap) but i'm sure it is more an illusion due to the camera angle.

I want to see some video of this. I know at rotary revolution when the 8 would go by at 120 or so on the straightaway... it sounded unlike anything else on the road. (other rotaries included) It had this unreal whirring noise more like a turbine. It actually sounded almost exactly like the new formula mazdas (for good reason) minus all the transmission whine. The formulas are a lot louder too... :D

 

Actually my front end is a little higher right now. When I put on the MS front I scraped getting out of my driveway so I had to raise the front end some -- I am having my driveway curb ground down so I can lower the front end again. The clearance isn't much less than stock -- but the edges extend out a lot more and that is where it scraped

The people in the grandstand at the track also said that the 8 sounded like no other on the track :D -- mine is louder than stock -- but not nearly as loud as those Rotary Rockets were.

 

Bummer about the scraping.. that's the one major concern I have with upgrading.

Next time you go to the track you'll have to get some audio of the car. It sounds much different outside than inside.

 

Great account of a fine day!

To me it seems the color of your front bumper is a bit off tho...

 

I loved reading this write-up, it reduces the fear level of taking mine on a track.

Do you think the rear wing, and the body kit, contribute to keep the car stable on the track at 120mph? I don't have either, but would still like to give it a try, but would also like to know if I should watch my top end speed based on the equipment?
(Echo the reaction about the stock tires. In autox, they start out ok, but gets slippery with lots of running/heat.)

 

I think the coilovers were the biggest help for track stability. On the road course I was on -- top speed (110 to 120) was only obtainable on the one long straight. The MS rear wing probably helped a little -- the MS front has more to do with cooling than stability I think.

 

Regardless of the experience level of the S2000 driver, he should have been booted from the track for forcing another driver off--especially in a novice group. As an experienced driver not only should he have known about the no pass in turns, what's worse is he didn't care. I would have been seriously ticked at event officials for not even a slap on the wrist for that guy.
________
WhiteStar

 

Great writeup Husker. Sounds like you are pretty good driver.
BTW how come you were allowed to run STOCK with all your mods, but the s2k got bumped???

 

I would like to think I am a good driver -- but this was the first time I have ever been to a track -- so I know that I am not a GOOD driver -- just a natural driver with no previous experience or training. As an engineer by training -- I found the road course to be a very technical event -- all about getting proper speed and angles in each corner to maximize velocity -- what a blast :D

My car has some "fun" mods -- but it is not a race tuned car by any means. The cars in Group 2 were full blown track-only race cars (seats removed, racing harnesses, fully tuned engines with FI -- in the S2000's case, etc.) Well except for the Ferrari -- that was a personal car -- but then again it was a Ferrari! These cars were all sponsored and trailered into the track. Equally important -- their drivers knew what they were doing -- not sure I would want to enter the waters with those sharks until I had a little more track time under my belt

 

Husker, do you have the Bridgestone Potenzas tires or the Dunlop 8090 tires on your car when you were racing?

 

Nice job and congradulations! You have taken your first step into a larger world. The place that separates those who talk the talk and those who walk the walk. Glad to see you putting the mods to use. I commend you and welcome you to the brotherhood.

 

Thanks Huff -- I hope to bring my 8 down to AZ this Winter -- you will have to tell me where the best tracks and roads are for a little fun :D