Got my conf email from Julie yesterday! Woohoo!

 

yep, we are all going to be so ready to hit turn 12 by the time this event gets here. it feels like it has been over a year since i was at RA. but hey, TGPR is only 11 days away.

 

1st day taking it easy. new suspenion, 1st time on that track with track pads etc--oh yea i do have some surprises.
OD

 

No need to take it easy OD.
If you remember last year, somebody installed a new flywheel & clutch the day before RA. They certainly didn't take it easy.

As Ratfink says, "If in doubt, wring it out".

 

Are there a lot of drivers on street tires? I don't want to show up on street tires and have to let everybody pass me. If they are on street tires, which ones are decent on the track. I've only got 5500 miles on the car, so I still have the Dunops.

 

RA is fairly easy on tires. Hard on brakes, at least in my experience. I will be on street tires, and in HPDE 1, almost everyone is. Those that show up with R compunds are usually in DE 2 or higher.

 

I went through 2 HPDE's with the donlops. They are good tires. I wouldn't change if I were you. Use them and see how you like it. Don't you have that set of R compounds you used at Dixe Region or am I mistaken? If it's your first time on a road course, you should use street tires, they will talk to you a lot more then R compounds. They'll scream for a while before letting loose, R compounds don't do that.

 

Yes and yes... This is the first time on a road course. I've got some v700's for autox, I wouldn't mind using them if need be. That would be a spectacular reason to tell my wife that I need "another set of tires for a brand new car". I am sure I will be slower regardless of the tire, it being my first time and all. Can't wait though.

You dixie guys should come down south for an event.

 

That's ok, mine gives me a hard time because I have 5 sets of tires for my car. The Kuhmos 712's I have on now, the original Donlops that have 16K on them and are still in decent shape (didn't want a 3rd DE on them), The R1's I use for the track, the Yokohama road racing slicks that I used to use for autocross that I should get rid of, and some Hoosier RS04's that are waiting their turn!

It's getting rediculus.

You can always bring the V700's for the second day, but those dunlops will do really well and be lots of fun.

 

Why the s04's? If it's for autox, I am pretty sure that the 710's have more grip and are a little cheaper. I have run both(on the miata) 710's were better all around. 18's are pretty expensive regardless of the tire though.

 

Damn Lego.........

 

the first event at RA is a little intimidating, I was slow, but I still had a blast.

I want to try and do a few autox events in another region this year. My parents live in Albany, where Lego is, an if I can time it right, I want to do an event or two down there this year, just for fun and seat time. Our events are so big, we sometime get cut short on runs, and never get more than 4.

 

I'll probably be on street tires as well. Although my current rear Pretenzas are so gone that I had to get a couple of used tires. Didnt want to purchase stickers this close to trackin at Li'l Dega.

Hopefully they'll have enough meat for RA but I kinda doubt they'll last that long. Probably will retire before RA. Maybe a mountain run to knock the shine off em.

BTW, there is no shame in getting passed. There are plenty of faster cars out there as well as better drivers.

 

very true, ther is no point in pushing yourself beyond your limits, to try to keep up with someone else, and end up crashing the car.

that is one of our group rules, you dont have to keep up with the guy in front of you. have fun, and drive it home. i get to inhale lots of exhaust!

 

Who is getting a hotel room again and where?

Tim

 

Above all else, have these expectations of the weekend:

-- be safe
-- have fun
-- keep in mind several things you want to work on from a driving skill standpoint


The speed will come in time. This frustrated me before because I expected to have the speed. I didn't. I've seen you on the autocross field and you're a great driver. With those 265/35 710's you were faster than me.

I've got my NASA skills book. If it will help the newbies, I'll type up the list of skills HPDE 1 works on so you get an idea of what to expect. Some of these are pretty basic on the normal street, but get more difficult when practised on the track.

 

Awesome, thanks Lego! You may want to post them on the GA site as well.

 

just dont drive at a speed that you are not comfortable with. This is a learning /have fun experience NOT A RACE. There is nothing to prove to anyone but yourself. Heck for the longest time I thought turn one was a 3nd gear turn. And it was ----for me. Safety skills are paramount. Able to watch the corner workers/traffic/rearview mirrors. Good braking and the getting the line right, Smooth transitions and not a lot of movement with the steering wheel once in the turn, using the throttle to steer the car, etc. Some instructor will not be familar with the 8 or the rotary engine but they are all good instructors. Just pick a light one!
Olddragger

 

ok so the latest tally is:

HPDE 1

1. L8apex
2. valpac
3. tim benton
4. rxeightr
5. whiterex
6. SilverEIGHT

HPDE2
7. olddragger
8. legokcen
9. trackaddict

HPDE4
10. STF
11. 32Vcobra HPDE4
that sound right?
Maybe STF will have his 8 and drop back to HP 2 with us just for the fun of it. Just wont be the same without Phlash and Charlie. Sniff-Sniff>
Olddragger

 

Has all officially signed up?
OD

 

Me signed up and paying attention to your suggestions.

 

This is kinda funny, at my first autox, I thought I could drive... I co-drove the car that won FTD and my best time was 12 sec. behind him. He spun out at the finish, threw it in reverse, went through the lights, and even beat me by 3 sec. I forsee history repeating itself... and I can't wait.

 

I totally agree with you guys, you need to go at a speed which is comfortable for you. My first few laps I was lapping in the 1:46's. Not the fastest there, and there was an Evo there running 1:44's, but he had alot of track time there.

Moral is, I Know I could have pushed mine and got down that low, but at what cost? I was on old street tires, and the suspension was about 85% dialed in. I hope to equal those times this trip, but deep down, I would really like to get into the 1:42's.

 

Here are the HPDE 1 and HPDE 2 Skill Milestones....

These are from the NASA HPDE Passport and you will be grades 1 through 5 on these categories. My recommendation, keep this book handy and on each track session, pick a few to work on. See what skills you are good at and what skills you want to work on. Take about 2 runs to self-evaluate yourself and get feedback from you instructor and then ask what he/she thinks you need to work on what items you yourself feel you'd like to work on. When driving, you should be confortable enough to drive the track and be able to listen and talk (have a conversation) with your instructor. Usually before and after specific turns or areas of the track, we talked about what I needed to do and what I did. This helped a whole lot since we had just experienced it.

 

Michael Schumacher once said, "If things feel like they are in control, you aren't going fast enough!"

This doesn't apply in an HPDE though, but I love that quote.