SouthFL

I'll usually let off at 120mph at track days, with the mentality being that I really don't need to be going any quicker in a street car.
First thing people ask me is how fast I go at the track. I respond "doesn't really matter, it's more about how good you brake and turn." If I were in a track prepared car, I'd search for that highest possible terminal speed down a straight before entering the next brake zone.

As for competitive edge. Nobody is handing me a trophy, but shedding 5 seconds per lap at Sebring last year sure keeps my interest peaked.

Miatamoto

You just love to argue don't you. Rev limiter bump in 3rd (around 7200 rpm) with a 3.23, 245/40/17 and 1.66 3rd gear is around 99 mph.

Most stock M3s run the quarter mile at the limiter in 3rd in the 99 mph range, but I know whatever I say it doesn't matter b/c it couldn't have possibly happened.

CosmosMpower

I've gotten into 4th in the RX-8 at MW running a BMW event that had a straight running diagonally across the lot. If I have the numbers right that would be over 100 mph @ 9000 rpms in 3rd.

nelsonrx8

how does the rx8 preforms on the track compared to others ?

CosmosMpower

Compared to other what, Toyota Prius, Audi R10 ALMS?

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

I was assuming a stock limiter, but that graph is based on a tire being completely round, you actually lose about 1/2" radius for the tire treadface compressing against the ground, so a GPS etc. will show an actual speed less than those numbers on the graph

Cosmos, if you were on 245 V710s the 3-4 gear change is under 90 mph for an RX-8

CosmosMpower

Stock RE040 225/45/18. It was right after I got the car while it was bone stock. As I recall I hit 3rd and was in 4th for 2-3 seconds before downshifting back to 2nd for a tight corner.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

the diameter difference only adds 3 or 4 mph, still nowhere near 100

I actually came up 87 mph on V710s based on 2nd gear topping out at 63mph on GPS systems, the OE diameter came to 91 mph on the same basis

Miatamoto

Wow! You've always got to have the last word. I don't doubt what you're saying is correct (it makes sense) but it's sad that you go to these lengths to be "right."

The point is, we have fast autocrosses out at Mineral Wells, and I'm not the only person driving out there. There are Z06 corvettes, Jim in his BSP Evo, etc. don't tell me they're not breaking triple digits out there all the time.

Yeah, for hijacking a thread for a pointless argument.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

I thought we were just having a bench racing conversation sorry you took it personal

fwiw, it just my opinion, feel free to ignore it

Lily03

first of all why do a lot of you guys call them hpde's? just wondering.

and so what i get from reading everything... majority of you rather drag your 8 then autoX it???

Lily03

i was playing around in my boyfriends 8 this past weekend, having fun doing some redline shifts... i can see why soo many people rather drag it then autoX it.

it still means like to me in autoX the 8's are greatly underestimated and what not. because i'll admit when i first drove on (autoXing) i felt sorta disppointed afterwards. i wanted more yeah know? and trust me i did a no holds bar when i autoXed it.

then the first time i drove my boyfriends 8 the roads where sorta shitty so i didn't get to have as much fun as i'd like. but after this weekend... oh boy. my opinion on the 8 has completely changed!

i love the redline shifts and how much power i get outta it when i shift like that. i like it soo much it made me melt and i've asked my boyfriend if over the summer i could drag it every once in awhile. haha. **not saying i don't love my mitsu but a lil change is always good.

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

I find that HPDE's/ TT and a Traqmate is more than enough competition for me.

That way I can compare to the 2 other drivers with the same system AFTER the day is over.

Keeps me from getting in trouble like I did in wheel to wheel stuff.......

Lily03

what are HPDE's / TT's and Traqmate????

Kurt Bob

I'll weigh in on what I think the thread started out to be.

I have 11 years of AutoX experience and about 8 years of experience doing track days. I have about 1 year experience as an HPDE instructor. The events all have their pros and cons.

AutoX
Pros:Great way to learn the cars limits. No special equipment required. Inexpensive. Great camaraderie. Events are plentiful and open to almost any licensed driver.

Cons: To be truly competitive, you have to devote a lot of time and development (like Team RX-8 does). Very poor return on time investment - I have 4 hours travel time and 2 hours of prep time to do four one minute runs.

Track Days/HPDE
Pros: You get a better taste of what it takes to do wheel to wheel racing. Much better return on time invested - I still have 4 hours of travel time to the track, but get 2 hours of track time in return. Great camaraderie (with the right organizations). Graet way to learn smoothness at high speed.

Cons: Requires a bigger investment to get on track. Although not likely, there is a chance that you could make a mistake big enough to cause some body damage. It's addictive!

I like both activities, but for different reasons ... and I still do both.

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

Hi Lily, I guess no one cares to answer you question, so let me do that for ya lol

HPDE = High Performance Driving Events. They are basically 'driving schools', where people take their street cars onto a road racing cirucuit track (NOT a dragstrip), and do full speed laps around the track. They are considered educational and not competition events because there's no official timing, therefore no winner/losers at the end of the day, just a bunch of guys and their cars trying to go as fast as they can around the track.

TT = time trial, this is basically the competitive version of HPDE, where there IS an official timer and winners are awarded at the end of the day.

I think you are confused about drag racetrack vs. road circuit track. Everyone that posts in this thread does road circuit lapping/time trials, and any RX-8 owner worth their salt knows their car is NOT built for the drag strip...

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

oh, and Traqmate are these data acquisition equipments that some people use at HPDE to analyze their driving and see if they improve their lap times throughout the day.

all for 'educational' purposes of course

BlueRenesis82

I just read this and thought it was funny that you never noticed torque or horsepower with your OZ rally, the reason for that is because its a Mitsubishi

dbright007

Your in Iowa?
An HPDE would be run somewhere like here.

Mid America

Always liked that track map..

SouthFL

Lily,
Relative to the OZ Lancer, you may feel like the RX8 is a powerful car. But, the RX8 is not a fast car, nor is it torquey, nor is it a good car for the dragstrip. It is rather, mediocre if not lackluster for those purposes.
It is, however, a purpose built car for the road course or for cone dodging. It is a momentum car for these- meaning, there ain't much power, so shed as little speed as possible while flowing through the course.
If you're ever exposed to driving an 11 second (1/4 mile) daily driver, your perspective for speed will change completely. If you're ever going WOT down the back straight at Sebring and you're pointing by a conga line of powerful cars, you then realize that you're indeed driving a slow car relative to everything else. When that well driven Spec Miata or regularly driven 350Z becomes your equal in laptimes, then your perspective towards speed focuses on what the car is capable of given your driving ability.

John V

iTrader: (1)

Don't know why I'm participating in this but...

I used to do track days. Yes, there was lots of seat time, but it was boring seat time. Lapping the same course over and over with no competition aspect is dull to me. I need the competition. The only way I would get back into it would be to practice for getting a license.

Time Trials sound fun - but I'm not going to do it until I have a car that I can honestly say to myself I can write off at any time... and at that point, I'd much rather be W2W racing in a Spec Miata or Spec E30 or something. So I can't see myself ever doing time trials.

I love the purity and intensity of autocross. I autocross to become a better autocrosser. I want to become nationally competitive someday, and the only way is to practice.

Red Devil

I see what you're saying, someday relatively soon, I will go from HPDE to TT and see how it goes. At the same time, I don't really feel like I need to compete - I don't care enough. But I'm also burned out to competing as I spent a good portion of my childhood constantly traveling and competing...just got old.

As for autocross, I'd rather have more seat time so lapping days make much more sense for me.

Spin9k

Of course don't know what type of track you were running on (some out west look like paved desert I've seen and flatter than a pancake), but lol, if you were bored, you just weren't going fast enough !

When you're at or near the limit of adhesion, keeping the car stable and gathering momentum at the same time is anything but boring, even lap after lap IMHO. Oh well to each his or her own.

John V

iTrader: (1)

Again, but this time in English, please?

Lily03

okay HPDE's now makes sense to me. I mean I've heard of things like that just never heard them called HPDE's.

I figure TT was time attack, but hell never hurts to ask still.

never heard of traqmate either really. i might have just not refered to by that name.

i appreciate you explaining what those meant. least someone cares.

oh and i've seen an 8 drag before, it was horrible but not the best so i see where your coming from. i just guess for my area there isn't alot of events like most you guys attend and take part in with your 8's